World LanguageS

Global competency is essential in today’s world and learning a second language is critical to developing global competence and cultural proficiency.  Furthermore, the study of world languages provides students with a greater understanding of themselves, others, their community, and the world.  The ability to communicate in another language is an asset for all students.  Our proficiency-focused world languages program is guided by the principles of the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework, the 2017 NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements, and the 2012 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines,  The primary goals of the world languages courses are to provide students with the opportunity to become proficient in at least one language other than English, enhance their cultural understanding, expand their access to information, and increase their awareness of global perspectives through technology and real-life experiences.  Students develop cultural competence and communicative proficiency in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes.  Students are provided with comprehensible input and learn strategies to become effective listeners, readers, writers, and speakers.  All World Languages courses are taught in the target languages and integrate authentic and adapted cultural resources that are organized around unit themes.  Students set personalized language goals and demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and understanding through real-world performance tasks appropriate for the unit and the course proficiency targets.  

At Canton High School it is recommended that students continue their study of the same language throughout all four years. Students are encouraged to study multiple languages and work toward the goal of attaining the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy by graduation.  For that reason, it is suggested that juniors and seniors take the AAPPL Examination to measure their proficiency level and their progress toward the prestigious Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy graduation award.  There is a two-year Canton High World Languages graduation requirement that can be satisfied by taking two consecutive courses in the same language.

We offer the following languages and global studies^ courses:

• French 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AP Language & Culture

• Italian Language and Culture 1, 2, 3, 4 (cohort will continue through Italian 4)

• Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, AP Language & Culture 

• International Business Economics^

^cross-disciplinary course taught in English

In all World Languages courses, students are expected to use the target language during class for a variety of functions, such as: making requests, asking for help, giving opinions, and comparing cultural products, perspectives, and/or practices.  Communicative tasks focus on using the target language for a specific purpose and in a culturally-appropriate context.  Some examples of performance tasks include engaging in conversations to share opinions, conducting oral presentations for an intended audience, reading infographics to make informed decisions, identifying key information from videos and podcasts to convey information, and writing emails to introduce oneself.  Student progress toward proficiency is evaluated through real-world language and cultural tasks like those on the proficiency-based ACTFL AAPPL Examination.  Student performance is evaluated with rubrics.

All World Languages courses have their own ACTFL-AAPPL course proficiency targets, which serve as the year-end goals for students.  Students regularly self-assess and reflect on their progress toward proficiency to ensure that they are prepared to meet unit and course goals.

Students who study World Languages, explore at least six (6) of the topics below in integrated thematic units each year.  The units differ in complexity, depending on the course and the targeted proficiency level.

• Arts & Literature • Community Life • Culture & Traditions • Current Events & Social Issues • Daily Life • Economy & Business • Education • Entertainment • Food • Healthy Living • History & Civics • Hobbies, Leisure & Free Time • Home & Places of Interest • People • Pets & Animals • Professions, Careers & Work • Science & Environment • Technology & Innovation • Travel & Vacations • Who am I?

Course Leveling: World Language courses can be taken for College Preparatory (CP) and Honors (H) credit.  Honors courses are consistent with the goals of students who plan to take four consecutive years of a language and who plan to take Honors or AP Language and Culture in their senior year.  Honors courses have accelerated proficiency targets. Depending on enrollment, honors courses and CP courses may be combined.  Students in a combined H/CP course who elect honors credit must complete additional and/or independent work as designated by the teacher.  The course syllabi will outline the expectations for both CP and Honors courses.   

*Grades 11-12 Honors Option: Students in grades 11 and 12 who have successfully fulfilled a minimum of two years or more in the same language are encouraged to take an additional language or enroll in a global studies course to enhance their cultural proficiency.

Course Recommendations and Placement: World Languages teachers guide students in the course selection process by making professional recommendations about appropriate placement. Student performance, readiness, motivation, proficiency level, and academic progress are key factors that teachers consider when making course and level recommendations. Students and families are strongly encouraged to support the course and level recommendations of the World Languages teachers.  Prior to making recommendations, teachers conduct careful and comprehensive departmental assessments of each individual student’s language performance, skill level, and ability to meet requisite proficiency targets for interpretive reading and listening; interpersonal speaking and writing; presentational speaking and writing; and interculturality in subsequent courses.  Please note that it is ill-advised to select upper-level world languages courses (levels 2-5) or levels (CP, Honors, AP) that have not been recommended, as students may not be sufficiently prepared to perform at the level needed to meet the proficiency targets for these courses.

