The aim of Modern Languages education is to develop communication skills and promote life-long learning and positive attitudes that encourage awareness and understanding of cultural diversity. 

The Modern Languages curriculum is based on the communicative/experiential approach. This approach uses language to communicate in meaningful real-life situations. All courses balance the four language skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing and include a cultural component relevant to the target language. Students are encouraged to share opinions and ideas, as classroom learning involves pair and small group activities. 

The Modern Languages Department of Killarney offers second languages (French, Spanish, Japanese) with curriculum designed for students with little or no previous knowledge or ability to speak that language. The second language class is not designed to meet the needs of those students who have learned a heritage language or acquired the target language in an immersion setting. Services for these levels are provided elsewhere.