World Languages

The purpose of Spanish I is to give students the ability to function in real-life situations that they might encounter in a Spanish-speaking environment.  Students will learn to talk about themselves, their families, and their friends; to get around in towns and give directions; and to use appropriate language in a variety of social interactions.  Emphasis will be placed on the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Students’ cultural knowledge will include Mexico and a beginning exposure to the Spanish-speaking countries of the world.  

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

The purpose of Spanish II is to further develop the students’ abilities to function in situations they might encounter in a Spanish-speaking environment.  Students will learn to describe people and things, know how to talk about their residence, interact with others about their leisure-time activities and talk about health concerns.  Emphasis will continue on the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Students’ cultural knowledge of the Spanish-speaking countries of the world will expand to include varied customs, traditions, landscapes and points of interest.  

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities |A-G College Requirement: E

The purpose of Spanish III is to further develop the students’ abilities to function in situations they might encounter in a Spanish-speaking environment.  The study of the basic grammatical functions will be completed, and communicative competence will continue to be emphasized in the four skill areas. Students’ cultural knowledge of the countries of the Spanish-speaking world will be expanded to include varied customs and traditions, landscapes and points of interest in greater depth than in the previous course.  

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

The primary goals of Spanish IV are:  (1) the refinement of communicative skills in the four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, writing); (2) the enhancement of strategic competence (communicative strategies); (3) the enhancement of grammatical competence (review of previously-learned structures and acquisition of new structures and uses); (4) the refinement in understanding of Hispanic culture. Spanish IV builds on themes, structures, vocabulary and skills learned in Spanish I-III; however, the course aims at moving students to a more abstract level of language use.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 is a course developed to provide students with language-use experiences that meet the needs of heritage speakers. This course is structured to present language in an interesting, interactive and effective manner incorporating the knowledge, skills and experiences that heritage speakers bring to the classroom as well as a thematic approach that highlights Hispanic cultures within and beyond the United States; thus developing a strong sense of identity and a high level of self-esteem.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2 continues the preparation of the use of the language with academic and socio-cultural intention. This course adds importance in the developing of reading and comprehension, reflective and/or critical writing and refinement of the academic language through cultural investigation and introduction to literature. The course has been structured academically to produce effectiveness in the learning process of Spanish through 1) interpersonal, interpretative and persuasive communication; 2) a direct bonding with the perspectives and practices of various cultural groups; 3) acknowledging the importance of the relationship between language and culture in a multicultural society; and 4) the usage of the Spanish language to develop a better understanding of the world that we live in.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

Prerequisite: Teacher approval required

AP Spanish Language is intended for students who wish to develop proficiency and integrate their language skills, using authentic materials and sources. Students who enroll should already have a basic knowledge of the language and cultures of Spanish-speaking peoples and should have attained a reasonable proficiency in using the language. This course should help prepare students to demonstrate their level of Spanish proficiency across three communicative modes (Interpersonal [interactive communication], Interpretive [receptive communication], and Presentational [productive communication]), and the five goal areas outlined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities).

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

Prerequisite: Teacher approval required

The AP Spanish Literature course has been designed to introduce students to the formal study of Spanish and Latin American literary texts. It provides them with a learning experience that matches that of a third-year course in Latin American and Peninsular literature. Literature is examined within the context of its time and place, as students reflect on the many voices and cultures present in the required readings. The course also includes a strong focus on cultural connections and comparisons, including exploration of various media (e.g., art, film, articles, and literary criticism). The extensive reading list introduces students to the diverse literature written in Spanish.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

The course will begin with foundational elements to learning any language: mastering common vocabulary terms and phrases, understanding unique grammar patterns, developing conversational abilities within the language, reading, and writing speaking and listening within the language. Beginning students will acquire the basic skills necessary to function in a variety of real-life situations they may encounter in Mandarin-speaking contexts, interactions, and environments. Students will acquire and develop beginning reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to communicate information about themselves, others, and relevant experiences. Students will utilize the appropriate vocabulary, linguistic components, and grammatical structures necessary to achieve desired tasks. Throughout the course students will be exposed to the various Mandarin- speaking cultures and peoples which will include: Geography, History, Art, Traditions, & Current Events.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

The goal of Mandarin 2 is to enable students to communicate accurately and appropriately in Mandarin at the second level. The program focuses on developing the receptive skills of listening and reading, developing the productive skills of speaking and writing and on emphasizing communication in Mandarin. Technology is integrated to immerse students in authentic language and culture through the use of video.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

Mandarin Chinese 3 provides students a more in-depth study of Chinese language and culture and prepares students for AP Chinese during their fourth year of study. Students will continue to add to their knowledge of how to communicate in real life and authentic situations that include, but are not limited to extension of classroom language, survival, travel, relationships, going out, events etc. with the appropriate cultural response. Students will also be expected to learn supplemental vocabulary and will do regular reading from novellas. In addition, students will produce a combination of essays and oral reports to help them consolidate their mastery of characters, sentence patterns, grammar and cultural understanding.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

The course is designed to further develop students’ fundamentals of communicative competence and to enable them to develop higher level speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.  Mandarin 4 will also focus on helping students be able to more fluently use their acquired vocabulary in daily dialogue and through short reading selections.  Speaking and written materials will be expanded to expose students to social and practical topics in formal and informal settings.  Students will be able to comprehend a non-technical lecture and discuss the information gained from the lecture.  Students will also continue to explore Chinese cultural values and compare differences with those of United States by keeping abreast of current news stories and looking at important events in Chinese history.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E

Prerequisite: Teacher approval required

AP Mandarin prepares students to demonstrate their level of Chinese proficiency across the three communicative modes (Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational) and the five goal areas (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons and Communities) as outlined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. Its aim is to provide students with ongoing and varies opportunities to further develop their proficiency across the full range of language skills within a cultural frame of reference reflective of the richness of Chinese language and culture. This course focuses on language proficiency while interweaving level and age appropriate cultural content throughout the course.

Credit: 10.00 | Graduation Requirement: Humanities | A-G College Requirement: E