French I
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
French
I is an introductory course to the fundamentals of the French
language. Primary emphasis will be on the listening and speaking skills
of the language, with limited reading and writing at the beginning of
the course. Students are expected to participate on a daily basis and
make a serious academic commitment toward advancing in the study of
French. French films, popular music and customs of the French-speaking
world will be featured.
French II
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French I
French
II is a continuation of French I with continued emphasis on speaking
and greater emphasis on reading, writing, and basic grammar. Vocabulary
will continue to be presented through culturally-based thematic
scenarios. Customs and traditions of French-speaking countries will be
examined and discussed.
Honors French III
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French II
This is a fast-paced course with high expectations
designed for the student continuing in the study of French. Advanced
conversation and grammar, reading, writing, and oral discussion will be
emphasized. Customs and traditions of French-speaking countries will be
examined and discussed in greater detail.
Honors French IV
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: French III
The fourth-year course will stress the conversational
skills needed to communicate effectively in French. Improvement in
pronunciation will also be an important component to the course.
Writing skills will be improved and expanded through compositions on
cultural topics of interest. French music and cinema will also be
featured.
Advanced Placement French
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: French IV
Students who enroll in AP French should already have a
strong command of French grammar, vocabulary, and competence in
listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Although these qualifications
may be attained in a variety of ways, it is assumed that most students
will be in the final stages of their secondary school training and will
have had substantial course work in the language. The course will
emphasize the use of language for active communication and help students
develop the following:
- the ability to understand spoken French in various
contexts.
- a French vocabulary sufficiently ample for reading
newspaper and magazine articles, literary texts, and other
non-technical writings without dictionary dependence
- the ability to express themselves coherently,
resourcefully, and with reasonable fluency and accuracy
in both written and spoken French.
Course content will reflect intellectual interests shared by the
students and teacher (the arts, current events, literature, sports,
etc.). Materials will include audio and video recordings, films,
newspapers, and magazines.
The course seeks to develop language skills (reading,
writing, listening, and speaking) that can be used in various activities
and disciplines rather than to cover any specific body of subject
matter. Extensive training in the organization and writing of
compositions will also be emphasized. Students will be encouraged to
take the Advanced Placement exam in the spring.
German I
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students enrolled in this course are expected to
actively participate on a daily basis, maintain a high performance
level, and make a serious academic commitment toward the study of the
German language. Primary emphasis will be placed on listening and
speaking skills of language learning, along with basic grammar, and
reading and writing experiences progressing developmentally. Culture
and holiday traditions will be discussed and experienced.
German II
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: German I
This course continues and intensifies the study of the
fundamentals of speaking, reading, and writing German, including an
increased amount of cultural material. Vocabulary and more advanced
grammar will be developed and practiced through oral discussion.
Honors German III
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: German II
German III in an intense course designed for the student
continuing in German. A continuation of grammar review and
instruction, composition, and oral discussion will be the primary focus
in this course. Vocabulary and the understanding of German culture will
be increased through the reading of short stories by various German
authors.
Honors German IV
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: German III
German IV refines the reading, writing, and speaking
skills already established in German III. Conversation and composition
will be a major part of the student’s daily performance. Along with
selected writing of major authors, students will be exposed to current
German newspapers and selected magazines. At this level, serious
attention to speaking, reading and writing the language in a career
setting is addressed.
Honors German V
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: German IV
The fifth year of study will reinforce and broaden
previously acquired knowledge and skills. This will enhance the
student’s appreciation and enjoyment of German literature and culture.
Oral communication skills will be polished, writing style and techniques
will be refined, and auditory and reading comprehension will be
expanded through increased frequency of exposure to the literature of
the language. Auditory comprehension will be sharpened through exposure
to the language spoken with increased sophistication and speed. At
this level, serious attention to speaking, reading, and writing the
language in a career setting is addressed.
Latin I
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students enrolled in this course are expected to
participate actively on a daily basis, maintain a high performance
level, and make a serious academic commitment toward the study of the
language. This initial Latin course will focus on the mastery of Latin
forms, syntax, and vocabulary. Careful attention will be paid to the
practical application of Latin in English vocabulary and grammar.
