World Languages & Cultures

French 1 I & II (9-12)

8650/8651

Prerequisite: Students new to learning French or needing to repeat the course (middle school C or lower or high school NC)

In this introductory course students learn everyday conversation, fundamental vocabulary, and basic grammar. Students communicate using language structures in the present tense. They compare and contrast French-speaking cultures with their own. Assessments include reading, writing, listening, and speaking evaluations. 

French 2 I & II (9-12)

8652/8653 

Prerequisite: Completion of High School French 1, with a passing grade; a C or lower in middle school MYP French III; or teacher recommendation.

In this course students continue the development of communication skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Students expand their communication using past tense structures. Cultural comparisons are continued and expanded. Assessments include reading, writing, listening, and speaking evaluations. 

French 3 I & II (9-12)

8750/8751 

Prerequisite: Completion of High School French 2, with a passing grade; a C or higher in middle school French III; along with meeting World Language placement requirements or teacher recommendation.

All modes of communication continue to be developed. More emphasis is placed on structural aspects and guided composition. Students master structures in the two primary past tenses. Students continue to expand their knowledge of Francophone culture and daily life through comparative thematic units. Assessments include reading, writing, listening, and extemporaneous speaking evaluations. 

French 4 I & II (10-12)

8752/8753

Prerequisite: Completion of High School French 3, with a passing grade.

Communication for everyday life is stressed through the use of contemporary materials. Students master structures in the simple future tense and the conditional tense. Emphasis is on developing an appreciation of the foreign culture through the study of literature, history, art, cuisine, and music. Students experience culture through film, print and other experiences such as field trips and travel. Instruction is in French, and it is expected that students speak in French. 

IB French 5 SL I & II (11-12)

8850/8851 

IB French 6 HL I & II (12)

8852/8853

Prerequisite: Completion of French 4, with a passing grade, or teacher recommendation. 

As a combined class of SL and HL French, students are exposed to the same topics, but assessments are differentiated to fit either the SL or HL student. The class structure focuses on various thematic units to build cultural perspectives and global understanding. Each unit is focused on vocabulary terms and idioms, a style of writing, and advanced grammatical concepts. Preparation for IB exams is integrated into the curriculum. All assessments follow the IB grading rubrics with differentiation to fit either the SL or HL criteria. Student production of the language is vital. Instruction is in French, and it is expected that students speak in French. This IB course gives students the opportunity to earn potential college credit via internal and external IB assessments.

Thematic Units: Year A

Themes studied: Social relationships, Beliefs and Values, Artistic Expression, Travel, Universal Rights. Selected Story: Oscar et la Dame Rose

Thematic Units: Year B

Themes studied:Community, Traditions, The Environment, Communication and Media, Health and Well-being. Selected Story: L'homme qui plantait des arbres

AP French Language and Culture I & II (11-12)

Prerequisite: Completion of French 4, with a passing grade, or teacher recommendation.

AP French Language and Culture is equivalent to an intermediate level college course in French. Students cultivate their understanding of French language and culture by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and community, personal and public identity, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges.​​​​​​ Instruction may be in French and English, and it is expected that students attempt French language abilities before English.

This course will prepare students for the AP French Language & Culture exam in May, which will potentially earn them college credit.

Spanish 1 I & II (9-12)

8654/8655

Prerequisite: Students new to learning Spanish or needing to repeat the course due to prior grade. (middle school C or lower in Spanish 1 or high school NC) 

This is an introductory course in which students focus on everyday communication about themselves and the world around them. Students learn basic language structures in the present tense. Students are introduced to countries in the Spanish-speaking world and their respective cultures. Assessments include reading, writing, listening, and speaking evaluations. 

Spanish 2 I & II (9-12)

8658/8659

Prerequisite: Completion of High School Spanish 1, with a passing grade; a C or lower in middle school Spanish III; along with meeting World Language placement requirements or teacher recommendation. 

In this course students continue the development of communication skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing activities. Students expand on their communication through past tense structures. Cultural comparisons are continued and expanded. Assessments include reading, writing, listening, and speaking evaluations.

Spanish 3 I & II (9-12)

8754/8755

Prerequisite: Completion of High School Spanish 2, with a passing grade; a C or higher in middle school Spanish III, along with meeting World Language placement requirements; or teacher recommendation.

This class transitions from Spanish 2 or middle school Spanish III. As an intermediate level course, all modes of communication continue to be developed. Students study structures from indicative past tenses to future and conditional tenses. Students continue to expand their appreciation of different cultures and countries of the Hispanic world. Assessments include oral presentations, written presentations, listening comprehension and reading comprehension and interpretation. 

Spanish 4 I & II (10-12)

8756/8757

Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish 3, with a passing grade; or teacher recommendation. 

As an intermediate course, students review structures previously introduced, as well as additional grammar structures. Communication for everyday life is stressed through the use of contemporary materials. Emphasis is on developing an appreciation of Hispanic and Latino cultures through the study of literature, history, art, and music. Students experience contemporary culture through a variety of media and community activities. Assessments include oral and written presentations, listening comprehension activities, and reading comprehension and interpretation activities. Instruction is in Spanish, and it is expected that students speak in Spanish. 

