Foreign Language

French I

This is an introductory course focusing on basic conversation, vocabulary, grammar, and the various cultures in French-speaking countries.  Writing skills are introduced.  A repetitive learning method is implemented, focusing on words which will enable students to comfortable implement their French speaking skills.  Students read basic passages, short stories, and will read one novel within the year.  

(Full year course–1.0 credit)

French II

This course builds and expands conversation and grammar skills learned in French I.  The cultural focus is likewise expanded.  Writing abilities are more challenging.  Students learn lé passe composé. Short stories will be read in the classroom along with a new novel.  

(Full year course–1.0 credit)

French III

French III greatly expands the student’s knowledge of more advanced grammatical structures.  All major tenses are covered in this level.  Speaking and writing skills are more advanced.  This course focuses on the intense gain of grammatical points as well.  Cultural aspects are discussed through the readings. Students will read 1-2 abridged French classics.

(Full year course–1.0 credit)

French IV

French IV continues the knowledge and growth the student gains of French literature.  This course mentions some of the historical aspects of France and the improvement of the student's speaking and writing abilities.  Readings: Le Petit Prince

(Full year course–1.0 credit)

Spanish I

In level I, we use a teaching method called Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS).  The method is based on comprehensible input (via oral stories and readings).  Students are highly engaged in funny and suspenseful stories and pick up on the language much like they did to learn their first language, by being surrounded by it.  They quickly pick up on basic sentence structure, high-frequency phrases (like needs, wants, has) and transitional words that help them in the written and oral expression.  Students can already tell a story from start to finish in the first week of class, completely in Spanish!  The four modes of communication are focused on: reading, writing, speaking and listening.  However, like with our first language, you need to spend time at the beginning listening and seeing before you are able to produce.  There are also some cultural elements.  The students will read 1-2 novels, at teacher’s discretion.

(Full year course–1.0 credit)

Spanish II

In level II, we continue TPRS (see level I for an explanation).  We fine tune the areas of speaking, writing, listening and reading.  There are also many cultural elements.  The oral and written stories are longer, as students can add more details because of their vocabulary expanding.  We emphasize changing between past and present tenses.  The two novels for this course are Mi propio auto and Problemas en paraíso.

(Full year course–1.0 credit)

Spanish III

Although there are elements of TPRS (see level I for an explanation), we become more college prep minded.  We dive deep into grammar and have thematic units that allow for a lot of discussion.  Each unit includes a short story, poem or article.  There are also movies and songs that accompany each topic.  Students will really depend on their foundation from Spanish I and II to push their speaking and comprehension abilities.  

(Full year course–1.0 credit)*

Spanish IV

Although there are some elements of TPRS (see level I for an explanation), this course is heavy on reading and writing, as students prepare for college.  Through our readings, which are short stories, songs and novels, students revisit all of the skills that they have previously learned while adding a few new grammar elements and really pushing the vocabulary beyond ‘basic’ or ‘thematic’.  There are also conversation hours, which are student-directed, taking away the dependency for the second party to carry on the conversation. 

(Full year course–1.0 credit)