WORLD LAN-GUAGES

WORLD LANGUAGES

Students who elect courses from the World Language Department are:

Competent learners whose academic goals are to:

· Read with understanding and insight.

· Write with clarity and precision.

· Utilize technology in the presentation of information to others.

· Solve problems critically and analytically.

Responsible individuals whose civic goals are to:

· Demonstrate character values and ethical behavior.

· Understand and appreciate the value of diversity amongst students and staff.

Complex thinkers whose social goals are to:

· Become capable of self-reflection.

· Accept and use constructive criticism.

· Hold high expectations for their academic or career decisions.

Approach

· The goal of the World Language Department is that classes at all levels will be taught in the target language.

· Teaching in the target language will provide students with an authentic language-learning environment and the skills and confidence they need in order to use that language outside of the classroom for real life communication and cognitive skills that can be applied across the high school curriculum.

Course Placement

· Placement for Spanish courses will be determined by a written/oral assessment to be administered either in the spring of eighth grade. For subsequent years, prerequisites are the same as for other languages; a grade of 80 or better, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department is required for honors sections.

FRENCH I

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Summer Assignment

The French I curriculum will develop communicative skills and examine French and Francophone language and culture through the exploration of essential questions that may include -What can we learn about the culture of French and Francophone cities by examining them through the lens of a Martha’s Vineyard dweller? How can I explore other cultures without stereotyping? The French 1 curriculum content will be divided into two parts. The first half of the year will be an introduction to French culture with an in-depth look at Paris and the various regions of France and in the second half of the year we will continue to study France as well as Canada. Language component will include use of accent marks, the present tense in regular and irregular forms, the future proche, and an introduction to the imperfect. Other grammar components will include interrogatives, negatives, imperatives, subject and object pronouns, adjectives and adverbs and their placement, definite and indefinite articles and the partitive.

FRENCH 2

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in French I, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in French I

The French 2 curriculum will develop communicative skills and examine French and Francophone language and culture through the exploration of essential questions that may include -What roles do language and culture play in shaping society? -How has colonization by the French affected the cultures of Francophone countries such as Haiti, Senegal, Algeria and Martinique? In French 2, students will continue their study of France with an in-depth look at its regions and departmentes and introduce the Francophone areas such as Haiti, Senegal, Algeria, and the French island region of Martinique. Language component will review and build upon the grammar learned in the first year and emphasize the correct use of the present, future, imperfect and passé compose as well as irregular verbs and reflexives

FRENCH 3

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in French 2, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in French 2

The French 3 curriculum will develop communicative skills and examine French and Francophone language and culture through the exploration of essential questions that may include -What roles do language and culture play in shaping society? -How has colonization by the French affected the cultures of Francophone countries such as Morocco, Mali and Guadeloupe? In French 3, students will continue their study of France with an in-depth look at its regions and departmentes and introduce the Francophone areas of Morocco, Mali and the French island of Guadeloupe. Language component will review and build upon the grammar learned in the first two years and emphasize the correct use of the present, future, imperfect and passé compose and the conditional as well as imperatives, idiomatic and negative expressions. Students in French 3 must present a written paper and an exhibition of work at the end of Term IV to answer one of the essential questions for the year.

FRENCH 4

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in French 3, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in French 3

French IV begins with an overview of French history through literature and film in the first half of the year, from the Middle Ages to World War II. The second half of the year will cover the turbulent events of May 1968 up until present day in France, including the geography and diversity of the French landscape and people, how the French view themselves, their role in the world, education in France, and the changing roles of social and ethnic groups in France. Essential questions may include -How do language and culture evolve? What is the role of language in global issues? Students will trace the history of the French in North America and explore technology, government, and culture (music, theater, and cinema). Literature units will follow a historical sequence. Students will read articles, literature and other authentic do-cuments in French language. Students will perfect their communication skills through advanced study of grammar and composition. As a final project for the fourth term, students will write, film and edit a short documentary film in French language and present it to their peers.

FRENCH AP LANGUAGE

5 Credits Full Year Advanced Placement

Prerequisite: a grade of 90 or better in French 3 Honors, a summer assignment and recommendation of the department. In addition, students are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May.

