World Languages

Designed for those who have never spoken or studied the language and for non-native Mandarin speakers with up to one year of previous study in the language. The course provides students with the fundamentals for learning to understand, speak, and begin to read and write Mandarin Chinese. Students develop accurate pronunciation and tones, learn to understand the spoken language in context and develop a foundation of basic sentence patterns, questions, and everyday vocabulary. The sound system (pinyin and tones) and the writing system (radicals and stroke order) are presented in detail. Reading is used to support and reinforce the acquisition of the spoken language. The course is proficiency-based and focuses on the development of listening and speaking skills. Towards the end of the first year, the classes will be conducted in Chinese for at least 80% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

Designed for those whose Mandarin speaking/listening proficiency reaches novice-low or novice-mid according to ACTFL standards or who have taken Chinese I at Thayer Academy. This course expands students' understanding of Chinese languages and cultures. Learners are provided with more vocabulary and sentence patterns to deepen their ability in conversing about various topics. Reading is used both to support and reinforce the acquisition of the spoken language and expand vocabulary. Character handwriting strengthens character recognition, and typing improves accuracy of using sentence patterns. The course is proficiency-based. Class is conducted in Chinese for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

Designed for those whose Mandarin speaking/listening/reading proficiency reaches novice-mid or novice-high according to ACTFL standards or who have taken Chinese II at Thayer Academy. In this course, students learn about Chinese culture and contemporary topics through readings and videos in Chinese. Learners are expected to discuss the Chinese readings in the target language, and to use strings of sentences, in both speaking and writing, and to ask simple questions with ease. Students grow their vocabulary through readings and express ideas by typing. Character writing remains the tool to reinforce character recognition. The course is proficiency-based. Class is conducted in Chinese for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

Designed for those whose Mandarin speaking/listening/reading proficiency reaches novice-high or intermediate-low according to ACTFL standards or who have taken Chinese III at Thayer Academy. In this course, students continue to learn about Chinese culture and contemporary topics through readings and videos in Chinese. Modified readers of traditional Chinese novels and some classic Chinese will be introduced. Learners give presentations on a wide variety of topics ab out cultures, contemporary issues, and personal interests. Writing reinforces the use of various vocabulary and diverse sentence patterns. The course is proficiency-based. The class is conducted entirely in Chinese. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

Designed for those whose Mandarin speaking/listening/reading proficiency reaches Intermediate-low according to ACTFL standards OR who have taken Chinese IV. In this course, students continue to learn about Chinese culture and contemporary topics through readings and videos in Chinese. Modified readers of traditional Chinese novels and some classic Chinese will be introduced. Through reading, students can enhance their speaking and writing abilities to narrate deliberately, describe in detail, and compare from various perspectives. The course is proficiency-based. The class is conducted entirely in Chinese. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This honors class is designed for students who are able to comfortably carry on extended conversations in Mandarin, but who have limited literacy skills. The primary focus of the course is developing students’ reading and writing abilities while continuing to expand their listening and speaking skills. Starting from Pinyin, stroke order, basic radicals, and characters, the course will gradually expand students’ character-recognition abilities. Students will learn characters and phrases through reading stories and novels that pro vide cultural topics to narrate, describe, discuss, and compare. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This course is designed for students who are able to comfortably carry on extended conversations in Mandarin, and who can read 200-300 characters or who have taken Chinese Heritage Language I - Honors: . The primary focus of the course is developing students' reading and writing abilities while continuing to expand their listening and speaking skills. Students will learn characters and phrases through reading stories and novels that provide cultural topics to narrate, describe, discuss, and compare. Also, class discussions and presentations will give students opportunities to hone their speaking skills. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

igned for those whose Mandarin speaking/listening/reading proficiency reaches intermediate-low or intermediate-mid according to ACTFL standards. Students develop and expand their speaking and listening abilities to make formal presentations, to narrate, describe, discuss, debate and persuade. Students also read authentic materials on a variety of topics related to Chinese culture, history and modern life. Students improve their composition skills through regular writing assignments. Students deepen their cross-cultural communication skills by continuing to observe and compare cultural commonalities, similarities, and differences. The course is proficiency-based and conducted entirely in Chinese. This course prepares students for the AP Exam. Full-year, one credit. 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. Full-year, one credit.