Students will also gain a comprehensive background of the historical and
cultural aspects of Roman civilization and its influence on the Western
World.
Latin II
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Latin I
This course continues the study of Latin I, beginning
with a review of basic forms, syntax, and vocabulary. Reading and
writing in Latin is continued, and the study of roots, prefixes, and
suffixes is intensified. Advanced instruction in grammar and syntax
will prepare the student to read selections from Julius Caesar’s
writings.
Honors Latin III
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Latin II
Latin III will include a grammar review and use of the
subjunctive mood. Readings from selected Roman authors, including
Caesar, Martial, and Pliny, will develop a greater understanding of
Roman culture and mythology.
Honors Latin IV
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: Latin III
Latin IV will include readings from such authors as
Cicero, Virgil, and Catullus. Through extensive readings of these
authors, students will gain greater insight into Roman history and
culture.
Spanish Conversation & Culture
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for students to meet the
one-year High School World Language requirement. It is not, however,
intended to meet the World Language requirement for college entrance.
After one year of this course, a student may be able to move into the
college preparatory level-one language courses. The focus of this
course will be oral communication in Spanish through a thematic
approach. Students will be expected to ask and answer questions and
initiate and continue conversations in appropriate linguistic and
cultural fashion in given situations. There will be some guided written
and project work required. The cultural component of this course will
focus on the festivals and holidays of the Spanish-speaking countries of
North and South America and Spain.
Spanish I
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students enrolled in this course are expected to
participate actively on a daily basis, maintain a high performance
level, and make a serious academic commitment toward the study of the
language. Primary emphasis will be placed on the listening and speaking
skills of language learning, with reading and writing experiences to be
developed as the course progresses. The life style, customs, and
traditions of the many different Spanish-speaking cultures will be
experienced.
Spanish II
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish I
Initially, this course will present a thorough review of
the skills developed in Spanish I. Emphasis will be on devel-oping the
reading and writing skills of the Spanish language so that
comprehension, conversation, and reading skills may be more fully
developed at a more rapid pace. The study of careers using the Spanish
language will be surveyed.
Honors Spanish III
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish II
This is a fast-paced course designed for the student
continuing in Spanish. Spanish III will deal with the expansion of
basic language skills developed in Spanish I and II through
conversation, vocabulary, idiom building, and the study and use of the
subjunctive mood. The course will also include writing short themes and
reading Spanish and Latin American short story authors. An exploration
of the use of the language in the workplace will also be experienced.
Honors Spanish IV
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish III
Spanish IV will promote a more intensive use of
vocabulary, idiom, and conversation. Improved skills of both oral and
written expression will enable students to write short stories and
letters, become involved in the production of skits relating to everyday
activities, and read anthologies of Spanish and South American
literature with an emphasis toward the basic goal of comprehension, on a
higher level, the culture and history of Spanish-speaking people
everywhere. At this level, serious attention to speaking, reading, and
writing the language in a career setting is addressed.
Advanced Placement Spanish
Length: Year Credits: 5
Grade Level: 12
Prerequisite: Spanish IV
Students who enroll in AP Spanish should already have a
strong command of Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and competence in
listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Although these
qualifications may be obtained in a variety of ways, it is assumed that
most students will be in the final stages of their secondary school
training and will have had substantial coursework in the language. The
course will emphasize the use of language for active communication and
help students develop the following:
- understand Spanish spoken by native speakers at a
natural pace, with a variety of regional pronunciations,
in both informal (interpersonal) and formal
(presentational) contexts
- develop an active vocabulary sufficient for reading
newspaper and magazine articles, contemporary
literature, and other non-technical writings (websites,
letters and emails, advertisements, signs and
instructions) in Spanish without dictionary dependence
- express themselves by describing, narrating, inquiring,
and developing arguments in Spanish, both orally and
in writing, with reasonable fluency, using different
strategies for different audiences and communicative
contexts
This course emphasizes the use of authentic source
materials and the integration of language skills. Therefore, students
will receive extensive training in combining listening, reading, and
speaking (or listening, reading, and writing) skills in order to
demonstrate understanding of authentic Spanish-language source
materials. Students will be encouraged to take the Advanced Placement
Exam in the spring.