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Language
We learn language to learn the human experience. The Rivers Language Department challenges students to expand their worldview by exploring and learning different languages. As global citizens, students learn to speak, write, and read other languages, deepening their understanding of diverse cultural perspectives and increasing awareness of their own. Language students solve problems, think critically, collaborate, participate, discover, and create. Students move from structured, guided environments at the beginning levels, to environments that are more open-ended and student-led at the upper levels where the expectations to demonstrate independence, initiative, and leadership in learning are the norm. Students encounter authentic experiences and primary resources in each class and at each level. In modern languages, students are immersed in the language from the beginning levels and proficiency in listening, speaking, writing, and reading sets the foundation for all classwork. In Latin, students learn to weave the grammar, language, and literature of the Roman people with culture, religion, history, and art. Through this practice, students come to understand and appreciate Rome ’ s influence on Western civilization.
FRENCH
Middle School Courses (Grades 7 and 8)
Middle School French I
This introduction to French uses proficiency-oriented materials. Emphasis is on communicative competence with the goal of developing a strong foundation in the skills necessary to understand, speak, write, and read in French. A strong grammatical foundation is balanced with varied and frequent opportunities to hone communicative proficiencies. A wide range of evaluations is used to measure student performance. Classes are conducted primarily in French. The goal of this program is to prepare students for French II in Grade 9.
Upper School Courses
Upper School French I
1 credit This introduction to French uses proficiency-oriented materials. Emphasis is on communicative competence with the goal of developing a strong foundation in the skills necessary to understand, speak, write, and read in French. A strong grammatical foundation is balanced with varied and frequent opportunities to hone communicative proficiencies. A wide range of evaluations is used to measure student performance. Classes are conducted primarily in French. Note: Depending on enrollment, Upper School French I may be taught as its own section in the Upper School, or as a combined section with the French, Grade 8 course covering the same content.
French II
1 credit Prerequisites: French I and recommendation of the department This course continues to expand upon the skills introduced in French I with a continued focus on speaking, reading, and writing exclusively in French. Introduction to cultural perspectives of the French-speaking world via video materials and readings on current events supplement and broaden students ’ knowledge of French language, customs, and cultures.
French III
1 credit Prerequisites: French II and recommendation of the department This course further develops skills introduced in French I and II. Advanced grammatical forms are studied with an emphasis on correctness of both oral and written expression. Vocabulary is organized around thematic units, and forms the basis of class discussion, written assignments, and presentations, as students are encouraged to relate thematic units to their own lives. Classes are conducted in French.
French IV or V: French Cinema and Conversation
1 credit Prerequisites: Three years of French and recommendation of the department This course uses Francophone film and selected readings to further develop students ’ oral and written proficiency, particularly in the more colloquial style found in many informal day-to-day interactions among native speakers. Through a detailed examination of each film, including its broader social context and historical background, the course challenges students to increase their awareness of the complex interaction of language and culture, further refine their grasp of French grammar, and enrich their vocabulary with a variety of new conversational skills and techniques. Serious emphasis is placed on independent, student-driven analysis, research, and presentations with the ultimate goal of building confidence in all skill areas. An overarching goal of the course is to provide students with a fun, supportive environment for linguistic experimentation, informed risk-taking, and personal growth. This course follows a two-year curriculum.
Honors French IV
1 credit Prerequisites: French III and recommendation of the department This course builds upon the work students have completed through French III and initiates a two-year sequence of preparation for the AP French Language and Culture exam. Aer an intensive review of all major aspects of grammar, students read works by a variety of authors from around the French-speaking world. Readings mirror those covered in the French IV section, but more extensive discussion and analysis are expected in this course, as is a greater sophistication of expression via creative vocabulary and precise syntax. A high degree of comfort with the language is expected, since all activities and exercises are conducted in French. Students enrolled in this course commit to a rigorous course of study and are expected to move forward on the honors track to AP French Language and Culture V. Catalog of Courses • THE RIVERS SCHOOL 43
AP French Language and Culture V
1 credit Prerequisites: Honors French IV and recommendation of the department This course is the culmination of the students ’ work on the honors track. Students continue to prepare for the AP French Language and Culture exam. Students commit to a rigorous course of study paced at the collegiate level. A high degree of sophisticated analysis is expected. Activities and exercises are conducted entirely in French. Students are required to take the AP French Language and Culture exam in May.
