World Language

This introductory course is designed for students with little or no previous study of Spanish. This course teaches basic language patterns and vocabulary. The focus is on all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as the culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Each unit will cover the vocabulary of a specific theme and grammar concepts appropriate to level one. As students progress through each unit, they will build upon previously learned material. 

Students continue their study of Spanish by further expanding their knowledge of key vocabulary topics and grammar concepts. Students not only begin to comprehend listening and reading passages more fully, but they also start to express themselves more meaningfully in both speaking and writing. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concept with reading, writing, speaking and listening activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices which reinforce vocabulary and grammar. There is a strong emphasis on providing context and conversational examples for the concepts presented in each unit. 

Students continue to develop their proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening within an authentic cultural context. Students will understand oral and written messages in the target language and will make level-appropriate oral and written presentations. Students communicate on a variety of topics using complex structures, moving from concrete to more abstract concepts. This class is taught in 90% of the target language. 

This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam. Students continue to work to develop their competence in Spanish across the four modes of communication: reading, writing, listening and speaking in the target language within the context of the six AP themes: Families and Communities, Science and Technology, Global Challenges, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, and Beauty and Aesthetics. Performance-based assessments provide the students the opportunity to use the language independently in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. Practice is provided regularly, both within the classroom and at home. Cultural information and comparisons are drawn from authentic print and audio-visual sources, literary works, and class discussions. Students will research a variety of cultural topics and facilitate in-class discussions. The expectation is that communication in the classroom takes place in Spanish.

Prerequisite:  Native speaker of the language 

The focus of the Heritage Spanish course is to improve written and oral communication in Spanish, to enhance Spanish reading comprehension and analytical skills, to build on students’ historical and literary knowledge of the Hispanic cultures and traditions around the world, and to prepare students to use their bilingual ability in professional settings. Grammar studies will include work on accents, punctuation, spelling, tense usage, and sentence structure in Spanish.

This course is an introduction to sign language.  The course is designed to establish the building blocks of sign language.  Students will use the language in practiced, familiar, and real-world contexts.  The course will focus on vocabulary, basic grammatical structures, and cultural insights needed to effectively serve the ASL using community.