2020-21 Academic Bulletin fall

AP French Language: The AP French Language course is designed to provide students with the tools to
improve their communicative abilities in French – spoken and written. This class, which is conducted
exclusively in French, is comparable in difficulty to a third-year college class. We use a textbook
(Thèmes), but many other sources as well – French news, music, film, literature and art. Our goals are
simple but demanding: To expand vocabulary, to improve intercultural understanding, and to become
proficient in each area of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) in spoken and
written French. The course hinges on six major themes: Global Challenges, Science & Technology;
Contemporary Life, Personal & Public Identities, Family & Communities, and Beauty & Aesthetics. We
will engage each of these themes, with an eye to the past, present, and future. Prerequisite: B- or better
in French IV. Global, AP, 6 credits
Textbook: Thèmes. ISBN: 978-1-68004-099-9. Student Textbook and eBook w/ Supersite Plus Code
SPANISH
A recognized language of the United States (the U.S. is the second largest Spanish-speaking country),
Spanish is also a useful language all over the world. The number of books published in Spanish
worldwide is second only to the number published in English. Spanish language fluency could be
important to a career in journalism, government, education, medicine, law, medicine, business, and many
others. Knowing Spanish increases tremendously the number of TV programs, books, movies, records,
etc., that you can enjoy, as well as opening doors in this country and abroad.
Spanish I: Spanish 1 is a story-based curriculum where students’ exposure to the language is
meaningful, repetitive and contextualized, with a heavy focus on aural comprehension. Lessons are highly
interactive and personalized. Stories, songs, reader’s theatre, videos, interactive online activities,
authentic materials and other resources provide context for learning phrases and vocabulary related to
numbers, colors, introductions, descriptions, family, daily habits, interests, body parts, travel, expression
of opinions and future plans, and more. Students read two simple novels together as a class, and gradually
work toward reading independently. They learn about geography, holidays, customs, history, and culture
of a variety of Spanish-speaking countries. Expectations shift from comprehension at the beginning of the
yearbook to production as the course, and students’ abilities, progress. Similarly, the course’s first focus
is listening and reading, and writing and speaking are increased throughout the year organically. By the
end of the year, students will have a strong enough grasp of the highest frequency verbs and phrases in the
Spanish language to communicate in the present tense, have simple conversations about the world around
them, and comprehend a great deal more as perceptive listeners. Global, 6 credits
A textbook will be provided
Spanish II: After students are introduced to the language in level I, they continue on their journey of
becoming independent participants (rather than passive observers) of the cultures we are studying. The
goal of Spanish II is to make students functional travelers who not only enjoy and understand the cultural
differences around them, but also communicate with confidence in their interactions with Spanish
speakers. This course will expand the student’s understanding of language and culture through novels,
short stories, games, songs, and other authentic resources. By the end of the year, students will read
several novels geared toward beginning language learners, expand the complexity of their writing, and
present various topics to their peers both formally and informally. From a grammatical standpoint,
students will acquire the fundamentals of the present and past tenses as well as the imperative mood.
While the content of the course is subject to change based on students’ interests and global events, the
level II curriculum covers a number of key themes using a comprehensible input approach and TPRSbased
strategies. Food, travel, health, clothing, and daily routine are amongst the topics covered
throughout the year, anchored by relevant holiday and essential traditions in Spanish-speaking
communities. Prerequisite: Spanish I. Global, 6 credits. A textbook will be provided
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