LATIN
Middle School Courses
Introduction to Latin, Grade 6
All sixth grade students are required to take Introduction to Latin. This course uses the Cambridge Latin Course, Unit I, a text that offers a flexible, dynamic approach to studying Latin. From the outset, students work toward developing a basic reading knowledge of the language. By reading stories set in Pompeii, 79 AD, students learn about the Roman world in a coherent and credible fashion. Students acquire translation skills and a solid introduction to the culture and customs of the Romans. They are exposed to basic forms and grammatical constructions, and to the grammatical forms and syntactical clauses common to both English and Latin. Vocabulary and derivative skills are emphasized throughout this course. Concepts presented in the sixth-grade humanities course, The World and Water, are reinforced in the Latin 6 class. Exploration of the Roman aqueduct system and water management, and the way water figures into Greek and Roman stories and myths, are also focuses of the class. There is also collaboration with the Freight Farm curriculum, as Latin students research, prepare and grow greens to be used in the annual fall Latin banquet.
Middle School Latin I
Prerequisite: Middle School Latin 6 or recommendation of the department Continuing with the Cambridge Latin Course, Units II and III, students learn the remaining noun declensions, all active forms of the indicative verb system, prepositions, adjectives, demonstrative and relative pronouns, present active and perfect participles, degrees of adjectives and adverbs, complex sentences with dependent clauses, and the forms and uses of the subjunctive mood of verbs. Students read Latin stories that present the Roman world as a coherent whole by using historical characters set in believable, everyday situations. The series focuses on life in Alexandria and Roman Britain and examines the themes of Romanization, expansion of the Roman Army, and travel and communication in the Roman Empire. Completion of the Middle School Latin program is the equivalent of Latin I.
Upper School Latin I
1 credit Using Wheelock’ s Latin textbook, students learn the five noun declensions, six verb tenses, active and passive voice, and uses of the present infinitive and imperative moods. In addition to grammar and syntax, the course introduces the mythology of the Roman gods, creation myths, and the role of heroes. The daily life of Romans as it relates to childhood, education, marriage, slavery, and games is also studied.
Latin II
1 credit Prerequisites: Latin I and recommendation of the department This course continues the student’ s grammatical and syntactical introduction to the Latin language. Continuing with Wheelock’ s Latin, students are provided with a gradual transition toward more complex Latin syntax. In this course, through readings and project-based reports, students study the history of the Roman Republic. Cultural topics include daily life in ancient Rome, as well as a deeper look at Roman mythology.
Honors Latin II
1 credit Prerequisites: Latin I and recommendation of the department In this accelerated course, students are taught via the traditional grammar translation method and complete all of the major grammatical and syntactical constructions found in Latin. During the second semester, students begin reading original Latin authors to continue on the honors track and better prepare for the AP Latin curriculum. The text for this course is Wheelock’ s Latin. Students also study the history of the late Roman Republic.
Latin III
1 credit Prerequisites: Latin II and recommendation of the department Aer completion of most major grammatical constructions, students concentrate on improving their reading skills. Through a variety of texts, students gain the ability to transition into reading original Latin authors from different literary genres. Students also design and complete projects based on the readings.
Honors Latin III
1 credit Prerequisites: Honors Latin II and recommendation of the department In this course, students will begin to transition from textbook Latin to authentic texts. Reading the poetry of Catullus and the Metamorphoses of Ovid, students will become familiar with the poetic style of Latin authors. Students will learn about the Late Republic of Rome and the rise of the Roman Empire. Emphasis will be given to reviewing grammatical constructions and building on the foundation laid in prior classes. Poetic devices, rhetorical devices, and meter scansion will be covered in this class as well.