Advanced Spanish 1 I & II (9-12)

8702/8703

Prerequisite: Teacher placement per placement exam. Must be a heritage learner of Spanish with the ability to understand spoken information in Spanish. 

Advanced Spanish 1 is a year-long course designed to meet the needs of native and heritage Spanish speakers who are still beginning to develop their reading, writing, and speaking skills in Spanish. The goal of this course is to help this group of students use the Spanish that they already understand in order to learn how to better communicate as writers and speakers of Spanish and to help them understand written Spanish in an academic setting. The course will be taught using cultural topics as the core of the curriculum. Instruction is primarily in Spanish with some support in English. 

Advanced Spanish 2 I & II (9-12)

8716/8717

Prerequisite: Student’s home language is Spanish or the student has exposure to Spanish in their upbringing. (Formerly IB MYP Spanish for Native Speakers 1)  Completion of Advanced Spanish 1, with a passing grade or teacher recommendation. 

This course is for native or heritage speakers of Spanish who have some oral language proficiency but need support in reading and writing. Students develop, maintain, and enhance academic proficiency in Spanish. They advance critical reading and composition skills through the exploration of various literary genres and cultural studies. They also learn basic grammar and expansion of academic vocabulary in Spanish and explore the cultures of the Hispanic world, including their own. Instruction is in Spanish, and it is expected that students speak in Spanish. 

Advanced Spanish 3 I & II (9-12)

8718/8719

Prerequisite: Completion of Advanced Spanish 2, with a passing grade or teacher recommendation. (Formerly IB MYP Spanish for Native Speakers 2)

This course is a continuation of the academic vocabulary and grammatical structures studied in Advanced Spanish 2. Students in this course are native or heritage speakers of Spanish. Students continue to maintain, enhance, and improve academic proficiency in Spanish through various literary genres and cultural studies. They continue to study advanced grammar and expansion of academic vocabulary in Spanish and explore the cultures of the Hispanic world, including their own. Instruction is in Spanish, and students are expected to speak in Spanish. 

Advanced Spanish 4 I & II (9)

8454/8455

Prerequisite: Successful completion of at least 5 years of Spanish Immersion along with meeting World Language placement requirements or a native/heritage speaker with strong academic reading and writing skills per teacher recommendation. (Formerly IB MYP Spanish Immersion 9)

This course has a 2-year rotating curriculum. Students study literature, culture and advanced grammar. Students read and analyze various genres of writing and compose in a variety of formats. Use of supplemental materials allows students to improve their communication skills. Assessments include reading, writing, listening, and extemporaneous speaking evaluations. Instruction is in Spanish, and it is expected that students speak in Spanish. 

Advanced Spanish 5 I & II (10)

8052/8053

Prerequisite: Completion of Advanced Spanish 4, with a passing grade or a native/heritage speaker with strong academic reading and writing skills per teacher recommendation. (Formerly IBMYP Spanish Immersion 10) 

This course is the second year of the 2-year rotating curriculum for Advanced Spanish 4 and 5. Essential grammar is reviewed and new literature, cultural and grammatical information is introduced. Students read and analyze various literary genres. Clear and correct expression in the language is emphasized. Culture is explored through in-depth study of countries and contemporary issues. Instruction is in Spanish, and it is expected that students speak in Spanish. 

AP Spanish Language and Culture I & II (11-12)
8552/8553
Prerequisite: Completion of Advanced Spanish 5, Spanish 4, Advanced Spanish 3 or teacher recommendation.

This course is designed for students who have been part of the K-8 Spanish immersion program and heritage speakers with advanced levels of Spanish literacy.  All classroom interaction is conducted in Spanish. Through a variety of literary works and contemporary themes, students further develop specific skills emphasized in the Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture Exam and become more acquainted with the literary concepts of the Advanced Placement Spanish Literature and Culture Exam.

Major Course Goals: Students will be able to: 1) refine communication skills, 2) increase their appreciation of literature, 3) achieve success on the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam.

This course will prepare students for the AP Spanish Language & Culture exam in May, which will potentially earn them college credit.

IB Spanish HL I & II (12)

8858/8859

Prerequisite: Completion of IB SL, with a passing grade, or teacher recommendation. (Formerly IB Spanish 6 HL and Spanish Immersion 12) 

Students explore major themes in contemporary culture and work on perfecting grammar structures from previous levels. They respond to complex demands of day-to-day communication for the purpose of obtaining information, evaluating information (written and oral), and expressing views and opinions. They demonstrate accuracy and variety in their use of spoken and written language and knowledge of various Spanish-speaking countries. Two major works of literature are studied. Students take the IB SL or HL Spanish Exam. Instruction is in Spanish, and students are expected to speak in Spanish. This IB course gives students the opportunity to earn potential college credit via internal and external IB assessments.