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UPPER SCHOOL WORLD LANGUAGE COURSES
Students must complete either three consecutive years of a single language in the Upper School at Walker’s or Level 3 (Latin)/Level 4 (French, Spanish), whichever comes first. Students may take Advanced twice, provided the course title and content is different. Students may enroll in more than one language simultaneously, schedule permitting.
Advanced courses are offered in partnership with the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the University of Connecticut. These courses are taught by Walker’s faculty and have been certified as college-level by UConn. Students enrolled in an Advanced language course will have the opportunity to register for college credits, receiving a UConn transcript along with their Walker’s transcript upon graduation.
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Latin 1
Open to Grades 8-12
Credit: 1
What is Ancient Rome, and why do we care? In this first-year course, students will learn about the ancient world through geography, mythology, history, archaeology, and, of course, language. Through short readings, plays, and cartoons, students will become comfortable interacting with Latin prose. Special attention will also be given to the context of the ancient world.
Latin 2
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
In Latin 2, students begin to go deeper with their Latin language skills, learning more challenging and sophisticated grammatical concepts. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Latin 1 and engage in the target language with greater ease. Students are assessed through reading novellas of increasing length and difficulty, and explore. Prerequisite: Latin 1.
Latin 3
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of Latin 2. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Latin 2 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to read and understand increasingly complex sentences and will be able to comfortably negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts. Novellas will explore topics in mythology and Roman history. Prerequisite: Latin 2.
ADVANCED LATIN: ANCIENT STEM: AN EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
ECE Course: CAM 3102: Topics in Advanced Latin
Open to Grades 10-12
Credit: 1
This course will look at historical writings about the science of Ancient Rome spanning from the Roman republic to the late Roman empire. Students will be required to annotate, rather than simply translate, texts to demonstrate their understanding of the material and to ask questions about the material. Topics will include ancient art and mosaics, sundials and the keeping of time, and architecture. Prerequisite: Latin 3 or the equivalent.
Spanish 1
Open to Grades 8-12
Credit: 1
This course serves as an introduction to the Spanish language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of the year, learners will be able to talk about very familiar topics: themselves; the weather; their likes, dislikes, and preferences; their families and homes; their favorite pastimes and hobbies; what they did over the past weekend as well as what they are going to do over the next weekend; what they want to do versus what they can or must do, as well as developing the ability to negotiate meaning in unfamiliar contexts.
Spanish 2
Open to Grades 8-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Spanish 1 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in complete sentences on a variety of familiar topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include what they were doing or used to do and what they will do. Learners will continue to develop the ability to negotiate meaning in unfamiliar contexts. Prerequisite: Spanish 1.
Spanish 3
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of Spanish 2. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Spanish 2 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in increasingly complex sentences on a variety of everyday topics, topics of personal interest, and studied topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include what they should/could/ would have done, what they would/could/should do, necessity, opinions, and feelings. Learners will be able to comfortably negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts. Prerequisite: Spanish 2.
Spanish 4
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of Spanish 3. Learners will examine the history, contemporary life, art, and culture of Spain and Latin America, while reinforcing and building upon the skills developed in levels 1-3. This course uses authentic literature and film to expose students to Spanish and Latin American perspectives as well as the importance of Spanish in the United States. Learners are expected to make cultural comparisons, participate in individual and group analysis, and draw conclusions about historical and current events. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves fully and spontaneously in paragraph-length language on a wide variety of everyday topics as well as topics of personal or general interest. Learners will be able to formulate and support hypotheses, make arguments, and sustain narration in multiple time frames. Students will be able to negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts with confidence. Prerequisite: Spanish 3.
Honors Spanish 4
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
Learners who are interested in earning Honors credit are required to complete independently motivated work. This work encompasses tasks using all appropriate modes of communication: interpretive reading, interpretive listening, presentational writing and speaking, and interpersonal speaking. Additionally, learners who wish to earn Honors credit will be held to higher expectations on assessments. Prerequisite: Spanish 3 and departmental approval.
ADVANCED SPANISH: SPANISH COMPOSITION
ECE Course: SPAN 3178: Intermediate Composition
Open to Grades 11-12
Credit: 1
This course provides a thorough review of grammar and methodical practice in composition leading to command of practical idioms and vocabulary. Additionally, students in this course will develop an understanding and awareness of the Spanish-speaking world's diverse cultures through the study of journalistic and literary works and other works of art created by authors and artists from Spain and Latin America. Students will continue the development of the four language skills: listening, writing, speaking, and reading. Authentic materials are often used to practice these skills in the classroom. Group discussions, songs, movies, magazines, newspapers, and the internet are all used to help students broaden their vocabulary, increase fluency, and deepen their knowledge of Spanish grammar. Prerequisite: Spanish 4 or Honors Spanish 4.
French 1
Open to Grades 8-12
Credit: 1
This course serves as an introduction to the French language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of the year, learners will be able to talk about very familiar topics: themselves; the weather; their likes, dislikes, and preferences; their families and homes; their favorite pastimes and hobbies; what they did over the past weekend as well as what they are going to do over the next weekend; and what they want to do versus what they can or must do. Learners will develop the ability to negotiate meaning in unfamiliar contexts.
French 2
Open to Grades 8-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of French 1. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in French 1 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in complete sentences on a variety of familiar topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include: what they were doing or used to do and what they will do. Prerequisite: French 1.
French 3
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of French 2. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in French 2 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in increasingly complex sentences on a variety of everyday topics, topics of personal interest, and studied topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include what they should/could/ would have done, what they would/could/should do, as well as expressing counterfactuals, necessity, opinions, and feelings. Learners will be able to comfortably negotiate meaning in a range of unfamiliar contexts. Prerequisite: French 2.
French 4
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
This course is a continuation of French 3. Learners will examine the history, contemporary life, art, and culture of the French-speaking world, while reinforcing and building upon the skills developed in levels 1-3. This course uses authentic literature and film to expose learners to diverse Francophone perspectives. Learners are expected to make cultural comparisons, participate in individual and group analysis, and draw conclusions about historical and current events. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves fully and spontaneously in paragraph-length language on a wide variety of everyday topics as well as topics of personal or general interest. Learners will be able to formulate and support hypotheses, make arguments, and sustain narration in multiple time frames. Students will be able to negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts with confidence. Prerequisite: French 3.
Honors French 4
Open to Grades 9-12
Credit: 1
Learners who are interested in earning Honors credit are required to complete independently motivated work. This work encompasses tasks using all appropriate modes of communication: interpretive reading, interpretive listening, presentational writing and speaking, and interpersonal speaking. Additionally, learners who wish to earn Honors credit will be held to higher expectations on assessments. Prerequisite: French 3 and departmental approval.
ADVANCED FRENCH: CULTURES OF THE FRENCH-SPEAKING WORLD
ECE Course: FREN 3250: Global Culture I
Open to Grades 11-12
Credit: 1
In this course, students will hone their listening and speaking skills by engaging with the diverse cultures of the French-speaking world. Students will enrich their vocabulary and develop their ability to inform, explain, persuade, and narrate in French with greater accuracy, fluency, and complexity. Speaking practice will include class discussions, debates, and oral presentations. At the same time, students will learn about the richness and diversity of the French-speaking world through written texts (e.g., fiction, articles, poetry), oral texts (e.g., interviews, podcasts), radio and television segments, cinema, music, and art. The course will be conducted entirely in French. Prerequisite: French 4 or Honors French 4.
ADVANCED FRENCH: LITERATURE AND CULTURE OF THE FRENCH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN
Open to Grades 10-12
Credit: 1
This course focuses on the literature and culture of the French-speaking Caribbean. Students will continue to hone their linguistic skills by engaging with some of the French-speaking Caribbean’s most important literary figures, including Maryse Condé (Guadeloupe), Aimé Césaire (Martinique), and René Depestre (Haiti). In addition to literary texts, students will examine the painting, music, history, and politics of the region. Students enrolling in this course must have considerable competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in French. The linguistic focus of this course is increased fluency, accuracy, and complexity in all modes of communication. Prerequisite: French 4 or Honors French 4 and departmental approval.
ADVANCED FRENCH: PARIS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Open to Grades 10-12
Credit: 1
This course focuses on the history, architecture, and culture of Paris from its humble Roman beginnings to present-day initiatives that look toward a sustainable future. Students will continue to hone their linguistic skills by reading historical documents, articles, and literary works (drama, poetry, and prose) as well as by analyzing maps, paintings, and photographs. Students enrolling in this course must have considerable competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in French and a willingness to refine their French through significant independent work. The linguistic focus of this course is increased fluency, accuracy, and complexity in all modes of communication: presentational, interpersonal, and interpretive. Prerequisite: French 4 or Honors French 4 and departmental approval.
At Walker’s, mathematics instruction is guided by a desire to instill critical thinking and the integration of technology into classroom instruction. Our math faculty provide experiences that encourage and enable students to value mathematics, develop confidence in their mathematical ability, use mathematics to solve problems, and be able to reason and communicate mathematically.
Instruction is problem-based and focuses on the practice of new skills and concrete applications. Mathematical rigor is introduced at all levels, commensurate with the course level. Our lower level courses are taught with a great deal of structure, providing a solid foundation for abstract thinking, integration, and synthesis needed in the more advanced selections. We offer regular and honors sections for every grade level; 98% of our students take a four-year mathematics program.
The traditional subjects of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry provide the theoretical background for students intending to further their education. For students who plan to pursue careers in mathematics, science, and engineering, the precalculus and calculus courses are preparation for higher-level mathematics courses.
Various teaching techniques are employed to address multiple learning styles in order to help each student find and develop her unique abilities and strengths in math. At the core of our mission is the determination to encourage our young women to find their own “unique voice” in our mathematics classrooms as students are encouraged to lead discussions, ask clarifying questions, and contribute to alternative methods of problem solving.
Robotics
Robotics at The Ethel Walker School started when a group of girls approached a physics teacher and said, “We want to build a robot.” Since then, Walker’s Wirecats robotics team has competed successfully on the regional, national, and international stage. As one of only two allgirls teams in New England, the Wirecats won their state district event in its second season and are the first all-girls team to win a New England district.
The team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) which FIRST says “combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.” By participating in robotics, students learn about teamwork and cooperation, how to build a robot, and are mentored by professionals from engineering and other STEM-related fields.
