Classes labeled DUAL are Dual Credit classes, meaning you can earn college credit for them. Classes labeled AP are Advanced Placement classes.
Courses at Ida B. Wells place greater emphasis on spontaneous speaking and writing in the target language in real–life situations. We encourage students to enroll in the language of their choice. The workload and the level of difficulty among the languages are comparable. The World Language Department requires students to earn grades of “A”, “B” or “C” in order to continue on to the next level. Any student receiving a “D” will be given credit for the class but will not be allowed to continue on to the next level.
College Entrance Requirements: all public Oregon universities require two years of the same World Language (C or better). PPS requires two years of the same world language for a standard diploma.
Grade: 9-12 Prerequisite: None
American Sign Language (ASL) 1-2 is for students with no prior or minimal skills and knowledge of ASL. It includes the study of the history, structure, and grammar of ASL. In addition, students will learn of the historical and cultural contexts of the Deaf community. ASL is a visual, spatial, gestural language that utilizes space and movement to convey meaning. You will develop communication skills of which you are not accustomed to using hands, face, body, eyes, and space. In order to progress, it is important that you “listen” with your eyes. To encourage and foster the development of ASL, spoken language (talking) is not used during the majority of the class.
Grade: 10-12 Prerequisite: ASL 1-2
American Sign Language (ASL) 3-4 is an intermediate course designed to build on what students learned in ASL 1-2. Students have the opportunity to communicate in a wider array of situations, to further develop their language fluency, and to advance their level of comprehension of American Sign Language in culturally appropriate ways. To encourage and foster the development of ASL, spoken language (talking) is not used during class.
Grade: 11-12 Prerequisite: ASL 3-4
American Sign Language (ASL) 5-6 is an intermediate course which continues to elaborate on the language students have learned in ASL 1-2 and 3-4. Students will build a greater understanding of vocabulary, ASL grammatical structure, expressive and receptive communication, and of Deaf culture and history. To further advance and develop communicative competence, this course is taught primarily in ASL. Students are expected to use only American Sign Language.
Grade: 9-12 Prerequisite: None
This introductory course is designed for students with little or no previous study of French. A focus on comprehensible input and contextualized repetition will enable students to begin acquiring French. Cultures of the French-speaking world are introduced via media, songs, games, adapted readings, and class discussions. Students will demonstrate their proficiency in all four modes of communication: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The course is taught primarily in French.
Grade: 9-12 Prerequisite: French 1-2
This course enables students to continue developing proficiency in all four modes of communication: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Students will continue to explore the cultures of the French-speaking world through media, songs, games, adapted readings, and class discussions. Students will demonstrate their proficiency in all four modes of communication: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The course is taught primarily in French.
Grade: 10-12 Prerequisite: French 3-4
In this course, students will continue to develop proficiency in French. Students will build toward communication at a more sophisticated level. This course introduces francophone (French language) literature through poetry, magazine articles, and short stories, and excerpts from novels such as Le petit prince. Students will demonstrate their proficiency in all four modes of communication: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. This course is taught primarily in French, and students are expected to speak French in class.
Grade: 10-12 Prerequisite: French 5-6
Students will continue to develop their proficiency at a more sophisticated level through a study of francophone (French language) poetry, art, magazine articles, short stories, plays, and novel excerpts. They will develop skills necessary to communicate through written papers and class discussions. Advanced grammar topics are taught in the context of reading and discussions. This course is taught primarily in French and students are expected to speak only French.
Grade: 11-12 Prerequisite: French 7-8
AP French is an advanced level course in which students will continue to improve their ability to understand and interpret written and oral French. There will be an emphasis on improving spoken French and vocabulary. We will study the social, political and cultural aspects of various parts of the French-speaking world. We will continue to develop the interpersonal, presentational and interpretive modes of communication. Students will participate in presentations, dialogues, interviews and discussions. Authentic sources will include literature and poetry, news articles and reports, podcasts and other internet sources, film, and music. During the second semester there will be an intensive preparation for the AP exam in May. It is expected that all students will prepare for and take the AP exam.
