World Languages
Course Description Key
Descriptions of the courses offered at San Marcos High School are outlined in the following pages. Students should take note of the grade levels at which the course may be taken, prerequisites, and the length of the course (semester or year-long).
Some of the abbreviations commonly used in this section are explained below.
A-G Designation UC/CSU admission requirements (identifies courses that meet the entrance requirements of that school)
AP Advanced Placement (designates classes to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exams, which may result in a student’s receiving college credit for a course, even though the course was completed in high school
ELD English Language Development (designates English classes for those learning English as a second language).
(P) College preparatory (designates classes accepted by colleges and universities for purposes of meeting their entrance requirements)
(H) Honors (designates honors classes designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement classes)
American Sign Language
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 3 (P) - 73100 (VIRTUAL ONLY)
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade of C or better in ASL II but B is recommended.
Develops vocabulary, conversational competence, and grammatical knowledge with a total immersion approach. Introduces increasingly complex grammatical aspects including those unique to ASL. Discusses culture and literature. Contact with the Deaf Community is encouraged to enhance linguistic and cultural knowledge.
French
FRENCH 1 (P) - 71101
Grade level: 9-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Welcome to the French-speaking world! In French 1, you’ll begin learning a language spoken in over 45 countries and territories in North & South America, Africa, Europe, and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania. Have fun learning French by speaking it and listening to interesting French conversations, watching authentic videos, and singing songs in French. Learn to read and write in French about your friends, your hobbies, school, home and more. Learn how to shop for food and clothes in France, order in a restaurant, discuss the cultural celebrations of France and talk about where you live!
There are fun games and friendly competitions to review and learn.
FRENCH 2 (P) - 72101
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade of C or better in French 1 recommended.
Bonjour! Take the language further than French 1, and work towards completing the CSU and UC college entrance requirements. The language becomes easier to use and even more interesting as you continue to develop listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in French. Learn about French culture, understand more complex conversations, and feel more comfortable with the language. In French 2 you’ll learn more about French cuisine, art, theatre, and sporting events and explore the sights & wonders of Paris!
FRENCH 3 (H) (Weighted Grade) - 73201
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade of C or better in French 2 recommended.
Ici, on parle francais! French III Honors is creative and fun, yet rigorous. Students build upon communicative and grammar skills learned at previous levels of French. Pupils are evaluated on their abilities to clearly communicate by reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Learn more about the history of literature of French-speaking places around the world. This course is designed to prepare students to be confident, proficient communicators and critical thinkers who desire to continue their studies in the French language. Emphasis is also placed on the exploration of French literature, history, cuisine, music, film, and the world of art. This course is conducted in French.
Spanish
SPANISH 1 (P) - 71103
Grade level: 9-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
In this course, students will build a base for eventual mastery of Spanish. Although the main focus will be on communication (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), students will also learn about the rich culture (art, music, food, geography) and the various communities that compose the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of this course, some of the things students will be able to do in Spanish are: talk about likes/dislikes, discuss daily activities, order food in a restaurant, talk about weather, time, date, and seasons, ask and respond appropriately to questions, and describe people and relationships.
SPANISH 2 (P) - 72103
Grade level: 9-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade of C or better in Spanish 1 strongly recommended.
In this course, students will add complexity to their ability to communicate in Spanish. The main focus will be on communication (interpersonal/presentational speaking, writing, listening, and reading), as students make an exciting move from using words and basic phrases to formulating creative, personal, and descriptive ideas. Students will continue to learn about the rich culture (art, music, food, geography) and the various communities that compose the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of this course, some of the things students will be able to do in Spanish are: discuss extracurricular activities, give directions to a locations, talk about their childhood, get medical help and discuss injuries, report the news about a crisis, narrate past events with the preterit/imperfect tenses.
SPANISH 3 (H) - 73203 (Weighted Grade)
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade A in Spanish 2 strongly recommended
In this course, students will integrate concepts studied in Levels I and II and cover new verb tenses, structures, and elevated vocabulary in order to deepen their interpretive, presentational and interpersonal skills in Spanish. This course will be taught entirely in Spanish and is conducted at a quicker pace than regular Spanish III. Students are expected to speak Spanish consistently during class. By the end, the goal is that students will find themselves with functional fluency in the language: The ability to use their knowledge to carry on complex conversations in Spanish, interpret and analyze complex texts, express themselves in a variety of new cultural perspectives and communities of the Spanish-speaking world. This class serves as critical preparation for students that desire to continue studying Spanish at the AP level and in the university level.
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade of B or better in Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2, Spanish 3 (P) or Spanish 3 (H), but A is recommended.
The course emphasizes communication by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness in an effort for students to meet the proficiency requirements of the Advanced Placement Spanish Language & Culture Exam. Students are expected to extensively prepare both in and out of the classroom for all projects and exams. This course is taught exclusively in Spanish and the students are expected to use only the target language in the classroom.
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Grade of B or better in Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2 or Spanish Language (AP ) strongly recommended.
This survey course, taught exclusively in Spanish, covers selected authors and works from the literature of Spain and Latin America ranging from the medieval period to the present day. The course is intended to teach and enhance a student’s ability to acquire, identify, understand, discuss, interpret and analyze the form and content of literary works of prose, poetry and drama along with the literary terms and conceptual aspects of art and history of the time. Instruction is differentiated in order to provide the depth, complexity, novelty, and pacing required to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam.
SPANISH FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS 1 (P) - 71102
Grade level: 9-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Appropriate score on placement test.
Students who already have a background speaking Spanish at home will develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in their native language. This course provides a more formal command of the native language, a higher level of proficiency in communication, and an appreciation of the Hispanic cultures and social heritage.
SPANISH FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS 2 (P) - 72102
Grade level: 9-12
A-G Designation: E - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Appropriate score on placement test or a C or better in Spanish Speakers 1.
In this course, students that speak Spanish fluently at home and with their friends continue to develop and enhance listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish. Critical thinking skills and appreciation of the Hispanic cultures are also emphasized. Students must have a Spanish-speaking background and an ability to read and write in Spanish as demonstrated by a passing grade in Spanish for Spanish Speakers I or appropriate score on placement test. This class prepares students that desire to continue studying Spanish at the AP or university level.
INTERPRETATION & TRANSLATION 1 (P) - 81114
Grade level: 10-12
A-G Designation: Pending
Recommended Previous Course of Study: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2 with a C- or better Spanish 3/3H with a C- or better
This is the first course in a new Translation and Interpretation CTE Pathway, which will prepare students to transition into post-secondary training programs to become translators and interpreters. Translation and Interpretation I is an intense study of advanced Spanish grammar in the context of translation from English into Spanish as well as Spanish into English. Students will learn the fundamental concepts of translation theory and will put them into practice by analyzing and translating literature, advertisement, business, healthcare, legal and educational documents. The course will present opportunities to critically discuss and reflect on the specific tasks translators perform while analyzing fundamental differences in writing style and grammar structures in Spanish and English. Students will also acquire knowledge of issues related to the translation profession such as ethics, decision-making, and professional standards. Students will begin the process of earning their community translation/interpretation certificate.