World Languages
Possible Career Paths in World Languages: Political Science, Medicine, Business, Engineering, Interpreting, Education, Travel Industry.
Why Study a World Language?
College Requirements: Most Minnesota colleges and universities either require or recommend 3-4 years of a single world language at the high school level for admission. Some colleges and universities even require a certain degree of proficiency in a world language in order to graduate. Many students don’t realize that they could receive college credit for high school language study, satisfy college graduation requirements for World Languages and/or for the Humanities and Fine Arts.
Career Opportunities: Many businesses are seeking employees who are able to speak other languages. One-third of all U.S. corporations conduct business internationally. According to ACTFL, 9 out of 10 US employers rely on employees with language skills other than English. Minnesota companies export globally to 185 foreign destinations. You may see an increase in salary and/or promotion opportunities in your career by knowing another language. Some possible careers include: Lawyer, Doctor, Veterinarian, Biomedicine, Engineer, Translator, Political Science, Scientist, Environmentalist, Nurse, Military, Interpreter, Linguist, Business, Teacher, Archaeologist, and Pilot. The ever-changing job market requires a diversity of skills and knowledge coming out of college.
Pairing a major in a language communicates very clearly to potential employers that graduates have certifiable language and inter-cultural skills that set them apart from the rest of the job applicant pool. Double majoring can also help students who are applying to medical or law school stand out from other biology or history majors. The ever-changing job market requires a diversity of skills and knowledge coming out of college. Pairing a major in a language communicates very clearly to potential employers that graduates have certifiable language and intercultural skills that set them apart from the rest of the job applicant pool. Double majoring can also help students who are applying to medical or law school stand out from other biology or history majors.
Travel Programs: Students enrolled in a world language have the opportunity to travel to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and Costa Rica.
Cultural Understanding: As of 2022, only 20% of American students learn a foreign language in school - compared to 92% of European students who learn a foreign language in their schools! To prosper economically and to improve relations with other countries, Americans need to read, speak and understand other languages. Bilingual students are uniquely poised to help fill this foreign language deficit in areas like foreign policy, the military, and diplomacy, as well as science and business, with a more globalized economy especially driving demand for foreign language proficiency.
Basic Skills: World language study increases student achievement in reading and math. Research indicates that ACT and SAT verbal test scores are also higher for those students studying a world language. Learning another language also improves creativity, mental flexibility and divergent thinking skills.
Why Study Spanish?
Travel: Completion of Spanish II A and Spanish II B with a minimum of 80% (B-) is required in order to participate in either of the Spanish trips offered by the department. By learning another language, students improve their chances for travel and study abroad programs offered in college.
Useful Language: Spanish is becoming more and more important in business due to more companies communicating in both Spanish and English. Spanish is the second most common spoken language both in the world and within the United States. Learning Spanish allows for ease in communication, travel, advanced potential in post-high school education, and study abroad opportunities.
Additions:
• By 2050, Spanish is projected to be the most commonly spoken language in the US.
• According to the 2019 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, Spanish is spoken at home by 41.8 million people aged five or older, more than twice that of 1990.
Business: Spanish is becoming more and more important in business because you will be better able to communicate with Spanish speaking employees or coworkers. In North America, Hispanic consumers are the fastest growing market segment. In the U.S., knowing Spanish can be helpful if you work in healthcare, veterinarian, education, or building trades. Being bilingual will definitely make you more marketable in the business world.
1640A: Spanish I A
1640B: Spanish I B
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections.
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Spanish I is the first in a series of courses designed to lead you to communicating in Spanish. You will be immersed in the language and culture through listening, speaking, reading and writing. You will learn the basic vocabulary and grammar of Spanish.
1640A H: Spanish I A Honors
1640B H: Spanish I B Honors
Grade Level: 9
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of 8th grade Spanish and teacher recommendation. Recommended students who have registered for Spanish I will be placed in this course.
Course Description: This full year course is a continuation of the language for students who have successfully completed 8th grade Spanish. The course is designed to review and enhance your proficiency in the language by immersing in the language and culture through listening, speaking, reading and writing.
