World Language

This year-long course introduces the student to the French language through active participation. The student develops skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, as well as a beginning understanding of basic grammar.  The student will demonstrate an introductory knowledge of French-speaking cultures and customs.  Students will read a novel in French at the end of the year.

This year-long course builds on the Level 1 introduction to the French language through active participation.  Level 2 students are challenged to move beyond simple patterns in language communication.  The students will develop intermediate grammar skills, increase their vocabulary base, and learn more about francophone countries and cultures. Students will read a novel in French at the end of the year.

This course, conducted primarily in French, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication.  Students will explore themes such as childhood, travel, professions, the environment, French films and media. Authentic sources such as French internet sites, short stories, music and films will be used.  Students will also study intermediate grammar and apply it in conversations and in writing. Finally, students will study cultural aspects of the francophone world. Students will follow a Pre-CIS curriculum to help prepare for the College in the Schools course next year. 

This year-long course, conducted primarily in French, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication.  Students will earn 5 University of Minnesota credits for successful completion of this weighted course.  It is the equivalent of French 1003 at the University of Minnesota.  Students will study advanced grammar and apply it in conversations, in reading, and in writing.  Students will do more in-depth study of contemporary life in France and in the Francophone world. Students will use the textbook En Avant, and read the novel Le Petit Prince.  Finally, students will have the opportunity to visit the University of Minnesota and French classes there, as a class field trip.

This is a year-long weighted course.

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | FREN 1003: Intermediate French, 5 credits

This year-long course, conducted in French, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication.  Students will earn 5 University of Minnesota credits for successful completion of this weighted course.  It is the equivalent of French 1004 at the University of Minnesota.  Students will study advanced grammar and apply it in conversations, in reading, and in writing.  Students will do more in-depth study of contemporary life in France and in the Francophone world.  Students will use the textbook Ouvertures, and read short stories and excerpts from a novel. Finally, students will have the opportunity to visit the University of Minnesota and French classes there, as a class field trip.

This is a year-long weighted course.

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | FREN 1004: Intermediate French, 5 credits

This year-long course introduces students to the German language through comprehensible input and storytelling. The students will acquire German by listening and reading for comprehension. They will also participate in hands-on games and activities that support language learning. They will demonstrate their understanding through writing, retelling of stories and speaking. The students will also acquire an introductory knowledge of German speaking cultures and customs throughout the course.

This year-long course continues German language growth through comprehensible input and storytelling. The students will acquire German by listening and reading for comprehension. They will demonstrate their understanding through writing and retelling of stories. The students will expand their knowledge of German speaking cultures and customs through the content of the stories and novels that they read.

German 3 is a College in the School-Program.  This PLHS program is administered by the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (U of M) and students have the opportunity to earn college German credits that may be accepted for general education credit by many colleges and universities.  This course follows the curriculum of German 1003 offered as semester courses at the U of M.  Students will attend class at PLHS, but earn 5 credits through the U of M.

Students will receive a college transcript at the end of this course.  All students will receive the college credit if the German teachers feel they deserve the college credit based on previous German classes.  If students do not meet the prerequisite to receive college credit, they can still take the course but would not receive college credit.  We will offer an opportunity to take the German AP test and the National German test at the end of the year for any student interested.

This year-long course, conducted in German, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students will develop language skills by reading from authentic sources (such as newspapers, poems, short stories, and novels) and by increasing composition techniques.  The student will review the grammatical concepts already learned in German 1 and 2, understand and use more advanced grammar, and demonstrate knowledge of German cultures and history.  

This is a year-long weighted course.

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | GER 1003: Intermediate German, 5 credits

German 4 is a College in the School-Program.  This PLHS program is administered by the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (U of M) and students have the opportunity to earn college German credits that may be accepted for general education credit by many colleges and universities.  This course follows the curriculum of German 1004 offered as semester courses at the U of M.  Students will attend class at PLHS, but earn 5 credits through the U of M.

Students will receive a college transcript at the end of this course.  All students will receive the college credit if the German teachers feel they deserve the college credit based on previous German classes.  If students do not meet the prerequisite to receive college credit, they can still take the course but would not receive college credit.  We will offer an opportunity to take the German AP test and the National German test at the end of the year for any student interested.

This year-long course, conducted in German, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students will develop language skills by reading from authentic sources (such as newspapers, poems, short stories, and novels) and by increasing composition techniques.  The student will review the grammatical concepts already learned in German 1 through German 3 CIS, understand and use more advanced grammar, and demonstrate knowledge of German cultures and history.  

This is a year-long weighted course.