The AP French Language course is conducted entirely in French and students are required to speak only French in class. Essential questions such as How do languages and cultures evolve? What role does language play in global issues? will be explored and the course will provide a rigorous study of advanced grammar, the history and literature of France from the early middle ages to the 21st century and preparation for the AP test in May. At the completion of the course, students will be able to:

-understand the speech of native speakers of French in a variety of contexts.

-understand authentic written texts, including newspaper and magazine articles, short stories,

novels, films, plays, and poems.

-express themselves orally with ease to native speakers on a wide variety of topics.

-express themselves in writing in a variety of registers and modes, including formal and

informal registers, and persuasive, descriptive, narrative, and expository texts.

GERMAN I

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Summer Assignment

C1 Prerequisite: None

The goal of German I is not only to help you learn the German language and gain or further an appreciation for the German-speaking countries and cultures. This will also help you gain new perspectives about the world as a whole and about your place and responsibility in this global society. By the end of this year, you should be able to have simple conversations with a native speaker and to read and write simple texts. You will learn 3 of the 4 German cases (Nominative, Accusative, & Dative), the present and present perfect verb tenses, and German sentence structure. You will also complete four end-of-quarter projects.

GERMAN 2

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in German I, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in German I

In German II, you will continue to learn the German language, but also to help you further an appreciation for and an understanding of the German-speaking countries and cultures. This will also help you gain new perspectives about the world as a whole and about your place and responsibility in this global society. By the end of this year, you should be able to have simple-moderately complex conversations with a native speaker and to read and write texts of moderate length. You will learn modal verbs, imperatives, reflexive verbs, prepositions, adjec- tive endings and the Genitive Case. Students will also complete four end-of-quarter projects.

GERMAN 3

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in German 2, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in German 2

German III will not only help you continue to learn the German language, but also to help you further an appreciation for and an understanding of the German-speaking countries and cultures. By the end of this year, you should be able to have moderately complex conversations with a native speaker and to read and write texts of moderate length. You will learn da- & wo-compounds, relative pronouns and clauses, and the simple past, past perfect, future and subjunctive mood verb tenses. You will also complete four end-of-quarter projects.

GERMAN 4

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in German 3, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in German 3

The goal of German IV is to help students deepen their understanding and apply the grammar and vocabulary that they have learned over the last three years. This course will be focused around the theme of Harry Potter and classic German literature. We will be reading the first book in the Harry Potter series. New vocabulary and grammar will be covered as it is encountered within the texts. We will also expand our conversational skills in German through discussions about the readings. By the end of this year, students should be able to have intermediate-level conversations with a native speaker and to read and write intermediate-level texts. They will learn how to form the passive voice and indirect discourse, which is used in journalism. Students will also complete four end-of-quarter projects.

PORTUGUESE 4

5 Credits Full Year Honors/College 1

Honors Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in Portuguese 3, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

C1 Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in Portuguese 3

This course will be focused on further developing Portuguese proficiency in the four major language areas: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Activities, projects and classroom work will be targeted to building these skills. Complex grammatical structures will be presented through the exploration of Portuguese speaking countries around the world. Students will explore such cultural questions such as - How have the cultures of Lusophone countries influenced culture in the United States? How does American culture influence Lusophone countries in the present day? Students will fortify their study of Lusophone countries through a Portuguese language reading series that covers varies Lusophone regions around the globe. Students will build their communicative skills by enhancing their use of the present, future, and past tenses. Students will then expand their language structure by learning to use the subjunctive, past perfect and future perfect tenses. All grammatical structure will be directly related to the reading series in order to emphasis real world use. Sentence building skills will also be a key focus.

Note: Course enrollment for entering students will be determined by a placement exam.

SPANISH I

5 Credits Full Year Honors

Prerequisite: According to placement exam

Students whose scores place them in the honors section must complete a summer assignment to enroll in that class.

Students coming from elementary school will be expected to have an excellent overall understanding of the Spanish language. This course is driven by textbook, audio, verbal exercises, kinesthetic activities, and supplementary materials to make the course interesting and will cover present tenses, basic commands, parts of speech, basic conversations and greetings. Use of basic present and preterit tenses will be foundational for 2nd year. Course themes revolve around classrooms, daily activities, foods, family and sports and leisure, for example. Essential Questions such as: "How does Spanish culture compare with American culture?" will be discussed.