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. Class is conducted in French for at least 80% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

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 idiom atic language in “authentic” situations. Students in French III - Honors work on essay writing, including cultural analysis, compare and contrast, formal emails, and argumentative essays. Class is conducted in French for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

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. Class is conducted in French for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

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. Class is conducted in French for at least 90% of the class time. Students who successfully complete this course will go on to AP French. Full-year, one credit. 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 them 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. Class is conducted in French for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This course prepares advanced students for the AP Examination 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, 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. The class is conducted entirely in French. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

This course has the singular goal of maintaining and finessing French language skills. To this end, the rule is equally singular: everything is in French. Core content targets explorations of current events in the Francophone world and events in the world as reported there. This course is for students who have passed the AP Exam in French Language and Culture. The class is conducted entirely in French. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

Using the Suburanī I (Ch. 1-13) text, students will learn both to see Latin as an important part of the multicultural world of Rome and to view that world through Latin. Emphasis will be chiefly placed upon effective strategies for reading Latin, and to achieve this overarching goal we will pay close attention to essential elements of the Latin language: parts of speech, morphology, vocabulary (including English and Spanish derivatives), and grammatical/syntactical rules. By laying the foundations necessary for reading Latin, we shall maintain a number of objectives, including (but not limited to) the following: to enjoy learning about an ancient language and culture that thrived for thousands of years; to build an appreciation for the many ways in which Latin and Roman culture has remained influential across time and space (both for better and for worse); to use a knowledge of Latin vocabulary and grammar to improve written/oral/reading skills in English and Spanish; and to make comparisons and connections between the myths and cultures of ancient Mediterranean peoples with that of other cultures across time and space. Full-year, one credit.

After reviewing the concepts of the Suburanī I text (Ch. 1-13), students delve into an investigation of Suburanī II (Ch. 14-26). 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. Full-year, one credit.

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. Full-year, one credit. 

Students read and discuss selections such as Catullus’ Carmina; Horace’s Odes; Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Amores, Heroides, and Ars Amatoria; Pliny’s Epistulae; and 1-2 Latin novellas to further language acquisition and reading fluency. 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. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

The primary goal of these courses is to provide students with a fuller understanding of the Latin language, including its vocabulary, syntax, and grammar through extensive reading of both adapted and unadapted Latin prose and poetry. Students read the literature of Catullus, Horace, Ovid, Vergil and Pliny as well as 1-2 Latin novellas related to an aspect of Greco-Roman mythology or Roman history/culture. (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. Full-year, one credit. 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. Full-year, one credit. 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. To this end, the class is conducted in the Spanish language as much as is viable. Full-year, one credit.

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. Class is conducted in Spanish for at least 80% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

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. Class is conducted in Spanish for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit.

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. Class is conducted in Spanish for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit. 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. Class is conducted in Spanish for at least 90% of the class time. Students who successfully complete this course will go on to AP Spanish. Full-year, one credit. 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. Class is conducted in Spanish for at least 90% of the class time. Full-year, one credit. 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 be successful 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 Examination practice is ongoing throughout the year as students work to master the exam requirements. The class is conducted entirely in Spanish. Full-year, one credit. Qualifies for Global Scholars.

The purpose of these courses is to develop an understanding and appreciation of Hispanic people, history, culture, and literature. Sources include books, internet sources, newspapers, guest speakers, and movies. Many topics are examined including literature, politics, race, foods, religion, cultural values, music, art, family, social classes, sports, and holidays. This course is offered in two parts, one during each semester. Students may sign up for both semesters or take only one or the other. Semester 1 begins with Spain’s prehistory and goes through the age of exploration and conquest. Semester 2 covers the colonization and later independence movements in Latin America as well as modern art movements, music, and festivals around the world. Conducted in English, this course is open to juniors and seniors who have completed a minimum of two years of ANY language. This course may satisfy the third-year language requirement with departmental approval. If the student has already completed Level III of a world language, this course qualifies for the Global Scholars Program. Semester 1, 1/2 credit and Semester 2, 1/2 credit.