WORLD LANGUAGES

The Monroe Township Board of Education requires all students to take two years of a world language.  Any student considering post-secondary education should take a minimum of two consecutive years of study in the same language. Students are encouraged to review college requirements as many colleges are now requiring a third consecutive year of the same language. All courses within the world languages department emphasize reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.  Teachers make every attempt to teach in the target language. Students who complete a four-year sequence are encouraged to participate in the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy. 

LEVEL I (Spanish, French OR Italian)                 

CREDITS:  5

Full Year

Prerequisite:  None

Placement Recommendation: Below an 80 in Level I 8th grade or first year of language study

Grades 9-12

Level I is an introductory course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students work toward the Novice-Mid proficiency level as they develop language and cultural awareness. By the end of the course students are able to greet, recite memorized phrases, utilize key vocabulary, ask and answer simple questions, and communicate basic information about themselves and their daily lives. Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language.

LEVEL II (Spanish, French OR Italian)                 

CREDITS:  5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level I of the language, if taking as 9th grader, grade of 80 or higher in 8th grade is required.

Grades:  9-12

Level II is an introductory course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students work toward the Novice-High proficiency level as they develop language and cultural awareness. By the end of the course students are able to describe their daily routines, narrate events in the past, engage in dialogues on a variety of familiar and unfamiliar topics. Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language.

LEVEL II HONORS (Spanish, French OR Italian)      

CREDITS:  5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level I of the language with 90 or higher. (8th or 9th grades).

Grades:  9-12

Level II Honors is an introductory course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students work toward the Novice-High proficiency level as they develop language skills and cultural awareness. Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language. Honors offers the highly motivated student of each language the opportunity to begin a sequence of rigorous studies of the target language and the cultures of the associated people groups.

LEVEL III (Spanish, French OR Italian)        

CREDITS:  5 

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level II of the Language

Grades:  10-12

Level III is an intermediate course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students work toward the Intermediate-Low proficiency level as they develop language and cultural awareness. By the end of the course students are able to interact in social situations, understand, ask, and respond to a variety of questions, and understand written texts on familiar topics. Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language. 

LEVEL III HONORS (Spanish, French OR Italian)

CREDITS:  5 

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level II with 90 or higher; Level II Honors with 80 or higher 

Grades:  10-12

Level III Honors is an intermediate course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students work toward the Intermediate-Low/Intermediate-Mid proficiency level as they develop language skills and cultural awareness. Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language. By the end of the course students are able to interact in social situations, understand, ask, and respond to a variety of questions, and understand written texts on familiar topics. Honors offers the highly motivated student of each language the opportunity to continue a sequence of rigorous studies of the target language and the cultures of the associated people groups.

LEVEL IV (Spanish, French OR Italian)

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite:  Level III of the language

Grades:  11-12

Level IV is an advanced level elective course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students work toward the Intermediate high - advanced low proficiency level as they develop language and cultural awareness.  By the end of the course students are able to describe careers and identities, family and community, science and technology, beauty and aesthetics, and environmental challenges.  Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language. 

LEVEL IV HONORS (Spanish, French OR Italian)

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level III with 90 or higher or Level III Honors with 80 or higher.

Grades:  11-12

Level IV Honors is an advanced-level elective course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors. The course promotes target language acquisition in each domain of communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students work toward the Intermediate-High/Advanced Low proficiency level as they develop language skills and cultural awareness. In addition, by the end of the course students will have explored the six AP themes in preparation for taking AP Language and Culture the following year: Global Challenges, Beauty and Aesthetics, Science and Technology, Personal and Public Identities, Contemporary Life, Families and Communities.  Project-based learning is embedded within the curriculum so that students learn in authentic ways to use and produce language. Honors offers the highly motivated student of each language the opportunity to master the rigorous studies of the target language and the cultures of the associated people groups.  

ADVANCED PLACEMENT – (Spanish, French OR Italian Language and Culture)

CREDITS: 5

(This course receives advanced placement weighting for the calculation of the GPA)

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level IV Honors with 80 or higher, Level IV with 90 or higher. 

Grade: 12

AP is a weighted course that builds on the material learned in I, II, III and IV.  Its primary goal is to expand on the development of fundamental proficiencies in the communication skills of speaking, reading, writing and listening.  The students will practice these skills in meaningful and realistic situations and interactions.  The intricacies of the language will be reviewed as well as more advanced grammar points.  Students will be expected to comprehend actual periodical literature and discuss excerpts orally and in writing. 

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN LATIN AMERICA

CREDITS:  5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Level IV Spanish or Native/Heritage Speaker

Placement Recommendation: None

Grades:  10-12

Contemporary Issues in Latin America is an elective course aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and ACTFL Performance Level Descriptors.  The course is taught in Spanish only, focusing on contemporary issues in Latin America and their impact on our world today.  By understanding Latin American history, students will gain a perspective on current world issues including immigration, migration, social-political, and social-economic concerns.  Students will examine events in today’s news along with contemporary novelists such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  This course is specifically designed for students who wish to continue their study of Spanish at an intermediate-high level of speaking. The course also prepares students for the Seal of Biliteracy Exam. 

