World Languages

This course is for students with no previous experience or limited experience with Mandarin Chinese. Students learn the basic communication skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. In addition to the Pinyin Romanization system, the traditional Mandarin Phonetic Symbols are introduced with the four tones. Students learn to write the basic characters from 214 radicals in correct stroke-order, and they learn to use a traditional Chinese dictionary. Students learn songs and lessons. Basic grammar and sentence structure are introduced. The curriculum addresses cultural topics via movies, projects, and other activities, including Chinese food, calligraphy, and field trips. Materials include: Let’s Learn the Mandarin Alphabet, Let’s Learn Chinese Characters through 214 Radicals, and the Far East Chinese-English Dictionary as well as a character-practice workbook.

The course is designed to provide students with skills for more practical and complex situations, expand vocabulary, and improve listening and speaking skills through online and language lab activities. Basic grammar is reviewed, and more complicated structures are introduced. Through extensive practice in speaking and writing, students improve their ability to express themselves in the language. Basic writing skills are developed and practiced. Students are able to write a short essay using Chinese word processing. The curriculum focuses on aspects of Chinese culture that are different from life in the United States. Materials include: Conversational Mandarin Chinese I and Learn Mandarin through Chinese Children’s Songs.

In Chinese III, students build upon the skills developed in Chinese I and II. Students continue to expand their vocabulary and comprehension skills by reading short articles and singing songs. The course focuses on oral proficiency and writing. The students are engaged in more spontaneous conversations and address various aspects of Chinese culture. Students become able to use a traditional dictionary to translate readings into English. They learn to write a note, a letter, and a short story. Research projects and presentations increase students’ control of Chinese grammatical structures. Chinese III - Honors students are required to complete additional work. Materials include Conversational Mandarin Chinese I and Life and Death in Shanghai.

These courses include frequent oral presentations and written assignments. Students continue to hone their speaking and listening skills and improve their reading and writing abilities. By reading and discussing Chinese newspaper and magazine articles, students solidify previously learned grammatical structures and expressions. Extensive readings provide the basis for vocabulary-building and class discussion. Selective movies and clips are watched to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture and traditions. Chinese IV - Honors and Chinese V - Honors students are required to complete additional work. Materials include Conversational Mandarin Chinese I. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

French I is the initial course of study for students of French language, literature, and culture. Thorough preparation in the basics of French grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation is provided, and emphasis is placed on equipping the student with the skills for continued language study. To this end, the class is conducted in the French language as much as is viable.

In French II, the skills and activities of French I are reinforced and broadened, enabling students to become more sophisticated and proficient in expression. Reading abridged works of fiction and writing short reports and detailed narratives are integral parts of the course. The primary goal of the second-year curriculum is to enhance students’ proficiency in the four basic language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing to prepare them for advanced study in French. French II - Honors is an accelerated class.

This course focuses on improving students' speaking and writing through daily engagement with culturally rich stories and authentic media that explore the Francophone world. Speaking activities are done daily. By the end of the third year, French students have seen and practiced most elements of the French language, including all of the indicative tenses, most grammatical concepts, and many topics within the subjunctive. Students expand their vocabulary and use idiomatic language in “authentic” situations. Students in French III - Honors work on essay writing, including cultural analysis, compare and contrast, formal emails, and argumentative essays.

The focus of this course is to enable students to become proficient in the French-speaking world and to expand their reading and listening comprehension skills via authentic materials. Students engage in refining a variety of study skills and techniques that seek to elicit creative and imaginative responses in the target language. Reading selections exploring the diversity of the Francophone world vary according to the ability and interest level of the class. Class discussions are conducted in French.

This is a course for advanced students who are highly proficient in all aspects of the French language.  Widening the lens to explore Francophone culture, history, and current events, a wide variety of written and spoken sources are used to hone all language skills. Written expression focuses on the ability to synthesize sources, develop thoughtful ideas, and write with a command of grammar and idiomatic expression. There is increased potential for intellectual and creative pursuits, independent study, cooperative learning, and more student involvement in the preparation of class materials. While most grammar is studied in context, students review all aspects of advanced grammar, idioms, and vocabulary. Students who successfully complete this course will go on to AP French. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This class is for students wishing to continue their French studies, typically in their senior year. The emphasis is on honing all skills to keep those skills active in preparation for continued study in college. Students explore French culture and literature, both in France and in Francophone countries throughout the world. The sweep is wide, with everything from cinema, music, and cuisine to politics and current events being fair game for study here. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This course prepares advanced students for the AP exam in French Language and Culture using a wide variety of text and audio sources. A holistic approach is taken that more than ever accents communicative and cultural proficiency while developing interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills. Students explore global and cultural issues in both contemporary and historical contexts. They develop the ability to make comparisons between cultures, with particular emphasis on the Francophone world, and their exploration is thematically structured. Written and oral expression focuses on synthesizing sources, developing thoughtful ideas, and communicating with a command of grammar and idiomatic expression. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This class is for students who have already taken the French Language and Culture AP course. Students extend all four language skills by drawing on a wide range of authentic sources from the Francophone world that delve into global and cultural issues. A high degree of proficiency and critical understanding is required, and the class is conducted entirely in French. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

Using the Latina Lingua: Familia Romana and Ecce Romani I texts, students learn to read, write, and comprehend Latin. Instruction is given primarily in Latin and emphasizes both fluent reading and detailed syntax analysis. The course addresses both English and Latin grammatical structure. Students examine the history and culture of the Roman Monarchy, Republic, and Empire. Various handouts are used and projects assigned throughout the year to complement grammar with myth, culture, and history.  

