World Languages

Course Title: American Sign Language (P)

Course Number: 2430-2431

Grade Level: 9-12

Elective/Required: Elective 

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: None                    

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 1)

Course Description:  This year long course in American Sign Language provides a thorough foundation in understanding and using ASL as a means of communication with the deaf community. Course content includes the language and structure of American Sign Language, an orientation to deaf culture and the challenges faced by deaf individuals, and an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of deaf individuals in the visual and performing arts. This first year course teaches the parameters of ASL, basic signs, grammar, and fingerspelling, with a focus on basic ASL communication skills. Learning American Sign Language is a challenging language to learn. Participants must fully participate to build the skills required to truly use ASL as a second language. During the course of instruction participants will be provided a variety of opportunities to demonstrate skill with the language through role playing, skits, songs, poems, stories, oral presentations, and performances. This course is aligned to World Language Content Standards for California Public Schools as well as the World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages.

Course Title: American Sign Language 2 (P)

Course Number: 2432-2433

Grade Level: 9-12

Elective/Required: Elective 

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: None                    

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 2)

Course Description:  This year long course in American Sign Language extends foundational understandings and use of ASL as a means of communication with the deaf community. Course content further develops the language and structure of American Sign Language, amplifies and encourages connections to deaf culture and the challenges faced by deaf individuals, and supports a deeper appreciation of the contributions of deaf individuals in the visual and performing arts. This second year course extends appropriate student use of the parameters of ASL, basic signs, ASL grammar, and fingerspelling. Receptive and expressive skills are demonstrated through an expanded ASL vocabulary, storytelling, and direct communication. Learning American Sign Language is a challenging language to learn. Participants must fully participate to build the skills required to truly use ASL as a second language. During the course of instruction participants will be provided a variety of opportunities to demonstrate skill with the language through role playing, skits, songs, poems, stories, oral presentations, and performances. This course is aligned to World Language Content Standards for California Public Schools as well as the World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages.

Course Title: French 1 (P)

Course Number: 2002-2003

Grade Level: 9-12

Elective/Required: Elective 

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: None                    

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 1)

Course Description:  This course is designed to introduce the beginning student to the fundamentals of the French language. Language development is accelerated using the Language Learning Continuum for Stage 1 found in the Foreign Language Framework for California Public Schools. French for communication is the emphasis of the course, with at least 50% of the class time spent working orally with the language. Classroom discourse emphasizes both receptive and productive language skills, including interactive comprehension and production, receptive comprehension, and comprehensible production. Language practice is contextualized and reflects real world use. Instruction builds accuracy with the language – language that is grammatically correct, situationally appropriate, and culturally authentic. In addition to learning how to speak and write French, the unique culture of France is introduced. Through a wide variety of interactive learning methods such as projects, games, skits, and paired activities, language proficiency is developed through situations that promote the use of language skills. Key topics include personal introductions, greetings, school life, family members, food, and leisure activities.  The course meets the A-G requirements for admission to the University of California or California State University system.

Course Title: French 2 (P)

Course Number: 2006-2007

Grade Level: 9-12

Elective/Required: Elective 

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: French 1 or teacher approval

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 2)

Course Description:  This course is constructed to build upon the fundamentals taught in French 1. Language development is accelerated using the Language Learning Continuum for Stage 2 found in the Foreign Language Framework for California Public Schools. French for communication is the emphasis of the course, with at least 70% of the class time spent working orally with the language. Classroom discourse emphasizes both receptive and productive language skills, including interactive comprehension and production, receptive comprehension, and comprehensible production. Language practice is contextualized and reflects real world use. Instruction builds accuracy with the language – language that is grammatically correct, situationally appropriate, and culturally authentic. In addition to learning how to speak and write French, the unique culture of France is introduced. promote the use of language skills. The course meets the A-G requirements for admission to the University of California or California State University system.

ourse Title: French 3, 4 (P)

Course Number: 2010-2011, 2014-2015

Grade Level: 10-12

Elective/Required: Elective 

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: French 2 or teacher approval

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 3)

Course Description:  Both level three and four of French focuses on the four major aspects of language communication: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The stress will be on oral communications, sentence structure, vocabulary, culture and heritage. Emphasis will also be on communication and function of the French language as well as the culture of the francophone world. Units will address everyday use of basic language and vocabulary and include topics on animals, food, house and home, family, the future, clothing, life, entertainment, music and sports. A heavy focus will be placed on general use of phrases and conversation in everyday situations. The class is student-centered. Students will engage in focus, cooperative learning, and paired practices. They will also accomplish quality projects and papers, comprehensible to even non-language sympathetic listeners.

