Modern and Classical Languages

Graduation Requirements: 2 Years UHS

FRENCH I (FRENCH 1 P)

Grades 9-11	Elective	1 Year
The first year of French stresses basic skills and provides an introduction to the French culture. The students communicate with each other from the beginning as they learn how to ask and answer simple questions in French. The vocabulary is practical and varied. Themes are taken from daily life and grammatical structures are introduced gradually and practiced extensively in conversation and in writing. Content is presented in context with an Audio/Video program featuring people and places from the French-speaking world. Magazines, feature films and video series are used to supplement the basic text.

FRENCH II (FRENCH II P)

Grades 9-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE for French II: “C” or better in French I and teacher recommendation. This course is the second half of the two-year basic language program. At this level, vocabulary and communicative patterns are expanded to allow for greater accuracy of expressions. Students handle tasks of increased complexity, such as speaking in past and future tenses. Students acquire the fundamentals of French grammar and are exposed to more colloquial expressions through French movies, song lyrics, authentic tests, and realia. Students are encouraged to create with the language both orally and in writing.

FRENCH III (FRENCH III P)

Grades 11-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE for French III: “B” or better in French II and teacher recommendation. In the third year the focus is creative use of the French language through class discussion, performances, short compositions and poetry writing. The conditional and subjunctive tenses are introduced and explored. Students increase comprehension of authentic spoken French through exposure to diverse forms of contemporary culture. In the second semester, the text “Le Petit Nicolas” (Sempé Goscinny) is used to supplement the textbook. With the help of pre-listening activities, students practice aural comprehension of recorded texts and dialogues of literary texts, feature films, and song lyrics. Oral and written proficiency are stressed.

FRENCH IV (FRENCH IV P)

Grades 11-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE for French IV: “B” or better in French III and teacher recommendation. The main goal in French IV is to emphasize communication and preparation for college courses. Students work towards developing fluency in all four skills, and are expected to use French exclusively in the classroom. Readings at this level include a wide range of authentic texts from the French-speaking world. Students provide literature with increased cultural context through further investigation into pertinent, related subject areas (history, geography, philosophy, science, music, art, cinema, cuisine, etc.). Research projects, compositions, in-depth discussion and performance are major components of the fourth year program. Fee $17.

LATIN I (LATIN I P)

Grades 9-12	Elective	1 Year
Latin I is an introduction to the mother-language and an ideal place to begin all language study. Students learn basic vocabulary and grammar with an emphasis on building an understanding of these elements in the English language. The cultural background and Greco-Roman mythology are studied through research projects, videos and lecture. Fee $5.

LATIN II (LATIN II P)

Grades 10-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: “C” in Latin I and teacher recommendation. Latin II reviews the vocabulary and grammar learned in the first year. Students extend their knowledge of vocabulary/grammar and begin to read longer, more complex passages in Latin. Cultural background and Greco-Roman mythology are studied through research projects, videos and lecture. Fee $5.

LATIN III (LATIN III P)

Grades 11-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: “B” grade in Latin II and teacher recommendation. Latin III completes the introduction of new forms and grammar. Students read extended Latin prose selections and study the historical development of Rome from its beginnings through the Imperial Age. During the second semester the Latin III and IV curriculum is combined. Readings are selected from a variety of authors and literary genres. Cultural background is explored through videos, lectures, and research projects. Latin forms and grammar continue to be reinforced and reviewed. Students conclude the year with an original translation into Latin of a favorite children’s story. Fee $5.

LATIN III HONORS (LATIN III HON)

Grades 11-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE:Department recommendation based on Latin grades, motivation, cum GPA and special spring semester work in Latin II. Latin III Honors is an advanced language course designed for the superior Latin students who wish to continue to refine their Latin composition and reading ability. In addition to the prose readings required in Latin III, the Latin III Honors student will study a selected author whose works are required reading for the Latin Literature AP Exam (Cicero, Catullus, Ovid, Horace). In addition the student will demonstrate familiarity with the historical milieu of the author(s) under study. Latin III Honors is strongly recommended for students intending to enroll in Latin IV AP in the following year. Fee $5.

LATIN IV (LATIN IV P)

Grades 11-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: “B” grade in Latin III and teacher recommendation. Latin IV students read a variety of prose and poetry selections. Emphasis at this level is on translation skills and reading comprehension. Grammar study continues to be reviewed and reinforced. Cultural topics are explored through video, lecture, and research projects. Fee $5.