Honors Level Course Expectations

Honors-level World Languages classes are rigorous and move at an accelerated pace, which can be noted in their more advanced proficiency targets. The courses have increased emphasis on student-to-student target language use.  Students are required to use the target language for all communication in the classroom and to complete nightly homework, which consists of speaking, listening, reading, and/or writing assignments in the target language.  Students use authentic texts to deepen their understanding of language and cultures and use this knowledge for class discussion.  Students are expected to carry out short and long-term assignments regularly and independently.

Success in these courses requires a strong work ethic and a high degree of motivation in the subject area as well as interest in participating and speaking in the target language each day. Students must be able to work independently and set challenging communication goals to meet the course proficiency levels. Students should carefully consider taking these classes and should seek guidance from parents, teachers, and guidance counselors before finalizing their decision. 

College Preparatory Level Course Expectations

College Preparatory classes challenge students with rigorous instruction, provide ongoing skill development and content knowledge, and offer proficiency targets that are moderately paced to meet student needs. The courses require students to practice listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills regularly through scaffolded assignments that foster skill development and language proficiency. Students learn and apply strategies to carry out short and long-term assignments.

Students are required to complete regular homework assignments and projects, but a significant portion of the academic work is done in class with teacher support. The courses help students develop communication skills, language proficiency, and cultural competence for post-secondary learning and the workforce. Students have opportunities to “stretch” their knowledge base and skill set at an appropriate pace with encouragement and support from teachers. Emphasis on habits of mind and continuous improvement are the central focus in these courses; these skills help students become confident and autonomous language learners.

AP Level Course Expectations:

The Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and French Language programs are overseen and reviewed by the College Board.  Therefore, all AP course syllabi have been approved with the suggested AP Themes and recommended contexts.  The courses are equivalent to what a student would experience in a college or university world languages course.  Students further develop critical thinking skills and refine interpretive skills in text analysis as well as in presentational and interpersonal speaking and writing.

AP Level courses are college-level courses that require a high degree of independence, passion for the subject, and demonstrated skill in the subject area. In these courses, there is an emphasis on using and analyzing authentic texts to make cultural comparisons and construct persuasive arguments.  For this reason, students should feel comfortable regularly reading, listening to, writing, and speaking about current events and cultural topics from many countries where the target language is used.  Students must be independent learners interested in discussing and weighing in on a number of global issues using domain-specific vocabulary and advanced grammatical structures.  AP courses rely heavily on class discussion and individual student participation. Students are expected to revise work regularly and reflect on their progress.  Students enrolling in AP French Language and Culture and/or AP Spanish Language and Culture are required to do summer assignments to prepare for the course(s), attend regular classes (even during externships), and take the AP Examination in May. 

World Language Electives

Course Name: World Language Learning Assistant

Course #: 495      

Level: H

Grade Level: 12

Credits: 3

This Honors course is reserved for 1-3 self-directed seniors who have already completed or are currently enrolled in the highest level of world languages programming offered at our school (e.g., seniors who are currently enrolled in or have completed AP French or Spanish; seniors currently enrolled in German 4 H).  Students are accepted through an application process that includes an interview and a teacher recommendation. Interested students should speak with their world languages teacher before choosing this course. Students are expected to help facilitate discussion and learning in the target language; plan and deliver mini-lessons, assist students working on project-based learning events; and/or mentor beginning language students throughout the year. This is a scheduled class block and students are in a class with beginning language students.  Interested students are expected to attend the course, meet with the teacher to discuss curriculum, and participate fully in the course.  Students share their ideas about teaching and learning and implement creative language projects in the proficiency-based world languages classroom.

Course Name: International Business Economics

Course # 456/455

Level: CP/H

Grade Level: 11-12

Credits: 3

In a global economy, our choices as consumers, producers, savers, and investors affect markets and economies in our country and abroad.  The International Business Economics course explores the various factors that influence the economic decisions we make.  We will learn how trade and globalization affect standards of living and economic growth.  International economic organizations, like the World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO), also play a role in a global business economy. Students will explore real-life problems and economic concerns that stem from globalization to offer possible solutions. Emphasis will be on current issues in international business economics.  The course explores the overarching questions:  What is globalization?  What challenges do we face when we try to allocate scarce resources?  How do international organizations affect trade?  What does win-win mean in a global economy? This is a cross-disciplinary course with the Social Studies Department. The honors and college preparatory courses may be combined. 

Honors credit option:   Students interested in taking the course for honors course credit will be required to complete additional outside readings and conduct more in-depth research and independent projects.