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WORLD LANGUAGE

Students are required to complete two consecutive years of the same world language in grades 9-12 for graduation and are encouraged to take a third and fourth year. Students who successfully complete language courses in grade 8 must still complete two consecutive years to fulfill upper school college preparatory requirements.

• Most students who have made satisfactory progress in the Middle School (as evidenced through grades and proficiency testing) should enter 9th grade at the Intermediate Level (Level 3- IL or Level 4H-IM1).

• Some students may require a bit more time to reach Intermediate and will be recommended to Level 2.

• Students may choose to begin a different language in Level 1, although this will significantly limit their ultimate achievement, as honors and AP courses require a proficiency level that takes several years to build.

World Language (2 credits required)

In French and Spanish, students develop abilities to listen, speak, read, and write in the world language, gaining proficiency throughout the course of study. The main objective is oral and written communication. Courses are taught predominantly in the target language. Cultural aspects of Francophone and Hispanic civilizations are woven into the curriculum in order to develop intercultural awareness.

Latin courses offer a classical approach to the same objectives, studying grammar and vocabulary, and reading the great classical works as a vehicle to proficiency. In addition, students learn about the culture of ancient civilizations as well as the connections to the modern world and modern languages.

Upper level world language courses offer college-level exposure, especially in the three AP courses offered. A number of hosting and travel opportunities are sponsored by the world language department, which foster an authentic experience not possible in the classroom.

COURSE OPTIONS:

French 1

French 2

French 3

French 4 (H)

French 5 (H)

French 6 (H)

AP French Language & Culture

French Film, Literature & Music*

Spanish 1

Spanish 2

Spanish 3

Spanish 4 (H)

Spanish 5 (H)

Spanish 6 (H)

AP Spanish Language & Culture

Contemporary Spanish Language & Music*

Spanish Culture through Film*

Latin 1

Latin 2

Latin 3

Latin 4 (H)

Latin 5 (H)

Latin 6 (H)

AP Latin

Classical Mythology*

Global Languag: Acquisition**

*One-semester course

** ½ credit as an elective. Does not replace the two full credits of French, Spanish, or Latin. May be taken for two semesters.

FRENCH I

1 Credit

French 1 is an introduction to the French language and Francophone culture. Communication in the target language is emphasized. Novice high proficiency in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes is the goal for this course. Through the study of other cultures, students will gain a greater degree of intercultural proficiency and global awareness.

FRENCH 2

1 Credit

French 2 is a continuation of French 1, expanding proficiency to include all novice contexts in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication. The study of Francophone culture continues.

FRENCH 3

1 Credit

This course builds communicative proficiency even further. Students begin creating with language, achieving Intermediate proficiency. Students will refine listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Studies deepen their understanding of their own culture and others.

FRENCH 4 (H)

1 Credit

This course seeks to expand communicative abilities even further. Intermediate Mid proficiency in Interpretive, Interpersonal and Presentational modes is the goal for this course. Students will refine listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and will further develop their interculturality.

FRENCH 5(H)

1 Credit

In French 5(H), students begin to engage in more advanced communication, attaining Intermediate Mid II proficiency. In this course, French is less the object of study and more the vehicle in which students engage with the world around them. The class will read and write more extensively in preparation for Level 6(H) or AP French Language and Culture.

FRENCH 6(H)

1 Credit

In French 6(H), students speak, write, read, and understand at the Advanced level. They have a deep understanding of francophone cultures and make comparisons with their own culture.

AP FRENCH LANGUAGE & CULTURE 1 Credit

This course is an advanced study of language and culture of the Francophone world with concentration on perfecting interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication. Fluency and accuracy in French are developed within and across a wide variety of contexts. The course is conducted entirely in French. Course themes include global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, families and communities, and beauty and aesthetics.

SPANISH 2 1 Credit

Spanish 2 is a continuation of Spanish 1, expanding proficiency to include all novice contexts in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication. The study of cultures of Spanishspeaking communities continues.

SPANISH 3 1 Credit

FRENCH FILM, LITERATURE, & MUSIC ½ Credit

This course will continue to develop proficiency in French through an examination of the thematic units, as seen through the lens of contemporary film, contemporary music, and selected literature. Students enrolling in the course will help set the themes prior to the semester, and will also help drive the content. The course is suitable for pre-AP, post-AP, or as an elective capstone course beyond French 5(H) or French 6(H). This course may be taken in the fall, spring, or both.

SPANISH 1 1 Credit

Spanish 1 is an introduction to the Spanish language and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. Communication in the target language is emphasized. Novice high proficiency in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes is the goal for this course. Through the study of other cultures, students will gain a greater degree of intercultural proficiency and global awareness.