Grade: 10-12 Prerequisite: None Notes: Elective credit
Students in this course will watch films in French from various countries of the Francophone world and analyze them through multiple lenses including culture, geography, history, equity, genre, and literature. They will collaborate with teachers/classes from outside the World Languages department, including English, Social Studies, Art, and Video Production. This course will be suitable for both students who know some French and those who do not. Native and heritage speakers and advanced French students will have the opportunity to use and improve their language skills. Students with no French background will participate and complete written assignments in English. Most of the films will be shown in French with English subtitles. Class discussions will be held in English although small group discussions may be in French or English. Students may complete written assignments in English or French. Many films will be pre-selected by the instructor, but students may propose films.
Grade: 9-12 Prerequisite: None
This course is designed for students who speak Spanish at home and/or have a cultural connection to the language. This course takes into account the experiences and influences of a student's bilingual and bi-cultural upbringing. The primary purpose of the course is to develop reading and writing skills in Spanish, although all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) are practiced via cultural and community activities. Students who successfully complete this course may choose to enroll in AP Spanish.
Grade: 9-12 Prerequisite: None
This introductory course is designed for students with little or no previous study of Spanish. Some students in class might have studied Spanish in middle school but have not grasped some of the important structures of the language. This course teaches basic language patterns and vocabulary with an emphasis on developing accurate pronunciation. Repetition and comprehensible input are important components of this course. The focus is on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will be assessed in each of these four modes of communication. Cultures of the Spanish speaking world are introduced through the use of media, songs, games, films, adapted readings and class discussions. The course is taught primarily in Spanish.
Grade: 9-12 Prerequisite: Spanish 1-2
As students continue to learn vocabulary and sentence structure, they consolidate their understanding of the first-year material. Communication takes a more realistic form as students integrate language taught in class. Students will learn about customs, history and geography of Spanish–speaking countries through the use of the textbook, videos, games, music, magazines, and other authentic materials. This course is taught primarily in Spanish.
Grade: 10-12 Prerequisite: Spanish 3-4
The study of grammatical structures taught in context continues along with vocabulary expansion in this course. Students build toward communication at a more sophisticated level using stimulating and engaging activities, which include dramatizations, cultural projects, guest speakers, and oral proficiency interviews. Students are expected to speak only Spanish in this class and this course is taught primarily in Spanish.
Grade: 11-12 Prerequisite: Spanish 5-6
Literature, poetry and films will be used as a point of departure to enhance and expand communication at a more challenging level. Advanced grammar topics are taught in the context of reading and discussions. Writing, an integral part of the course, includes reports, essays and correspondence. This course is taught in, and students are required to speak, in Spanish.
Grade: 11-12 Prerequisite: Spanish 7-8
This advanced level of Spanish prepares students for the Advanced Placement Exam in Spanish and upper-level college courses. The skills students have developed throughout the previous four years will define the course; it will be structured to meet student needs and will included Spanish AP exam–related activities and a rigorous preparation for the test in May as well as the study of advanced structures and vocabulary. Novels, plays, short stories, poetry and film will be used to increase vocabulary and performance in reading comprehension and students’ writing skills. Texts will be studied through a cultural and socio–political lens. This course is taught entirely in Spanish and students are required to speak only Spanish.
Grade: 11-12 Prerequisite: AP Spanish
Spanish 11-12 emphasizes authentic communication in Spanish related to various Latin-American literature and other texts which will be read throughout the year. The goal is to be able to convey meaningful messages following the appropriate norms of spoken language, including a sense of registers, settings, and adequate vocabulary. The principal objective of this course is to gain an understanding of the people of Latin America today and to develop a sense of solidarity with the hopes, dreams and struggles of the people in Latin America and Latin Americans in the United States.
GR: 9-12 Prerequisite: None
Parliamo Italiano!! This introductory course is designed for students with little or no previous study of Italian. This course teaches basic language patterns and conversational vocabulary with an emphasis on developing accurate pronunciation and enjoying the language and culture. The focus is on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will be assessed in each of these four modes of communication. Italian culture is introduced through the use of media, songs, games, films, adapted readings and class discussions. The course is taught primarily in Italian.