1641A: Spanish II A
1641B: Spanish II B
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections.
Prerequisite: Grade of C- or better by the end of Spanish IB OR completion of appeal process.
Course Description: ¿Quieres más? Spanish II is a continuation of immersion in the Spanish language through listening, speaking, reading, writing and culture. You will learn more verb tenses and more complex grammatical structures as you continue your stud of the language and gain fluency.
1642A: Spanish III/Intro to Spanish-speaking Cultures through Film and Music
1642B: Spanish III/Intro to Spanish-speaking Cultures through Film and Music B
Grade Level: 11, 12
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections.
Prerequisite: Please see options below:
College Credit Options:
• Seniors should be in the top one-half of their class or have a test score at or above the 50th percentile on any nationally standardized test.
• Juniors should be in the top one-third of their class or have a test score at or above the 70th percentile on any nationally standardized test.
• B- or better in Spanish II plus appeals form to Saint Cloud State University
High School Credit Option:
• C- or better in Spanish II
Course Description: Spanish III/Intro to Spanish-speaking Cultures through Film and Music is a college-level course offered via concurrent enrollment through Saint Cloud State University. This course is designed to give you a broad overview of the diverse cultures that make up the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of the course you will be able to describe each region’s ethnicity and show how each distinct ethnicity manifests itself in the culture in general, and in the music in particular, of that region. In addition to the cultural knowledge acquired, you will also understand the basics of Spanish grammar and vocabulary. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive 3 credits from SCSU.
1655: College in the Schools (CIS) – Spanish 1003
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better by the end of Spanish IIIB OR completion of appeal process.
Credits: Upon successful completion of this course students will earn 5 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities credits in Spanish 1003 and 1 NPHS credit. Students are strongly encouraged to register for both Spanish 1003 and 1004.
Course Description: College in the Schools Spanish will emphasize speaking, reading, writing and listening at an advanced level. Since this course uses a communicative approach, there will be many opportunities to use Spanish in class. It will also help students develop reading and writing skills based on authentic materials from Spain and Latin America. Grammar will be reviewed but is not a key concept in this course. Many forms of assessments will be used such as compositions, chapter tests, presentations and an individual oral interview.
1645: College in the Schools (CIS) – Spanish 1004
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better by the end of Spanish IIIB OR completion of appeal process. Students must have successfully completed CIS Spanish 1003 with a 70% (C-) or better to move onto CIS Spanish 1004.
Credits: Upon successful completion of this course students will earn 5 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities credits in Spanish 1004 and 1 NPHS credit.
Course Description: CIS Spanish 1004 is a continuation of CIS Spanish 1003. It will be an intense course with an emphasis on reading, writing, listening, and speaking at an advanced level. Similar to CIS Spanish 1003, this course uses a communicative approach, so there will be many opportunities to use Spanish in class. Students will continue to develop their reading, writing and listening skills when doing activities using authentic materials from Spain and Latin America. New grammar concepts will be taught in this class, while other grammar tenses will be reviewed. Many forms of assessments will be used such as compositions, chapter tests and debates. After completing CIS Spanish 1003 and 1004, students will have fulfilled the college of liberal arts language requirements at most 4-year colleges!
Why Study German?
Travel: Completion of German III A and German III B with a minimum of 70% (C-) is required in order to participate in the German travel and exchange programs offered by the department. By learning another language, students improve their chances for travel and study abroad programs offered in college. Germany has excellent universities and is among the top destinations for American students studying abroad.
Business: Germany is America’s fifth largest trading partner. More than 3000 German companies have U.S. subsidiaries with thousands of employees, while over 750 American companies do business in Germany. Being the third largest industrial nation in the world, Germany plays a major role in world politics and trade. The ability to speak German greatly improves the student’s chances in the job market.
Career: Learning German opens doors to future careers in travel and tourism, communication, banking, international business and finance, law, hotel industry, journalism, engineering, government, military service or education. In addition, the study of German is often recommended for students who are preparing for careers in science, technology or medicine. Forty percent of American scientists recommend the study of German. German can also be useful in the areas of art history, literature, music, physics and mathematics.
