This course consists of an introduction to the alphabet, vocabulary, grammar, and basic syntax of Classical Attic Greek. We will spend time learning and using translation skills (reading, writing, and speaking Greek), as well as focusing on derivatives, which unlock the English legal and, in particular, medical/scientific vocabularies (amongst many others). Students will gain an appreciation for Classical authors, such as Homer, Plato, and the Athenian dramatists, and will read large selections from Herodotus in the original language, along with smaller selections of the aforementioned. Towards the end of the year, students will also translate passages of the foundationally important New Testament from its original language. Time will also be spent learning about Greek culture, history, art, and mythology in order to supply a more complete context for the language and its impact on modern thought and culture.
In this course, students will prepare for the Advanced Placement French Language Examination. Students will write narrations and research projects, present and justify their own opinions orally, and communicate facts and ideas with an accurate accent and in a grammatically correct fashion. Students will increase their appreciation for the richness of Francophone literature, history and culture. They will read authentic documents and listen to broadcasts from a variety of Francophone countries. Students will complete daily homework assignments and will show proficiency through oral interviews, written quizzes, presentations and unit exams. They will also have the opportunity to practice AP style exams before the actual exam. Upon successful completion of this course, students may receive college credit through the Advanced Placement Examination offered by the College Board.
The aim of this course will be to prepare students for the AP Latin examination that occurs during the Spring semester. Thus, students will conduct an in-depth study of selections of Caesar’s Comentarii de Bello Gallico and Vergil’s Aeneid in Latin, and further sections in English. We will spend time examining the literary style of each author, as well as the cultural and historical context in which he wrote. On the AP exam students will be expected to make literal translations, answer multiple choice and short answer questions, and to write analytical essays, all based on Latin passages. Therefore, this course will expect students to do the same.
This course prepares students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture Examination. Classroom activities expose students to a variety of communicative situations to familiarize them with different nuances of the language and to promote fluency and accuracy in language use. It engages students in the exploration, awareness, and appreciation of the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries, focusing on cultural products, practices and perspectives as described in the National Standards for Foreign Language Education. The course also emphasizes the development of the students’ interpersonal, interpretive and presentational communication. The exercises, AP sessions, and evaluations provide practice to help the students improve test-taking techniques. The explanations, tasks, practices and feedback are all conducted in Spanish.
This fall semester elective will introduce students to the major myths and legends that represent the central cultural and moral values of the Greco-Roman world; stories of deities, heroes, villains, journeys, and the composition of the world. Students will explore primary sources in English translation (i.e. prior knowledge of Latin and/or Greek is not a prerequisite), as well as the reception and impact of these stories on both ancient and modern art and culture. Students will also spend time analyzing and discussing the historic interpretation and application of these mythological stories in order to gain an appreciation for mythology's vast influence on today's language, literature, and culture. Note: This course is open to juniors and seniors and is offered during the fall semester only.
This course is an introduction to the language and cultures of the French-speaking world. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the sound system and verb structures in the present, past and near future tenses. They will describe themselves, ask questions to elicit information about each other, discuss school-related activities, likes and dislikes, hobbies and pastimes. Students will experience culture through a variety of authentic media and through researching various French-speaking locations. They will develop their proficiency through daily oral participation, role-playing, class discussions, listening, reading and writing activities. Students will complete daily homework assignments and will show proficiency through oral interviews, written quizzes, presentations, and unit exams.
Students in French II will continue the progressive development of the language skills which they learned in French I. They will expand their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic structures with a focus on communication. They will further investigate the cultures and civilizations of the French-speaking countries through special research projects. Students will practice their conversational skills through dramatization, cooperative learning, paired practice, oral presentations and class discussions. In class, students will express themselves in French whenever possible. They will complete daily homework assignments and will show proficiency through oral interviews, written quizzes, presentations, in-class compositions, spontaneous conversational skills and unit exams.
Students will improve those language skills acquired in French I and II. They will gain greater oral proficiency in the language and increase their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Students will use their language skills to acquire a background of the history and culture of French-speaking countries by reading short stories, novellas, poetry and authentic documents such as newspaper and magazine articles. Short skits will be used also. They will complete daily homework assignments and will show proficiency through oral interviews, written quizzes, presentations, in-class compositions, spontaneous conversational skills and unit exams. This class will be conducted primarily in the target language.
Students will improve upon those language skills acquired in previous levels. They will increase their command of the spoken and written language through reflection and analysis. Students will continue to develop language skills based upon abstract concepts. They will read and write more extensively while examining advanced grammatical structures. Students will continue to investigate the history and culture associated with the target language. They will also read authentic materials and listen to French news broadcasts. They will complete daily homework assignments and will show proficiency through interviews, written quizzes, presentations, in-class compositions, spontaneous conversations and unit exams. The class will be conducted in the target language.
