Modern Languages Department Course Descriptions

With the knowledge that language and communication are at the heart of the human experience, teachers of the Trinity Modern Languages Department are deeply committed to helping students develop the skills they need for engagement in a diverse global community. Linguistic, cultural, and literary tools aid students in building bridges to other peoples and cultures.

We instill enthusiasm for language study by designing joyful and meaningful learning experiences. Language acquisition is both challenging and rewarding; we ask our students to lean into their discomfort, be vulnerable, take risks, and embrace mistakes, all while reflecting on their growth and understanding of others along the way.

Pivotal to our work are safe and inclusive learning spaces for all students in our Modern Language classes. Teachers and students bring multiple aspects of their identities to the classroom, and we acknowledge and celebrate these intersectionalities openly. We strive to establish a community where all voices are equally valued and worthy of representation and respect. At all levels of study, students engage in comparative analysis of themes common across humanity, such as self, family, education, and housing. Students learn to deconstruct and challenge stereotypes and biases and explore individual and unique identities. Our core courses and electives delve into ethnicity, gender, class, and other social identifiers. Authentic materials such as pictures, music, literature, films, plays, and articles are designed and chosen to offer diverse imagery and representation and promote engaging discussions, research, and a celebration of the diversity of the cultures studied in our classrooms.

Working closely with the Global Engagement Department and Public Service Office at Trinity, we provide our students with opportunities to use their modern language skills to actively “engage with the larger communities of the city, nation, and world we are a part of.” We also encourage our students to reflect on their roles locally, nationally, and globally. Through the study of language, we aim to prepare students to become global citizens who are knowledgeable, responsible, empathetic, curious, confident, and internationally-minded.

Graduation requirement: three years of Latin or a Modern Language (three credits) or two years completing level IV; typical sequence in Modern Language is level II, III, and IV; typical sequence in Classics is Prose, Vergil, and Poetry.

French I

French I is an introductory level course in which students are introduced to foundational grammatical concepts and vocabulary that relates to the self and familiar world. Significant focus is placed on accurate pronunciation and communication for everyday situations, and on the understanding and celebration of Francophone countries and their cultures. Students learn to talk about themselves, their family and friends, school, personal preferences, shopping, pastimes and travel. We study the present tense of regular and irregular verbs, the near future and the perfect tense. Students learn to express themselves orally and in writing through in-class communication activities, skits, paragraph compositions and presentations.

French II/Review

This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the introductory level. Students increase their oral and written proficiency while developing their reading skills, studying French grammar including all tenses of the indicative. Students learn to express themselves creatively through paragraph writings, presentations and skits. They are exposed to Francophone cultures through authentic documents such as video clips, articles and films.

French II Honors

This course is similar in content and methodology to French II/Review, but it treats the study of grammar and vocabulary with more depth and has greater expectations for complex usage. Emphasis is placed on oral participation, mastery of grammatical concepts, and the development of strong writing skills. Short stories, articles, poems, movies and other authentic materials serve as the basis for class discussion and for the exploration of the Francophone world. For the first time, students are also given the opportunity to engage with a literary text as they read and discuss Le Petit Prince, which they also use as a basis for analytical and creative writing.

French III

Students further develop their oral and written proficiency in this intermediate course. Major topics of French grammar and vocabulary are reinforced through frequent exercises and writing. Students develop their oral skills through presentations, skits and discussions of authentic documents, video clips and films. Various aspects of French history and Francophone cultures provide the context for class discussions. Readings include poems, magazines and newspaper articles, as well as a short novel by Gisèle Pineau, Caraïbes sur Seine.

French III Honors

French III Honors transitions students from an intermediate to an advanced level of French. The course is designed to help students attain a virtually error-free command of French grammar, and to simultaneously broaden students’ knowledge of the language and culture of French speaking countries. Students review main grammar topics and reinforce their understanding and use of all modes and tenses. Through presentations and discussions of news videos, music clips and films, students further develop their reading and speaking skills. Readings include short stories, poems, and one major literary work.

