World Languages Course Descriptions

Important Notes:    

▪ Students who successfully complete (C or higher) a level of language in 8th grade are required to take the next level of language in the sequence, if remaining in the same language.

▪ Students whose native language is Spanish are strongly encouraged to take Spanish for Heritage Speakers classes or choose another language.

▪ CUSD 303 honors qualifying students with the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy and the Illinois Commendation toward Biliteracy. Information about requirements, qualifications,  and assessment opportunities will be sent out in January of each year.

GF0121, GF0122          FRENCH I                                                                                    

Students in this beginning level course will start to develop skills in written and oral communication. Technology and materials incorporate a variety of sources and include native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries. Students will begin to develop conversational skills. They will begin studying aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The target language will be used throughout the course, and the students will be encouraged to use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers. 

GF0221, GF0222          FRENCH II                                                                                     

Students in this course will continue to develop skills toward proficiency in written and oral communication. Technology and materials incorporate a variety of authentic sources and include native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries in order to develop listening and reading skills. Students will have the opportunity to develop conversational skills in natural settings. They will study aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The target language will be used throughout the course, and the students will use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers. 

GF0321, GF0322          FRENCH III                                                                                  

Students in this intermediate level course will continue to develop skills toward proficiency in written and oral communication. Technology resources and authentic materials incorporate a variety of sources featuring native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries in order to develop listening and reading skills. Students will have the opportunity to develop conversational skills in natural settings. They will study aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The course will be taught primarily in the target language, and the students will be expected to use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers. 

GF0441, GF0442          FRENCH IV                                                                                  

Students will develop proficiency and integrate their language skills using authentic materials and sources related to the history and culture of the language studied. Students are expected to integrate the literacy skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes. The course is conducted in the target language. This course is designed for students who demonstrate interest, motivation, and high achievement in previous language courses. Completion of the course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement course or college level courses.

GF0541, GF0542          FRENCH V                                                                                   

Students will continue to develop proficiency and integrate their language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes.  The major focus of this course is to develop conversational skills of the student through participation in discussions on a variety of topics, including current events and cultural topics.  Information and comparisons are drawn from authentic sources such as current media, newspapers, and magazines. The course is conducted in the target language. Students will have the opportunity to facilitate discussions and engage in independent study based on individual student interest.  This course is designed for students who demonstrate interest, motivation, and high achievement in previous language courses.  Completion of the course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement course or college level courses. 

GF0451, GF0452          AP FRENCH LANGUAGE                                                       

Course content is structured around six specific themes to promote exploration of the language in context and develop students’ understanding of the target culture. AP requires that students demonstrate knowledge of the target culture and be able to use the language in real-life settings. The six themes are Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, Beauty and Aesthetics. The AP Language and Culture Curriculum Framework presents six primary learning objective areas within the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational. These six primary learning objective areas identify what students should know and be able to do across the three modes.  College Board recommends enrollment in Grades 10, 11, or 12.

GF1121, GF1122          GERMAN I                                                                                         

Students in this beginning level course will start to develop skills in written and oral communication. Technology and materials incorporate a variety of sources and include native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries. Students will begin to develop conversational skills. They will begin studying aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The target language will be used throughout the course, and the students will be encouraged to use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers.

GF1221, GF1222          GERMAN II                                                                                     

Students in this course will continue to develop skills toward proficiency in written and oral communication. Technology and materials incorporate a variety of authentic sources and include native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries in order to develop listening and reading skills. Students will have the opportunity to develop conversational skills in natural settings. They will study aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The target language will be used throughout the course, and the students will use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers.

GF1321, GF1322          GERMAN III                                                                            

Students in this intermediate level course will continue to develop skills toward proficiency in written and oral  communication. Technology resources and authentic materials incorporate a variety of sources featuring native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries in order to develop listening and reading skills. Students will have the opportunity to develop conversational skills in natural settings. They will study aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The course will be taught primarily in the target language, and the students will be expected to use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers. 

GF1441, GF1442          GERMAN IV                                                                                 

Students will develop proficiency and integrate their language skills using authentic materials and sources related to the history and culture of the language studied. Students are expected to integrate the literacy skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes. The course is conducted in the target language. This course is designed for students who demonstrate interest, motivation, and high achievement in previous language courses. Completion of the course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement course or college level courses. 

