Modern Languages

This course is an introduction to French language and culture. The course content and methodology are designed to promote an understanding of French culture and foster a desire to speak the language. Students are encouraged to communicate as much as possible in the target language and to be curious about the French speaking world. Students are given many opportunities to communicate in French by using new vocabulary and idioms and practicing them in context. (1 credit)

French 2 is a course that gives students the opportunity to review and to put into practice language learned in French 1. In this course the present, passé composé, imperfect, and imperative tenses will be employed in reading, writing, listening and speaking situations. The future tense will be introduced. Language will be acquired through use in a variety of situations including stories, textbook activities, cultural content, and classroom discussion. Technology will be used to facilitate language acquisition. In French 2 focus will be placed upon communication skills. Prerequisites: French 1 or placement test (1 credit)

In French 3, students are expected to express themselves entirely in the target language. As Prep offers the AP exam in French 4, students are expected to be particularly committed to improving speaking and writing proficiency. After reviewing grammar concepts and vocabulary acquired in French 1 and 2, students will learn how to communicate using all tenses. In addition to the passé composé and imperfect, future and conditional tenses will be employed systematically in reading, writing, listening and speaking situations. The infinitive and subjunctive mood are introduced and used in several different contexts. The course encourages the use of specific vocabulary, pronouns, transition words and tenses to enhance proficiency. Content and methodology continue to focus on French culture through songs, current events, and videos. Reading comprehension and writing will focus on the francophone world, French history and geography, and French painting. Prerequisites: French 2 or placement test (1 credit)

During the French AP course, a wide variety of reading and listening comprehension materials are used, including newspaper articles, short videos, films, songs and excerpts from the works of major French authors. Students are required to follow current events and are regularly exposed to podcasts, online news and music. The course is designed in such a way to use various authentic written and audio sources to develop skills in the three types of communication while exploring the following themes: Tourism, Education, Employment, Immigration, Technology and Art. Each theme integrates one or more of the six AP Course Themes and is designed to develop cultural awareness of the French way of life. Within each unit, students work to improve their competency through formal and informal reading, writing and listening activities. Class discussions, vocabulary building and written responses will focus on various subtopics. Writing tasks include detailed summaries of articles, three-paragraph essays, and idiom infused emails. Prerequisites: French III (1 credit)

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the language, customs, culture, and history of Germany and other German speaking countries. The course is divided among the four basic principles of learning: speaking, understanding, reading and writing. While the emphasis in the first year course is more on reading and comprehension, a variety of speaking and writing activities are introduced into the daily schedule. (1 credit)

The second year course expands the communicative skills acquired in German 1. Grammar and vocabulary are broadened; reading becomes more intensive; writing and speaking are emphasized; cultural understanding is increased. An in-depth study of children‛s literature is part of the level 2 curriculum. The collected stories of the Brothers Grimm, and works by Heinrich Hoffman and Wilhelm Busch are examined in this unit. An optional trip to Germany may be offered to students completing the second year of studies. (1 credit) Prerequisites: German 1

The third year course in German uses the vocabulary, structure and cultural content learned in the first and second years as a basis, and reviews, reinforces, recycles and expands those areas. Students are encouraged to use previously acquired language skills and build upon them. The emphasis in the third year course is on speaking, conversation and comprehension. Much of the day-to-day course work is conducted in German, and students are expected to ask and respond to questions in the target language. Prerequisites: German 1 and 2; (1 credit)

This course is an introduction to the language, culture, and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries. Through a variety of integrated activities, we will develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The main goal of this course is to achieve basic communication skills in Spanish, with a focus on the proper use of the present and preterit tenses. Through an interactive, communicative approach, you will be provided the tools to help express yourself articulately, interact productively, and become a more competent communicator in Spanish. (1 credit)

Honors Spanish 1 is an accelerated course which gives students the opportunity to review and to put into practice language learned in their Middle School language courses. In this course the present, present perfect, preterit and imperfect tenses will be employed in reading, writing, listening and speaking situations. Students will also have a brief introduction to the subjunctive mood, the conditional and the future tenses. Language will be acquired through use in a variety of situations including, stories, textbook activities, cultural content, and classroom discussion. In Honors Spanish focus will be placed upon communication skills and an exploration of topics and ideas through the use of Spanish. Technology will be used to enhance second-language acquisition. Prerequisites: Placement by Georgetown Prep Modern Languages Department Chair (1 credit)

Spanish 2 is a course which gives students the opportunity to review and to put into practice language learned in Spanish 1. In this course the present, present perfect, preterit and imperfect tenses will be employed in reading, writing, listening and speaking situations. The subjunctive mood, the conditional and the future tense will be introduced. Language will be acquired through use in a variety of situations including, stories, textbook activities, cultural content, and classroom discussion. Technology will be used to facilitate language acquisition. In Spanish 2 focus will be placed upon communication skills. Prerequisites: Spanish 1 or Honors Spanish 1 (1 credit)

This course is designed to prepare students for AP Spanish. After a brief review of grammar and vocabulary learned in Spanish 1 or Honors Spanish I, this course focuses on core grammatical concepts necessary for students to communicate effectively in Spanish. The goal is for students to master more sophisticated Spanish grammar used in daily communication, such as Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future and the Subjunctive Mood present and past. Such grammar tenses will be employed in reading, writing, listening and speaking situations. Language will be acquired through use in a variety of situations including stories, textbook activities, and classroom discussion. The main focus of Honors Spanish II will be for students to achieve a high level of oral and written communication. Prerequisites: Spanish I (by teacher recommendation) or Honors Spanish I (1 credit)

