World Language Courses
Supervisor of Social Studies, World Language, Business and ESL: Dr. Daniel O'Keefe, daniel.okeefe@pequannock.org
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Become a citizen of the world - learn a language! What better way to connect with people around you than to be able to communicate, even in a small way, in their own language.
Become a citizen of the world - learn a language! What better way to connect with people around you than to be able to communicate, even in a small way, in their own language.
In Pequannock, all students are required to take two years of a world language. The two languages offered at the high school are Spanish & French. If you choose to take another language other than those, please see your guidance counselor.
One goal for the World Language department is to have students participate in the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy. This designation is awarded to students who can demonstrate an understanding in the 4 areas of language learning (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) at an Intermediate Mid level. Students who perform well in Spanish III will likely perform well on the Seal of Biliteracy assessment. Those students enrolled in Spanish IV have the opportunity to participate in the Seal of Biliteracy assessment based on departmental recommendations.
SPANISH I
Grades: 9-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation only.
This study of Spanish offers beginning language learners with basic, foundational knowledge requiring the sequential development of the four skills necessary to language learning, i.e. listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Spanish I provides the foundation of these communication skills with a particular emphasis on listening and reading, since research reveals that actual language acquisition happens when tapping into these two skills. Spanish I addresses the five crucial areas of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. Students will engage in a variety of learning strategies and interactions with multiple resources of basic language acquisition. These elements are continuously integrated, reviewed, refined, and explained. Cross-cultural understanding is a major objective and an essential ingredient to basic language competency. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with another Academic level. This placement is appropriate for students NEW to language learning or recommended by the 8th grade teacher.
SPANISH II
Grades: 9-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Spanish 8 or Spanish 1
All students entering PTHS with prior Spanish language instruction will begin their course of study at this level. In Spanish II, students continue to engage in meaningful, communicative exchanges begun with Spanish 8 or Spanish I. Students will demonstrate the ability to express details of his/her everyday life and of past experiences; engage in original and spontaneous conversations in the target language; organize thoughts into coherent oral speech and writing; communicate and interact in a limited range of task-oriented and social situations; comprehend a sustained conversation on a number of topics; identify common and distinct features between the target and native languages; read with increased understanding limited stories and paragraphs that have been glossed for the reader; develop a cultural sensitivity to appropriate responses and behaviors in limited social settings and basic situations with the ultimate goal of initiating and sustaining conversations of longer duration and with increasing linguistic accuracy. This is the appropriate placement for students who have taken the same language in middle school. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors level.
SPANISH II HONORS
Grades: 10-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Spanish I and department placement test
The course of study for Spanish II Honors resembles the Spanish II curriculum, however in Spanish II Honors, students will be expected to apply more advanced uses of the language in a variety of settings, as well as to delve into more challenging reading of authentic materials requiring advanced critical thinking skills. They are expected to produce projects that reflect proficiency to mastery in these skills areas. This is the appropriate placement for students who have taken the same language in middle school. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Academic level.
SPANISH III
Grades: 10-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish II and/or department placement test based on the student’s knowledge and experience with the language.
In this level of Spanish language learning, students will continue to refine their language acquisition by reading selections of greater length and depth, which are discussed and expanded with conversations and compositions. Self-expression is encouraged in a variety of modalities. The student will demonstrate: progress in the ability to use and understand more sophisticated grammatical structures; increased active and passive vocabulary acquisition; adeptness at expressing ideas and experiences in a variety of time frames; understanding of topics of contemporary and historical significance that are explored throughout the course; greater facility in engaging in original and spontaneous conversation in the language studied; an identification of significant similarities and differences between the target and native languages; an increased ability to organize thoughts into coherent oral speech and writing; interaction with appropriate responses in limited social settings and basic situations; an ability to express opinions, likes, dislikes and to argue persuasively. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors level.
SPANISH III HONORS
Grades: 10-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish II and/or department placement test based on the student’s knowledge and experience with the language.
The course of study for Spanish III Honors resembles the Spanish III curriculum, however in Spanish III Honors, students will be expected to apply more advanced uses of the language in a variety of settings, as well as to delve into more challenging reading of authentic materials requiring advanced critical thinking skills. They are expected to produce projects that reflect proficiency to mastery in these skills areas. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Academic level.
SPANISH IV
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish III and department placement test
Spanish IV will require students to use the target language 100% of the time. The course, taught entirely in Spanish, is designed for students who wish to continue to improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in Spanish. Course work will focus on meaningful communicative contexts that parallel cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. The use of cultural videos, music and Internet sources will be used to enhance the cultural component of the course. A thematic approach will be employed in order to increase student’s ability to converse in real-life situations in the target language. Reading selections from literary texts and authentic print materials will be chosen for their cultural significance and student interest. Oral and written proficiency will be stressed through a review of the structure and syntax of the Spanish language. Students at this level are expected to pursue the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes students as biliterate who can demonstrate language acquisition at the ACTFL Intermediate-Mid level. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors level.
SPANISH IV HONORS
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish III and department placement test
Spanish IV Honors resembles the Spanish IV curriculum, however in Spanish IV Honors, will require students to use the target language 100% of the time. The course, taught entirely in Spanish, will require that students will be expected to apply more advanced uses of the language in a variety of settings, as well as to delve into more challenging reading of authentic materials requiring advanced critical thinking skills. They are expected to produce projects that reflect proficiency to mastery in these skills areas. Students at this level are expected to pursue the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes students as biliterate who can demonstrate language acquisition at the ACTFL Intermediate-Mid level. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Academic level.