GF1451, GF1452          AP GERMAN LANGUAGE                                                      

Course content is structured around six specific themes to promote exploration of the language in context and develop students’ understanding of the target culture. AP requires that students demonstrate knowledge of the target culture and be able to use the language in real-life settings. The six themes are Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, Beauty and Aesthetics. The AP Language and Culture Curriculum Framework presents six primary learning objective areas within the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational. These six primary learning objective areas identify what students should know and be able to do across the three modes.  College Board recommends enrollment in Grades 11 or 12.

GF3121, GF3122           SPANISH I                                                                                     

Students in this beginning level course will start to develop skills in written and oral communication. Technology and materials incorporate a variety of sources and include native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries. Students will begin to develop conversational skills. They will begin studying aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The target language will be used throughout the course, and the students will be encouraged to use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers.

GF3221, GF3222          SPANISH II                                                                                         

Students in this course will continue to develop skills toward proficiency in written and oral communication. Technology and materials incorporate a variety of authentic sources and include native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries in order to develop listening and reading skills. Students will have the opportunity to develop conversational skills in natural settings. They will study aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The target language will be used throughout the course, and the students will use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers.

GF3321, GF3322          SPANISH III                                                                                   

Students in this intermediate level course will continue to develop skills toward proficiency in written and oral  communication. Technology resources and authentic materials incorporate a variety of sources featuring native speakers and writers from a number of target language countries in order to develop listening and reading skills. Students will have the opportunity to develop conversational skills in natural settings. They will study aspects of the target culture, such as art, music, and daily life, and learn to compare their native culture with the culture of the target language. The course will be taught primarily in the target language, and the students will be expected to use the target language to communicate with their teacher and peers. 

GF3441, GF3442          SPANISH IV                                                                                  

Students will develop proficiency and integrate their language skills using authentic materials and sources related to the history and culture of the language studied. Students are expected to integrate the literacy skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes. The course is conducted in the target language. This course is designed for students who demonstrate interest, motivation, and high achievement in previous language courses. Completion of the course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement course or college level courses. This course is offered in both the traditional and blended format.

GF3541, GF3542          SPANISH V                                                                                      

Students will continue to develop proficiency and integrate their language skills in listening, speaking, reading and   writing in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes. The major focus of this course is to develop conversational skills of the student through participation in discussions on a variety of topics, including current and cultural topics.  Information and comparisons are drawn from authentic sources such as current media, newspapers, and magazines. The course is conducted in the target language. Students will have the opportunity to facilitate discussions and engage in independent study based on individual student interest.  This course is designed for students who demonstrate interest, motivation, and high achievement in previous language courses. Completion of the course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement course or college level courses. 

GF3831, GF3832          SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS I                          

Spanish for Heritage Speakers I is designed to enhance students’ knowledge of the Spanish language and the Hispanic cultures. Students improve literacy skills with an emphasis on reading and writing.

GF3931, GF3932         SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS II                          

Spanish for Heritage Speakers II is designed to build on the skills learned in Spanish for Heritage Speakers I. Students continue to improve literacy skills with an emphasis on reading and writing. 

GF3451, GF3452          AP SPANISH LANGUAGE                                                   

Course content is structured around six specific themes to promote exploration of the language in context and develop students’ understanding of the target culture. AP requires that students demonstrate knowledge of the target culture and be able to use the language in real-life settings. The six themes are Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, Beauty and Aesthetics. The AP Language and Culture Curriculum Framework presents six primary learning objective areas within the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational.  College Board recommends enrollment in Grades 10, 11, or 12.

GF3551, GF3552           AP SPANISH LITERATURE                                                

The course is designed to provide students with a learning experience equivalent to that of an introductory college course in literature written in Spanish. The course introduces students to the formal study of a representative body of texts from Peninsular Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Hispanic Literature. The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in Spanish across the three modes of communication and the five goal areas. The overarching aims of the course are to provide students with ongoing and varied opportunities to further develop their proficiency across the full range of language skills-with special attention to critical reading and analytical writing-and to encourage them to reflect on the many voices and cultures included in a rich and diverse body of literature written in Spanish.  College Board recommends enrollment in Grades 11 or 12.