Course Descriptions

FRENCH 1 (560100)

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

French is for students interested in learning about the French language and Francophone culture. Francophone means anywhere French is spoken. We will focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing, and use videos, music, games and projects. Students will be able to sample French foods and prepare for a French Fair field trip, which selected students will be able to attend. French culture, history and geography will also be discussed in class.

FRENCH 2 (560150)

Length: Year Available for: 10-12 grades

Prerequisite: French 1 or equivalent. 

French 2 includes everything listed for French 1, with more focus on reading and writing, and the addition of writing French journals. Listening and speaking will improve as we use teacher and classmate interviews. We will learn about French cities, including Paris. More students from French 2 will be able to attend the French Fair field trip.

FRENCH 3 (560200)

Length: Year Available for: 11-12 grades

Prerequisite: French 2 or equivalent.

Can count for 12th grade English

French 3 includes everything listed for French 1 and 2. We will continue to improve in listening, speaking, reading and writing French and learning more about French culture and history. Most students from French 3 will be able to attend the French fair field trip.

FRENCH 4 (560300) and FRENCH 5 (560350)

Length: Year Available for: 11-12 grades

Prerequisite: French 3/4 or equivalent. 

Can count for 12th grade English

French 4 and French 5 are similar to French 3, but on a more advanced level. This class should prepare students to be able to read and write more complicated essays, as well as to comprehend and produce more complicated speech. Students will be given more opportunity to direct their own learning in French. All students in French 4 and 5 will be invited to attend the French Fair field trip.

JAPANESE 1 (561000)

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

This is an exciting class for students who want to learn about language and culture of other people outside the U.S.; obviously, the focus is the Japanese language and the Japanese culture. The four language skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking are emphasized. These four skills will be learned and practiced by means of skits, drills, readings, written exercises, games and more. Japanese culture and history are learned using songs, videos, etc., that give a good picture of Japan. Students will learn to communicate in Japanese.

JAPANESE 2 (561050)

Length: Year Available for: 10-12 grades

Prerequisite: Must have passed Japanese 1 or equivalent

This is an exciting class for students who want to learn about language and culture of other people outside the U.S.; obviously, the focus is the Japanese language and the Japanese culture. The four language skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking are emphasized. These four skills will be learned and practiced by means of skits, drills, readings, written exercises, games and more. Japanese culture and history are learned using songs, videos, etc., that give a good picture of Japan. Students will learn to communicate in Japanese.

JAPANESE 3 (561100)

Length: Year Available for: 11-12 grades

Prerequisite: Must have passed Japanese 2 or equivalent

Can count for 12th grade English

This is an advanced class and students need to master four writing systems: Romaji, Katakana, Hiragana and 200 Kanji. More advanced four language skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking are emphasized. The students learn the history of Japan through songs, videos, etc., that give a good picture of Japan. Students will learn to communicate in Japanese.

SPANISH 1 (561600) 

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

NOT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO ALREADY SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME DAILY

Enjoy acquiring Spanish the Natural Way – by interacting in the language. In this course we don’t use textbooks or worksheets to learn the language, because that doesn’t work. What does work is spending time talking about each other, what’s going on in our lives, and most of all, creating stories – all in Spanish. In this course our goal for you is to understand Spanish and to be able to communicate in everyday Spanish. Students can expect to acquire language through storytelling, reading and writing short stories, leveled readers, readers’ theater, songs, Movie Talks, and illustrations, among other techniques. This course is mainly held in Spanish, with aides to help with comprehension. Research has shown that students who acquire Spanish this way score competitively on national assessments and college placement exams.

SPANISH 2 (561650) 

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

Prerequisite: Must have passed Spanish 1 or equivalent

NOT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO ALREADY SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME DAILY

Second year Spanish continues the journey of acquiring Spanish the Natural Way. This course will also not use textbooks or worksheets to learn the language, because that doesn’t work.  What does work is spending time talking about each other, what’s going on in our lives, and most of all, creating stories – all in Spanish. In this course our goal for you is extend and expand what you learned in Spanish 1 and to be able to communicate about a larger variety of topics. Students can expect to acquire language through storytelling, reading and writing short stories, leveled readers, readers’ theater, songs, Movie Talks, and illustrations, among other techniques. This course is mainly held in Spanish, with aids to help with comprehension.