Latin IV
Catalog of Courses • THE RIVERS SCHOOL 45
1 credit Prerequisites: Latin III and recommendation of the department Students continue to refine their ability to read Latin texts through extensive reading of adapted and original sources. Students also engage in the process of analyzing the politics of the Roman Republic and early empire and themes in Roman literature, and by extension, modern themes in literature. In particular, the archetypal “hero ’ s journey ” is explored by students through exploratory projects.
AP Latin IV
1 credit Prerequisites: Honors Latin III or Latin III and recommendation of the department Students read selections from Vergil’ s epic poem The Aeneid and Julius Caesar ’ s commentary on his military campaigns in Gaul, De Bello Gallico. Students analyze Latin in its literary, cultural, and historical context. The following themes are stressed: War and Empire, Leadership, Views on Non-Romans, History, and Memory, Human Beings and the Gods. Students considering this course should show a strong capacity for language acquisition and commit to a demanding course of study at a fast pace. Students are required to complete the AP Latin exam in May.
Honors Ancient Greek
1 credit Prerequisites: AP Latin IV or Latin IV and recommendation of the department Honors Ancient Greek introduces students to the language and culture of Classical Greece (ca. 500-300 BCE). Students use their knowledge of Latin grammar to provide a foundation for learning Ancient Greek. Due to the similar grammatical system to Latin, this course is able to move much more quickly than an introductory course. Students read excerpts from the textbook Athenaze, learn the culture of Classical Greece, look at material culture from the ancient world, and learn about other cultures with which the Greeks interacted. Students considering this course should show a strong capacity for language acquisition and should commit to a demanding, fast-paced course of study.
MANDARIN
Mandarin I
1 credit Prerequisite: Permission of the department This course provides students with the basic tools for speaking, reading, writing, and understanding Mandarin Chinese (also known as Modern Standard Chinese or putonghua). The language is approached from several angles. First, students familiarize themselves with Pinyin Romanization, a system of phonetic transcription. Character recognition, writing, and typing are then gradually introduced as students become increasingly familiar with Chinese pronunciation and intonation. Lastly, these two approaches are combined with thematic vocabulary and key grammatical building blocks to promote communication and self-expression across a variety of language scenarios. The course places a major emphasis on constant interaction between students in the form of conversations, discussions, games, and contests.
Mandarin II
1 credit Prerequisite: Mandarin I or recommendation of the department The primary objective of this course is to build upon the conceptual foundations established in the introductory course. Previously studied content is reviewed and applied to new contexts and language situations; the grammar, vocabulary, characters, and pronunciation skills acquired in the first-year course are developed and broadened through the introduction of new topics, themes, and materials drawn from a variety of sources. Special emphasis is placed on pronunciation, recognizing and typing characters without the crutch of Pinyin, and the use of more grammatically sophisticated sentences in both speech and writing. A major theme of the year is the analysis of an increasing number of unfamiliar (drawn from outside the textbook) readings, audio recordings, and film excerpts to better prepare students for unscripted communication with native speakers.
Mandarin III
1 credit Prerequisite: Mandarin II This course is an opportunity for students to apply the foundational skills acquired in the first and second levels in meaningful linguistic contexts, with a heavy emphasis placed on reading, viewing, researching, and listening to materials intended for native speakers of the language. Such “ contexts ” may include an online chat or phone conversation with a native speaker in Beijing or Taiwan, a debate concerning a philosophical or moral issue of interest to students, in-depth multimedia presentations, or a comprehensive research project. Students simultaneously continue to develop their reading efficiency, compositional skills, oral fluency, and listening comprehension with the aid of numerous exercises and assignments selected from the textbook and other sources, both analog and digital. Materials used in class may range from news broadcasts and podcasts to magazine articles, advertisements, short stories, and excerpts from famous literary works. Using dialogues and essays excerpted from the text as a starting point, students are frequently asked to think creatively and push themselves beyond their comfort zone in the language.
