World Languages

This is an intermediate-beginner course open to all students in ninth through twelfth grade who are new to Chinese (Mandarin) or have had exposure to the language but need to fine-tune their skills. Students are introduced to the basics of Chinese, including gaining facility in the four basic tones, learning to read and write elementary characters and understanding basic grammar. Character etymology and radical use are discussed. Vocabulary and grammar patterns are introduced through theme-based lessons. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through the use of media, adapted readings and class discussions. Emphasis is placed on acquiring four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The class incorporates audio files and streaming video to develop students’ ability to understand the spoken language. Students are introduced to programs that allow them to record and assess their spoken Chinese (Mandarin).

The focus in Chinese II is on the acquisition of new vocabulary and the further analysis of grammar presented in theme-based lessons. Emphasis is placed on developing four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, with particular attention given to oral and aural communication. Continued focus is placed on accuracy with the four basic tones. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions. The class incorporates audio files and streaming video to enhance students’ ability to understand spoken language. Students are introduced to programs that allow them to record and assess their spoken Chinese.

This intermediate course, a continuation of Chinese II, is designed to reinforce and develop proficient communication in the language. Students continue to develop their understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills by synthesizing new vocabulary and previously learned material. Emphasis is placed on the students’ ability to speak and understand Chinese (Mandarin) and on improving their capacity to express themselves clearly in written Chinese through theme-based presentations and by acting out topic-based situations using dialogues. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions.

This course is designed to enhance students’ ability to speak, read and write the language, and to continue learning new vocabulary and grammatical structures appropriate for advanced learners. Continued focus is placed on students’ ability to speak and understand Chinese (Mandarin), and attention to culturally appropriate forms of expression is emphasized. Students continue to improve their ability to express themselves clearly in written Chinese through theme-based presentations and by acting out topic-based situations using dialogues. Culture and history are integral parts of the course and are introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions.

The course is designed to further enhance students’ ability to communicate in Chinese (Mandarin) in a variety of situations, both formal and informal. Students continue to acquire new vocabulary and advanced grammatical structures, as well as improve their ability to express themselves clearly in written Chinese through theme-based presentations and by acting out topic-based situations using dialogues. Culture and history are integral parts of the course and are introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions.

This intermediate-beginner course is designed for students who are new to French or who have had exposure to the language but need to fine-tune their skills. Vocabulary and grammar patterns are introduced through theme-based lessons. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions. Emphasis is on the acquisition of four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The class incorporates audio and streaming video to develop students’ ability to understand the spoken language. Students are introduced to programs to record and assess their spoken French.

French II focuses on the acquisition of new vocabulary and further analysis of grammar presented in theme-based lessons. Emphasis is on the acquisition of four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, with particular focus on oral and aural communication. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions. The class incorporates audio and streaming video to develop students’ ability to understand the spoken language. Students are introduced to programs to record and assess their spoken French.

This intermediate course, a continuation of French II, is designed to reinforce and develop proficient communication in the language. Students continue to develop their understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills by synthesizing new vocabulary and grammatical structures with previously learned material. By the end of the course, students learn most of the tenses in the language so they can express themselves in a wide variety of authentic situations. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions.

French IV is an advanced elective course that gives students the opportunity to further develop, improve and refine their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Focus continues to be placed on aural skills and speaking fluency, with additional emphasis on reading and academic writing in the target language. A variety of assessments allow students to demonstrate their proficiency in French in authentic situations. Aspects of culture are emphasized through fragments of literature, cultural readings and class discussions.

This course is designed for students with a substantial knowledge of French who are ready to explore the language and literature of France. Combining grammar review with critical analysis of significant pieces of literature helps advanced students perfect their writing skills and deepen their appreciation of French ideas and culture.

This intermediate-beginner course is for students new to Japanese or those who have had exposure to the language but need to fine-tune their skills. It emphasizes memorizing the hiragana and katakana alphabets, around 30 kanji characters, and basic vocabulary used in theme-based grammar patterns. Listening, speaking, translation and writing are also key focuses. The class incorporates audio and streaming video to develop students’ ability to understand spoken language. Students are introduced to programs that help them record and assess their spoken Japanese.

This course, a continuation of Japanese I, is designed to activate the material learned in the previous course. Students engage in role-playing, free association and videotaped dramas that showcase their acquired Japanese. Emphasis is placed on acquiring new vocabulary and grammatical patterns, as well as drills on the nuances of verbal tenses.

