Foreign Languages
Graduation requirement: 2 years of 1 language; 3 years are strongly recommended
Spanish I
This course exposes students to elementary vocabulary and grammatical structures. All language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are practiced, but students focus primarily on the speaking skills necessary to the foreign language experience. Students are introduced to the cultures of Spanish speaking countries. Upon successful completion of this course, students advance to Spanish II.
Text: Realidades Level 1 (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004)
Spanish II
Students further their language study through acquisition of new vocabulary and grammatical concepts. All language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) are practiced, but the focus remains on the speaking skills necessary to the foreign language experience. Using the target language, students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions. They continue to discover the nature of language through comparisons between Spanish and their native language and further explore cultural concepts by contrasting the Hispanic cultures with their own. Upon successful completion of this course, students advance to Spanish III.
Texts: Realidades, Level 2 (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004) La Gran Aventura de Alejandro (Amsco, 1994)
Spanish III
In this continuation of more complex Spanish, students expand their vocabulary and their conversational skills and spend more time on composition skills. Extensive study of grammar is reinforced with a variety of activities such as selections from readings and short videos. Students begin to address cross-cultural issues as they relate to Hispanic cultural traditions and values and their own beliefs.
Text: Realidades, Level 3 (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004) Viviana y Su Gran Aventura Mexicana (Amsco, 2000)
Spanish IV
The main focus of this course is language acquisition and development. Instruction at this level is given almost exclusively in Spanish. Emphasis is placed on communication and interaction with the goal of enabling students to use the language appropriately with the teacher and with each other in a range of situations and for a variety of purposes. The skills of listening, speaking, writing and reading are developed equally through integrated activities. Discussion of Spanish literature, and contemporary Spanish film viewing and analysis of plots and characters play a greater part in this process. Cultural and ethnic diversity in Latin America and Spain as well as the life of Latinos in the US are examined.
Texts: Pasaporte al Mundo 21 ¡En español! (McDougal Littell, 2004)
Spanish V This course is designed to help students improve their writing and speaking skills using a variety of films from various Spanish-speaking countries. Students will be engaged in class discussions, essay writing and oral presentations. Students will be encouraged to analyze, to compare and to contrast social and cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Grammatical structures will be revisited throughout the year, putting more emphasis on appropriate vocabulary, structures and idiomatic expressions used in conversation and composition writing.
Texts: Cinema for Spanish Conversation (Focus Publishing, 2006)
Breaking the Spanish Barrier — Advanced (Breaking the Barrier, Inc., 2006)
AP Spanish Language
This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Spanish Language Exam in May. The course is conducted solely in Spanish and provides many opportunities for students to practice the target language with their teacher and peers. This course provides a thorough grammar review with activities that encourage internalization of vocabulary and require independent thinking and writing ability. It also offers reading and listening from a variety of authentic resources and speaking in a wide range of contexts
Texts: Triángulo, Wayside Publishing, 2007
Una Vez Más, Prentice Hall, 3rd Edition
Latin I
This course introduces the student to the wonderful world of Latin. Students start by learning basic grammar and vocabulary, implemented through adapted Latin texts. Students will discover classical mythology, Roman daily life and culture, classical history and the tragic story of Pompeii through their readings and cultural presentations. Latin pronunciation will be taught and practiced throughout the year as students learn small phrases and practice grammar and vocabulary retention during in class activities.
Text: Ecce Romani IA and IB, Fourth Edition (Pearson Education Inc, 2009)
Latin II
In this course the student continues their study of the miraculous world of Latin. Students review previous Latin grammar and vocabulary and continue to cultivate their knowledge of the language. More advanced grammar is practice and students practice translating adapted texts with more complex sentence structure. Through their readings and cultural presentations, the students will see the exciting world of Roman Britain and travel to the exotic, yet tumultuous, land of Roman Egypt, where they will learn the effects of Romanization on these diverse populaces. Oral and aural Latin practice continues during in class activities.