LATIN I

CREDITS:  5

Full Year

Prerequisite:  None

Placement Recommendation: None

Grades: 9-12

Students are introduced to the language, history, and culture of a great civilization.  Through a study of the basic Latin grammatical structures, students will gain a better understanding of English grammar and vocabulary.  These skills are beneficial as students prepare for the SAT. Students study Roman language and culture with a variety of materials.  A reading-based approach is also used to engage students in Roman mythology, technology, civilization, and language.  Latin I incorporates the NJSLS within its framework.

LATIN II

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite:  Latin I

Placement Recommendation: None

Grades:  10-12

Latin II is a continuation of level one and it is designed to give students further background in the language.  New vocabulary and grammatical structures are studied as well as continuation of the themes of daily life in ancient civilizations.  Students will be introduced to films, literary works, and articles that relate to this period of time and discover how current cultures are influenced by this time period.  Students will continue to work on skills that assist with the language component of the SAT’s. This course incorporates the NJSLS within its framework.

HONORS LATIN III

CREDITS:  5

(This course receives honors weighting for the calculation of the GPA.)

Full Year

Prerequisite:  Latin II 

Placement Recommendation: Latin II grade 80 or higher

Grades:  11-12

Honors Latin III provides an opportunity for students who have mastered level two to continue at an advanced level.  The student will be introduced to complex syntax, advanced translation methods, and new vocabulary. This course focuses heavily on the reading and translation of authors and texts of the Late Roman Republic and Early Empire. In addition to translation, the student will be exposed to such important aspects of life in the Late Republic/Early Empire as oratorical practice, Roman epistolary correspondence, and the aims and effects of Augustus’ Imperial propaganda. Students will be introduced to films, literary works, and articles that relate to this period of time and discover how current cultures are influenced by this time period. Students will continue to work on skills that assist with the language component of the SAT. This course incorporates the NJSLS within its framework.

Note:  Honors Latin III requires an increased workload and more rigorous curriculum.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT LATIN IV

CREDITS: 5

(This course receives honors weighting for the calculation of the GPA)

Full Year

Pre-requisite: Latin III or Latin III Honors

Recommendation: Latin III Honors grade of 80 or higher; Latin III grade of 90 or higher

Grade 12

AP Latin is equivalent to an upper-intermediate level college course in Latin focusing on the in-depth study of selections from two of the greatest works in Latin literature: Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic War. Students cultivate their understanding of classics through preparing and translating readings and considering themes in the context of ancient literature as they explore concepts like literary techniques, Roman values, war and empire, leadership, views of non-Romans, history and memory, and human beings and the gods.

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY - WORLD LANGUAGE

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: prior administrative approval

Grades: 9-12

Students may earn credit toward their 10-credit World Language requirement through one or more alternative pathways: 

1. Native and heritage speakers may take a comprehensive language proficiency assessment and demonstrate Novice-Mid or higher proficiency. This can be used for one year of World Language study. Alternative Pathway - World Language - Pass will appear on the transcript. 

2. Students can study a language not offered at Monroe Township High School. This must be through an accredited program and completed concurrently with the school year. Programs must align to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for World Language. Students must provide official attendance records and demonstrate proficiency through the provision of a performance report/report card, a portfolio or language proficiency assessment. 

Alternative pathways are subject to administrative approval. The deadline for approval is March 31, 2023. To apply, please complete the Alternative Pathways - World Language application.

ESL   ( 9, 10, 11, 12)

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: ELL status as determined by records review and screening. 

Grades: 9-12

ESL (English as a Second Language) provides instruction to students whose primary language is not English. The course follows the WIDA standards and prepares students for the ACCESS test. Students engage in reading, writing, speaking and listening through the lenses of other content areas. Level is determined based upon a student’s current level of English proficiency. 

ESL FOUNDATIONS

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Placement only

Recommendation: WIDA Screener, Model, or ACCESS  composite Score < 3; MAP Reading and/or Math scores below 50th percentile

Grades 9-12

ESL Foundations is a placement-only course designed to support students who have identified gaps in foundational skills across content areas. Students will build skills and have support with their content area work. Critical literacy and math skills are the focus. 

LANGUAGE ARTS TRANSITION (An ESL Course)          

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Placement only

Recommendation: WIDA Screener, Model, or ACCESS composite score < 2

Grades: 9-12

This course is designed to support newcomer students as they develop their academic and social language skills. The New Jersey Student Learning Standards and WIDA standards are utilized to support content and skill acquisition, while also promoting English language learning. Students will be exposed to grade level texts and tasks while also working at their own level. 

LANGUAGE ARTS TRANSITION II (An ESL Course)

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Pre-requisite: Placement Only

Recommendation: WIDA Screener, Model, or ACCESS composite score < 2

Grades 9-12

Language Arts Transition is designed for students whose emerging bilingualism is best supported in a sheltered English environment with accessible texts and literacy scaffolds. The NJSLS for English Language Arts as well as the WIDA ELD standards are used in conjunction with students’ individual learning profiles to continue developing academic and social language across language domains.