World Languages

This is a basic language course designed for students who are beginning the study of French and for students needing reinforcement of the middle school language curriculum before progressing to French II.  Communicative proficiency will be emphasized through the development of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.  Students will learn to use the language for a variety of functions in guided situations.  They will explore, compare regional, social and cultural concepts, practices and products. The objectives of French 1 are to develop the four basic language skills:  comprehending spoken French, speaking, reading, and writing – within the limitations of the student’s French vocabulary.  In addition, students will develop an increased awareness of the French-speaking world. 

The second-year program opens with a systematic review, in new contexts, of all the important material presented in French 1.  This course is a continuation of French I or Middle School French grades 6, 7, and 8.  Language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) will continue to be developed while certain structures will be mastered.  Students will continue to explore, compare regional, social and cultural concepts, practices and products.  Vocabulary introduced is used in communicative situations.  The course is designed to elicit a high level of student participation in the learning process.  This course is open to all students who have successfully completed level 1.

This third-year course is designed for students who want to continue to learn French at a more intensive level. Increased emphasis will be placed on refining structural patterns as well as improving and increasing oral and written proficiency.  More advanced French grammar and vocabulary will be studied.  Along with perfecting the student’s listening and speaking skills, this course will provide for the continued development of reading and writing skills.  Essays, short stories, poems, magazines and/or extracts of films will emphasize current and historic French culture. 

Reading, advanced grammar, vocabulary building, and the study of French history and culture are the major components of this course.  Students work with websites, literature, poetry, and get familiar with interpersonal reading, writing, listening and speaking; presentational speaking and writing; and interpretive reading and listening. Advanced placement practices are incorporated into each unit.  A few new grammar structures are introduced, while old ones are reviewed and applied. The vocabulary is geared towards themes relevant to the lives of today’s young adults.  Differentiated instruction makes it possible to further enhance the learning of very advanced students, and at the same time, to teach relevant structures and vocabulary to students who wish to learn more French but do not want to continue with French AP in the following year.

Students can opt to take this course as a UCONN ECE French course (ECE French 3268: Grammar and Composition) scheduled at the same time as French 4H.

Course Description:

Three UCONN credits. Recommended preparation: Three years of high school French or instructor consent. Advanced study of French texts and extensive written practice in a variety of forms ranging from compositions, essays, summaries and film reviews.

UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides academically motivated students with the opportunity to take university courses while still in high school.  These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and a financial head start on a college degree.

UConn ECE instructors, who are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by UConn faculty, create a classroom environment fostering independent learning, creativity and critical thinking – all pivotal for success in college.  To support rigorous learning, University of Connecticut library resources are available to all UConn ECE students.  UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above to receive University credit.  University credits are highly transferable to other colleges and universities.

Course registration occurs in June with late registration possible in September.  Students are charged a $125 course fee payable to the University of CT.  Billing is direct from the university and no money is collected by OSHS.  For additional program information visit: www.ece.uconn.edu

French 5 exposes students to greater proficiency and gives deeper insight into French culture and literacy.  Reading, composition, conversations, and advanced grammar are the major components of this course.   French literature is studied through novels and short stories.  Students enjoy an in-depth look at many aspects of French culture – daily life and customs, religion, economy, government, the arts – through the use of current websites, films and audio resources.  The continued study of advanced grammar increases the student’s mastery of, and fluency in, the French language.  Students may register with prior approval of an instructor.  *Honors and AP options will be considered based on enrollment and scheduling.

Students are required to take the Advanced Placement test administered in the spring.  There is an approximate $95 fee for this test.

Students can opt to take this course as a UCONN ECE French course (ECE French 3250: Global Culture I) scheduled at the same time as French AP.

Course Description:

Three UCONN credits. Recommended preparation: Three years of high school French or instructor consent. Intense study of oral French. Learning oral techniques of communication in conjunction with weekly topics of conversation associated with various francophone cultures. Rigorous and active oral practice through dialogues, interviews, round tables, and oral reports.

UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides academically motivated students with the opportunity to take university courses while still in high school.  These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and a financial head start on a college degree.

UConn ECE instructors, who are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by UConn faculty, create a classroom environment fostering independent learning, creativity and critical thinking – all pivotal for success in college.  To support rigorous learning, University of Connecticut library resources are available to all UConn ECE students.  UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above to receive University credit.  University credits are highly transferable to other colleges and universities.

