WORLD LANGUAGES

The World Language Department believes in the immersion method and therefore all French and Spanish classes are conducted in the target language.

Students will explore French and Spanish culture by singing, baking, arts and crafts, movies, television and documentaries. They will also be exposed to French and Spanish culture outside the classroom through cultural outings such as bakeries and restaurant visits, concerts, museum visits and other places of merit.

World Language Program Highlights

The entire World Language Department will celebrate Mardi Gras by wearing masks and costumes, baking and eating crepes and other Mardi Gras culinary specialties. The French students will parade for the entire school. International week, sponsored by the World Language Department, is held each spring. The entire school comes together to celebrate our rich diversity of cultures in our school. Students share their heritage through a talent show and food.

411 French Language and Culture II Honors

Grade: 9 • Full Year • 1 Credit

This French course is for the intermediate student who has had a consistent exposure to the French language and its culture in their previous middle and/or elementary years. Students at this level come with basic conversational, reading, writing and listening skills in topics such as greetings, school life, family members, pastimes and sports. In addition, the expectation is that students will be comfortable and participate in this full immersion class. Students also come with some knowledge of French speaking culture. They will expand their knowledge with new projects in which they will be comfortable doing research about the French speaking world.

412 French Language and Culture II

Grade: 9 • Full Year • 1 Credit

This French course is for the beginning student as well as for the student with some previous exposure to foreign language in elementary school. It is designed so that students will use the language in simple structures from the first day. Communication is stressed along with the use of complete sentence structures. Listening, reading and writing skills in the target language will also be developed. Information on French culture is an integral part of each chapter. At the end of the third quarter, students will be evaluated for placement into either the college preparatory or honors level of the second year of study. NDA is committed to total immersion in the World Language classroom. The second semester of the first year will be conducted in French as much as possible. Examples of cultural engagement in the classroom include singing, baking, movies, television and documentaries. Students are also exposed to French culture outside the classroom through cultural outings such as concerts.

430 French Language and Culture III Honors

Grade: 10 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: French II Honors

This is a challenging course for the advanced student who is enthusiastic about the study of French. Development of the four language skills continues. Students will read Le Petit Prince. As a final project, they write a children’s book on a theme from the novel and illustrate it. Oral presentations on topics of interest are also an integral part of the curriculum, especially during the second semester. This is a total immersion course. All instruction will be in French, and students are expected to speak French at all times while in the classroom. Examples of cultural engagement in the classroom include singing, baking, movies, television and documentaries. Students are also exposed to French culture outside the classroom through cultural outings such as bakery visits.

431 French Language and Culture III

Grade: 10 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: French II

Development of the four language skills continues. Students will read Le Petit Prince by Saint-Exupéry. As a final project, students write a children’s book on a theme from the novel and illustrate it. Oral presentations on topics of interest are also an integral part of the curriculum, especially during the second semester. This is a total immersion course. All instruction will be in French, and students are expected to speak French at all times while in the classroom. Examples of cultural engagement in the classroom include singing, baking, movies, television and documentaries. Students are also exposed to French culture outside the classroom through cultural outings such as bakery visits.

468 French Language and Culture IV Honors

Grade: 11 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: French III Honors

At this level, students will acquire a degree of independence that will allow them to construct arguments to defend their opinion, explain their viewpoint and negotiate. They will improve their degree of fluency and spontaneity in regular interactions and will be capable of correcting their own mistakes.

This is an advanced French course. Students will read “Huis Clos” by Jean-Paul Sartre and some poetry written by prominent Francophone poets. Students will analyze and discuss cultural themes and make connections to other literature works and their own experiences. There will be limited review of grammar. The course is taught in French. Students are expected to communicate at all times in French during class.

470 French Language and Culture IV

Grade: 11 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: French III

Students will acquire a certain degree of independence that will allow them to construct arguments to defend their opinion, explain their viewpoint and negotiate. Students will read short novels and poetry written by prominent Francophone writers and poets. Students will analyze and discuss cultural themes and make connections to other literature works and their own experiences. There will be a review of grammar. The course is taught in French. Students are expected to communicate at all times in French during class. Cultural field trips and interdisciplinary projects with the art department are a part of the curriculum.

451 French V Honors

Grade Level: 12 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: French IV CP or above

This course continues to enhance the students’ four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. These skills will be reinforced by introducing authentic literary texts, watching films, studying advanced grammar, writing essays, and making oral presentations. Students will analyze and discuss different themes and cultural aspects in the readings as well as make cultural connections with their own communities. All instruction will be in French. Students are expected to speak French at all times while in the classroom.

452 AP French Language and Culture

Grade: 12 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: French III Honors

Students who take Advanced Placement French Language and Culture and pass the exam with a 3 or higher will have mastered skills equivalent to those of a 5th or 6th semester college student in French Language. In this course students will show mastery of all aspects of fluency including presentational and personal speaking and writing, as well as listening and reading skills from a multitude of French language sources. Students will continue to develop critical thinking skills and cultural awareness on a variety of topics including science and technology, aesthetics and beauty, and contemporary issues. Students will be prepared to sit for the French Language and Culture Advanced Placement exam in May. Cultural field trips and interdisciplinary projects with the art department are a part of the curriculum.

413 Spanish Language and Culture II Honors

Grade: 9 • Full Year • 1 Credit

This Spanish course is for the intermediate student who has had a consistent exposure to the Spanish language and its culture in her/his previous middle and/or elementary years. Students at this level come with basic conversational, reading, writing, and listening skills in topics such as greetings, school life, family members, pastimes, and sports. In addition, the expectation is that students will be comfortable speaking in the target language and participate in this full immersion class. NDA is committed to total immersion in the World Language classroom. Students also come with some knowledge of the Spanish speaking culture. Students expand their cultural knowledge with new projects in which they will be comfortable doing research about the Spanish speaking world. In the classroom, students will engage with cultural videos, authentic TV clips, and short films. Additional cultural engagement in the classroom includes hands-on holiday crafts at Christmas, making sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead in October and November and exploring Easter traditions throughout Latin America and Spain. Students are also exposed to Latin American and Peninsular music and art outside the classroom through museum visits and cultural outings.

414 Spanish Language and Culture II

Grade: 9 • Full Year • 1 Credit

This Spanish course is for the beginner student as well as for the student with some previous exposure to the Spanish language in elementary/ middle school. It teaches the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. This course is designed so that students will use Spanish from the very first day. The study of Hispanic cultures begins at this level. At the end of the third quarter, students will be evaluated for placement into either the college preparatory or honors level for the following year. NDA is committed to total immersion in the World Language classroom. In the classroom, students will engage with cultural videos, authentic TV clips, and short films. Additional cultural engagement in the classroom includes hands-on holiday crafts at Christmas, making sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead in October and November and exploring Easter traditions throughout Latin America and Spain. Students are also exposed to Latin American and Peninsular music and art outside the classroom through museum visits and cultural outings.

423 Spanish Language and Culture III Honors

Grade: 10 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Spanish II Honors

This class continues the development of the five language skills: reading, writing, speaking, grammar and listening comprehension. Advanced grammar concepts and vocabulary will be implemented to all the skills. This is a total immersion course. All instruction will be in Spanish, and students are expected to always speak Spanish while in the classroom. Students will learn more about the Hispanic cultures through an innovative video program which provides authentic contemporary short films by Hispanic filmmakers. Additional cultural engagement in the classroom includes hands-on holiday crafts at Christmas, making sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead and exploring Easter traditions. Students are also exposed to Latin American and Peninsular music and art outside the classroom through museum visits and cultural outings.

424 Spanish Language and Culture III

Grade: 10 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Spanish II

The language skills begun in 9th grade Spanish are further developed through the introduction of more advanced grammar and vocabulary. Speaking patterns of greater difficulty are required along with more challenging reading, writing and listening comprehension. The study of Hispanic cultures continues. This is a total immersion course. All instruction will be in Spanish, and students are expected to speak Spanish at all times while in the classroom. Examples of cultural engagement in the classroom include hands on holiday crafts for Christmas, the Day of the Dead and Easter. Students are also exposed to Latin American and Peninsular music and art outside the classroom through museum visits and cultural outings.

433 Spanish Language and Culture IV Honors

Grade: 11 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Spanish III Honors

Spanish IV Honors is a challenging course for the advanced student who is enthusiastic about the study of Spanish. Development of the four language skills continues. All grammar concepts are covered in this course. Oral and written communication is stressed. Students are required to write compositions and do research in the target language. Students’ understanding of Hispanic literature and cultures continues to be enriched. This is a total immersion course. All instruction will be in Spanish and students are expected to speak Spanish at all times while in the classroom. All cultural exposure from 9th and 10th grade continues with a more in depth look at music, art and literature. Students are exposed to Latin American, Chicano and Peninsular authors such as Horacio Quiroga, Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Márquez, Miguel de Cervantes, Emilia Pardo Bazan, and Sandra Cisneros. Cultural field trips and interdisciplinary projects with the art department are a part of the curriculum.

434 Spanish Language and Culture IV

Grade: 11 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Spanish III

Spanish IV is a continuation of Spanish III. Development of the five language skills is continued with a greater stress on more complex reading and writing. Students will be given written and oral tasks to complete with each chapter. The study of Hispanic cultures continues. This is a total immersion course. All instruction will be in Spanish, and students are expected to speak Spanish at all times while in the classroom. All cultural exposure from 9th and 10th grade continues with a more in depth look at music, art and literature. Students are exposed to Latin American, Chicano and Peninsular authors such as Horacio Quiroga, Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Márquez, Miguel de Cervantes, Emilia Pardo Bazan, and Sandra Cisneros. Cultural field trips and interdisciplinary projects with the art department are a part of the curriculum.

450 AP Spanish Language and Culture

Grade: 12 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Spanish IV Honors

Students who take Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture and pass the exam with a 3 or higher will have mastered skills equivalent to those of a 5th or 6th semester college student in Spanish Language. In this course students will show mastery of all aspects of fluency including presentational and personal speaking and writing, as well as listening and reading skills from a multitude of Hispanic language sources. Students will continue to develop critical thinking skills and cultural awareness on a variety of topics including science and technology, aesthetics and beauty, and contemporary issues.

Students will be prepared to sit for the Spanish Language and Culture Advanced Placement exam in May. Cultural experiences in the classroom include guided visits to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, local restaurant outings, cooking classes at school, hands on holiday crafts, authentic target language film and documentary analysis and a limited exposure of Latin American and Peninsular literature.

454 Spanish V CP

Grade 12 • Full Year • 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Spanish IV CP or above

This course continues to enhance the students’ four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. These skills will be reinforced by introducing authentic literary texts, watching films, studying advanced grammar, writing essays, and making oral presentations. Students will analyze and discuss different themes and cultural aspects in the readings as well as make cultural connections with their own communities. All instruction will be in Spanish. Students are expected to speak Spanish at all times while in the classroom.