This semester course will engage students at different levels: it will combine elements from general film studies; it will incorporate film(s) as a way to study a foreign culture; it will engage students into discussions about German cinema and history. The course will stress the importance of contextualizing films in their historic and cultural context of its particular time period. The general discussion will lead into the particular analysis of the individual film(s).
This course offers an intensive study of the basic Italian language and an overview of contemporary Italian culture. It involves a variety of assignments and activities that develop grammatical competency and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are exposed to a wide range of authentic language and cultural materials including newspapers, websites, and audio-visual resources. At the end of the course, students will be able to communicate in Italian at the basic level.
The course begins with a review of Latin I and builds on these skills to complete the study of grammar emphasizing the Latin verbal system. Students build their translation skills through reading more complex Latin stories and acquiring an extensive Latin vocabulary. The course also focuses on Roman history, culture, and geography.
This course aims to transition students from learning grammar and reading adapted Latin, to reading unadapted Classical authors for the first time. The course will start off with an intensive review of the grammar learned in Latin I and II, before introducing the last remaining new grammatical and syntactical constructions in the Latin language. During this time, we will read Auricula Meretricula, an adapted Latin play, after which we will foray into selections from several prose authors, including longer selections from Caesar and Petronius. The Spring semester will be spent with an in-depth reading of the orator Cicero’s first speech against Catiline. We will focus on acquiring strong translations skills and habits, as well as becoming perceptive of the literary and rhetorical devices employed by Roman authors.
Students continue to read the primary Roman writers with an emphasis on poetry. Authors read include Catullus, Horace, Ovid, and Vergil. Students gain an advanced level of translation and vocabulary skills, and are introduced to metrics and scansion. Additionally students benefit from discussion of secondary scholarship and stylistic analyses for each author. In combination with the prose focus of Latin III, the poetry focus of Latin IV solidifies all the skills necessary to succeed in the AP Latin course.
Chinese II is designed for students who have finished level one. The course will continue to follow the guidelines of the National Foreign Language Standards and will focus on learning tasks that are in the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational. In this course, students will be able to comprehend short, simple conversations and narratives on topics covered; comprehend readings of short paragraphs containing the characters required in the book; initiate and carry on conversations to exchange information and express opinions about such topics as weather, transportation, location, and sports; give brief oral messages and presentations about topics such as school and daily life activities; tell stories based on pictures that reflect familiar daily contexts; write messages to respond to email in Chinese characters regarding familiar contexts. In addition, students will be able to gain understanding of basic aspects of Chinese culture: cultural practices and tradition such as festivals, street markets, and students’ activities.
Chinese III is designed for students who have finished level two. The course will continue to follow the guidelines of the National Foreign Language Standards and focus on learning tasks that are in the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational. This course is conducted mostly in the target language, and the listening and speaking skills will be developed by through interactions with classmates and the teacher. Students will be able to understand main ideas and some facts from simple texts such as public announcements and short, straightforward instructions dealing with daily life (e.g., recipes); read consistently with increased understanding simple, connected texts such as short, straightforward descriptions of places, and travel itineraries; demonstrate increased ease and accuracy in pronouncing Chinese sounds and tones; give both brief oral and writing messages and presentations about topics such as schools, school schedules, communities. Students will continue to gain understanding of basic aspects of Chinese culture: cultural practices and traditions such as festival food and cooking; important places and scenic spots in China.
This is a dynamic communicative course which adapts to the needs and abilities of the students through differentiated instruction. Students develop a strong foundation in the fundamentals of the Spanish language through a variety of creative, interactive activities that integrate presentational, interpretive, and interpersonal communication. Students learn to appreciate the diversity of Spanish and Hispanic culture through authentic audiovisual materials, presentations and comparisons with their own culture and communities.
In this course, students build on the foundation established in Spanish I. We continue to emphasize the fundamentals of the Spanish language and to challenge students to increase the breadth and complexity of their language skills through a variety of creative, interactive activities that integrate presentational, interpretive, and interpersonal communication. Students learn to appreciate the diversity of Spanish and Hispanic culture through authentic audiovisual materials, connections and comparisons with their own culture and communities.
Spanish III is conducted almost entirely in Spanish. Students continue to develop their skills by hearing and speaking Spanish in class, studying authentic texts, doing internet research, writing essays, seeing videos, and interacting with Spanish speakers. Students improve their vocabulary and more advanced language functions, by exposing them to authentic materials.
This is a proficiency-based course designed to develop fluency. Emphasis is placed on communication (listening, speaking, reading, writing); cultures (gaining knowledge and understanding of Hispanic countries and their cultures); connections with other disciplines; comparisons (developing insight into the nature of language and culture); and communities (participating in multilingual communities at home and around the world). The activities in the classroom and those in the textbook and practice book are designed to expose students to communicative situations that will allow them to use the language in a meaningful context. This class is conducted mostly in Spanish.
An elective for juniors and seniors that will expose you to the Spanish-Speaking World Through Film. We will explore themes, history, and film techniques to help us analyze Spanish films and see different cultures through the lens of cultural awareness.
