Westover School Curriculum Guide 2012-2013

LANGUAGES The Language Department offers course sequences from the introductory to the Advanced Placement levels in Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish. The Department determines the level at which a new student is placed in the language program she chooses. Each student is required to successfully complete Westover’s third-level course in one of these languages in order to graduate, though she is encouraged to pursue the study of her chosen language beyond the requirement or to begin the study of a second foreign language. We ask that students do not sign up for courses in languages spoken at home.

CHINESE ■ CHINESE I (1 credit, full year) In this introductory course students learn pronunciation patterns, tones, and the basic grammatical structures of Mandarin Chinese. Chinese is used extensively in class, and students are expected to actively participate in class exercises and discussions. Students are exposed to approximately 500 words for oral practice and conversation. In addition, they are introduced to approximately 400 complex style Chinese characters. Projects and units on Chinese history and culture complement the language portion of the course.

■ CHINESE II (1 credit, full year) Students will continue to hone their tones, pronunciation, and use of grammatical structures in Mandarin Chinese. Students will be exposed to an additional 500 Chinese characters written in the complex style. They will have frequent opportunities to practice both their written and spoken Chinese using a word processing program and recorded exercises. Chinese is used almost exclusively in class, and students are expected to actively participate in class exercises and discussions. Projects and units on Chinese culture and history will expose students to other aspects of China.

■ CHINESE III (1 credit, full year) Students will build upon the skills learned in the introductory courses. They will further develop the ability to use technology and multimedia tools to enhance their experience, allowing them to practice their skills independently. They will be introduced to an additional 400 characters written in the complex style. The class will use the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Standards for Language Learning. Chinese will be used almost exclusively for all means of communication: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Students will learn about Chinese culture through a series of dialogues and narratives. Successful study of the language and culture will give students the confidence to effectively communicate with native speakers of the language.

■ CHINESE IV (1 credit, full year) This advanced course prepares students to further develop their proficiency communicating in all aspects of the Chinese language: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Students will translate articles not only from the textbook, but also from authentic materials that correspond to a variety of themes. Chinese commercials, movies, and news excerpts will give students the opportunity to experience Chinese culture through technology. Students will produce news reports and professional presentations narrating global events. Students will be exposed to an additional 400 characters written in the complex style. The course will follow the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Standards for Language Learning and will provide many opportunities for students to use the language in realistic situations.

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