SPANISH V HONORS
Grade: 12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Spanish IV
The course of study for Spanish V expands upon the thematic units of the Spanish IV curriculum, however in Spanish V, students will be expected to apply more advanced uses of the language in a variety of settings, as well as to delve into more challenging reading of authentic materials requiring advanced critical thinking skills. The course will be taught in the target language and students are expected to use the target language exclusively. The focus of Spanish V will be the cultural exploration of many Spanish speaking nations. Students at this level are expected to pursue the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes students as biliterate who can demonstrate language acquisition at the ACTFL Intermediate-Mid level. Students may also wish to take the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam.
FRENCH I
Grades: 9- 12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation
This study of French employs the sequential development of the four skills necessary to language learning, i.e. listening, speaking, reading, and writing. French I provides the foundation of these communication skills with a particular emphasis on listening and reading, since research reveals that actual language acquisition happens when tapping into these two skills. The French I course addresses the five crucial areas of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. Students will engage in a variety of learning strategies and interactions with multiple resources of basic language acquisition. These elements are continuously integrated, reviewed, refined, and explained. Cross-cultural understanding is a major objective and an essential ingredient to basic language competency. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors or another level. For combined classes, those students seeking Honors credit will be given additional assignments, assessments, and grading criteria during the class.
FRENCH II
Grades: 9-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: French 8 or French I and/or department placement test based on the student’s knowledge and experience with the language.
The student continues to engage in meaningful, communicative exchanges with the ultimate goal of initiating and sustaining conversations of longer duration and with increasing linguistic accuracy. The student will demonstrate the ability to: express details of his/her everyday life and of past experiences; engage in original and spontaneous conversations in the target language; organize thoughts into coherent oral speech and writing; communicate and interact in a limited range of task-oriented and social situations; comprehend a sustained conversation on a number of topics; identify common and distinct features between the target and native languages; read with increased understanding limited stories and paragraphs that have been glossed for the reader; develop a cultural sensitivity to appropriate responses and behaviors in limited social settings and basic situations. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors or another level. For combined classes, those students seeking Honors credit will be given additional assignments, assessments, and grading criteria during the class.
FRENCH III
Grades: 10-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisite: Successful completion of French II and department placement test based on the student’s knowledge and experience with the language.
In this level, reading selections of greater length and depth are discussed and expanded with conversations and compositions. Self-expression is encouraged in a variety of modalities. The student will demonstrate: Progress in the ability to use and understand more sophisticated grammatical structures; Increased active and passive vocabulary acquisition; Adeptness at expressing ideas and experiences in a variety of time frames; Understanding of topics of contemporary and historical significance that are explored throughout the course; Greater facility in engaging in original and spontaneous conversation in the language studied; An identification of significant similarities and differences between the target and native languages; An increased ability to organize thoughts into coherent oral speech and writing; Interaction with appropriate responses in limited social settings and basic situations; An ability to express opinions, likes, dislikes and to argue persuasively. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors or another level. For combined classes, those students seeking Honors credit will be given additional assignments, assessments, and grading criteria during the class.
FRENCH IV
Grades: 11-12
Credits: 5
Prerequisite: Successful completion of French III and department placement test
The French IV course is designed for students who wish to continue to improve their reading, writing, speaking and
listening skills in French. Course work will focus on meaningful communicative contexts that parallel cultural aspects of the French-speaking world. The use of cultural videos, music and Internet sources will be used to enhance the cultural component of the course. A thematic approach will be employed in order to increase student’s ability to converse in real-life situations in the target language. Reading selections from literary texts and authentic print materials will be chosen for their cultural significance and student interest. Oral and written proficiency will be stressed through a review of the structure and syntax of the French language.
Students at this level are expected to demonstrate language acquisition at the ACTFL Intermediate-Mid level. Based on enrollment, this course may be combined with an Honors or another level. For combined classes, those students seeking Honors credit, will be given additional assignments, assessments, and grading criteria during the class.
FRENCH V HONORS
Grade: 12
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: French IV
The course of study for French V expands upon the thematic units of the French IV curriculum, however in French V, students will be expected to apply more advanced uses of the language in a variety of settings, as well as to delve into more challenging reading of authentic materials requiring advanced critical thinking skills. The course will be taught in the target language and students are expected to use the target language exclusively. The focus of French V will be the cultural exploration of many French speaking nations. Students at this level are expected to pursue the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes students as biliterate who can demonstrate language acquisition
at the ACTFL Intermediate-Mid level. Students may also wish to take the AP French Language and Culture exam.
Electives
Electives
LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE
Grades 11-12
Credits: 5.0
Prerequisite: None
This course will be a survey of the major events, issues and themes of Latin American History from pre-Columbian times through the modern era. Tracing the development of political, cultural, social and economic institutions resulting from the interaction of New and Old World cultures, students will reflect upon the diverse responses of peoples in the region to the impact of change. Through the study of the complexities of indigenous cultures, colonialism, nation-building and identity politics, and the impact of modernity and globalization, students learn how larger human processes impact this particular region of the world and how the challenges and achievements of Latin America today are reflected in the region's historical experiences. Students will be asked to analyze a variety of resources and be assessed through written assessments, class discussion, and presentations.
SPANISH FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS
Grades 9-12
Credits: 5.0
Prerequisite: Native Spanish Speaker
This course is designed for students who, because of their exposure to Spanish at home or in the community, have a general familiarity with the language and understand some spoken Spanish but have had little or no formal instruction. It emphasizes communication skills and the development of the abilities needed to read, write, and speak Spanish in various contexts.
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