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October 26, 2009
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE - CURRICULUM | FACULTY
The foreign language curriculum affords students the opportunity to begin or continue their study of Spanish and/or French. In accordance with the National Foreign Language Standards, the curriculum is designed to foster communication in the target language, to stress knowledge of the target culture, to encourage connections with other disciplines, to make comparisons between the target language and culture and their own, and finally, to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world.
Because communication is at the core of the foreign language curriculum, students must be encouraged to speak. In order to improve comprehension and verbal skills, students have the opportunity to work in an interactive language laboratory. Students have further opportunity to perfect speaking skills and to gain cultural awareness during activities which simulate reality, use realia, and utilize audio-visual aids. The foreign language teachers ultimately gauge student progress by means of traditional as well as performance based assessment.
Finally, the curriculum is enhanced by trips to France and Spain , International Club activities, field trips, and varied classroom projects. By learning a foreign language, it is believed that students will nurture the critical thinking skills necessary to become life-long learners.
FRENCH I
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 9, 10,
11, 12
Prerequisite: None
French 1 is a beginning
level foreign language course designed for students who have had limited
or no previous exposure
to the language. This course emphasizes the four language skills: listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. Since fluency is one of the major goals
of French study, particular emphasis is placed on speaking exercises
and proper pronunciation of the material. Students also explore various
cultural elements of the Francophone countries through readings and presentations.
To support this process, students use the “C’est ò Toi” interactive
language software in the computer lab.
FRENCH II
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisite: French I or foreign language placement test
Students continue
to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Furthermore,
students continue
to work on proper pronunciation while practicing more complex grammar.
Finally, students learn practical vocabulary to use in real-life situations.
Interwoven with the study of useful vocabulary and grammar, is the presentation
of French culture and civilization. Students must complete units of the “Tell
Me More” interactive language software in the computer lab.
HONORS FRENCH II
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
(9 by foreign language placement test) Prerequisite: Minimum 88% in
French I grade and/or recommendation of French I instructor.
While all
French II students continue to develop their listening, speaking, reading
and writing
skills, an Honors French
II student will be encouraged to speak French on an ever increasing basis
with the goal being to use the target language during the entire class.
The Honors French II student learns complex grammar, proper pronunciation,
and practical vocabulary for real-life situations. They create, label
the various parts, and discuss in French a Halloween monster and a future
dream home. Finally, students are introduced to French literature, which
serves as a stimulus for conversation in the target language. To support
this process, students must also complete specific units of the “Tell
Me More” interactive language software in the computer lab.
HONORS FRENCH III
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisite: Minimum 86% in Honors French II and/or recommendation
of instructor.The student may also qualify with a 95% in regular French
II and/or recommendation of instructor.
Honors French III is
designed to develop a more advanced command of the four language skills:
listening, speaking, reading,
and writing. While advanced grammar and verb tenses are an integral part
of the curriculum, continued emphasis will be placed on speaking and
proper pronunciation. Furthermore, students adopt the name, family and
profession of a famous French personality. Students must research, write
a paper and deliver a creative speech in French detailing their new persona.
The students retain this personality during French III as well as French
IV. In addition, students read an original short story from the Petit
Nicholas series as well as an adapted version of Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo. They begin to analyze, discuss and summarize in French,
the literature they have read. Finally, students must also complete units
in the computer lab using the interactive language software “Tell
Me More.”
HONORS FRENCH IV
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisites: Minimum 86% in Honors French III and/or recommendation
of instructor.
Students continue to
develop a more advanced command of the four language skills: listening,
speaking, reading, and
writing. While difficult grammar and verb tenses are an integral part
of the curriculum, continued emphasis is placed on writing, speaking
and proper pronunciation. Students maintain the French speaking personality
they developed in Honors French III . Students must also complete units
in the computer lab working with the interactive language software “Tell
Me More.” Furthermore, students will read and analyze La Lecon
by Eugene Ionesco, L’Etranger by Albert Camus and Le Petit Prince
by Antoine de Saint Exupéry. Finally, Honors French IV students
end their course of study with the study of French poetry, art and film.
