Coursework

Sophomore Year

Global Religions:  

This course covered the major religions; Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism, and more.  It taught me the history behind each, its traditions, and what each religion entailed.  It was informative in the way it taught me about religions I didn't know and even about my religion.  It allowed me to reflect on different perspectives through the way they view the world and the cultures they hold both region-based and individual-based. 

French Language & Culture:

This course taught French at a more difficult level.  Its target is the focus on French culture in different countries.  This allowed me to better understand cultures around the world possessed by French-speaking countries (about 28 countries).  This course strengthened my French-speaking abilities while simultaneously teaching me the customs and traditions of people and places I had never been exposed to before. 

Junior Year

AP English Language & Composition: 

This course taught reading comprehension and essay writing in three styles (Argumentative, Rhetorical, and Synthesis).  The books we read offered cultural perspectives throughout the world and the writing, specifically argumentative, called upon us to use evidence from our knowledge and the world around us.  The writing element forced us to think globally and acquire knowledge from societies we may not have known of before.

AP French:

This course taught French at the highest level verbally, written, and auditory.  It delved into each category through the French perspective.  One example is the structure of writing something as simple as an email in France.  It was interesting to see how different these styles were only through email writing.  AP French taught French culture through everyday life activities and broader traditions.  It was because of this class that I was also able to pass for biliteracy which is a skill that will help me globally. 

Senior Year

Economics: 

This course highlighted the history of economic theories and understanding of economics around the world.  We conducted projects studying globalization and trade in different countries allowing us to understand different perspectives and the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on a global aspect. 

Contemporary French Society Through Media:

This course taught French culture through media (advertisements, news, and more).  It taught the contrast between the American portrayal of media and the French portrayal.  We learned to examine news and understand the biases in each country.  This allowed me to shift my perspective to more French-based thinking and allow me to understand what the French are exposed to daily and how it affects their points of view.