After reviewing the concepts of the Ecce Romani I text, students delve into an investigation of Ecce Romani II (Chapters 28 through 54 in the series). This intensive study virtually completes the textual study of grammar, leaving the succeeding years for literature and grammar study through reading and composition. Further study of key elements of the history and culture during both the Republic and Empire are explored. Various handouts are used and projects assigned throughout the year to reinforce student knowledge in preparation for the National Latin Exam in the spring. While both Latin II and Latin II - Honors operate from a similar syllabus, students in Latin II - Honors move at a more rigorous pace as they continue a path leading toward study in advanced literature courses in the coming years.

This course embarks upon the study of Ecce Romani III and introduces students to the works of the Roman historian Eutropius. After foundational work in historical readings, students translate, analyze, and discuss prose selections from Julius Caesar, Cicero, Asconius, and Augustus. Students are further introduced to the poetry of Catullus, Horace, Ovid, and Vergil, as time permits. Latin III - Honors is an accelerated class and is considered the first in a two-year language cycle that prepares students for study in the Advanced Placement Latin course. Students must show a sound understanding of Latin grammar and syntax and must display a high proficiency in vocabulary in order to proceed to Latin IV - Honors. Various resources are used throughout the year to complement grammar and literature with myth, culture, and history.

Students read and discuss selections such as Suetonius’s Vita Augusti; Ovid’s Amores, Metamorphoses, Heroides, and Ars Amatoria; and Pliny’s Epistulae. Emphasis is placed on greater depth of understanding and greater sophistication in literary analysis. Students complement their reading Latin with projects to learn about ancient Rome and the context of what they are reading -- the history, culture, religion, and politics. In the spring, students begin some study of Vergil’s Aeneid and dactylic hexameter and may read parts of The Aeneid in English in order to get an introduction to AP Latin. Latin IV Honors moves at a pace appropriate for preparing students for the work of AP Latin -- Vergil and Caesar in the following year. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This class focuses on Latin literature and on connecting contemporary life, literature, and media to Classical Greece and Rome. Students read the literature of Caesar, Cicero, Vergil, Ovid, and Pliny, depending on the year. (Each year the teacher alternates the syllabus to accommodate students who are in Latin V.) To heighten understanding of this literature, history, and culture, students read novels in English, complete research projects, and do creative projects. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

The required syllabus includes readings in Latin and English from Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Commentaries of the Gallic War. Students complement their reading with attention to syntax; cultural, political, religious, and social customs of the first century B.C. in ancient Rome; research projects; essays; and articles. Students explore the significant context, themes, central characters, and key ideas in the Latin passages. To develop students’ ability to read Latin at sight, students read authors outside the required syllabus, such as prose writers Nepos, Cicero, Livy, Pliny the Younger, and Seneca the Younger and verse authors Ovid, Martial, Tibullus, and Catullus. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

In the first year of Spanish, students are encouraged to speak the language from the first day of class. Throughout the year, emphasis is placed on the acquisition of oral and aural proficiency and the development of writing skills. Students learn and review appropriate grammar for a first-year language course. 

In Spanish II, the skills and activities of Spanish I are reinforced and broadened, enabling students to become more sophisticated and proficient in expression. The concentration on aural-oral skills continues with a focus on oral proficiency. Written work becomes longer and more sophisticated, and reading assignments are used to introduce students to cultural topics and more complex language. The focus of this class is on the Spanish-speaking world. The inherent goal of the second-year language program is preparation for more advanced study in the language, where classes are conducted solely in Spanish.

This course focuses on improving students' speaking and writing through daily engagement with culturally rich stories and authentic media. Speaking activities are done daily. By the end of the third year, Spanish students have seen and practiced most elements of the Spanish language, including all of the indicative tenses, most grammatical concepts, and many topics within the subjunctive. Students expand their vocabulary and use idiomatic language in “authentic” situations. Students in Spanish III - Honors work on essay writing, including cultural analysis, compare and contrast, formal emails, and argumentative essays.

The focus of this course is to enable students to become more proficient in using the target language and expand their auditory comprehension via authentic materials. In this course, students refine their writing and reading skills while exploring literature, music, and media from Spain and Latin America. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This is a course for advanced students who are highly proficient in all aspects of the Spanish language. Widening the lens to explore Hispanic culture, history, and current events, a wide variety of written and spoken sources are used to hone all language skills. Written expression focuses on the ability to synthesize sources, develop thoughtful ideas, and write with a command of grammar and idiomatic expression. There is increased potential for intellectual and creative pursuits, independent study, cooperative learning, and more student involvement in the preparation of class materials. While most grammar is studied in context, students review all aspects of advanced grammar, idioms, and vocabulary. Students who successfully complete this course will go on to AP Spanish. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This course is for students wishing to continue their Spanish studies, typically in their senior year. The emphasis is on honing skills to keep them active in preparation for continued study in college. Students explore Hispanic culture and literature. The course content is vast, with everything from cinema, music, and cuisine to politics and current events fair game for study. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This course develops advanced Spanish language skills as we focus on Latin American and Spanish culture, history, and current events. A wide variety of written and spoken sources are used to develop the speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills necessary to meet success on the AP exam. Grammar study flows naturally from work on writing and speaking. Essay writing focuses on the ability to synthesize sources, create a thesis statement, and write cleanly. The goal of speaking activities is to express ideas clearly in idiomatic Spanish, both in a conversation and presentation format. AP exam practice is ongoing throughout the year as students work to master the exam requirements. Qualifies for Global Scholars.