French IV

The goal of French IV is for students to improve their language skills and increase their proficiency as they are exposed to a wide variety of materials and media and explore themes of particular interest to them. Students review main grammar topics and reinforce their understanding and use of more complex language concepts. Readings include poems, plays, short stories, magazines and newspaper articles, as well as Eric Emmanuel Schmitt’s Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran.

Advanced French IV

This advanced course is built around four main units: the environment and health issues, science and technology, the family, community and the building of individual identity, and finally, the arts and aesthetics. These topics are examined through two different lenses: the Frenchspeaking world, and the students' individual experiences. The class includes individual and collective examination of newspaper articles and literary texts, as well as general discussions of videos and other media. The examination of many issues discussed over the year, such as the family, community, and identity culminates in the reading of Eric Emmanuel Schmitt’s Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran. The course further develops students’ advanced reading,listening, speaking and expository writing skills while reviewing major points of French grammar.

French Advanced Conversation

The objective of this advanced year-long course is to increase and improve students’ conversational and presentational techniques in French, through the exploration of France and the French-speaking world. While the development of oral skills is the main focus of the course, students are given plenty of opportunities to hone all their language skills. Fall semester topics include a historical, political and cultural exploration of the regions of France and of the French-speaking world; an exploration of French cinema from 1934 to today, and discussions around current events. In the second semester, students explore Surrealism and its expression through visual arts, cinema, and literature, as well as topics of identity, immigration and integration, with a focus on the lives of African American artists in France in the 20th century. Throughout the year, students choose additional topics of discussions that focus on personal, moral, societal and social issues. Students’ oral presentations are based on authentic texts and documents, as well as artistic works (movies, etc.).

Francophone Literature

In the first semester, Molière at 400, Timeless and True, we explore Molière’s place and influence in French theater and Francophone cultures as he writes about the foibles of his time. We study the historical and social context of the 17th century and focus on the universal aspects of his plays through the social and religious criticism in his works. We also discuss his depiction of the changing role of women in French society. We include the interplay of music, dance and theater in his works through the interludes woven into some of the plays. Finally, we look at how his works have been adapted in Francophone cultures in the 21st century. In the second semester, students explore how known texts have inspired films and B.D.’s (comic strips), two major forms of artistic expressions in French culture. Camus’s L'Étranger is re-examined through an alternative literary text in Kamel Daoud’s Meursault, Contre-enquête. We explore Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis and its later animated version. Finally, in Petit Pays, Gaël Faye’s semi-autobiographical novel and its cinematographic adaptation, we explore a child’s perception of ethnic strife and how it affects family and country. Students discuss the contemporary world, postcolonialism and the consequences of decolonization. The chosen works foster conversations on issues of gender, relationships between socio-economic classes, racial and religious identity, as well as tolerance.

Spanish I

This is an introductory level course in which students are introduced to basic grammatical concepts and learn to express themselves in the present, past, and near future tenses. Emphasis is placed on communication for everyday situations and on correct pronunciation. Students work on writing through the production of short personal compositions and stories and are introduced to Hispanic cultures through films, stories, and songs.

Spanish II/Review

This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the introductory level. Students increase their oral and written proficiency while developing reading skills, studying Spanish grammar, and learning all tenses of the indicative. Students are also introduced to the subjunctive. Students are exposed to the cultures of the Spanishspeaking world through authentic documents such as video clips, articles and films. Students also learn to write short reflections and do short presentations in Spanish.

Spanish II Honors

This course is similar in content and methodology to Spanish II/Review, but it treats the study of grammar and vocabulary with more depth and has greater expectations for complex usage. Texts include more authentic short stories and fewer edited materials; these materials serve as a basis for class discussion and writing on cultural topics. Emphasis is placed on oral participation, mastery of basic grammatical concepts, and accurate written work. Students continue to learn about Hispanic cultures through authentic sources such as films, stories, and songs.

Spanish III

Students further develop their oral, reading and written proficiency in this high intermediate course. Major topics of grammar (including the past subjunctives) are reinforced through extensive conversational work. The focus of this course is to attain an intermediate level of linguistic competence that allows the students to communicate their ideas clearly and with confidence. Students experience different aspects of Hispanic culture through films, music, podcasts and written articles and study literary texts such as Lazarillo de Tormes.

