World Languages Department

Who are we? Who are our neighbors? What does it mean to be human? And how do we make sense of our world? Leveraging these foundational human investigations as a point of departure, Roots invites students to embark on a linguistic and cultural adventure through the study of high-frequency vocabulary and essential structures. In this course, students will engage in simple interactions about their immediate surroundings; respond to different situations that they may confront on a day-to-day basis; and learn strategies to cope with the gaps in their comprehension. Through a variety of activities and the use of adapted and authentic materials, students will also learn how to communicate about themselves and others and seek practical information. Materials in this course include Brandon Brown veut un chien by Carol Gaab, Silence, s’il vous plaît! by Emily Ibrahim, L’Île Papillon by A. Briotet, and films by Nicolas Philibert and Albert Lamorisse. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-mid to novice-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in French to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency. 

What role do shared experiences and traditions play in shaping our understanding of home and cultural identity? In what ways do our personal experiences shape our cultural perspectives and sense of community? Keeping these essential questions at the forefront of this course, Footprints continues students’ investigation of linguistic and cultural understandings, focusing on consolidating skills, expanding communicative abilities, and cultivating sensitivity to diverse perspectives and practices. Students engage in conversations, express thoughts and opinions, and narrate personal experiences with increasing confidence on familiar topics. Through the use of curated texts and media, students will explore themes of identity, community, and everyday life in the Francophone world. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-mid to intermediate-low. The class is conducted in French to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

What defines “home”? Is it people, a specific place, or the memories made during a certain period of time? With these questions in mind, Pathways aims to deepen the learner’s understanding of the Francophone experience and to develop their proficiency across all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Students will learn to communicate about and compare events, places, and people; expand upon familiar topics; and broaden their writing and reading skills to help set the stage for enhanced literacy in the target language. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-high to intermediate-low as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Materials in this course include Michel et l’Autre by Régine Boutégège, Banana Girl by Kei Lam, and Rémi et le mystère de Saint-Péray by Annie Coutelle, as well as selected media and poetry. The class is conducted in French to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

What do solidarity, stewardship, and community look like? Do communities shape individuals, or do individuals shape communities? What is humanity’s proper relationship with the natural world? And what obligations and responsibilities do we have to others and our planet? In pursuit of these essential questions, Viewpoints is designed to bring students to a basic degree of independence in the language as they continue to explore diverse cultural products, practices, and perspectives in the Francophone world, and build proficiency across all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. In this course, vocabulary and idiomatic structures are expanded upon, aiming to consolidate students’ ability to navigate straightforward social and personal contexts. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of intermediate-low to intermediate-mid as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Reading materials included in this course are the novel Kirikou et La Sorcière by Michel Ocelot, the graphic novel Aya de Yopougon by Marguerite Abouet, and Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, as well as selected poetry and other media. This course is conducted entirely in French.

What is the relationship between language, place, identity, and culture? To what degree and in what ways are being and belonging impacted by broader environmental, political, social, and economic forces and systems? What does it mean to be Francophone in a world increasingly defined by constant change, uncertainty, intricate connections, and blurred lines? And how has the Francophone experience changed over time? Journeys will address these questions as students continue to unpack the complex stakes of the French-speaking world while also challenging themselves to grow towards greater autonomy in the language. Moving towards the study and consideration of more abstract concepts and ideas, the course will provide students with all the necessary linguistic tools to begin to support critical opinions and further explore and unpack the rich mosaic of French-speaking countries through reading, discussion, and writing about diverse texts and media. Assessment focuses on the student’s ability to transfer those linguistic skills to meaningful cultural contexts through written and oral work. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of intermediate-mid to intermediate-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Course materials include the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, the play Le Dieu du carnage by Yasmina Reza, the graphic novel Le Monde sans fin, miracle énergétique et dérive climatique by Christophe Blain and Jean-Marc Jancovici, as well as selected films and poetry. This course is conducted entirely in French.

The Modern Francophone Experience is a seminar organized around the study of texts, current events, and cultural topics under the umbrella of the six College Board-designated AP French Language themes: global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, family and communities, and beauty and aesthetics. The course will be conducted exclusively in French, and students will hone their interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication and expression. Students will leverage an extensive range of authentic francophone material to engage in higher-level discussions, collaborate with native speakers, make real-world connections, and unpack issues relating to the broader Francophone experience. Over the course of the academic year, students will select a French-speaking country of focus and create a digital portfolio with artifacts that showcase students’ knowledge of the area as well as demonstrate their language proficiency, intercultural literacy, and overall growth. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a minimum proficiency level of intermediate-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Students signing up for this class as a yearly commitment may elect to take the AP French Language and Culture examination in May.