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | GER 1004: Intermediate German, 5 credits

This year-long course introduces students to the Spanish language through comprehensible input and storytelling. The students will acquire Spanish by listening and reading for comprehension. They will also participate in hands-on games and activities that support language learning. They will demonstrate their understanding through writing, retelling of stories and speaking. The students will also acquire an introductory knowledge of Spanish speaking cultures and customs throughout the course.

This year-long course continues Spanish language growth through comprehensible input and storytelling. The students will acquire Spanish by listening and reading for comprehension. They will demonstrate their understanding through writing and retelling of stories. The students will expand their knowledge of Spanish speaking cultures and customs through the content of the stories and novels that they read. Field trip opportunities are possible as a way for students to use their skills in a real world setting.

This course, conducted almost primarily in Spanish, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students will learn through various texts including novels, stories & authentic recordings in Spanish. The student will be challenged to comprehend these texts and use intermediate language skills to respond to what they read, watch and hear.

This year-long course, conducted primarily in Spanish, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students will read from authentic sources such as news articles, blogs, as well as two novels, followed by discussions and written activities based on these reading selections.  The students will be challenged to understand and use intermediate grammar and to demonstrate a knowledge of Hispanic culture with an emphasis on the culture of Hispanics living in the United States.   Successful completion of this course may provide the opportunity to “test into” an upper-level university Spanish course.  Some universities may grant credit based on the entrance proficiency test. 

Concurrent Enrollment Spanish 4 is offered as part of a College in the Schools-type program.  This PLHS program

is administered by MSU Mankato, and students have the opportunity to earn college Spanish credits that may be accepted for general education credit by many colleges and universities.  This is a year-long, weighted course equivalent to Spanish 102, a semester course at MSUM.  Students will attend class at PLHS, but earn 4 semester credits through MSUM.

Students will receive a college transcript at the end of this course.  These credits may be accepted by many colleges and universities as a general Spanish or elective credit.  Juniors in the top 1/3 of their class and seniors in the top ½ of their class are eligible to participate in this course. Sophomores are eligible based on available space and program approval.

This yearlong course, conducted mainly in Spanish, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) at the “intermediate mid” level. Students will develop language skills by reading from authentic sources (such as websites and novels) and by increasing composition techniques. The student will review the grammatical concepts already learned in Spanish I through III, understand and use more advanced grammar, and demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic culture and history. 

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Mankato | SPAN 102: Elementary Spanish 2, 4 credits 

Concurrent Enrollment Spanish 5 is offered as part of College in the Schools-type program.  This PLHS program is administered by Minnesota State University, Mankato and students have the opportunity to earn college Spanish credits that may be accepted for general education credit by many Minnesota colleges and universities.  This year-long, weighted course follows the curriculum of Spanish 201 and 202 offered as semester courses at MSUM.  Students will attend class at PLHS, and will earn a total of 8 credits through the State University.

Students will receive a college transcript at the end of this course.  These credits may be accepted by many colleges and universities as a general Spanish or elective credit.  Juniors in the top 1/3 of their class and seniors in the top ½ of their class are eligible to participate in this course.

This year-long course, conducted in Spanish, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students will develop language skills by reading from authentic sources (such as newspapers, poems, short stories, and novels) and by increasing composition techniques.  The student will review the grammatical concepts already learned in Spanish I through IV, understand and use more advanced grammar, and demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic cultures and history.  

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Mankato | 

Semester 1- SPAN 102: Intermediate Spanish 1, 4 credits Semester 2- SPAN 103: Intermediate Spanish 2, 4 credit

This year-long course, conducted solely in Spanish, continues the progressive development of the four language skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) while using a variety of authentic resources. Topics will include, but not be limited to, art, film, history, music, and current events. Students will develop an insight into language acquisition, the nature of language, and the impact of culture on language. Having completed Spanish VI: Advanced Conversation and Culture, students can expect to be able to comfortably discuss a broad range of topics as well as to read and write a variety of texts and genres.

Interested students will have an opportunity to take the AP Spanish test at the end of the year.

The AP® Spanish Literature and Culture course is designed to provide students with a learning experience equivalent to that of a college course in literature written in Spanish. The weighted course introduces students to the formal study of a representative body of texts from Peninsular Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Hispanic literature.  The overarching aims of the course are to provide students with ongoing and varied opportunities to further develop their proficiencies across the full range of language skills — with special attention to critical reading and analytical writing. A key objective of the course is to encourage students not only to understand and retell the content of the texts they read but also to relate that content to literary, historical, sociocultural, and geopolitical contexts in Spanish. Students completing this course may qualify for college credit and/or advanced placement by taking the College Board AP test in May.

