Browse Our Curriculum

Department

World Languages

Study a language—or two—at Chatham Hall and gain a highly coveted professional, social, and cultural asset in the global economy. If you choose to learn Spanish, French, or Chinese, you’ll be offered a solid foundation of grammar and vocabulary in both oral and written communication and will also study culture and history as part of our foreign language boarding school curriculum. If you opt for Latin, you’ll learn about language roots, cultural influences, and classical allusions as well as syntax, pronunciation, vocabulary, history, and literature.

Graduation requirements

3 credits of one language or 2 credits each of 2 languages

Chinese I

This course provides an introduction to Chinese in the four integrated skills, with an emphasis on pinyin, tones, and writing characters. Students will gain conversational skills on many survival topics, and a basic understanding of the Chinese people, culture, and society. Materials used in this course include the textbook Integrated Chinese 1, as well as character learning websites, and video clips, among others. Assessments will consist of class participation, in class assignments, quizzes and tests, individual and group projects, speaking assessments, and midterm and final projects.

Year-Long Course – 1 Credit

Prerequisite: None
Chinese II

This course builds upon the integrated skills developed in Chinese I. There is an increased focus on expanding vocabulary and grammar, reading and typing Chinese texts, communicating on various daily life topics, and an understanding of the most important Chinese traditions and festivals. Materials used in this course include the textbook Integrated Chinese 2, as well as character learning websites, and video clips, among others. Assessments will consist of class participation, in class assignments, quizzes and tests, individual and group projects, speaking assessments, and midterm and final projects.

Year-Long Course – 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Chinese I or equivalent
Chinese III

This course allows students to practice increased accuracy and fluency in Chinese in the four integrated skills. The course focuses on improving reading and listening comprehension, writing and presenting on daily life topics with more complex structures, and a deeper understanding of the Chinese speaking and cultural world. Materials used in this course include the textbook Integrated Chinese 3, as well as character learning websites, and video clips, among others. Assessments will consist of class participation, in class assignments, quizzes and tests, individual and group projects, speaking assessments, and midterm and final projects.

Year-Long Course – 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Chinese II or equivalent
Chinese IV

This course is taught entirely in Mandarin Chinese, and students continue gaining increased accuracy and fluency in Chinese in the four integrated skills. The course has an emphasis on learning more advanced vocabulary and complex structures, communicating on some topics beyond daily life, writing stories and letters in a formal way, and a deeper understanding of the traditional and modern Chinese society. Materials used in this course include the textbook Integrated Chinese 4, as well as character learning websites, and video clips, among others. Assessments will consist of class participation, in class assignments, quizzes and tests, individual and group projects, speaking assessments, and midterm and final projects.

Year-Long Course – 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Chinese III or equivalent
French I
French II
French III
Latin I
Latin II
Latin III
Latin IV
Latin V
Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III
Spanish IV
Spanish IV/V: Spanish Short Story
Advanced Spanish: Hispanic Heritage in the United States
Advanced French
Advanced Spanish

Department Faculty

Shep Morrison P'10

World Language Department Chair; Latin Teacher; Keeper of Traditions; Dorm Advisor

434-432-5546

smorrison@chathamhall.org
Bio
Sheppard "Shep" Morrison P'10 joined Chatham Hall in 2002 and serves as World Languages Department Chair, Latin teacher, Lead Dorm Advisor, Keeper of Traditions, and sponsor of the Quilt Pro Quo Club. She earned an A.B. in Classics with a concentration in Theatre from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. Throughout her career, Shep has taught in a variety of educational settings, including Montessori, independent schools, and adult education. In addition to Latin, she has taught history, English, journalism, computer skills, and theatre, and has extensive experience in residential life and library services.

She is passionate about preserving Chatham Hall’s rich traditions and fostering a strong sense of community. Outside the classroom, Shep enjoys quilting and sharing that passion with students through the Quilt Pro Quo Club.
Lisa Conde Fondeur

Spanish Teacher

lcondefondeur@chathamhall.org
Bio

Lisa Conde Fondeur joined Chatham Hall in 2026 as a Spanish teacher and advisor, bringing a passion for languages, cultures, and helping students build confidence through cross-cultural communication. A graduate of Sweet Briar College, she spent more than seven years living in Spain, where she taught English and immersed herself in the Spanish language and culture. Before joining Chatham Hall, she taught Spanish at Vermont Academy and served as Spanish Teacher and Modern Language Department Chair at Wayland Academy in Wisconsin. A longtime boarding-school educator, Lisa has served as a teacher, advisor, dorm parent, department chair, and coach.

Lisa has been especially drawn to Chatham Hall’s friendly, welcoming community and beautiful campus. In the classroom, she combines communicative language instruction, cultural experiences, and storytelling to spark students’ curiosity about the Spanish-speaking world. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, knitting, exercising, and spending time with her five children and four grandchildren. She has lived in six countries and five U.S. states.
Odette Kugler

French Teacher; Dorm Advisor

okugler@chathamhall.org
Bio
Odette Kugler joined Chatham Hall in 2024 as a French teacher and serves as a Dorm Advisor and Student Advisor. During the 2026–2027 school year, she will also join the Athletic Department as an assistant coach for tennis and swimming. She earned a B.A. in French with a minor in Art History from James Madison University and an M.A. in French from Middlebury College.

Odette values the ties we build with one another and with our community, and her favorite Chatham Hall tradition is the Lantern Ceremony. Outside of school, she enjoys biking, hiking, cooking and baking with her husband, Rich, listening to records, traveling, and exploring the arts and culture. She and Rich share their home with three sometimes raucous indoor cats.