AP LATIN LITERATURE (AP LATIN LIT)

Available to qualified seniors	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: Department recommendation based on Latin grades, motivation, cum GPA and special spring semester work in Latin III Honors. The AP Latin Literature course comprises a study of two authors: Catullus and either Ovid, Cicero or Horace. The syllabus requirements are in general conformity with college Latin studies in the fourth through sixth semesters. The basic objective is progress in reading, translating, understanding, analyzing, and interpreting Latin in the original. In May all students take the AP Exam in Latin Literature. Fee $5.

SPANISH I (SPAN I P)

Grades 9-12	Elective	1 Year
This first year of Spanish develops the four basic language skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing and also provides an introduction to cultures. The class is taught in the target language and students frequently interact orally using the Spanish learned; reading a variety of level-appropriate materials and written production of Spanish is also emphasized. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to talk or write about themselves, their family and friends, express their likes and dislikes and be able to discuss their daily activities

SPANISH II (SPAN II P)

Grades 9-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: Completion of Spanish I with a Spanish GPA of 2.0 or higher, department recommendation, and a score of at least C on the department proficiency exam. In this second year of Spanish, students continue to build on their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will engage in debates related to readings and other course materials and will be asked to write and express their opinions and viewpoints. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to write or speak in a limited fashion about topics of personal interest in limited time frames, understand spoken and written Spanish on familiar topics, and be familiar with places where the Spanish language is spoken.

SPANISH III (SPAN III P)

Grades 9-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: Completion of Accelerated Spanish II with a Spanish GPA of 3.0 or higher (or Spanish II with a Spanish GPA of 4.0) department recommendation, and score of at least B on the department proficiency exam. In this third year of Spanish, students increase their proficiency in the four basic language skills and become more creative with using the language. Students are able to understand and actively engage in general conversations, begin to write essays and research papers, and narrate in all major time frames. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to interact successfully with Spanish speakers and write at the paragraph level on general topics.

SPANISH III HONORS (SPAN III HP)

Grades 11-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: Completion of Accelerated Spanish II with a Spanish GPA of 3.0 or higher (or Spanish II with a Spanish GPA of 4.0), department recommendation, and score of at least B on the department proficiency exam. This honors third year Spanish class is designed to further challenge and motivate the talented language student and to help them gain greater knowledge of the Spanish language and cultures. Students are able to understand and actively engage in general conversations with ease, write longer essays and research papers, narrate in all major time frames, and adapt language to some informal and formal settings. Classes are conducted in Spanish to enhance listening skills and students are actively engaged in the production of the language. Curriculum is regularly supplemented by use of realia such as magazines, newspapers, radio and television programs, and Internet readings. Students will be introduced to literature in Spanish. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to write or speak about topics of personal interest in most time frames, understand spoken and written Spanish on familiar topics, be understood by native speakers unaccustomed to non-native speakers, and be familiar with places where the Spanish language is spoken.

SPANISH IV (SPAN IV P)

Grades 10-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE: Completion of Spanish III with a Spanish GPA of 3.0 or higher (or Spanish III Honors with a Spanish GPA of 2.7 or higher), department recommendation, and score of at least C on the department proficiency exam. Students in this level learn to refine and become more confident in their production and comprehension of the target language. Students will revisit the topics focused upon during their previous years of language instruction that will help them learn to better adjust their language according to sociocultural norms. They will also develop skills necessary for literary comparison and analysis. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to be understood without difficulty, be able to narrate and use all time frames to describe, tell stories, explain, and compare.

SPANISH IV (SPAN IV P)

Grades 10-12	Elective	1 Year
PREREQUISITE:Completion of Spanish III Honors with a Spanish GPA of 3.0 or higher (or Spanish III with a Spanish GPA of 4.0), department recommendation, and score of at least B on the department proficiency exam. The AP program is designed to meet the needs of the exceptional language student. This class will challenge the student with continued instruction to conduct all conversations exclusively in Spanish and to take advantage of community opportunities to further practice their skills. Students will continue to be able to better adjust their language according to sociocultural norms. Students will learn to hypothesize and speak in the abstract by using more complex grammatical structures. In addition to reviewing and learning advanced grammatical skills, students will be exposed to current events, art, history, popular culture, sports, literature and other topics relevant to the Spanish-speaking world. Students will read short stories by various contemporary literary writers of Spain and the Americas and be able to conduct discussions and debates related to the readings. Students will also prepare for the Spanish Advanced Placement (AP) Exam throughout the course; students enrolled in this class are required to take the AP test in the Spring.