Foreign Language
	FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT COURSES CHAIR: MRS. MICHELLE BAKEMAN   *Students with a final average below 80 in a level II language are strongly encouraged to exercise the 2+2 graduation requirement option.   French I. The goal of this course is to give students the basics of the French language, as well as familiarize them with some aspects of French culture. This will be done through workbook activities as well as oral assignments, listening and streaming video. Additionally, written communication will be reinforced along with correct grammar and vocabulary usage. By the end of the year students should be able to communicate in the language, ask and answer questions, describe pictures, talk about themselves, narrate in the present and, on a limited basis, in the past as well as participate in short conversations where the content involves everyday “survival” topics and courtesy requirements.   French II. French II will continue in the manner as French I. Reading, writing and speaking skills will continue to be practiced through increased classroom discussion as well as web based assignments and streaming video.    French III. The students enrolling in French III should have a working knowledge of the skills introduced in French I and French II. French is spoken the majority of the time, and students are encouraged to speak in French to each other. Students will increase their ability to comprehend reading passages, and to narrate and describe. They will also be able to express their opinion, to talk about emotions, and to discuss abstract subjects. Students will write more often and develop their knowledge of French culture and institutions.   French IV. Students review the main grammatical points studied in previous courses and read excerpts from a variety of original sources (texts, stories, poems, songs and theater) and listen to French speakers in authentic situations (films, CDs, streaming audio/video). They are expected to write compositions and discuss cross-cultural issues. Students will also participate in oral presentations and will expand their knowledge of the French-speaking world.   Prerequisite: 83 or higher final average in French III or permission of instructor   Spanish I. This first year course introduces new vocabulary within contexts related to the students’ interests and activities. Approximately sixty to eighty words or expressions per chapter are introduced and stressed. Vocabulary is applied and practiced within one to two grammatical concepts per chapter. CD's, LCD Projectors, laptops, computer vocab-practices,  and oral exercises promote comprehension and initiate speaking practice. Written practice is provided through textbook activites, workbook activities, and original dialogues. Written and oral assignments supplement the cultural content that is introduced via live-streaming and google earth and discussed throughout the year.   Spanish II. Upon completion of the course, students will have a working knowledge of all indicative tenses and the imperatives. They will have expanded their vocabulary, listening comprehension, speaking and writing ability and increased their knowledge of Hispanic culture through authentic music, foods, literature and art. Students continue to learn approximately 60 new vocabulary words per chapter. Vocabulary is taught and applied through identifiable context, enhancing their ability to assimilate and store vocabulary for long-term retention. The students’ speaking ability will be assessed both formally and informally to promote communication skills. Students will write and perform original dialogues and skits using their creativity and imagination. Students will prepare themselves for the upper-level writing requirements of Spanish III. This course is also available for credit through the NCS summer school program.       Spanish III.  By the end of the third year, Spanish III students will have significantly increased their vocabulary. Students will be introduced to the subjunctive mood and will be able to distinguish between the subjunctive, indicative and imperative moods and employ them appropriately. They will be able to manipulate all verbs in all tenses and apply them correctly. Students will greatly improve their reading, writing and speaking skills. The students will write short essays comparing and contrasting cultural themes and literary works based on excerpts from Latin American and Spanish authors. They will also be able to communicate more freely in Spanish in ordinary situations and will have begun to analyze literature and film at a superficial level.   Spanish IV. In this course, students will increase their vocabulary, gain fluency in speaking, listening, reading and writing, and will practice using more complex grammar structures. Students will demonstrate their writing ability through creative writing assignments and formal essays. Their knowledge of Hispanic literature will grow through reading and analyzing literary masters from Spain and Latin America, and they will be exposed to Spanish and Latin American music and film. Highly qualified students may take the Advanced course the following year. Prerequisite: 83 or higher final average in Spanish III or permission of the instructor.   