Spanish 3 is a course that provides students the opportunity to review and utilize language learned in levels 1 and 2. In this course the present, past, and future tenses will be employed in reading, writing, listening and speaking situations. The subjunctive mood will also be introduced and practiced. Language will be acquired through the use of a variety of situations including, stories, textbook activities, cultural events and content, movies, songs, and classroom discussion. The main goal of this course is to achieve effective communication skills in Spanish by utilizing all verb tenses, proper grammar, and appropriate vocabulary; to become a competent communicator in Spanish. Prerequisites: Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 (1 credit)

This course will follow the curriculum established by the College Board which states: "The three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century are foundational to the AP Spanish Language and Culture course. The AP course provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in each of these three modes. As such, the AP Spanish Language and Culture course has been designed to provide advanced high school students with a rich and rigorous opportunity to study the language and culture of the Spanish speaking world that is approximately equivalent to an upper-intermediate college or university Spanish course. It is expected that this course will be offered as the first step in the study of college-level Spanish after approximately three to five years of language study for classroom learners. Prerequisites: Honors Spanish 2 or Spanish 3 (1 credit)

This course is an introduction to Spanish and Spanish- American Literature and Film. This course is designed to introduce high school students on the junior and senior level to the formal study of a representative body of film and literature, written in Spanish, from Spain, Latin America and the United States. The course provides students with ongoing and varied opportunities to continue to develop proficiency in Spanish across a full range of skills, with emphasis on critical reading, viewing, and analytical writing. It also encourages students to reflect on the many voices and cultures included in a rich and diverse body of literature written in Spanish. Prerequisites: AP Spanish Language and Culture (1 credit)

The AP Spanish Literature and Culture course provides opportunities for student reflection on the relationship of a literary text to its artistic, historical, socio-cultural, and geopolitical contexts. The course fosters students’ appreciation for the richness of the Spanish language and Hispanic literature and culture. Students use the three modes of communication in the process of learning how to analyze a literary text.

This class will be conducted entirely in Spanish appropriate to this level and covers the entire official AP Spanish Literature and Culture reading list. Literary texts are grouped by themes and presented in chronological order. Students will learn through a variety of interactive oral and written formats in Spanish. Additionally, students will analyze themes and features of artistic representations, audiovisual materials, and audio sources in Spanish related to course content. As a result, the students will be prepared to take the AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam at the end of the year. *Please note, this is an excellent class for our international Prep students who are native Spanish speakers. Prerequisite: AP Spanish Language and Culture OR *native Spanish speakers

(1 credit)

Chinese I is an introductory course for beginners. The course objectives are to build a solid foundation of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Students learn around 300 basic characters and words, use basic sentence structure to conduct real-life everyday communication, as well as write multi-paragraph essays to describe a topic or an event. The focus topics are: All About Me; My Family and Friends; Daily Routines; School Life; After School and Weekend Activities; House and Household Chores. The class utilizes individual, partner, and group activities. The course offers an insight into Chinese culture, modern developments and traditions, which helps students learn and understand the language’s social and cultural circumstances. The culture focuses on the Major Traditional Festivals, the Modern Society, Ancient Mythologies, Origin and Development of the Language and the Civilization, The Monkey King and the “Journey to the West”. The course evaluates students’ language skills and culture understanding throughout the year. We will proceed at a comfortable pace, allowing time for multimedia interactive games, Chinese movies, pop songs, cultural projects and a possible field trip. (1 credit)

This second-year course builds on the foundation of Chinese I, and challenges students to go beyond a basic level in each of the four basic language skills. Students will continue to read and write in Chinese characters using a broader vocabulary (including proverbs and idioms) and more complex sentence structures. They will participate in realistic, daily conversations and narratives in a growing variety of contexts. Students will actively participate during class through group discussions and team projects, and individual oral and writing practice at home. Topics and themes cover Shopping for Clothes; Eating, Cooking and Chinese Cuisine; Weather; Transportation and Travel; Illness and Accidents; Appearance, Personality and Dating. The course offers a deep insight into Chinese history, culture, tradition and the modern China. The 2nd year focuses include Ancient Chinese Philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Kungfu, Modern society and social system, Nature and Geography, Art, Traditional Values and Business Etiquettes.

Students must think critically, and make connections and comparisons between cultures. They gain deeper understanding of the language and its social and cultural circumstances and historical development.

The course evaluates students’ language skills and cultural understanding throughout the year. We will proceed at a comfortable pace, allowing time for multimedia interactive games, Chinese movies, documentary films, poems, pop songs, cultural projects and a possible field trip. (1 credit)

Building on the knowledge and skills developed in Chinese I and II, the student enriches his vocabulary for daily communication and for the discussion of general knowledge topics. Classic idioms chengyu are introduced, and he employs them in the context of conversation and writing. He is to read longer original texts, including the literature genre. There is more emphasis on writing. Conversation will be on a broad range of topics, and each student is expected to feel at ease in a realistic Chinese-only setting. (1 credit)

This course will continue to build fluency and comfort in the target language for capable upperclassmen. The goal of this course is to prepare students for college-level work in Mandarin Chinese.

For particularly capable students, preparation for the AP Mandarin exam will be offered. (1 credit)