Courses are run on alternating years. Please refer to registration sheet for which course is available in the given year.

000497-000500 Immersion A:

This class is for students who speak Spanish as a primary or secondary language. Students should be conversationally fluent in Spanish (though not necessarily able to read and write at a high school level) and should want to improve their Spanish skills. The class will be taught exclusively in Spanish. Emphasis will be placed on developing the necessary academic skills to understand and use written and spoken language in a more sophisticated way.

Este curso ha sido diseñado para el estudiante que habla español y quiere mejorar sus habilidades lingüísticas. La clase será impartida estrictamente en español, pero no se supone que los alumnos entienden español académico. El énfasis será puesto en el desarrollo de las habilidades académicas para que el estudiante entienda y maneje el lenguaje en el discurso escrito y oral en una manera más sofisticada.

114755-114758 Immersion B:

This course is designed for heritage Spanish speakers or students that have come from the Spanish Immersion program through PLSAS or another qualified immersion program. Students that have completed Spanish for Heritage Speakers and Immersion Students A are eligible to take this course but taking course A is not a prerequisite to taking B. The course offered alternates each year, so students entering ninth grade are also eligible to take this course and then take Spanish for Heritage Speakers and Immersion Students A the following year. This course focuses on enhanced literacy, pronunciation, writing skills, grammar, and cultural awareness of Spanish speaking countries. This course will be instructed entirely in Spanish and with a content-based learning approach.

This course is the first course of a sequence in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture. In ASL 1, students learn the basics of everyday conversational skills. While learning ASL’s visual and gestural language, students will acquire skills to communicate with ASL-users. Emphasis on readiness activities, sign vocabulary, grammatical structure, fingerspelling, and various cultural and historical aspects of deaf communities and cultural norms and practices will be explored.

This course is the second course of a sequence in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture. In ASL 2, students will expand their communication skills in American Sign Language and deepen their understanding of Deaf Culture. ASL grammar, along with cultural and historical information will be explored throughout the year. Students will continue to build their ASL skills in socialization with and among ASL-users. Expanding signed vocabulary, grammatical structure, non-manual signs, fingerspelling, and various aspects of Deaf culture and cultural behavior rules will be included in this course.

Concurrent Enrollment ASL 3 is offered as part of a College in the Schools-type program. This PLHS program is administered by MSU Mankato, and students have the opportunity to earn college ASL credits that may be accepted for general education credit by many colleges and universities. This is a year-long course equivalent to college level ASL 2, a semester course at MSUM. Students will attend class at PLHS but earn 3 semester credits through MSUM. Students will receive a college transcript at the end of this course. These credits may be accepted by many colleges and universities as a general ASL or elective credit. Juniors in the top 1/3 of their class and seniors in the top ½ of their class are eligible to participate in this course. This yearlong course, conducted mainly in ASL, continues the progressive development of the language skills of communication at the “intermediate mid” level. 

This intermediate class will include information about culture and history of American deaf people, ASL literature, grammar study and extensive proficiency-based activities. This intermediate level class expands on understanding and the use of more complex grammar, classifiers, and social conversation with an emphasis on fluency, confidence, and flow. Students will be able to: 1) Apply complex grammar rules and syntax during simple conversational exchanges in American Sign Language. 2) Recognize and use basic knowledge of classifiers in simple conversational exchanges in American Sign Language. 3) Engage in short conversations using culturally appropriate norms in American Sign Language. 4) Compare and contrast characteristics of Deaf and Hearing communities.

This is a year-long weighted course.

College Credit Information: 

Earned with University of Minnesota, Mankato | CDIS 306: Intermediate ASL 2, 3 credits

Students who qualify for this course will have the opportunity to earn three semester credits through Minnesota State University Mankato. This Intermediate-Plus American Sign language course emphasizes communication in American Sign Language (ASL). Class is conducted in ASL (no spoken English) and students are expected to use only ASL during class. This course moves you towards the more advanced, conversational ASL level. There is an increased emphasis on challenging and abstract conversational concepts, extensive use of classifiers, labeling, social conversation and increased ability to be fluent, smooth and have confidence and flow in signing. Receptive and expressive skills, sign vocabulary, grammatical structure, non-manual signs, receptive and expressive fingerspelling, and various aspects of Deaf culture and cultural behavior rules will be included in this course.

This is a year-long weighted course.

This year-long course introduces students to the Dakota language and culture through participation in cultural learning and activities. The Dakota language has a strong oral tradition therefore the majority of instruction and assignments will be through spoken language. In class participation will focus on questions and answers. Students will develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The student will also demonstrate an introductory knowledge of historical events that have impacted Dakota people.