Modern Foreign Languages
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French I
French I is an introduction to the study of French. The student will develop the ability to understand French when spoken at normal speed on topics that he has been exposed to, and to speak well enough on those topics to communicate with a native speaker. He will learn to read about, and to express himself in writing about, those same topics. He will also acquire some knowledge of countries where French is the dominant language.
French II
French II is offered to students who have had one year of high school French, or have passed the French placement test given in the spring or summer before the school year. The student will further develop his knowledge of French and communicate in French with greater proficiency by continuing the listening exercises and videos.
French III
French III is a continuation of French I and French II. It is offered to students who have had two years of high school French. French III stresses reading and oral skills. The class is conducted in French. A more advanced grasp of grammar and an extensive vocabulary are also stressed. Through exposure to literature and films, the student will achieve a greater understanding of French culture.
French IV
French IV is offered to students who have had three years of high school French. In French IV, the student will develop the ability to write essays, which express in grammatically-correct form his reaction to the thoughts, emotions, and stylistic elements presented in the course materials. Additionally, the student’s listening skills are developed in preparation for the French AP Exam.
French V
French V is offered to students who have had four years of high school French. This course is designed for advanced students of French who are interested in maintaining and / or improving their proficiency in the language. The focus of the class is on French literature, including classics and more recent selections. Oral proficiency is developed through class discussions conducted in French about current events. French culture is also an area of concentration.
Spanish I
Spanish I is an introduction to the study of Spanish. The student will develop the ability to understand Spanish when spoken at normal speed and to speak well enough to communicate with a native speaker. This requires the acquisition of basic vocabulary and grammatical principles. He will acquire knowledge of Hispanic countries and develop an understanding of the cultural heritage of their people.
Spanish II
Spanish II is offered to students who have one year of high school Spanish or have passed the placement test in Spanish given during the spring or summer before the school year. The student will review grammar presented in Spanish I and learn more complex grammatical concepts. He will further develop his ability to communicate in Spanish by means of listening exercises and Spanish videos.
Spanish III
Spanish III is offered to students who have had two years of high school Spanish. The student will continue the review of grammar in the context of literature. He will further his language study with the continued development of reading for comprehension and self-expression in writing, while working through aural-oral expression.
Spanish IV
Spanish IV is offered to students who have completed three years of high school Spanish. It emphasizes the use of Spanish for active communication and encompasses aural-oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. Students are helped to comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish; acquire new vocabulary; grasp the structure of the language; and, facilitate the reading of newspapers, magazines, and modern literary works, while producing complex writing to convey meaning and mood. Students use Spanish to communicate in the class. This course prepares students to take the Spanish Language AP exam in May.
Spanish V
Spanish V is offered to students who have had four years of high school Spanish. The student will be expected to write about topics of general interest in grammatically-correct Spanish. He will increase his ability to understand Spanish from audio recordings, CDs, radio, and DVDs. He will attain a speaking proficiency that will allow him to successfully communicate facts and ideas in Spanish.