Useful Language: There are more than 180 million German speakers in the world. One out of every ten books published in the world is printed in German. German is the official language at many international conferences, especially those in Europe. Twenty million people around the world are currently learning German. In fact, German is the second most widely used language on the internet.
Heritage: According to the most recent U.S. census, one out of every seven Americans is of German descent, many of whom still speak German or are strongly influenced by their German heritage. In fact, about 38% of Minnesotans have German ancestry.
1646A: German I A
1646B: German I B
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: Guten Tag! Designed for the student who wishes to expand their horizons by communicating in another language, this course serves as an introduction to the basic vocabulary and grammar of the German language. The student will also discover the exciting cultures and people of the various German speaking countries. Skits, songs, listening activities, reading selections and videos complement the language experience. This is the first stepping stone on the path to College in the Schools German, which is worth 10 college credits.
1656A: German IA Honors
1656B: German IB Honors
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections
Prerequisite: Completion of the prerequisite form, which can be picked up from your counselor or email hvikla@isd721.org for a digital version.
Course Description: This full year course is similar to German I; students will experience a more in depth look at the language at an accelerated pace. The course is designed to boost your proficiency in the language and culture through listening, speaking, reading and writing. If you would like guidance on whether or not this class is for you please contact: hvikla@isd721.org.
1647A: German II A
1647B: German II B
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections
Prerequisite: Grade of C- or better by the end of German IB OR completion of appeal process.
Course Description: Herzlich Willkommen! This course is designed for the student who wishes to expand their present German vocabulary and learn new grammatical aspects of the language. Some concepts learned in German I will also be reviewed. Emphasis will be on writing short paragraphs, performing skits, reading short stories, conversing with fewer inhibitions and learning some basic facts about German geography. Songs, videos and other classroom activities help enrich the learning experience.
1648A: German III / Intro to German Culture and History A
1648B: German III / Intro to German Culture and History B
Grade Level: 11, 12
Full Year Course: Students need to sign up for both the A & B sections
Prerequisite: Please see options below:
College Credit Options:
• Seniors should be in the top one-half of their class or have a test score at or above the 50 percentile on any nationally standardized test.
• Juniors should be in the top one-third of their class or have a test score at or above the 70 percentile on any nationally standardized test.
• B- or better in German II plus appeals form to Saint Cloud State University.
High School Credit Option:
• C- or better in German II
Course Description: German III/Intro to German Culture and History is a college-level course offered via concurrent enrollment through Saint Cloud State University, which allows students to improve their knowledge of both the German language and culture. Upon completion of the course, students will receive 3 credits from SCSU. During the year, 2-3 hours per week will be spent on the cultural elements of the course and 2-3 hours per week will be spent in furthering the students' knowledge of the language to enhance understanding of the cultural components of the course. Students will increase their vocabulary and proficiency in oral and written communication in the foreign language.
1650: College In the Schools (CIS) German 1003
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: A grade of B- or better by the end of German IIIB OR completion of appeal process.
Credits: Successful completion of CIS German 1003 will earn 5 college credits from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and 1 NPHS credit. Students are strongly encouraged to register for both German 1003 and 1004.
Course Description: German 1003 is designed to review and expand your knowledge of German language structure and extend your comprehension and communicative abilities. Course materials include the course packet Sprünge, audio/visual resources on Google Classroom, a feature film and a variety of texts.
1651: College in the Schools (CIS) German 1004
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: A grade of B- or better by the end of German IIIB OR completion of appeal process. Students must have successfully completed CIS German 1003 with a 70% (C-) or better to move onto CIS German 1004.
Credits: Successful completion of CIS German 1004 will earn an additional 5 college credits from the U of M-Twin Cities and 1 NPHS credit.
Course Description: German 1004 is designed to review and expand your knowledge of German language structure and to extend your comprehension and communicative abilities. Topics discussed include German history of the 20th century, film and art, issues of immigration and assimilation, youth and families and lifestyle choices. Course materials include the course packet Sprünge, audio/visual resources on Google Classroom, a feature film and a variety of texts.