World Languages

This course is an introduction not only to the spoken and written language of French, but also to the culture, customs, history and thought patterns of French speaking people. Through a wide variety of activities (group/pair work, video, audio recordings, computer assignments), the course will explore all four areas of language development: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. The student will begin with simple forms of greeting, which he will mostly mimic at first, and then he will learn to use them more meaningfully. He will be introduced to the written word also as a communication tool. By the end of this first year, he will be expected to be able to carry on a simple conversation in French and to write simple statements in answer to directed questions.

Prerequisite: French I or placement exam
This course continues to explore the spoken and written French language, as well as the French culture, customs, and history. Using the same variety of activities as French I, students continue their study of French by further expanding their knowledge of key vocabulary topics and grammar concepts. Students not only begin to comprehend listening and reading passages more fully, but they also start to express themselves more meaningfully in both speaking and writing. They also explore, in a more detailed fashion, the various French cultures around the world.

Experience a thrilling journey in From Play-Doh to Podcasts: Your gateway to the German-speaking World! Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of the German-speaking world, exploring everyday life, community, and celebrations while honing your language skills in a lively and creative environment. Master the fundamentals, from asking questions to expressing preferences, all while having fun! But that's not all – broaden your horizons by connecting with diverse cultures globally. Join us in German I and jumpstart your path to becoming a global citizen. Embrace language, creativity, and understanding, and let your adventure begin!

Prerequisite: German I or placement exam

Discover the German-Speaking World: In this course, students dive into authentic materials from German-speaking countries— Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. With a focus on history, communication, and culture, German II learners will master identifying key topics, confidently communicate on everyday subjects, engage in functional interactions, express personal views, and make cultural comparisons. The course is enriched with four authentic movies, bringing to life themes of post-war Germany, family and friendship, soccer, and entrepreneurship. Join us for a dynamic exploration of language intertwined with history, communication, and cultural insights!"

Prerequisite: German II or placement exam

Pathway to Proficiency is a course designed to meet the language requirements of colleges and universities, complementing pre-AP curricula and preparation for a Seal of Biliteracy. Students engage with authentic texts from diverse German-speaking communities, honing skills in evaluating perspectives. Proficiency is enhanced through dynamic language application, with a focus on conversational, narrative, and presentation abilities. Integrating German fairy tales, advertisements, modern youth literature, and movies add a unique thematic dimension to the course. By the end of German III, students adeptly comprehend texts, navigate varied conversations, express opinions, craft narratives, and deliver presentations, preparing them for higher education language demands and beyond.

Prerequisite: German III, IV, or placement exam

This course prioritizes effective communication through real-life scenarios, focusing on interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in German. Emphasizing vocabulary usage, language control, and cultural awareness, it strikes a balance between communication and grammatical accuracy. Taught primarily in German, the course explores both contemporary and historical aspects of German culture, fostering an appreciation of products, perspectives, and practices. It is suitable for students pursuing four or five years of German, with or without an interest in taking the AP exam, providing a flexible and comprehensive language and culture learning experience.

Prerequisite: German III, IV, or placement exam

The AP German Language and Culture course propels students from Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High proficiency, exploring German-speaking cultures. Progressing in linguistic sophistication, students express and substantiate views, engage in conversations, and comprehend complex texts. Culminating in the Advanced Placement German Language and Culture Exam, a score of 3, 4, or 5 earns college credits and places students in advanced university courses. By course end, learners adeptly understand and discuss various texts, exchange information, navigate diverse situations, and compare communities. Success on the AP exam brings 3 to 15 college credits and the Seal of Biliteracy. Students enrolled in the AP German are eligible for the alternate exam, STAMP, to earn one of the Seal of Biliteracy prior to graduation to enhance scholarship monetary offers.

