WORLD LANGUAGES

American Sign Language (ASL) is a dynamic, visual language that requires practice in order to develop muscle memory and visual acuity. Students will be signing with each other, with very little talking during class. This is a fast-paced, active class that requires active participation, regular attendance, and practice outside of class.

Prerequisites: None This course introduces students to ASL vocabulary, grammar, communication norms, and Deaf culture and history. Students will develop receptive and expressive ASL skills, cross-cultural sensitivity, and competence through varied class activities and community interactions. ASL is a dynamic, visual language that requires practice in order to develop muscle memory and visual acuity.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of ASL 1. ASL 2 is the second year of American Sign Language, focusing on a broader vocabulary, more complex grammar, and communication norms. There is also a large focus on the Deaf-Blind community, Deaf culture, and their relationship to the history of American Sign Language. Students will continue to develop and strengthen their receptive and expressive ASL skills and cross-cultural sensitivity/competence through varied classroom activities, experiences, and interactions.

Prerequisites: C or higher in ASL 2; teacher recommendation. Honors ASL 3 is a continuation of the introductory and intermediate ASL courses. Students deepen and strengthen their receptive, expressive, and extemporaneous conversational ASL skills while developing greater cross-cultural sensitivity and competence through varied class and community activities and interactions.

Prerequisites: C or higher in ASL 3; teacher recommendation. Honors ASL 4 is a continuation of the introductory and intermediate ASL courses. Students deepen and strengthen their receptive, expressive, and extemporaneous conversational ASL skills while developing greater cross-cultural sensitivity and competence through varied class and community activities and interactions. Students will also gain greater awareness of deaf culture as they further refine their skills in ASL.

Prerequisites: None This course covers the beginnings of French language and cultures of the Francophone world. Students will develop beginning communicative skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of French 1. This course is a continuation of study of French language and Francophone cultures. Students will continue to build communicative skills with more advanced grammar, and more developed skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Prerequisites: C or higher in French 2; teacher recommendation. This honors course covers more advanced topics of French language and Francophone cultures while building on conversational skills and refining writing skills. Students are also introduced to French literature in this course.

Prerequisites: C or higher in Honors French 3; teacher recommendation. This college dual credit course covers advanced French language with an emphasis on verbal and written communicative skills, as well as a continued study of French literature and a focus on the geography and culture of France. Outcomes and expectations for this course are set by Seattle University. Students who complete this course will earn 5 credits from Seattle University.

Students who move beyond the fourth year of French may elect to enroll in an independent study of AP French. If interested, please contact the Vice Principal of Academics.

Prerequisites: None This first-year course will focus on learning the phonetic system and writing simplified Chinese characters as well as using Mandarin to conduct simple conversations. There will also be opportunities to explore the Chinese culture.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Mandarin 1. Mandarin 2 continues to develop the language holistically, found in daily communication and cultural development. This content will include how East interacts with West (reflected in language) in modern times. Mandarin 2 embodies content, critical thinking, and multiple perspectives in increasing sophisticated grammar, and vocabulary.

Prerequisite: C or higher in Mandarin 2; teacher recommendation. Mandarin 3 builds on Mandarin 1 and Mandarin 2 mastery in integrated listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It challenges advanced students with more complex language features embodying graphophonics (particularly accents), syntax, and semantics. Mandarin 3 also address issues surrounding China-world relations.

Prerequisites: C or higher in Honors Mandarin 3; teacher recommendation. Mandarin 4 is an advanced class that challenges advanced students with listening, speaking, reading and writing. This course builds on Mandarin 3 mastery in vocabulary, grammar and the four essential language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Outcomes and expectations for this course are set by Seattle University. Students who complete this course will earn 5 credits from Seattle University.

Students who move beyond the fourth year of Mandarin may elect to enroll in an independent study of AP Chinese. If interested, please contact the Vice Principal of Academics.

Please note, if a student, through their family life, has had exposure to Spanish, they should register for Heritage Spanish or another World Language (ASL, French, Mandarin) as a language elective.

Prerequisites: None This course covers beginning Spanish grammar and Hispanic culture. Spanish readings emphasize grammar and culture.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish 1. This course covers intermediate Spanish grammar and Hispanic culture. Spanish readings emphasize grammar and culture.

Prerequisites: C or higher in Spanish 2; teacher recommendation. This course covers advanced-level Spanish grammar, geography and culture of Mexico, and introduction to Hispanic literature.

Prerequisites: C or higher in Spanish 3; teacher recommendation. This college-level course covers advanced-level Spanish using the UW Spanish 103 syllabus, history of Spain (from the period of its first inhabitants to present day), and introduction to Hispanic literature. ed. Outcomes and expectations for this course are set by Seattle University. Students who complete this course will earn 5 credits from Seattle University.

Prerequisites: C or higher in Spanish 4; teacher recommendation. In this course, the focus is reading and comprehension of Hispanic literature. We also continue the study of advancedlevel Spanish grammar, conversation, writing, and composition. Spanish 5 students may assist as teachers’ assistants to the Spanish department. This class is also aligned with Heritage Spanish 3.

Prerequisites: Students must already speak and understand Spanish; permission of instructor required. This course is designed to build upon the language base that students of Spanish heritage have acquired outside the educational system. This course assists students in attaining greater literacy, grammar, writing and comprehension skills in the Spanish language. Additionally, this course includes cultural awareness of the Hispanic world and is entirely taught in Spanish.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Heritage Spanish 1. This course will build on the skills acquired in Heritage Spanish 1. Students will read a variety of Spanish literature; continue to write clear, grammatically correct paragraphs; speak in order to express their advanced level of critical thinking through projects and presentations, while increasing their sophisticated grammar and vocabulary. Opportunities for further development of Hispanic culture and heritage will be explored.