World Languages
World Languages: WHY? Learning a new language enhances our world view, increasing our awareness of other cultures and their languages.
As students, world languages connect us to all of the other subjects we study, such as history, the arts, sciences, culinary science, literature and mathematics. Languages connect us within our world, causing us to think in new ways; communicating in the language enhances those connections, including that the development of new language skills is useful in travel, relationships and careers.
The primary goal of the World Language Department is to help students achieve the highest degree of proficiency possible in Spanish, French, American Sign Language (ASL), and Latin in their course of study at Nauset Regional High School. At all levels, the French, Spanish, ASL and Latin curricula emphasize effective oral and written communication as well as auditory comprehension. The French, Spanish, ASL and Latin classical language curricula emphasize expressive modes of communication, and understanding of target cultures and exposure to related geography and history. It is our goal that Nauset students achieve both cultural and linguistic proficiency in at least one modern spoken language other than English before graduation. In modern languages, it is also our objective that students interact with native speakers from different cultures and that they connect their learning in the language classroom with other disciplines. In Latin, students are encouraged to draw parallels between ancient and modern society, including aspects of history, language, and culture. In all cases, it is our objective that language learning will become a lifelong interest and process.
Department Guidelines for World Language placement: Students take courses following a vertical alignment, but are also placed based on their proficiency by their current instructor. Where there is doubt, a placement exam can be given. Our courses follow the national ACTFL proficiency progression from Novice through Intermediate to Advanced. Courses can be taken at a variety of levels. Teachers will make a recommendation for the level of the course based on previous experience with the language. Most often, levels are differentiated by the student’s proficiency level. This includes but is not limited to: depth of study, difficulty of the material and pace at which mastery is expected. Many classes will have a mix of levels. If there is a doubt about which level is the most appropriate then students should enter at Level 2 and make adjustments after the first three weeks of school. Students taking a course for Honors credit are expected to demonstrate a higher proficiency level as well as independent initiative. Students who take a course for Standard credit are expected to show increasing independence and initiative. Students who are taking a course for ecp credit need additional support and time for mastery. Each course in the World Language Department meets Nauset Regional High School’s Profile of a Graduate and school-wide academic expectations for students to:
1. Read and Communicate effectively
2. Define, analyze, and solve problems creatively
3. Be a self-directed learner who can access & interpret information
4. Collaborate with other students
5. Become a global citizen with an understanding of world challenges
Levels of Proficiency
Novice 1: Students at this level can identify memorized or familiar words in informational and fictional texts. They are able to provide information and express basic needs, preferences, and feelings by answering simple questions on very familiar topics in conversations. Students can introduce themselves, express their likes and dislikes, and name very familiar people, places, and objects. All of this is accomplished with the support of gestures or visuals, using practiced or memorized words or phrases.
Novice 2: Students at this level can identify some basic facts from memorized or familiar words and phrases in informational and fictional texts. They are able to request and provide information and express and react to basic needs, preferences and feelings by asking and answering simple questions. Students can present information about themselves, their activities and their interests, express likes and dislikes, and present on familiar and everyday topics. All of this is accomplished with the support of gestures and visuals, using a mixture of practiced or memorized words, phrases, and simple sentences.
Novice 3: Students at this level can identify the topic and some isolated elements/facts in informational and fictional texts. They are able to request and provide information, interact with others to meet basic needs, and express, ask about, and react to preferences and feelings by creating sentences and asking follow-up questions. Students can present personal information about life and activities and express preferences on familiar and everyday topics of interest. All of this is accomplished using simple sentences and questions most of the time.
Intermediate 1: Students at this level can identify the topic and related information in informational and fictional texts and short conversations. They are able to request and provide information, interact with others to meet basic needs, and express, ask about, react to preferences, feelings and emotions with some details in conversations on familiar topics. Students can present personal information about life, activities and events and express and explain preferences on familiar and everyday topics. All of this is accomplished by consistently using simple sentences and questions.
Intermediate 2: Students at this level can understand the main idea and key information in informational and fictional texts and short conversations. They are able to exchange information, preferences, feelings or opinions, provide basic advice, and interact with others to meet their needs. Students can tell stories about their lives, activities, events and other social experiences, state and minimally support their viewpoints, and give straightforward presentations on familiar and some concrete but researched topics. All of this is accomplished using simple sentences and some connected series of sentences.
Intermediate 3: Students at this level can follow the main idea and flow in various time frames in paragraph-length fictional and informational texts, conversations and discussions. They are able to exchange information, preferences, feelings or opinions in conversations and some discussions on a variety of familiar and some concrete but researched topics and interact with others to meet their needs in a variety of situations and complications. Students can tell stories about school and community events and personal experiences, state and support viewpoints, and give detailed presentations on a variety of familiar and some concrete but researched topics. All of this is accomplished using short paragraphs across different time frames.
Advanced 1: Students at this level can identify the underlying message and some supporting details across major time frames in informational and fictional texts, conversations and discussions. They are able to exchange information, ideas, preferences, opinions, and advice in conversations and discussions about a variety of familiar and concrete academic and social topics by providing explanations and comparisons. Students can tell stories about school and community events and personal experiences, state and support viewpoints, and give detailed presentations on concrete academic, social, and professional topics. All of this is accomplished using paragraphs across all major time frames and moods.
Languages offered: