World Languages (WL)
While no world language credit is required for graduation from high school, a minimum of two years of study in one world language is recommended to meet college articulation requirements of most colleges and a third unit or more is suggested.
Students in World Language courses:
1. communicate in languages other than English.
2. gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
3. connect with other disciplines and acquire information.
4. develop insight into the nature of language and culture.
5. interact with members of the target language communities.
Studies in American Sign Language, French, and Spanish are available to students in all Westerville high schools.
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
French 1, the four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the French-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Upon completion of this course, students should attain a Novice-mid level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
Recommended: French 1
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Level 1 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the French-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Upon completion of this course, students should attain a Novice-high level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: French 2
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Levels 1 and 2 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the French-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Expectations are that students will demonstrate greater depth of knowledge of the language and culture through increased academic rigor. Upon completion of this course, students should attain an Intermediate-low level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: Honors French 3
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Levels 1 and 2 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the French-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Expectations are that students will demonstrate greater depth of knowledge of the language and culture through increased academic rigor. Upon completion of this course, students should attain an Intermediate-mid level of proficiency.
Students may earn college credit or advancement in college coursework with qualifying scores on IB exams.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12
Course Length: 2 Years
Credits: 1.00 FLR per year
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: French 2
Approximate cost: $122 for IB test (required)
Location: Westerville South only
IB French SL is a rigorous two-year course that focuses on the four major skills of learning a second language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Development of the essential skills learned in previous French courses will be extended through the use of authentic materials. The investigation of other cultures is incorporated directly into the student's language studies.These inquiries provide students with other points of view on world events. IB French SL students are evaluated through various teacher assessments, as well as IB assessments completed during the final year of the course. Students, with guidance from the instructor, will choose to take either the higher or standard level exam. The course will be conducted entirely in French.
Grade Levels: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
In Spanish 1, the four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the Spanish-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Upon completion of this course, students should attain a Novice-mid level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
Recommended: Spanish 1
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Level 1 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the Spanish-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Upon completion of this course, students should attain a Novice-high level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credits: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: Spanish 1
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Level 1 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. Cultural knowledge from the Spanish-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. This course builds upon the content of Spanish 2 with an expectation that students will demonstrate greater depth of knowledge of the language and culture through increased academic rigor. Upon completion of this course, students should attain a Novice-high level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credits: 1.00 FLR
Recommended: Spanish 2
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Levels 1 and 2 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the Spanish-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Upon completion of this course, students should attain an Intermediate-low level of proficiency.
Grade Levels: 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credits: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: Honors Spanish 2
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Levels 1 and 2 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the Spanish-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Expectations are that students will demonstrate greater depth of knowledge of the language and culture through increased academic rigor. Upon completion of this course, students should attain an Intermediate-low level of proficiency. Instruction is predominantly in Spanish.
Grade Levels: 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: Honors Spanish 3
This course builds upon students’ prior knowledge from Levels 1, 2 and 3 with the goal of increasing their overall language proficiency. The four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, reading and writing), are consistently practiced throughout the year. A variety of cultural knowledge from the Spanish-speaking world is presented, and when possible, students are asked to compare their home culture to the target language culture. Expectations are that students will demonstrate greater depth of knowledge of the language and culture through increased academic rigor. Upon completion of this course, students should attain a Intermediate-mid level of proficiency.
Students may earn college credit or advancement in college coursework with qualifying scores on AP and/or IB exams.
Grade Levels: 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credits: 1.00 FLR
1.25 Weighted grade
Recommended: Honors Spanish 4
Approximate cost: $97 AP test (optional)
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed to parallel the rigor of an introductory college course. AP Spanish Language emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. This course is conducted in Spanish.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12
Course Length: 2 Years, 1 Period
Credits: 1.00 per year FLR
1.125 SL Weighted grade
1.250 HL Weighted grade
Recommended: Successful completion of all Ohio State Tests through the end of sophomore year and "C" average in Spanish 3 or Honors Spanish 2
Approximate cost: $122 for IB test (required)
Location: Westerville South only
IB Spanish is a rigorous two-year course that focuses on the four major skills of learning a second language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Development of the essential skills learned in previous Spanish courses will be extended through the use of authentic Hispanic texts, media, and realia. The investigation of other cultures is incorporated directly into the student's language studies. These inquiries will provide students with another point of view on world events. IB Spanish students are evaluated through various teacher assessments, as well as IB assessments completed during the final year of the course. Students, with guidance from the instructor, will choose to take either the higher or standard level exam. The course will be conducted entirely in Spanish. IB Spanish HL is equivalent to a third-year college language course. The study of Hispanic literature is an integral part of the course.
Grade Levels: 11 and 12
Course Length: 2 Years, 1 Period
Credits: 1.00 FLR per year
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: Participating in the IB Diploma program as a Diploma or Certificate student
Approximate cost: $122 for IB test (required)
Location: Westerville South only
IB Spanish ab Initio SL is a two-year course beginning in the student's junior year that focuses on the four major skills of learning a second language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Equal emphasis will be placed on each of the four linguistic skills. Students develop the ability to communicate in speech and in writing in order to enable them to deal adequately with familiar and practical needs. The incorporation of investigating other cultures is tied in directly to the student's language studies. Students are expected to look outside of their worldview and achieve another point of view on world events.
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
ASL 1 students study deaf culture and literature, as well as vocabulary and structure of ASL. Students will be made aware of opportunities in which to practice their skills within the local deaf community. Daily work outside of the classroom is required. This consists of learning vocabulary and the language structure, practice exercises, and preparing for quizzes, tests, projects and/or presentations.
Grade Levels: 10, 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
Recommended: ASL 1
ASL 2 is designed to develop more fully the study of deaf culture, literature, and linguistics of ASL. Students will be made aware of opportunities in which to practice their skills within the local deaf community. Students should be aware that the course requires daily work outside of the classroom.
Grade Levels: 11, 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: ASL 2
This course utilizes an intensive, immersion approach to learning ASL and will focus on grammatical structure, vocabulary, manual alphabet, numbers, non-manual markers and other components of American Sign Language, as well as speaking and listening skill improvement. This comprehensive course is taught in American Sign Language.
Grade Levels: 12
Course Length: Year, 1 Period
Credit: 1.00 FLR
1.125 Weighted grade
Recommended: Honors ASL 3
Students in ASL 4 will expand their development of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of ASL. This immersion-based class will include analysis of native speaker's language use and creation of original works in ASL. The student should be aware that the course requires a great deal of preparation outside of class. This comprehensive course is taught in American Sign Language.