Mandarin IV or V
1 credit Prerequisite: Mandarin III This course is conducted almost exclusively in the target language; students are expected and encouraged to express themselves without relying on English. The course relies heavily on authentic materials to supplement textbook content. Students simultaneously continue to develop their reading efficiency, compositional skills, oral fluency, and listening comprehension with the aid of numerous exercises and assignments selected from the textbook and other sources, both analog and digital. Assignments require a greater degree of creativity, initiative, and organization and are considerably more complex than those of a standard fourth-year class. Finally, greater emphasis is placed on student-to-student and group interaction in the classroom and through varied mediums of communication.
SPANISH
Middle School Courses (Grades 7 and 8)
Middle School Spanish I
This introduction to Spanish uses proficiency-oriented materials. Emphasis is on communicative competency with the goal of developing a strong foundation in the skills necessary to understand, speak, write, and read in Spanish. A strong grammatical foundation is balanced with varied and frequent opportunities to hone communicative proficiencies. A wide range of evaluations is used to measure student performance. Classes are conducted primarily in Spanish.
Spanish for Bilingual Speakers
Prerequisites: Recommendation of the department This course is designed for students in grades 7 and 8, for whom Spanish is a first language or who have an advanced language capacity coming from a language immersion experience. Students focus on learning grammar and vocabulary through the exploration of topics including social justice, geography of the Spanish-speaking world, human rights, and literature. The purpose of this course is to give students more opportunities to speak, read, and write in Spanish while providing them with insights into the Spanish-speaking world. Emphasis is on developing reading, writing, and conversational skills for students who are proficient in verbal Spanish. For students entering in seventh grade, this is a two-year course. This course is designed to prepare students to transition into Honors Spanish Literature in the Upper School and is conducted entirely in Spanish.
Upper School Spanish I
1 credit See description above. Upper School Courses
Spanish II
1 credit Prerequisite: Spanish I This course continues to expand upon the skills introduced in Spanish I. Students are encouraged to think more idiomatically and to express themselves in Spanish with more creativity and precision. Vocabulary study is more extensive, as are reading and writing assignments. Oral and written projects are required. Classes are conducted in Spanish.
Honors Spanish II
1 credit Prerequisites: Spanish I and recommendation of the department This section covers second-year material at a faster pace and in more sophisticated detail than in the non-honors sections. Students need to show a strong capacity for language acquisition in order to be comfortable speaking, reading, and writing Catalog of Courses • THE RIVERS SCHOOL 48
exclusively in Spanish. Students in this section are expected to move forward on the honors track in subsequent years with a final goal of mastering the AP curriculum.
Spanish III
1 credit Prerequisites: Spanish II and recommendation of the department This course further develops skills introduced in Spanish I and II. Advanced grammatical forms are studied with an emphasis on correctness of both oral and written expression. Readings are chosen from the works of Hispanic authors. Vocabulary, organized around thematic units, forms the basis of class discussion, presentations, and debate, as students are encouraged to relate thematic units to their own lives. Course requirements include oral projects and papers written in Spanish. Classes are conducted in Spanish.
Honors Spanish III
1 credit Prerequisites: Honors Spanish II and recommendation of the department This section covers third-year material at a faster pace and in more sophisticated detail than the non-honors sections. Students need to show a strong capacity for language acquisition and a commitment to working at a fast pace. Emphasis on advanced grammar and vocabulary development aids the student in communicating in both written and oral form with creativity and precision. Students in this section are expected to move forward on the honors track in subsequent years with the final goal of mastering the AP curriculum.