HONORS FRENCH V
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisite: Minimum 88% in Honors French IV and/or recommendation
of instructor.
This course is designed
for students who have completed the 4th level of Honors French Language
study. These students
must have an advanced command of the four language skills: listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. They continue to work with native speakers
using the “Tell Me More” interactive language software in
the computer lab. Finally, students begin intense preparation for the
French Language AP exam.
SPANISH I
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 9, 10,
11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Spanish I is a beginning level foreign language
course designed for students who have had limited or no previous exposure
to the language. This course emphasizes the four language skills: listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. Since fluency is one of the major goals
of foreign language study, particular emphasis is placed on speaking
exercises and proper pronunciation of the material. Students also explore
various cultural elements of Spain as well as other Spanish-speaking
countries through readings and projects.
SPANISH II
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisites: Spanish I or foreign language placement test
Students continue
to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. This
course also examines Spanish
culture and civilization. Students must also complete specific units
of the “Tell Me More” interactive language software in the
computer lab.
HONORS SPANISH II
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
(9 by foreign language placement test) Prerequisite:
Minimum 93% Spanish I and/or recommendation of instructor. Incoming freshman
may qualify
for Spanish II Honors contingent upon placement exam results.
All Spanish
II Honors students continue to develop their listening, speaking, reading
and
writing skills. An Honors Spanish
II student is encouraged to speak Spanish on an ever-increasing basis
with the goal being to use the target language during the entire class.
This course introduces literature, Spanish culture and civilization.
Students are required to complete specific units in the computer lab
with the interactive language software “Tell Me More.”
SPANISH III
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisites: Minimum of 80% in Spanish II Honors or 85% in Spanish
II and recommendation of instructor.
Students continue to
reinforce grammatical concepts learned previously. Emphasis is placed
on oral proficiency. Students
journal frequently on a variety of related topics. During the second
semester, students read “La herencia” which reinforces learned
materials. Students must also complete specific units of the “Tell
Me More” interactive language software in the computer lab.
HONORS SPANISH III
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisite: Minimum 88% in Honors Spanish II. The student may also
qualify with a 95% in regular Spanish II and recommendation of instructor.
Students begin with the review of previously learned vocabulary and grammatical
concepts, in
preparation for the reading
and discussion of the great Spanish classic: Lazarillo De Tormes. Conversation
and discussion are conducted in Spanish. Vocabulary and advanced grammar
and writing are an integral part of the course. Students must also complete
specific units of the “Tell Me More” interactive language
software in the computer lab.
SPANISH IV
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Minimum of 80% in Spanish III
Students continue with
the advanced study of grammar, writing and reading with an emphasis
in conversational Spanish.
Classroom discussion and conversation is conducted in Spanish. Students
must also complete specific units of the “Tell Me More” interactive
language software in the computer lab.
HONORS SPANISH IV
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisites: Minimum 93% in Spanish III Honors and/or recommendation
of instructor.
Students continue the
advanced study of grammar, writing, and reading. Classroom discussions
and conversations are conducted
in Spanish. Students must also complete specific units of the “Tell
Me More” interactive language software in the computer lab. Students
read and discuss a version of Don Quixote. Students select a famous personality
in Hispanic history (past or present), complete extensive research on
said individual in the target language and produce a research paper and
video in Spanish on this same individual for graduation.
HONORS SPANISH V
Credit: 1 unit
Eligible Grade Level: 10, 11,
12
Prerequisite: Minimum of 90% in Honors Spanish IV and recommendation
of instructor.
This course is designed for students who
have completed the fourth level of Honors Spanish Language study. These
students must have an advanced command of the four language skills:
listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. Students continue to refine these skills
through the use of a variety of Hispanic media. They also continue
working with native speakers using the “Tell Me More” interactive
language software in the computer lab. Finally, students undertake
rigorous preparation for the Spanish Language AP Exam.
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