SPANISH 3 (561700) 

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

Prerequisite: Must have passed Spanish 2 or equivalent

Can count for 12th grade English

NOT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO ALREADY SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME DAILY

Third year is the bridge course from basic communication skills to academic Spanish. However, this doesn’t mean it is any less fun or interesting. In this course we don’t use textbooks as well and we are starting to talk more about exploring culture through literature, pop culture, and current events, as a means of developing your proficiency in Spanish. In this course our goal for you is extend and expand your understanding of what you have learned in Spanish 1 and 2 and to prepare you to take Spanish 4.

SPANISH 4 (561800)

Length: Year Available for: 10-12 grades

Prerequisite: Must have passed Spanish 3 or equivalent

Can count for 12th grade English

This course takes a look at all of Spanish 1, 2, and 3 says, “It’s go time!” This is where the hard work in Spanish 2 and 3, in particular, pays off. Students get an opportunity to enjoy the scenery, having already learned a great number of tricks, and can now attack their studies with great efficacy. This means that students now get a solid chance to show off, to add some polish to their language skills, and truly impress. It involves exploring culture through literature, pop culture, and current events, as a means of developing students’ interests, all while providing context for the sophisticated grammatical pieces to come. Grammar goals include mastery of the subjunctive tenses, as well as the compound tenses. Vocabulary goals include broadening understanding and usage of colloquial Spanish, as well as Hispanic/Latino holiday traditions give us opportunities to share out, and to compare and contrast our respective cultures, and allow for a deeper appreciation.

SPANISH 5 (561820)

Length: Year Available for: 10-12 grades

Prerequisite: Must have passed Spanish 4 or equivalent

Can count for 12th grade English

This course offers students another year of Spanish before entering AP Spanish. It continues to involve exploring culture through literature, pop culture, and current events, as a means of developing students’ interests, all while providing context for the sophisticated grammatical pieces to come. Grammar goals include mastery of the subjunctive tenses, as well as the compound tenses. Vocabulary goals include broadening understanding and usage of colloquial Spanish, as well as Hispanic/Latino holiday traditions gives us opportunities to share out, and to compare and contrast our respective cultures, and allow for deeper appreciation.

SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS 1 (561900) 

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

This course is designed specifically for native or heritage speakers of Spanish with oral proficiency but little or no formal training in the language. Generally, these are learners who were raised in homes where Spanish was spoken. The course is designed to build on the language base students already possess. Spanish-speaking students are not viewed as using an “improper” form of Spanish that is incorrect or needs to be eliminated. Rather, their language is viewed as an extremely valid means of oral communication. The primary purpose of the course is to develop reading and writing skills, although all of four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) are emphasized via cultural and community activities.

SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS 2 (561950)

Length: Year Available for: 9-12 grades

Prerequisite: Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1

These are more advanced courses for native speakers; many will be ready to take AP Spanish Language after completing level 2 and many more after completing level 3. If they complete one of these levels as sophomores, they may be ready to advance to AP Spanish Language and Culture as Juniors, then AP Spanish Literature as Seniors. Some who complete level 2 may need another year in level 3 before they are ready for AP Spanish Language and Culture.

*Nota especial para Hispanohablantes. Es importante que los estudiantes sepan bien su propio idioma –1) porque es parte de su herencia, 2) porque es más importante de nunca ser una persona bilingüe en cualquiera carrera y 3) para salir mejor en el inglés escrito y leído. Nuestra meta es prepararles para que sean líderes de la comunidad latina/española y que estén listos para usar su lengua en cualquiera carrera que siguen.

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE (561860)

Length: Year Available for: 10-12 grades

Can count for 12th grade English

Advanced Placement Spanish Language covers the equivalent of a third-year college course in Advanced Spanish composition and conversation stressing oral Spanish skills, composition, and grammar. The course seeks to develop language skills that can be applied to various activities and disciplines rather than to the mastery of any specific subject matter. 

*This course is designed to give experience in college level Spanish and generally results in college credit upon passing the AP exam. 

AP SPANISH LITERATURE (561880)

Length: Year Available for: 10-12 grades

AP Spanish Literature is equivalent to a college level introductory survey course of literature written in Spanish. Students continue to develop their interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills in Spanish language as well as critical reading and analytical writing as they explore short stories, novels, plays, essays, and poetry from Spain, Latin America, and U.S. Hispanic authors along with other non-required texts.