Spanish IV
1 credit Prerequisites: Spanish III and recommendation of the department This course is designed for serious students of Spanish. A review of all major aspects of grammar, readings from works by a variety of authors from around the Spanish-speaking world, and vocabulary presented in thematic units are springboards for increasing communicative proficiencies. Readings and discussions of current events supplement and broaden the student’ s language experience. Oral projects and individual research refine vocabulary and grammar usage and expose students to cultures surrounding the language. All classroom activities are conducted in Spanish.
Honors Spanish IV
1 credit Prerequisites: Honors Spanish III and recommendation of the department This course continues the work students have done in Honors Spanish III. An intensive review of all major aspects of grammar aids students in speaking and writing with precision. Great attention is paid to the development of a broad and rich vocabulary and the application of this vocabulary to communicative and writing exercises in a variety of contexts. Students read a variety of authentic source materials in Spanish. A high degree of comfort with the language is expected, as is the capacity to process and produce language with speed and accuracy. Students are expected to use Spanish exclusively in class and to look for ways to extend the use of Spanish beyond class. Students in this section are expected to move forward on the honors track to AP Spanish V.
Interdisciplinary Spanish V
1 credit. Cross-listed with Interdisciplinary Studies Prerequisites: Spanish IV and recommendation of the department In this interdisciplinary Spanish course, students examine the reasons why cultures and individuals create narratives and art that serve as an escape from reality. Through the lens of fantasy, students learn how societies develop different types of government and how they affect political regimes, countries, and people. Students also learn the theory and structure of fairy tales and use them to write tales of their own, leading them to question their purpose and find similarities and differences between different versions of the same stories. Students think critically about the time periods in which they were written, assessing how a story changes when told from different points of view. This course aims to refine grammatical points and vocabulary to achieve creative and precise expression, while drawing from history, political science, economics, literature, and art. All activities are conducted entirely in Spanish.
AP Spanish Language V
1 credit Prerequisites: Honors Spanish IV and recommendation of the department This course concludes the student’ s work on the honors track. Students continue to hone skills and to prepare for the AP Spanish Language exam. Students taking this class need to commit to a rigorous course of study paced at the collegiate level. Students are required to take the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam in May.
Honors Spanish Literature
1 credit This course is designed for students in grades 9 through 12 for whom Spanish is a first language. In this class, students focus on the learning of grammar and vocabulary through the analysis and discussion of various literary works originating from several different Spanish-speaking countries. The purpose of this course is to give students more opportunities to speak, read, and write in their mother tongue while providing them with cultural and historical insights of the Spanish-speaking world. Students may take this course for multiple years as the curriculum is different each year. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.
Summer Elective
Cádiz: At the Intersection of History and Contemporary Spain
0.5 credits. Cross-listed with Interdisciplinary Studies This course is an opportunity for advanced and highly motivated Rivers language students to immerse themselves in the language and life of Spain by living with Spanish families and studying both in and outside of the traditional classroom setting. While in Cádiz, students attend daily classes taught by teachers who are native to Spain and travel with Rivers Language faculty to sites of pivotal significance in the evolution of contemporary culture. Field classes are designed to connect directly to students ’ Rivers classes in the winter and spring prior to departure and to their morning and aernoon classes while in Cádiz. Students explore history, religion, architecture and art and consider the confluence of time, place, and culture as they have created our present-day world. Work and learning in Spain are intensive and take place seven days a week. All work is conducted entirely in Spanish. This program Catalog of Courses • THE RIVERS SCHOOL 50
culminates in a capstone project designed by the student in which the student further examines one aspect of culture or history from the view of multiple academic disciplines. Criteria for selection for this program are demonstrated academic commitment, demonstrated effort and enthusiasm in the classroom, maturity and reliability as demonstrated in the student’ s interactions at Rivers, the ability to function in Spanish at an advanced intermediate level, and personal essays. Sophomores and juniors selected for the program commit to weekly preparation classes beginning in late January until departure for Cádiz in mid-June.