Spanish V/AP Spanish Language. This course is centered on themes designed to help the student’s Spanish language skills at the advanced level. Students will consolidate skills of narration, description, exposition, and hypothesis. Emphasis is placed on the mastery of grammar, syntax, and idiomatic expression at sophisticated levels. Students will engage in readings (literature, newspapers, and periodicals), conversation, composition, and research projects. They will also watch a series of videos from different countries about a variety of topics ranging from magical realism to street life in Spain. Students will frequently be asked to converse about these and other topics in class with little or no preparation, in an effort to better their speaking skills. Objectives of this course include: the ability to understand the spoken language both formally and in conversation; the ability to speak accurately and fluently using appropriate pronunciation and intonation; the grasp of vocabulary and language structure that enables the students to read newspaper and magazine articles as well as contemporary literature with ease; and the ability to express ideas accurately and fluently in writing. Students who are registered for AP Spanish Language V are required to take the AP exam in May. Students who are registered for Spanish V (non-AP) have the option of taking the AP exam. Different assessment criteria will apply for the two groups.   Prerequisite: 83 or higher final average in Spanish IV or permission of the instructor for Spanish V; 90 or higher for AP Spanish V.   Spanish VI - Literature This advanced Spanish course seeks to provide students with a more in-depth look at the literature from Spain, Central and South America. In addition to poetry and essays, students will read longer works, ranging from short stories to plays. This course will introduce students to the Spanish cinema and will enlighten them to the Spanish cultural climate of the Post-Franco era. Topics of discussion will include Spanish history as it relates to literature and film genre. The course will provide upper-level students with the opportunity to continue to improve their language skills.   Prerequisite: 83 or higher final average in Spanish III or permission of the instructor.   Chinese I. This first-year course is designed to introduce students to the Mandarin language and Chinese customs and culture. Through the course of the year, students will develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities in Mandarin Chinese. A majority of class time will be devoted to listening and speaking while also providing time for students to practice writing radicals, the building blocks of Chinese characters, and the characters themselves.   Latin I. The first year of Latin emphasizes vocabulary, word families, translation of Latin into English, comparative grammar, and Classical mythology. By year’s end, the student will be able to translate Latin texts of reasonable complexity. Some Roman legends and basic Roman history of the Monarchy and the Republic will also be covered. Classical mythology units cover basic myths and mythic cycles of the Greeks and Romans. Cultural data will include clothing, food, housing, transportation, games, and pastimes, Roman geography, and the Western traditions passed to us from Rome.   Latin II. The second year of Latin continues the pattern begun in the first, with an emphasis on vocabulary growth, translation skills, and forms recognition. Grammar and syntax are emphasized as an aid to correct translation, with continued use of the comparative grammar method. Word family recognition is expanded and literary and rhetorical devices found in Roman prose are covered. The parallels between modern American and ancient Roman societies are expanded, and Roman history from its start to the downfall of Rome is covered. Some review of Roman legend and classical mythology is included, and the use of authentic Latin texts is begun.   Latin III. The third year of Latin continues the accelerated pace of the second year. The third year is designed to increase the student’s ability to translate Classical Latin into English by augmenting the vocabulary and understanding of the more complex grammatical structures. Students will prepare written translations of select portions of the works read. Oral translations in class will be stressed. At least one major project, which requires independent research and source documentation, will complete the study of Roman civilization, culture, and history. By year’s end, the student will have greatly improved and enhanced his or her ability to translate Classical Latin, and the student will have gained a much greater understanding of the contributions of Roman society to western civilization. Prerequisite: Final average of 88 or above in Latin II.   Advanced Placement Latin: Vergil and Caesar. This course will cover the AP Latin syllabus which focuses on Vergil's Aeneid and selections from Caesar's Gallic War. The emphasis is on accurate and informed reading of these two works. This course prepares the students for the required AP exam in May.  Prerequisite: Final average of 90 or above in Latin III with a 90 or higher.