Pages - Grades9-12WorldLanguages

GRADES 9-12 WORLD LANGUAGES

Sequencing and Age Appropriateness

The World Languages curriculum establishes what students will be able to do at designated benchmarks, Levels 1A through Advanced Placement, throughout their middle and/or high school career.

In order to enroll in a course, students must either has successfully completed the previous level of instruction or have demonstrated the required proficiency designated in the course description. Because students may begin formal language learning at various stages of development, content and vocabulary may be adjusted to reflect age-appropriate interests.

Course levels do not correspond to a student's grade level. Any student may begin study of a world language at any point in their academic career. Course levels offered at the middle school and the high school are sequential. Therefore, if a student successfully completes a course at the middle school, that student should enroll in the next course in sequence at the high school. In the case of block scheduling, students may study two course levels within one academic year if they choose to take a world language in both the fall and spring semester.

World Language Course Acceleration

There are some conditions under which students may be permitted to accelerate their enrollment in Spanish or French courses. This might include formal study of the language in another structured setting, residence or study abroad or some other type of language immersion experience. In order to advance to a language level without taking the prerequisite course(s), a student must demonstrate proficiency on departmental assessments and obtain approval from the department head.

MODERN LANGUAGES

French for the Global Market (.5 credit) (Grades 9-12)

Students who are preparing for careers in technical fields must meet the demands of the 21st century which include an understanding of world languages and gaining a global perspective. How can French prepare you for your future career? With international companies directly affecting a variety of medical, chemical and electronic manufacturing fields that our students are training to work in, it is to their benefit to know the language of those who may very well be employing them. The connections to a world language, and in this case French, are really endless. This course is separate from the vertical alignment with the AP curriculum that other beginning level French courses have. It is intended for students who are in CMTHS programs who believe a basic understanding of French would be helpful in their chosen careers. It is also intended for students who would like to study a second world language but may not otherwise be able to fit a course in their schedule. By the end of this course, students can expect to use some useful expressions and vocabulary that relate to the workplace.

French 1A

The Level 1A French course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the French language and understanding of the culture of French-speaking people. It assumes that the stueents have minimal or no prior knowledge of the language and culture.

The major means of communication between students and instructors will be in the target language. In addition to classroom communication, students will be expected to utilize the resources of the Language Laboratory to improve their speaking and listening skills.

By the end of Level 1A, students will exhibit Novice-Mid level proficiency in listening, speaking reding and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

French 1B

The Level 1B French course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the French language and understanding of the culture of French-speaking people. It is expected that students have completed French 1A or have had some previous study of the language.

By the end of Level 1B, students will exhibit Novice-High level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

French 2

The Level 2 French course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the French language and understanding of the culture of French-speaking people. Students begin to show a greater level of accuracy when using basic language structures and when exposed to more complex features of the language. They continue to focus on communicating about their immediate world and daily life activities, read material on familiar topics, and write short, directed compositions. It assumes that the students have successfully completed a Level 1 course and/or are at a Novice-High level of proficiency.

By the end of Level 2, students will exhibit Intermediate-Low level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

French 3

The Level 3 French course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the French language and understanding of the culture of French-speaking people. Students use basic language structures with accuracy and recombine learned material to express their thoughts. They are exposed to more complex features of the language, moving from concrete to some abstract concepts. It assumes that the students have successfully completed a Level 2 course and/or are at an Intermediate-Low level of proficiency.

By the end of Level 3, students will exhibit Intermediate-Mid level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

H French 4

The Level 4 French course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the French language and understanding of the culture of French-speaking people. During this course, most students should move into the Intermediate-High level of proficiency. They gain confidence in recombining learned material of the language, creating in the language to express their thoughts, interacting with other speakers of the language, understanding oral and written messages in the foreign language, and making oral and written presentations in the target language. They are exposed to more complex features of the language, moving from concrete to more abstract concepts. Students are able to understand material presented on a variety of topics related to contemporary events and issues in the target culture(s). It assumes that the students have successfully completed a Level 3 course and/or are at an Intermediate-Mid level of proficiency.

By the end of Level 4, students will exhibit Intermediate-High level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

AP French Language/H French 5

This course is the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced French writing and converstation. It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. Students taking this course, emphasizing the use of French for active communication, have the following objectives:

the ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken French;
the acquisition of vocabulary and a grasp of structure to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as of modern literature in French;
the ability to compose expository passages; and
the ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.

Only students who have demonstrated proficiency in all four language skill areas appropriate to this level, and have a teacher recommendation will be admitted to AP French Language. All students who enroll in this course are required to take the AP exam to receive full weighted credit.

Students may opt to take this class for Honors credit instead of AP credit. If they choose to do so, they are not required to take the AP exam, and they will have less rigorous assessments. They will, however, be presented with the same curriculum as the AP course.

H French 6

This is a special topics course for students who have completed the AP French Language or H French 5 course. It is designed to offer students an opportunity to further develop their proficiency in the language through interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes of communication.

Only students who have demonstrated proficiency in all four language skill areas appropriate to this level and have a teacher recommendation will be admitted to H French 6.

Spanish in the Workplace (.5 credit) (Grades 9-12)

With over 34 million people speaking Spanish in the United States, students can expect to encounter the language in a variety of work environments after graduation. This is a course that provides students with a chance to acquire limited proficiency in speaking and listening to the language that can be applied to common workplace tasks in dealing with speakers of Spanish. This course is separate from the vertical alignment with the AP curriculum that other beginning level Spanish courses have. It is intended for students who are in CMTHS programs who believe a basic understanding of Spanish would be helpful in their chosen careers. It is also intended for students who would like to study a second world language but may not otherwise be able to fit a course in their schedule. By the end of this course, students can expect to use some useful expressions and vocabulary that relate to the workplace.