Text: Cambridge Latin Course, North American Fourth Edition, Unit II (Cambridge University Press, 2001)
Latin III
In this course the student moves to an even higher level in the amazing world of Latin. Students complete their understanding of intermediate Latin grammar and move onto advanced topics in conjunction with review of previous grammar. Students continue to read adapted texts to reinforce grammar and vocabulary with longer, more complex sentences. In these stories, they will delve into the mysterious world of traditional Roman religion, discovering the origins of Roman beliefs, how the Romans dealt with the many religions of their empire, the dramatic sweep of Christianity over Rome, the Islamic influence of the later Byzantine Empire and the Roman’s tempestuous relationship with the Jewish peoples. Oral and aural Latin practice continues during in class activities. At the end of this course, students may choose to move on to Latin IV or AP Latin.
Text: Cambridge Latin Course, North American Fourth Edition, Unit III (Cambridge University Press, 2001); supplementary materials provided by instructor
Latin IV
This course is designed to gradually introduce students to the exciting original texts of Latin. Students start with adapted original texts and further review of previous grammar, with an emphasis on advanced grammar. Students continue to build their vocabulary and practice oral and aural Latin with in class activities. The second half of the course is a survey of Latin prose and poetry; the authors read change every year depending on student interest. Students start learning poetic terms, meter and historiography and applying these concepts to authors they read. At the end of this course, students move onto AP Latin.
Texts: Cambridge Latin Course, North American Fourth Edition, Unit IV (Cambridge University Press, 2001); supplementary materials provided by instructor
AP Latin - Vergil
The capstone course to a student’s life-changing Latin experience, AP Latin, is designed to offer the student the ability to gain college credit while translating the spectacular adventures of both Julius Caesar in his De bello Gallico and Aeneas in Vergil’s Aeneid. The prior written by one of the foremost members of Roman military society and the latter widely considered the national epic of the Roman Empire. Both works delve into Roman culture and reflect on the tremulous situation of Rome during the end of the Republic and the rise of the Principate. Students study meter, poetic and rhetorical devices, culture, and history, applying these concepts in passage analysis. Students translate lines as required by the AP Latin syllabus and meet all required standards set forth by AP guidelines. The summer prior to beginning this course, students read the entirety of the Aeneid in English and discuss it via e-mail and face-to-face meetings. During the year, the course focuses on translation, analysis, and history of the late Roman Republic, early Roman Empire, Trojan War, and the Roman Kings. In May, students take the AP Latin exam for the chance to receive college credit for their efforts during the year.
Texts: Vergil’s Aenied: Selected Readings from Books 1, 2, 4, and 6, ed. Barbara Weiden Boyd (Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc, 2012); Caesar: Selections from his Comentarii De Bello Gallico, ed. Hans-Friedrich Mueller (Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc, 2012); Caesar, The Gallic War, tr. Carolyn Hammond (Oxford University Press, 2008); Vergil’s Aeneid: Hero, War, Humanity, tr. G.B. Cobbold (Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc, 2005); supplementary materials provided by the instructor.
American Sign Language I
This course is designed to take students who have no knowledge of sign language to the point where they can communicate comfortably in a variety of situations in the Deaf community. Early on, students will focus on learning the manual alphabet, fingerspelling, vocabulary, greeting one another and getting acquainted. They will also learn the history of ASL, Deaf culture and etiquette. Other topics will include family members, directions, jobs and activities, descriptions and requests, all the while perfecting expressive and receptive skills.
Texts: A Basic Course in American Sign Language (T.J. Publishers, Inc.)
American Sign Language II
This is a continuation of the introductory course in American Sign Language I. Students in this course continue to perfect their receptive and expressive skills through work in the classroom, as well as experiencing the opportunity to have guest speakers from the Deaf community. Students explore Deaf history, Deaf culture and current events in the Deaf community.
Texts: A Basic Course in American Sign Language (T.J. Publishers, Inc.)
American Sign Language III
This course is designed to take students who have successfully completed the requirements for ASL I and ASL II to the point of better understanding more advanced ASL structures and vocabulary, role shift variations, formal storytelling, and formal/informal presentation techniques.
Texts: A Basic Course in American Sign Language (T.J. Publishers, Inc.)
American Sign Language IV This course is designed to bring together the vocabulary and knowledge from former years and to give students the confidence to communicate more fully. Students will have opportunities to participate in silent meals, silent bowling and other off-campus events. The second half of the year will be taught with “no voice”. This will further encourage the students to use all they have learned to communicate and develop their receptive skills.