Course Title: Spanish I (P)

Course Number: 2202-2203                               

Grade Level: 9-12

Elective/Required: Elective

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: None

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 1)

Course Description:  Spanish I is a beginning course that requires no prior experience with the Spanish language. Language development is accelerated using the Language Learning Continuum for Stage 1 found in the Foreign Language Framework for California Public Schools. Spanish for communication is the emphasis of the course, with at least 50% of the class time spent working orally with the language. The development of vocabulary and Spanish language concepts is essential to success in the class. Classroom discourse emphasizes both receptive and productive language skills, including interactive comprehension and production, receptive comprehension, and comprehensible production. Language practice is contextualized and reflects real world use. Instruction builds accuracy with the language – language that is grammatically correct, situationally appropriate, and culturally authentic. Cooperative learning groups, listening activities, situational conversations, and other directed oral activities provide proactive reinforcement. . The course meets the A-G requirements for admission to the University of California or California State University system

Course Title: Spanish 2 (P)   

Course Number: 2206-2207

Grade Level:  9-12

Elective/Required: Elective

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: Spanish 1 or teacher recommendation

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 2)

Course Description:  Spanish 2 is a second-year foreign language course that focuses on all four major aspects of communication: speaking and listening, writing and reading.  Language development is accelerated using the Language Learning Continuum for Stage 2found in the Foreign Language Framework for California Public Schools. Spanish for communication is the emphasis of the course, with at least 50% of the class time spent working orally with the language.  Classroom discourse emphasizes both receptive and productive language skills, including interactive comprehension and production, receptive comprehension, and comprehensible production.  Language practice is contextualized and reflects real world use.  Instruction builds accuracy with the language – language that is grammatically correct, situationally appropriate, and culturally authentic and that places an emphasis on Spanish culture and heritage. Cooperative learning groups, listening activities, situational conversations, and other directed oral activities provide proactive reinforcement.  The development of vocabulary and Spanish language concepts is essential to success in the class.  Units address communication among friends, traveling to different cities and foreign countries, daily personal and school life, fun time activities, healthful living and talking about childhood. The course meets the A-G requirements for admission to the University of California or the California State University system.  

Course Title: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 (P)

Course Number: 2302-2303

Grade Level: 9-12

Elective/Required: Elective

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation; fluent in conversational Spanish

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 2)

Course Description:  Spanish for Spanish Speakers, who are deficient in Spanish reading and writing skills, is a basic course for students fluent in everyday conversational Spanish. Heavy emphasis is placed on basic reading and writing skills. Reading is developed by class reading and analyzing short stories and poetry.  Writing skills are developed by the use of activities in conjunction with the reading assignments including graphic organizers, written responses to literary works, essays, and projects.  Additionally, grammar and vocabulary exercises are used to refine language skills.  Students’ verbal skills are enhanced through small-group and whole-class discussions.

Course Title: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2 (P)

Course Number: 2306-2307

Grade Level: 10-12

Elective/Required: Elective

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 or teacher recommendation

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 3)

Course Description:  Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2 (LOTE Level 3) is a continuation of Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1.  This class reinforces and expands on the knowledge and skills presented in the first 2 years of high school Spanish curriculum, specifically reading, writing, listening, speaking and culture.  Emphasis is placed on preparing students to take AP Spanish Language.

Course Title: Literature and Culture for Spanish Speakers (P)

Course Number: 2306-2307

Grade Level: 10-12

Elective/Required: Elective

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2 or teacher recommendation

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 3)

Course Description: Literature for Spanish Speakers 3 is the “A”, or first year, of the two-year AP Spanish Literature and Culture course. The course introduces works on the required AP Spanish Literature and Culture course. The works are drawn from the diverse literature written in Spanish from Spain, Latin America as well as two works from the United States. Students will learn to analyze short stories, novels, poems and plays in discussions and in written format. They will also learn to write literary analysis, using the necessary literary terms. Students will also learn to make interdisciplinary connections among the course themes, essential questions and works they read; use audiovisual materials to enhance their understanding of literary, historical, socio-cultural and geopolitical contexts within the course content. In addition, the course prepares students to take the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam at the end of the second year of study. 

Course Title: AP Spanish Literature and Culture (P)

Course Number: 2222-2223

Grade Level: Spanish 4 AP or permission of Instructor

Elective/Required: Elective

Length/Credits: Year/10 credits

Prerequisites: A passing grade in AP Spanish Language and Culture  4  or Literature and Culture for Spanish Speakers Level 3, or pass the Spanish AP Language Exam with 3 or better.

Meets UC/CSU A-G category: “E” Language Other than English (LOTE level 4+)

Course Description:  This course is designated to be the 2nd of a two-year Literature program. It will complete the study of selected works of the required authors for the AP Literature exam, which is given in May. This study will draw from the various genres of each author, as well as those of other major authors. Students will be required to analyze short stories, novels, poems and plays both orally and in written format. They will learn to write literary analysis, as well as literary terms necessary for this analysis.