Roots provides an introduction to the language and invites students to embark on a linguistic and cultural adventure through the study of high-frequency vocabulary and essential structures. In this course, students will begin to develop novice-level proficiency in the language as well as the cultural competence needed to appropriately engage in everyday communication in Chinese. Students will be linguistically immersed into the Chinese phonetic system (Hanyu Pinyin Romanization), simple grammatical structures, the simplified Chinese writing characters, and daily conversation through drills, songs, and Chinese social media. Students will constantly use WeChat (a combination of Amazon, Uber, Facebook, and Instagram and one of the most popular online communication tools in China) for in-class and homework assignments to connect to the real world. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-low to novice-mid as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in Mandarin Chinese to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

Pathways builds upon the linguistic and intercultural competencies of the Roots experience. Learning topics include making appointments, giving comments to someone’s work, diary and letter writing, shopping and exchanging clothes, writing emails, and arranging travel/transportation plans. Students will use WeChat to develop their cultural understanding and language skills. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-mid to novice-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in Mandarin Chinese to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

Viewpoints continue to build upon the knowledge, skills, and dispositions acquired from previous years with a special focus and emphasis on speaking and writing in Chinese and project-based assignments about Chinese culture. Students will have daily speaking and writing exercises, including bi-weekly oral interviews, daily conversation drills on different topics acquired from the first two Mandarin classes. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-mid to novice-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in Mandarin Chinese to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

Journeys focuses heavily on speaking and writing in Chinese and project-based assignments about Chinese culture. Increased use of authentic materials is employed as more sophisticated aspects of language and culture are explored. Students will have daily speaking and writing exercises, including bi-weekly oral interviews, daily conversation drills on different topics acquired from the previous Mandarin classes. Additionally, students will be assigned to research and deliver presentations (in both English and Chinese) about Chinese culture. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-high to intermediate-low as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in Mandarin Chinese to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

Who are we? Who are our neighbors? What does it mean to be human? And how do we make sense of our world? Leveraging these foundational human investigations as a point of departure, Roots invites students to embark on a linguistic and cultural adventure through the study of high-frequency vocabulary and essential structures. In this course, students will engage in simple interactions about their immediate surroundings; respond to different situations that they may confront on a day-to-day basis; and learn strategies to cope with the gaps in their comprehension. Through a variety of activities and the use of adapted and authentic materials, students will also learn how to communicate about themselves and others and seek practical information. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-mid to novice-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in Spanish to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

What role do shared experiences and traditions play in shaping our understanding of home and cultural identity? In what ways do our personal experiences shape our sense of culture and community? Keeping these essential questions at the forefront of this course, Footprints continues students’ investigation of linguistic and cultural understandings, focusing on consolidating skills, expanding communicative abilities, and cultivating sensitivity to diverse practices and perspectives. Students engage in conversations, express thoughts and opinions, and narrate personal experiences with increasing confidence on familiar topics. Using adapted and authentic texts and media, students will explore themes of identity, community, and everyday life in the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-mid to intermediate-low. The class is conducted in Spanish to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

What defines “home”? Is it people, a specific place, or the memories made during a certain period of time? With these questions in mind, Pathways aims to deepen the learner’s understanding of the Spanish-speaker experience and to develop their proficiency across all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Students will learn to communicate about and compare events, places, and people; expand upon familiar topics; and broaden their writing and reading skills which will set the stage for enhanced literacy in the target language. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of novice-high to intermediate-low as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The class is conducted in Spanish to the greatest degree possible to develop aural-oral competency.

What do solidarity, stewardship, and community look like? Do communities shape individuals, or do individuals shape communities? What is humanity’s proper relationship with the natural world? And what obligations and responsibilities do we have to others and our planet? In pursuit of these essential questions, Viewpoints is designed to bring students to a basic degree of independence in the language as they continue to explore diverse cultural products, practices, and perspectives in the Spanish-speaking world, and build proficiency across all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. In this course, vocabulary and idiomatic structures are expanded upon, aiming to consolidate students’ ability to navigate straightforward social and personal contexts. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of intermediate-low to intermediate-mid as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.

What is the relationship between language, place, identity, and culture? To what degree and in what ways are being and belonging impacted by broader environmental, political, social, and economic forces and systems? What does it mean to be a Spanish speaker in a world increasingly defined by constant change, uncertainty, intricate connections, and blurred lines? And how has the Spanish-speaking experience changed over time? Journeys will address these questions as students explore the complex stakes of the modern Spanish-speaking world while also allowing for a continued expansion of autonomy in the language. Moving towards the study and consideration of more abstract concepts and ideas, the course will provide students with all the necessary linguistic tools to begin to support critical opinions and further explore and unpack the rich mosaic of Spanish-speaking countries through literature, art, and engaging discussions. Assessment focuses on the student’s ability to transfer those linguistic skills to meaningful cultural contexts through written and oral work. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a proficiency level of intermediate-mid to intermediate-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.

Global Voices in Spanish is a seminar organized around the study of texts, current events, and cultural topics under the umbrella of the six College Board-designated AP Spanish Language themes: global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, family and communities, and beauty and aesthetics. The course will be conducted exclusively in Spanish, and students will hone their interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication and expression. Students will leverage an extensive range of authentic material to engage in higher-level discussions, collaborate with native speakers, make real-world connections, and unpack issues relating to the broader Spanish-speaking experience. Over the course of the academic year, students will select a Spanish-speaking country of focus and create a digital portfolio with artifacts that showcase students’ knowledge of the area as well as demonstrate their language proficiency, intercultural literacy, and overall growth. By the end of the course, students will aim to achieve a minimum proficiency level of intermediate-high as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Students signing up for this class as a yearly commitment may elect to take the AP Spanish Language and Culture examination in May.