SPANISH I

5 Credits Full Year College 1

Prerequisite: According to placement exam

SPANISH I

5 Credits Full Year College II

Prerequisite: According to placement exam

The same content and course sequence is followed as in College 1 Spanish with a little less emphasis on reading and writing Spanish.

SPANISH 2

5 Credits Full Year Honors

Prerequisite: According to placement exam

Students need a grade of 80% or better in Spanish 1, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department to enroll in the honors section.

In Spanish II we will talk about similarities and differences between your schooling and that of a student in Mexico City, compare the extracurricular activities in Guatemala and the USA, talk about the currency in Spain and in Latin American countries, talk about Mexican art and what the work tells us about their culture, discuss how one culture can influence another, discuss aspects of early American civilizations, describe bargaining in Latin America. Through these topics we will review the present tense and cover both the preterit and imperfect tenses.

SPANISH 2

5 Credits Full Year College 1

Prerequisite: According to placement exam

SPANISH 2

5 Credits Full Year College II

Prerequisite: According to placement exam

The same content and course sequence is followed as in College 1 Spanish with a little less emphasis on reading and writing Spanish.

SPANISH 3

5 Credits Full Year Honors

Prerequisite: Students need a grade of 80% or better in Spanish 2, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

Spanish is the main language spoken in the classroom to foster an environment of immersion. Great emphasis is placed on verbal syntax development around various themes, such as Spanish Art, Comparing Living in the Country to the City, Community Service. Synthesis of 1st and 2nd year grammar, including present, preterit and imperfect tenses will have added to them present subjunctive and use of "haber" in present progressive tenses. Particular attention will be placed on auditory and verbal communication. Use of computer and graphic representations of the subjects being studied will be an integral part of this course. PowerPoint presentations, booklets and theatrical adaptations of stories may also be used. Proper syntax development and use of these tenses will prepare students for Spanish 4. We will explore Essential Questions such as: "How does living in an American city compare with living in a Mexican or South American city?

SPANISH 3

5 Credits Full Year College 1

Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in Spanish 2

SPANISH 4

5 Credits Full Year Honors

Students need a grade of 80% or better in Spanish 3, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

Spanish language, composition, literature and conversation are the four categories that will be explored through various themes. Such themes may include exploration of the great authors of Spain, Mexico, Central and South America. Essential questions will be discussed thoroughly such as "How does Latino culture influence consumerism in the United States today?” Mastery and usage of present, preterit, imperfect, regular and irregular subjunctive, commands, present perfect and proper syntax development and grammar will be essential to successful completion of this course. Rigorous readings, writings and grammar drills will be the method by which various topics are discussed in depth. Literature, film, audio CD's of poetry and writers including current events in the Spanish-speaking world will be included.

SPANISH 4

5 Credits Full Year College 1

Prerequisite: A grade of 70 or better in Spanish 3

SPANISH V

5 Credits Full Year Honors

Pre-requisite: A grade of 80 or better in Spanish IV Honors or AP Spanish Language, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department.

Honors Spanish V will be conducted solely in Spanish. This will be a communication-based class in which students will study a different Spanish-Speaking country each month. They will focus on the history, politics, geography, and art, as well as other aspects of the cultures of each of the countries. Students will read and discuss authentic texts.

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE

5 Credits Full Year

Students need a grade of 80% or better in Spanish Honors 3 or 4, completion of a summer assignment and recommendation of the department to enroll in the AP section. In addition, students are required to take the Advance Placement exam in May. Payment for the exam is due to the principal at the end of the first quarter.

AP Spanish Language is equivalent to a third level college course. The class is conducted almost exclusively in Spanish. We will continue to study and learn about various aspects of Spanish language, literature, and culture. Emphasis will be placed on the mastery of grammatical tenses as well as refining the students' listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Students are expected to speak only Spanish. In order to succeed in this class, students must study and prepare themselves extensively inside the classroom and at home.