Spanish III Honors

Spanish III Honors transitions students from an intermediate to an advanced level of Spanish. The course is designed to help students attain a more sophisticated command of Spanish grammar, and to simultaneously broaden their knowledge of the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Students review prior grammar with a focus on irregularities, strengthen their use of the subjunctive, and learn the future, conditional and perfect tenses. They also increase their vocabulary with the use of authentic texts and videos from Spain, Latin America and the United States. Articles on cultural topics and current events are also read and discussed. Students learn to speak knowledgeably about the historic, literary, social and artistic contexts studied in class and deepen their formal writing and formal presentation skills in this fast-paced course.

Spanish IV

This advanced course is built around four main units: family and communities, science and technology, arts and beauty, and finally, individual and community identities. These topics are studied through three different lenses: the world, the Spanish-speaking world, and the student’s individual experience. Through literary texts, newspaper articles, videos and other media, students are introduced to these topics. Students develop advanced listening, speaking, and expository writing skills while thoroughly reviewing Spanish grammar. Assessments focus on original and creative work - produced individually or in groups - such as projects and presentations that promote class discussion.

Advanced Spanish IV Language

This advanced course is built around four main units: family and communities, science and technology, arts and beauty, and finally, individual and community identities. These topics are studied through three different lenses: the world, the Spanish-speaking world, and the student’s individual experience. Through literary texts, newspaper articles, videos and other media, students are introduced to these topics. Students develop advanced listening, speaking, and expository writing skills while thoroughly reviewing Spanish grammar. Assessments focus on original and creative work - produced individually or in groups - such as projects and presentations that promote class discussion.

Advanced Spanish Culture and Cinema

The objective of this course is to increase and improve students’ conversational and presentational techniques in Spanish, through the exploration of culture in the Spanish speaking world. While the development of oral skills is the main focus of the course, students are given plenty of opportunities to hone other language skills: we read, write and present. We discuss social justice topics such as immigration and dictatorships in Latin America and Spain in the 20th century. We also examine notions of identity and stereotypes. Other topics include the exploration and comparison of social media and art, music, food, relationships and lifestyles in Spanish-speaking countries and the students’ own cultures. Each unit concludes with the viewing of a film, which is followed by a class discussion. Students also read Spanish newspapers online and prepare presentations and debates on current news. Whenever possible, they practice the language in real life communication settings, either in the form of field trips around the city or through interactions with native speakers of Spanish both within and outside our own community.

Advanced Spanish Literature

This advanced course introduces students to major works of different genres in Peninsular and Latino American Literature. Students are expected to read, analyze, discuss, and write essays about contemporary and earlier texts. Although grammar is no longer studied as a formal topic, relevant points are reviewed in connection with reading and writing assignments. Students examine the work of literary writers of all ages, women writers, as well as writers from diverse ethnic backgrounds such as: Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Julio Cortazar, Carlos Fuentes, Juan Rulfo, Isabel Allende, Emilia Pardo y Bazan, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz and Federico García Lorca. Through readings and discussions, students gain a better understanding of literary genres and techniques, as well as of the interaction of literature with political, social and cultural context within a specific historical period.

Women Write the Americas

This advanced course introduces students to key Latin American and Latinx women writers and artists,with a particular focus on the last hundred years. Despite reshaping disciplines traditionally dominated by their more visible and famous male contemporaries, many of these writers were overshadowed or ‘forgotten’ by history. The course is intersectional as it reflects on the writers that comprise it: it looks at gender as well as race, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, and family structure in terms of identity. All these identities are circumscribed by their respective geography, history, and politics. This course seeks to foster independent inquiry, critical thought, a developing passion for themes that resonate, and an advanced-high level of Spanish mastery that allows the sophisticated analysis and precise articulation of all of the above.Genres studied may include extracts of novels, short stories, essays, plays, testimonios, prison writings, ethnographies, songs, and short films. The works (all in Spanish) encompass writers, poets, activists and artists from Spain, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The course includes class discussions, presentations, mini ensayos, a longer biographical essay, short personal projects, and a Culminating Project at the end of each semester. Students who excel in this course may continue in Advanced Spanish Culture and Cinema of the Spanish Speaking World, or Advanced Spanish Literature.