Spanish 1A

The Level 1A Spanish course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the Spanish language and understanding of the culture of Spanish-speaking people. It assumes that the students have minimal or no prior knowledge of the language and culture.

By the end of Level 1A, students will exhibit Novice-Mid level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Spanish 1B

The Level 1B Spanish course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the Spanish language and understanding of the culture of Spanish-speaking people. It is expected that students have completed Spanish 1A or have had some previous study of the language.

By the end of Level 1B, students will exhibit Novice-High level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Spanish 2

The Level 2 Spanish course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the Spanish language and understanding of the culture of Spanish-speaking people. Students begin to show a greater level of accuracy when using basic language structures, and they are exposed to more complex features of the language. They continue to focus on communicating about their immediate world and daily life activities, read material on familiar topics, and write short, directed compositions. It assumes that the students have successfully completed a Level 1 course and/or are at a Novice-High level of proficiency.

By the end of Level 2, students will exhibit Intermediate-Low level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Spanish 3

The Level 3 Spanish course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the Spanish language and understanding of the culture of Spanish-speaking people. Students use basic language structures with accuracy and recombine learned material to express their thoughts. They are exposed to more complex features of the language, moving from concrete to some abstract concepts. It assumes that the students have successfully completed a Level 2 course and/or are at an Intermediate-Low level of proficiency.

By the end of Level 3, students will exhibit Intermediate-Mid level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

H Spanish 4

The Level 4 Spanish course focuses on the development of communicative competence in the Spanish language and understanding of the culture of Spanish-speaking people. During this course, most students should move into the Intermediate-High level of proficiency. They gain confidence in recombining learned material of the language, creating in the language to express their own thoughts, interacting with other speakers of the language, understanding oral and written messages in the foreign language, and making oral and written presentations in the target language. They are exposed to more complex features of the language, moving from concrete to more abstract concepts. Students are able to understand material presented on a variety of topics related to contemporary events and issues in the target culture(s). It assumes that the students have successfully completed a Level 3 course and/or are at an Intermediate-Mid level of proficiency.

By the end of Level 4, students will exhibit Intermediate-High level proficiency in listening, speaking reading and writing according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

AP Spanish Language/H Spanish 5

This course is the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced Spanish writing and converstation. It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. Students taking this course, emphasizing the use of French for active communication, have the following objectives:

the ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish;
the acquisition of vocabulary and a grasp of structure to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as of modern literature in French;
the ability to compose expository passages; and
the ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.

Only students who have demonstrated proficiency in all four language skill areas appropriate to this level, and have a teacher recommendation will be admitted to AP Spanish Language. All students who enroll in this course are required to take the AP exam to receive full weighted credit.

AP Spanish Literature/H Spanish 6

This course is intended to be the equivalent of a third-year college Introduction to Latin America or Peninsular Literature course, covering selected works from the literatures of Spain and Spanish America. The function of the AP Spanish Literature course is to prepare students:

to understand a lecture in Spanish and to participate actively in discussions on literary topics in Spanish;
to do a close reading of literary texts of all genres in Spanish; and
to analyze critically the form and content of literary works (including poetry) orally and in writing using appropriate terminology.

Only students who have demonstrated proficiency in all four language skill areas appropriate to this level, and have a teacher recommendation will be admitted to AP Spanish Literature. All students who enroll in this course are required to take the AP exam to receive full weighted credit.

Survey of Critical Languages (.5 credit) (Grades 9-12)

Our national security is heavily dependent on translators, specialists, and interpreters within the intelligence community, the diplomatic corps, and the military. Our ability to compete in the global marketplace is dependent on our knowlege of other languages and cultures. Students who take this course will learn about the writing styems and sounds of current critical languages such as Arabic and Chinese. Students will be guided by the teachers through language learning software programs and investigations into the culture of the people who speak these languages. Instruction is in English and students are not expected to develop any proficiency in the languages being studied.

CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

Latin 1

This course introduces the vocabulary of basic daily Roman life and simple sentences using present, imperfect and perfect verb tenses in al four conjugations. Nouns in the first three declensions are used in the nominative, genitive and accusative cases. Short Latin passages are read and comprehended. Cultural aspects of Roman life are studied with a concentration on the city of Pompeii circa 78 A.D.

Latin 2

This course extends vocabulary with increased complexity of sentences. The pluperfect tense, ablative case, relative pronouns, commands and participles (present and perfect passive) are introduced. Longer passages are read and comprehended encompassing multi-cultural diversity within the Roman Empire specifically Roman Britain and Egypt. Roman mythology and history are studied.

Latin 3

This course continues the study of Latin grammar adding the future tense, passive voice, deponent verbs and indirect statement. The subjunctive mood for verbs allows for greater complexity of the Latin reading passages. To a continuing study of mythology and Roman history are added an exploration of the Roman military system and the city of Rome circa 85 A.D.

H Latin 4

This course completes all forms of the subjunctive mood. Gerunds and the gerundive are introduced allowing students to read authentic materials by ancient Latin authors such as Martial, Phaedrus, Ovid, Vergil, Pliny, and Cicero.

AP Latin Vergil/H Latin 5

This course is in general conformity with college Latin studies in the fourth through sixth semesters. The basic objective is progress in reading, translating, understanding, analyzing, and interpreting Latin. Students are expected to be able to translate accurately from Latin into English the poetry or prose they are reading and to demonstrate a grasp of grammatical structures and vocabulary. Since the appreciation of Latin literature requires an understanding of the literary techniques of Latin writers and of poetic meters when appropriate, stylistic analysis is an integral part of the advanced work in this course. In addition, the course includes the study of cultural, social, and political context of the literature on the syllabus.