This course expands communicative proficiency even further. Students begin creating with language, achieving Intermediate proficiency. Students will refine listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Studies deepen their understanding of their own culture and others.

SPANISH 4 (H) 1 Credit

This course seeks to expand communicative abilities even further. Intermediate Mid proficiency in Interpretive, Interpersonal and Presentational modes is the goal for this course. Students will refine listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and will further develop their interculturality.

SPANISH 5(H) 1 Credit

In Spanish 5(H), students begin to engage in more advanced communication, attaining Intermediate Mid II proficiency. In this course, Spanish is less the object of study and more the vehicle in which students engage with the world around them. The class will read and write more extensively in preparation for Level 6(H) or AP Spanish Language and Culture.

SPANISH 6 (H) 1 Credit

In Spanish 6(H), students speak, write, read, and understand at the Advanced level. They have a deep understanding of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world and make comparisons with their own culture.

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE 1 Credit

This course is an advanced study of language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world with concentration on perfecting interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication. Fluency and accuracy in Spanish are developed within and across a wide variety of contexts. The course is conducted entirely in Spanish. Course themes include global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, families and communities, and beauty and aesthetics.

CONTEMPORARY SPANISH LANGUAGE & MUSIC ½ Credit

This course uses Spanish music to increase communicative competence in the Spanish language. Students will study popular cultural trends and concepts mainly related to Spanish youth. Course is conducted entirely in Spanish.

SPANISH CULTURE THROUGH FILM ½ Credit

Students in this course watch Spanish movies and documentaries to learn culture, colloquial vocabulary, customs, and literature. Students will increase communicative competence and will explore popular cultural trends from different Spanish-speaking countries. Students will explore films and documentaries from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, and other Spanish-speaking countries. Course is conducted entirely in Spanish.

Latin 1

1 Credit

Latin 1 is an introduction to the language, culture, history, and mythology of the Roman people and their interactions with the world around them. Students will build interpretive reading skills through a study of grammar and vocabulary within a cultural context. Cross-cultural competence is fostered through learning not only about the legacy of Roman culture in western society, but the diversity of the Roman Empire and its surroundings.

Latin 2

1 Credit

Latin 2 is a continuation of Latin 1, as students expand their abilities with the language, culture, history, and mythology of the Roman people, and their interactions with the world around them. Students will attain Novice High interpretive reading skills through language use and study of grammar and vocabulary with a cultural context. Cross-cultural competence is expanded.

Latin 3

1 Credit

Latin 3 continues the emphasis of Latin 1 and 2 in the study of language, culture, history, and mythology of the Roman people. Students continue to grow in their interpretive reading and intercultural skills, reading a variety of stories in an ancient context and comparing ancient literature, history, and physical culture to modern. Students reach intermediate proficiency and intercultural competence.

LATIN 4 (H)

1 Credit

Latin 4(H) begins to move beyond the textbook and transitions students to reading selections from a variety of Roman authors, both prose and poetry. The course mainly focuses on literature from the turmoil of the 1st century BC as Rome plunges into civil war in transition from Republic to Empire. Roman values and political topics are compared to modern issues and students discuss persuasive writing and oratory in Rome and present-day America.

LATIN 5 (H)

1 Credit

Latin 5(H) represents the transition to more advanced proficiency, as students read and understand selections from a variety of Roman authors in preparation for Latin 6(H) or AP Latin. In addition to the standard Latin 5(H) students go more in-depth into the literature they read. A focus is placed on grammar, syntax, and authorial voice and its effect on the reader.

LATIN 6(H)

1 Credit

This course could be a pre-AP or post AP course. Latin 6(H) is a survey of Latin literature across genres and time periods, including Christian and medieval Latin. Texts read vary from year to year as the students help dictate what topics they would like to explore.

Ap Latin

1 Credit

This is an intensive study of two Roman texts: Virgil’s Aeneid and Julius Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War. This course emphasizes vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and literary criticism within the historical and political climate of the 1st century BC.

CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY (Not offered in 2022-23)

½ Credit

Classical Mythology serves to give the students a background into many of the stories from ancient Greece and Rome, which have continued to influence modern literature, culture, and the art of all periods. Students will learn how the myths are not only entertaining, but also illustrate many themes which are as applicable now as they were in ancient times.

GLOBAL LANGUAGE: ACQUISITION

½ Credit

After a brief introduction to world language families, language evolution, linguistics, and writing systems, students will begin a guided, independent study to acquire a third language – nearly any world language of their choosing. Students will collaborate with native speakers within their community to gain language skills and cultural awareness.

Any student interested in this class needs to speak with the instructor in person and may need an application. Prerequisites for this course are two years of French, Spanish, or Latin.

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