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click on staff members' names to go to their individual website pages
Course Descriptions:
Spanish / French 1: This is the first course in a four-year sequence that culminates in the AP Spanish or French Language Examination. This sequence is designed for students who want to pursue a language study in an academically rigorous program. Students learn to use the language meaningfully and begin to develop the facility to communicate in the Spanish-speaking/ Francophone world. Grammar and vocabulary are taught in terms of function and application to real-life situations. The four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) are stressed. Students also watch videos and listen to tapes by native speakers and write several simple, guided compositions as well as complete short projects stressing written and oral language development.
Spanish / French 2: This course involves a review and extension of the principles taught in Spanish I/ French I. Students are introduced to the new grammatical concepts that area necessary for a more sophisticated understanding of and facility in using the language. Emphasis is placed on the refinement of basic reading skills, a greater development of writing skills, and a continued study of the important aspects of Hispanic/ French life and culture. An on-going effort is made to develop students’ abilities to express ideas in Spanish/ French and to think in the target language.
Spanish / French 3X: This is a fast-paced course designed to develop fluency. Major emphasis is placed on developing comprehension, refining writing skills, reviewing previously acquired grammatical concepts, and introducing new, more complex structures. Readings include excerpts from Spanish/ French literature as well as current magazine and newspaper articles. Classes are taught in the target language, and students are encouraged to participate freely in discussions and to communicate, even among themselves, in Spanish/ French.
Spanish / French 4X-AP: The content of this course is largely determined by the AP Spanish/ French Language Course Description. The pre-requisite for this course is Spanish/ French 1, 2, 3x, native proficiency or teacher permission. The class is conducted entirely in the target language, and students gain greater competence in the language by doing the following work every week:
• Writing in-class compositions of 150-200 words with a high degree of structural accuracy and without the use of a dictionary.
• Telling original stories in pairs, groups, or individually, based on sets of pictures.
• Performing in-class listening comprehension exercises.
• Reading selected samples of authentic literary prose and poetry. The selections are used as vehicles for language study and expansion, rather than for literary analysis.
• Performing an in-depth study of grammar and syntax.
• Discussing literary and cultural topics, current events, and personal experiences.
• Reviewing and broadening vocabulary.
• Test-taking skills are sharpened and exercises are designed in the format of the AP Spanish/ French Language Examination. On-going assessment is conducted to identify and strengthen students’ weaknesses in the four skills.
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