Course registration occurs in June with late registration possible in September.  Students are charged a $125 course fee payable to the University of Connecticut.  Billing is direct from the university and no money is collected by OSHS.  For additional program information visit: www.ece.uconn.edu

Spanish 1 is intended for the student who is new to second language acquisition or has taken some time off from the language.  The Old Saybrook High School curriculum is based on the belief that the purpose of learning Spanish is to communicate with the people who speak it and to understand their cultures.  Spanish 1 presents a fresh, exciting approach to Spanish by making language learning authentic and relevant for today’s students. It introduces the second language learner to Spanish via communication, culture, connections (cross-curricular and the target language), comparisons (language and cultural), and communities. Students will speak, listen, read, and write the target language while using authentic resources to do so. In each unit, new vocabulary and grammar are taught through language exposure via words, dialogues, narration, visuals, audio, and video.  Each unit provides authentic documents, photographs, and culturally based readings to learn about cultural topics. Many connections are made to Spanish outside the classroom to promote life-long involvement in the language.  Charlas provide opportunities for students to engage in conversations, informally and formally, weekly. At the Spanish 1 level, students are required to complete 4 Charlas throughout the course of the year.

The second-year program begins with a comprehensive review of all-important materials presented in Spanish 1.  Fundamentals of Hispanic culture are pursued, along with new vocabulary and grammar.  The four basic skills continue to be developed while facilitating authentic resources.  Charlas provide opportunities for students to engage in conversations, informally and formally, weekly. At the Spanish 2 level, students are required to complete 12 Charlas throughout the course of the year.  This course is open to all students who have successfully completed level 1.

The Spanish 3 program provides an intensive study of advanced grammar and vocabulary.  Reading will be related to the culture of Mexico and Central America.  Hispanic art drives the cultural component at this level.  This course provides for the continued development of reading and writing skills along with advancing the student’s listening and speaking skills.  Charlas provide opportunities for students to engage in conversations, informally and formally, weekly. At the Spanish 3 level, students are required to complete 16 Charlas throughout the course of the year. The course is taught almost solely in the target language and authentic resources used.  *CP and Honors options will be considered based on enrollment and scheduling.

Spanish 4 emphasizes reading, advanced grammar, vocabulary building, and composition all in the target language, via exclusive use of authentic resources.  The student’s oral proficiency in the Spanish language is developed. Charlas provide opportunities for students to engage in conversations, informally and formally, weekly. At the Spanish 4 level, students are required to complete 16 Charlas (CP) and 20 Charlas (H) throughout the course of the year.  In addition, students will study many aspects of culture of the Spanish-speaking countries of South America. At the CP level, short videos (cortos) are used to enhance communication, cultural empathy and understanding.  *CP and Honors will be considered based on enrollment and scheduling.

¡Exploramos! is offered for students looking to use their Spanish in authentic ways and through community-based applications. How can Spanish help you and your immediate world? What does the Spanish-speaking world look like globally? Let’s explore! Students will explore several topics relevant to 21st century learning expectations, will engage in real-life situations in the target language, and will focus on applying Spanish daily. In this class, application and action are the focus!

¡Exploramos! is designed as an alternative to Advanced Placement for students who wish to continue the study of Spanish and/or an extension of their study of Spanish.  The course will continue to improve students’ proficiency in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as deepen their cultural understanding of the Hispanic world.  There will be an emphasis on improving listening comprehension using authentic materials, as well as extensive speaking practice (charlas, pop-up debates, 5-minute presentation, elevator pitch, Ted Talk). Readings will include the internet, social media posts, newspaper and magazine articles, etc. Attention will also be given to improvement in writing (journaling, research paper).  Emphasis will be on composition and conversations.

Spanish 5 AP Language and Culture exposes students to greater proficiency in the Spanish language and deeper insight into Spanish culture.  Reading, composition, advanced grammar, and oral presentations and discussions are the main thrust of the course.  Students have an in-depth look at many aspects of Spanish culture – families and communities, identity, contemporary life, world challenges, and science and technology, beauty and aesthetic – using current cultural websites, magazines, films, slides, videos, audio resources, and Internet (authentic resources).  The continuous study of advanced grammar increases the student’s mastery of the Spanish language.  This course is conducted entirely in Spanish. Charlas provide opportunities for students to engage in conversations, informally and formally, weekly. At the Spanish 5AP level, students are required to complete 24 Charlas throughout the course of the year (minimum: 6 per quarter).  Students may register with prior approval of an instructor.  *AP options will be considered based on enrollment and scheduling.

Students are required to take the Advanced Placement test administered in the spring.  There is a $95 fee for this test.

Would you like to learn the basics of the German language, understand the culture, history, art, music and gastronomy of Germany? Then this course will give you, for the first time, the opportunity to broaden your horizon. This course will be set up as a hybrid course. Thanks to today’s technology, we will be able to learn in person and via online, in order to open up possibilities, independent from the time and location constraints: German without borders.

The goal is to build the program, and to have German 2 and further levels in the coming years.

*Pending Board Approval