Understanding Race in the Americas

This course is an advanced study of how the categories of race and ethnicity have been (and are) constructed and lived in the Americas, with a comparative analysis including the United States and Spain. This year-long course fosters greater multicultural knowledge, awareness, and understanding, and helps students to deepen their language expression and cultural competency skills as emerging world citizens. Students build an awareness that is historically situated, culturally informed, and politically equitable. They become better informed as they face a world that is increasingly complex and interconnected, both within the hemisphere and intercontinentally. Students learn where these categories come from and how the pursuit of greater economic development has created unequal advantages in power and wealth for some. alongside the greater marginalization of others. Students also study how ongoing civil conflicts, power struggles, government corruption, and destruction of the environment have led many to flee as refugees, while those that remain have mobilized and sought to tackle social justice issues collectively and in solidarity.

Mandarin I

In this introductory course, students learn basic conversational Mandarin and learn how to read and write Chinese characters. Since Mandarin is a tonal language, tones and pronunciation are emphasized while the building blocks for written Chinese are introduced. Students are also exposed to various aspects of Chinese culture.

Mandarin II

Conversational skills are emphasized as students acquire more vocabulary and are taught more complex grammatical structures in Chinese. Knowledge of written characters continues in tandem with increased vocabulary and expanded grammatical skills. Students continue to explore different aspects of Chinese history and culture through Chinese songs, movies, and stories.

Mandarin III

This course is taught in Chinese to support the development of students’ listening and speaking skills. Popular Chinese idioms (Cheng yu) and important Chinese festivals are also introduced to improve students’ fluency, increase their exposure to the Chinese language and culture, and reinforce their learning.

Mandarin IV

This course is taught in Chinese to provide students with increased opportunities to develop fluency in spoken and written Chinese. Previously learned grammar concepts and vocabulary are reinforced through conversational work and practice before more advanced vocabulary and grammatical structures are introduced. To provide students with a better understanding and a deeper appreciation for the Chinese language and culture, students are frequently exposed to proverbs, idioms, songs and poems.

Advanced Mandarin I

The main objective of this year-long advanced course is to develop students’ fluency in spoken and written Chinese. Through the continued exploration of Chinese traditional culture and modern society, students broaden their vocabulary and study complex grammatical constructions. Topics of discussion include the last emperor, reform and open door policy, one-child policy, ways of life in China, and minority ethnic groups. Emphasis is placed on advanced communication through further developing interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations.

Advanced Mandarin II

The main objective of this course is to develop students’ fluency in spoken and written Chinese, through the continued exploration of Chinese traditional culture, modern Chinese history, and society. More vocabulary and complex grammatical constructions are studied in this course. Students examine Chinese poetry, idioms, festivals as well as modern Chinese history to enrich their understanding of Chinese culture and Chinese society. Students watch a selection of Chinese movies, read Chinese newspapers, and discuss challenges and opportunities in today’s modern Chinese society. This course continues to develop students’ awareness and appreciation for Chinese culture, ancient philosophy, and values, social practices, as well as modern-day global perspectives.

The study of classics, history, and language combine into a uniquely powerful force as one understands the importance that Roman and Greek cultures have on shaping the heritage of Western civilization. These studies have an intrinsic value as the expression of the minds and spirits of great peoples. As such, classical studies are not presented as an abstract linguistic system, and not simply as an exercise for developing mental discipline, but as a medium of great culture and literature.

Three years of Latin or completing the Poetry course can fulfill the language requirement. Greek is an elective that does not fulfill the language requirement. Students who have previously studied Latin will be placed in the appropriate level class. For others, ample opportunities exist for an accelerated sequence in Latin.

Graduation requirement: three years of Latin or a Modern Language (three credits) or two years completing level IV; typical sequence in Classics is Prose, Vergil, and Poetry; typical sequence in Modern Language is level II, III, and IV.