World Languages

Each language course sequence prepares all learners to communicate effectively in the  pluralistic society of the United States and look beyond our borders to participate fully  in the global community. Cultural materials and technology provide learners with  authentic experiences. 

Students will: 

● Speak, listen, read, and write in the target language; 

● Develop insight into their own languages and cultures; and 

● Gain direct access to information in the target language. 

Each course is two semesters in length. Successful completion of both semesters is the  prerequisite for the next level. The classes are available for students in grades 9 - 12. 

Spanish I 

Course Number(s): W401111 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

The purpose of this course is to help students acquire and develop skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish.  Spanish will be acquired naturally by hearing it spoken and used in contexts that students understand.  One of the most effective ways to facilitate long term memory is through stories.  By using this method, students will  learn Spanish in a natural, conversational way just as they learned their first language.  This is a very hands-on class in which students will be very active and engaged in many different activities focusing on stories, dramas, videos, and songs as well as learning about each other. 

Spanish II 

Course Number(s): W401121 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: W401111 - Spanish I 

Grade: 9-12 

Spanish 2 builds on the language already acquired in Spanish 1 by continuing to use the language to tell stories and learn about each other.  Vocabulary and grammatical structures will be learned contextually as students are exposed to more complex language in reading and listening activities.  Students will naturally increase their ability to communicate in the present, past, and future.  Similar to Spanish 1, Spanish 2 continues to be a highly interactive, hand-on class in which language is acquired through exposure to stories, dramas, music, videos, and the cultures of  Spanish-speaking countries. 

Spanish III (Honors) 

Course Number(s): W431131 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: W401121 – Spanish II 

Grade: 9-12 

Spanish 3 builds upon the language that has already been acquired in the previous two Spanish courses.  The primary focus of the course is preparing students to communicate effectively in Spanish, both orally and in writing. The goal is that students will achieve the intermediate low level.   Grammar will be viewed as a piece of overall communication rather than a goal in and of itself.  Using stories and films as the focus, students will learn more about the people and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.  During the spring, Spanish 3 students will have the opportunity to take the Seals of Biliteracy test in order to receive up to 9 college credits. 

Spanish IV (Honors) 

Course Number(s): W431141 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: W431131 – Spanish III 

Grade: 9-12 

In Spanish 4, students will continue to build on the language they have already acquired in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish.  The goal is that students will achieve the middle phase of the intermediate level.  Through exposure to films, novels, and video, students will use Spanish to engage with interesting cultural topics related to the Spanish-speaking world.    The ability to use more complex grammatical structures and tenses will happen naturally through exposure to these structures in oral and written materials.  During the spring, Spanish 4 students will have the opportunity to take the Seals of Biliteracy test in order to receive up to 9 college credits. 

Spanish for Spanish Speakers 

Course Number(s): W401181 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: none 

Grade: 9-12 

This course is designed for students who speak Spanish  at the intermediate low to high level. The class will be  made up of native speakers as well as students who are  able to communicate at the intermediate level. This  course focuses on enhancing oral and comprehension  skills with respect to culture and literature. Students  will improve their Spanish-speaking ability through  active class discussion and presentations. In addition,  reading and writing skills will be enhanced and  developed. Students will learn the basic grammatical  structures of the Spanish language with emphasis on  integrating grammar into proficiency-oriented activities.  Emphasis will be placed on usage appropriate to  academic and professional settings. 

Hmong I 

Course Number(s): W403411 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

This language course introduces the basic skills of  listening, reading, speaking, and writing in Hmong  through thematically-designed units. Students will learn  the basic Hmong alphabet and phonetics, Hmong  grammar, and sentence structure. Themes include  family, leisure activities, folk stories, story cloths, life in  refugee camps, and traditional Hmong games. Through  these themes, students will explore the history,  traditions, and beliefs of the Hmong people. 

Hmong II 

Course Number(s): W403421 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: W403411-Hmong I 

Grade: 9-12 

This course continues to develop the basic skills of  listening, speaking, reading and writing through  thematically designed units. Students will continue to  study the Hmong alphabet, structure and phonetics,  and increase proficiency in the language through  expanded vocabulary and grammar. Themes include  family- clans, dark folktales, the Secret War, Hmong  leaders, folk songs, and poetry. Students will explore  the history, culture, traditions and beliefs of the Hmong through these thematic units. 

CIS Hmong 3 (Honors) 

Course Number(s): WXXXXX

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisites: Hmong II-W403421 

Grade: 9-12 

This course corresponds to the University of Minnesota HMNG 1011-Beginning Hmong Language and prepares students to perform at an Intermediate High proficiency level in Hmong through reading, writing, speaking and listening. Throughout the course students will: explorer themes that contribute to the revitalization of Hmong traditions and values; understand and interpret fictional and informational texts; explore and analyze themes through critical thinking; request and provide information by asking appropriate follow-up questions on familiar and everyday topics; communicate using sentences and, at times, series of sentences; build a deeper understanding of complex Hmong orthography, linguistic specifications and syntax structures; compare cultural products and practices to better understand perspectives of global Hmong history, traditions and beliefs; and express messages and interact with others using language and behaviors that are appropriate to the social and cultural context.  

Hmong Culture & Language 

Course Number(s): W432201 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits) 

Prerequisite(s): This class is designed for students  coming from the Hmong Dual Language Programs at  the middle school level. Grad level proficiency in  written and oral Hmong or see teacher for Hmong  language proficiency evaluation. 

Grade: 9-12  

This course, taught entirely in Hmong, is designed for  students to continue the Hmong dual language  immersion pathway. This course further explores the  history of Hmong arts, culture, and language. Students  immerse in the Hmong language and design  independent theme projects. Students build leadership  skills through community involvement opportunities  and develop social racial identity and increase civic  engagement through in-depth designs of their own  textile art project. Themes include Hmong clothing,  embroidery, literary works, articles, films, and healing  arts through a historical context. This course will cover  all modalities with extensive grammatical patterns, use  poetic language and literary arts with authentic texts.

See your counselor about the opportunities for Karen speakers!

Karen for Karen speakers 1 is for students who understand and speak Karen at home and want to advance their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills.  This course targets the Intermediate proficiency level. At this level, students will be able to understand and communicate on familiar topics, creating sentences and series of sentences to ask and answer a variety of questions.  Content is taught through thematically-designed units, which includes the themes of clothing, celebrations, why the Karen people came to America, and what makes a leader. Through these themes, students will explore the history, traditions, and beliefs of the Karen people.

Karen for Karen speakers 2 is a continuation for Karen for Karen speakers, designed for students who understand and speak Karen at home and want to advance their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills.  This course targets the Intermediate proficiency level. Throughout the course, students will:

-understand, interpret, and analyze fictional and informational texts.

-exchange information by asking a variety of follow-up questions on familiar topics and researched topics.

-communicate using sentences, series of sentences, and some complex sentences.

compare cultural products and practices to better understand perspectives of Karen history, traditions, and beliefs.

-express messages and interact with others using language and behaviors that are appropriate to the social and cultural context.

This course is part of a series that prepares students to test for the Minnesota Bilingual Seal, an award which will confer Minnesota Colleges and State Universities (MNSCU) world language credit to the student. Students in grades 10, 11, 12 are encouraged to register for a testing opportunity in the spring if this is the end of their language learning experience.