In this course, students establish a solid foundation in grammar and conjugation patterns, vocabulary retention and particle use, which they build upon as they enter intermediate-level Japanese. Students learn approximately 350 vocabulary words and 100 kanji compounds. Course material is based on a variety of texts and authentic sources, balancing grammar, translation and essay writing with verbal skills and communication activities.

This advanced elective course gives students the opportunity to expand their vocabulary and strengthen their understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills in Japanese. Additionally, students explore various cultural elements of Japan in greater depth. The course places a greater emphasis on theme-based conversations and writing.

In this advanced elective course, students prepare for college-level Japanese by learning over 500 vocabulary words and reviewing 250 kanji compounds. The course material is based on a variety of texts and authentic sources, introducing advanced grammar and combination patterns. Emphasis is placed on achieving greater fluency in communication across diverse conversational topics and on incorporating vocabulary, kanji and grammar patterns into more advanced essays. Additionally, students face challenges through translation projects, a cooking project and classic Japanese films throughout the year.

This intermediate-beginner course is designed for students who are new to Latin or have had exposure to the language and need to fine-tune their skills. Latin I introduces the basic principles of Latin morphology and grammar. Students learn how to decline nouns and adjectives in the first and second declensions, conjugate first conjugation verbs in the indicative and imperative moods, and read and translate between Latin and English. Additionally, students explore basic facts about the life and times of the Ancient Romans and begin reading a prose adaptation of Virgil’s Aeneid.

Students learn additional uses of nouns, adjectives and adverbs, as well as numerals and pronouns. Latin morphology and grammar are reinforced through continued readings of a prose adaptation of Virgil’s Aeneid and through translation exercises between Latin and English.

This intermediate course is a continuation of Latin II. Students learn to navigate advanced concepts in Latin morphology and grammar, including fourth and fifth declension nouns, additional pronouns, participles and participial phrases, infinitives, indirect statements and the usage and formation of the subjunctive mood. Topics in morphology and grammar are reinforced through a variety of readings throughout the year, ranging from adapted excerpts about the early history of Rome in Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita to prose and poetry passages from essential Golden and Silver Age Latin authors. In the second semester, students engage in an intensive study of Roman daily life and culture, including Greek and Roman mythology, as they prepare for the National Latin Exam in March.

In the first half of Latin IV, students conclude their study of language’s advanced morphology and grammar topics, including uses of the subjunctive mood, irregular and deponent verb formation and usage, and gerunds and gerundives. These concepts are reinforced through a wide range of readings from both prose and poetry. After intensive preparation for the National Latin Exam in March, students begin reading selections from authors Virgil and Caesar, who are featured in AP Latin, while learning to identify rhetorical devices and scan the meter of Latin poetry.

Latin V begins with a review of all morphology and grammar topics from Latin I to IV. Students then spend the school year enjoying the literature of four of Rome’s greatest authors: Cicero, Catullus, Ovid and Petronius. Seniors enrolled in Latin V undertake an independent project inspired by the work of one of these authors.

This intermediate-beginner course is designed for students who are new to Spanish or who have had exposure to the language and need to fine-tune their skills. Vocabulary and grammar patterns are introduced through theme-based lessons. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions. Emphasis is on the acquisition of four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Spanish II focuses on the acquisition of new vocabulary and further analysis of grammar presented in theme-based lessons. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, with particular focus on oral and aural communication. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions.

This intermediate course, a continuation of Spanish II, is designed to reinforce and develop proficient communication in the language. Students continue to develop their understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills by synthesizing new vocabulary and grammatical structures with previously learned material. By the end of the course, students learn most of the tenses in the language in order to express themselves in a wide variety of authentic situations. Culture is an integral part of the course and is introduced through media, adapted readings and class discussions.

This is an intermediate-advanced elective course that gives students the opportunity to further develop, improve and refine their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Emphasis continues to be placed on aural skills and speaking fluency, with additional attention given to reading and academic writing in the target language. A variety of assessments allow students to demonstrate their proficiency in Spanish in authentic situations. Cultural aspects are emphasized through fragments of literature, cultural readings and class discussions.

This is an advanced Spanish elective course that explores the language and culture of various Spanish-speaking countries through literature. Authors studied throughout the course include Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, Miguel de Unamuno and others from countries such as Argentina, Spain and Colombia. Exposure to authentic dialogues, vocabulary and grammar in context improves listening comprehension and authentic speaking skills. A variety of texts, films and music further develop reading comprehension. Students explore social and political issues throughout the Spanish-speaking world. They are expected to discuss central topics and themes in Spanish in an effort to achieve practical fluency and a general understanding of cultural differences across regions.