Roman Literature Through the Ages – In Latin I, students begin their journey through the Latin language, where they will learn introductory vocabulary to go along with intensive grammar study. Students will utilize their grammar and vocabulary study by reading short adapted selections from Roman authors appropriate to the reading level of first year students. The readings begin with the comedies of Terence and Plautus and continue into works of poetry and prose throughout Rome’s history, eventually culminating in Christian and post-Classical writings. Along with reading, students will also have opportunities to communicate in the language via both written and oral methods, with dialogue activities designed around everyday modern student activities. Supplementary readings will dive deeper into Roman culture and history. They will learn about Rome’s history through studies of each chapter’s author as well as through the readings; and they will be exposed to scholarly writing on Roman theater, politics, family, law, and natural disaster through essays by respected Classics professors.

Prerequisite: Latin I or placement exam
In Latin II, students will continue their study of the language and culture of the Romans. They will work on advanced structures such as the subjunctive and important subordinate clauses and will begin reading selections of un-adapted authentic Latin. As in Latin I, students will practice new grammar and vocabulary initially through reading adapted selections of actual Latin authors. In Latin II, students will read authors from the medieval and early modern period and gain an appreciation for the use of Latin as a language of learning even after the fall of the Roman empire. Supplementary readings will continue to expand students’ knowledge of Roman culture, mythology, and history. Lastly, students will have the opportunity to study cultural topics related to their readings such as knightly and religious orders of the Middle Ages and the impact of Classical culture on the New World.

Prerequisite: Latin II or placement exam
In Latin III, students begin the journey to Advanced Placement in earnest. Latin III students will primarily read Roman authors, especially Caesar, Catullus, Cicero, Horace, Ovid, and Vergil. Supplemental readings will continue to increase in complexity, building on students’ prior knowledge and adding advanced elements of grammar to ready them for tackling Advanced Placement texts. By the end of Latin III, language learners will: read texts in Latin at the intermediate medium level to advanced medium level, including primary texts in the target language; communicate in simple, compound and complex sentences as well as in indirect discourse; use verbs in all moods and voices as well as verbals such as the gerundive and forms of the infinitive; envision Rome’s military organization as preparation for reading Julius Caesar; understand Greeks and Romans as thinking people following a variety of philosophies; discover the Romans as a political people through the collapse of their Republican form of government and the rise of the Imperial principate.

Prerequisite: Latin III or IV and instructor approval
In AP Latin, students will be following the Advanced Placement syllabus in preparation for the AP examination in May. Continuing from the readings in Latin III, students will complete the reading syllabus from Julius Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic Wars and Vergil’s The Aeneid. This will expose students both to Latin prose and poetry. In order to better appreciate these works, students will also review what they’ve learned about the Roman army, Roman myth and religion, and the historical context surrounding both of these works. By the end of AP Latin, language learners will: have the skills to read both primary prose and poetry texts in the target language; read poetry aloud in Greek meter; incorporate various uses of cases beyond the standard use; see literature as a product of culture and what influences content; understand authorial viewpoint, agenda and bias in literature; incorporate background knowledge necessary to understand allusions and technical terminology in texts. Students who are successful on the AP exam can receive 3 to 15 college credits and achieve the permanent recognition of the Seal of Biliteracy.

Students will explore various aspects of the Spanish-speaking world as they develop language skills. By the end of this course, students will be able to communicate about themselves, their community, and their everyday life using simple sentences. This course focuses on attaining a Novice High language proficiency level in all major modes of communication: interpersonal (conversations), presentational (writing and speaking), and interpretive (reading and listening). By the end of Spanish 1 (CP1), language learners will be able to: communicate using practiced questions on familiar and everyday topics, interact with others to express basic needs related to everyday activities, express and ask about feelings and opinions on familiar topics, give basic personal information to describe themselves and others, understand familiar questions and statements from simple sentences in conversation, identify the topic and some isolated facts from simple sentences in fictional and informative texts, compare and contrast cultural topics, such as: friends and family, scholarly life, hobbies and leisure, and daily activities of everyday life.