UPPER SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY | 2022-2023
French V Honors Students in this advanced Honors French course, conducted entirely in French, develop their language skills as they make connections between the French speaking community and their own. Major components of language, grammar, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions are taught through literary passages, film, podcasts, blogs, and authentic internet sources. An emphasis is placed on examining the complexities of identity, global challenges, and diversity in French-speaking countries in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada.. We discuss how our identity is shaped by the interplay of biology and environment as well as by our own actions as we explore novels that focus on this theme: Joseph Joffo’s Un sac de billes and Faïza Guène’s Kiffe Kiffe Demain. Through structured practice to free expression, small group and paired activities, students hone their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Prerequisite: B+ in French IV Honors and recommendation of the Modern Language Department.
Modern Language: Spanish Spanish I Spanish I is an introductory course designed for students with little or no previous exposure to Spanish. The course focuses on developing listening, speaking, and written communication skills as it exposes students to the linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity of the Spanishspeaking world. YouTube, music, and other videos featuring native speakers accompany the textbook ¡Qué chévere! and provide an entertaining context for learning the language. In-class skits and presentations further develop students’ confidence. Grammar is presented in a communicative manner that emphasizes meaningful context. Students will read the novel Patricia va a California as an introduction to the life of an immigrant as well as an introduction to the indigenous cultures in the Spanish speaking world. Online resources such as Edpuzzle, Flipgrid, and Kahoot! are used extensively. Spanish II Spanish II seeks to continue to motivate students to discover the importance of learning Spanish while becoming enthusiastic participants in the learning process. This class focuses on developing communication skills through writing and speaking practice, always in contextualized situations working individually or in groups. The course also introduces grammar and literature in Spanish through novelas such as Fiesta Fatal by Mira Camion. As future global citizens, students are asked to compare Spanish-speaking cultures to their own as they draw parallelisms and learn about relevant differences. The course also makes use of online resources (news clips, video clips, and articles) to expose the students to real Spanish in the real world. Assessments involve weekly written and oral quizzes. We use the series ¡Qué Chévere! Level 2. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 8 or Spanish I.
MODERN LANGUAGE | 21
