World Language

As you consider classes, please note that most colleges require at least two-three years of a foreign language. 

Spanish 1 I & II: 8608/8609 

Prerequisite: None, however, it is recommended that students have previously passed the MSRT basic skills English reading test 

Grades:9-12

These are introductory courses in which students learn to speak, read, write, and listen through classroom instruction and language laboratory practice. Students who earned a grade of "C" or lower in middle school Spanish 1 should enroll in this course rather than enrolling in Spanish 2.
Major Course Goals: Students will be able to: 1) demonstrate an understanding of the basic structures of the language, 2) compare and contrast another culture with their own. 

Spanish 2 I & II: 8610/8611 

Prerequisite: A passing grade in Spanish 1 (a minimum grade of "C" is recommended), or department permission 

Grades:9-12

Students continue development of communication skills—speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Students who earned a grade of "C" or lower in middle school Spanish 2 should enroll in this course rather than enrolling in Spanish 3.
Major Course Goals: Students will be able to make statements and ask "get-to-know-you" questions with reasonable accuracy. 

Spanish 3: 8708/8709  

Prerequisite: A passing grade in Spanish 2 (a minimum grade of "C" is recommended), or department permission 

Grades: 9-12

Students practice conversational skills through the use of the language in realistic situations and increase their comprehension skills. More emphasis is placed on structural aspects and guided composition. Students continue to expand their cultural competencies.
Major Course Goals: Students will be able to: 1) demonstrate increased vocabulary acquisition, 2) communicate with increased spontaneity in the target language. 

Spanish 4: 8454/8455

Prerequisite: A passing grade in Spanish 3 (a minimum grade of "C" is recommended), or department permission 

Grades: 10-12

Students will deepen their knowledge of language and culture by engaging with original literary works, film, art, and historical and current events. Classroom interactions are conducted primarily in the target language.
Major Course Goals: Students will be able to: 1) speak at a more advanced level of communication, 2) participate in more challenging conversations. 

Advanced Spanish Language and Culture 9 I & II: 8050/8051 

Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or higher in the middle school Advanced Spanish 8 class, or department permission 

Grade: 9

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 develop specific skills emphasized in the Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture Exam and become acquainted with the foundational 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. 

Advanced Spanish Literature and Culture 11 I & II:8054-8055 

Prerequisite: A passing grade in AP Spanish Language and Culture (a minimum grade of "C" is recommended), or department permission 

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.  This course is aligned with the AP Spanish Literature and Culture course to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Spanish Literature and Culture Exam. These two courses and the exam are based on a third-year college survey course in which students explore major works of literature in all the principal literary genres from the Middle Age through our current time—short stories, drama, novels, essays, and poetry—by writers from around the Spanish-speaking world. Students explore the relationship between literature and culture by engaging with major literary and philosophical movements throughout history. Students also experience art, music, film, and other cultural products that help them further prepare for the Advanced Placement Spanish Literature and Culture Exam.
Major Course Goals: Students will be able to: 1) refine advanced communication skills, 2) expand verbal and written communication, and 3) prepare further for the AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam. 

AP Spanish Literature and Culture I & II:8056-8057 

 Prerequisite: A passing grade in Advanced Spanish Literature and Culture 11 (a minimum grade of "C" is recommended), or department permission. 

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. Students will complete their study of a representative body of Chicano/Latino, Latin American, and peninsular Spanish literature in preparation for the Advanced Placement Spanish Literature and Culture Exam. Students will have 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—and will reflect on the many voices, cultures, and contexts reflected in these diverse works in Spanish. In a historical context, students will examine the following six themes of the course: societies in contact, the construction of gender, time and space, literary creation, interpersonal relationships, and the duality of being. Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically by making connections between literary and artistic works produced in different times and in different places, and by finding connections between these works and students' own experiences.
Major Course Goals: Students will be able to: 1) refine advanced communication skills, 2) expand verbal and written communication, and 3) achieve success on the AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam. AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam

Ojibwe 8626- Ojibwemowin I 1100: Red Lake Nation College (Online/Hybrid 11-12 only)- This course is an introduction to the language of the Ojibwe.  It emphasizes developing skills in vocabulary, grammar, literacy, conversation and cultural competency and understanding in order to provide a foundation for continued language use in everyday life.

Prerequisite: Students must be in top 25% of class.

MN Bilingual Seals 

You can earn a Bilingual Seal by taking a language proficiency test right here at Armstrong High School.  For Spanish, students can take the AP Spanish Language and Culture Test or the STAMP Test.  For other languages, the STAMP and Extempore tests are available.  For more information about the benefits of earning a MN Bilingual Seal, please visit the MN Bilingual Seals website.  For any additional questions, please contact, Julie_Sonnek@rdale.org