World Languages
We view the study of a foreign language as an important part of our students' education. Learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, and a sense of our global community. Students must learn to appreciate different countries, cultures, communities, and people.
Key
Mater Dei Graduation Requirement
Elective
Core 40 Required
Academic Honors Required
NCAA Approved
2040 GERMAN I
Grades 9-12
Two semesters, 2 Credits
German I introduces students to effective strategies for beginning German language learning, and to various aspects of German-speaking culture.
This course encourages interpersonal communication through speaking and writing, providing opportunities to make and respond to basic requests and questions, understand and use appropriate greetings and forms of address, participate in brief guided conversations on familiar topics, and write short passages with guidance.
This course also emphasizes the development of reading and listening comprehension skills, such as reading isolated words and phrases in a situational context and comprehending brief written or oral directions.
Additionally, students will examine:
- the practices, products and perspectives of German-speaking culture
- recognize basic routine practices of the target culture
- recognize and use situation-appropriate non-verbal communication.
This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas and the application of understanding German language and culture outside of the classroom.
2042 GERMAN II
Grades 10-12
Two semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite: German I
German II builds upon effective strategies for German language learning be encouraging the use of the language and cultural understanding for self-directed purposes.
This course encourages interpersonal communication through:
- speaking and writing
- providing opportunities to make and respond to requests and questions in expanded context
- participating independently in brief conversations on familiar topics
- writing cohesive passages with greater independence and using appropriate formats.
This course also emphasizes the development of reading and listening comprehension skills, such as using contextual clues to guess meaning and comprehending longer written and oral directions. Students will address the presentational mode by presenting prepared material on a variety of topics, as well as reading aloud to practice appropriate pronunciation and intonation.
Additionally, students will describe practices, products and perspectives of German-speaking culture; report on basic family and social practices of the target culture; and describe contributions from the target culture. This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas and the application of understanding German language and culture outside of the classroom.
2042 GERMAN III
Grades 11-12
Two semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite: German I-II
This course encourages:
- Interpersonal communication through speaking and writing
- Providing opportunities to initiate, sustain and close conversations
- Exchanging detailed information in oral and written form
- Writing cohesive information with greater detail
This course also emphasizes the continued development of reading and listening comprehension skills, such as cognates, synonyms and antonyms to derive meaning from written and oral information, as well as comprehending detailed written and oral directions. Students will address the presentational mode by presenting student-created material on a variety of topics, as well as reading aloud to practice appropriate pronunciation and intonation.
Additionally, students will continue to develop understanding of German-speaking culture through recognition of the interrelations among target culture and investigation of elements that shape cultural identity in the target culture. This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas as well the application of understanding German language and culture outside of the classroom.
2044 GERMAN IV
Grade 12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite German I-III
German IV is a course based on content established by the College Board, stressing the importance of the use of German language for active communication.
Course Objectives:
- the development of advanced listening comprehension
- reading without the use of a dictionary
- expanded conversational skills
- fluent and accurate written expression
- strong command of vocabulary and grammatical structures
Extensive practice in the organization and writing of compositions, listening to authentic material for comprehension purposes, and speaking in the target language are emphasized.
Cultural content related to topics such as art, music, literature, customs and traditions, sports, current events, etc. will also be highlighted in the course material in order to help students better understand and appreciate the German language.
2120 SPANISH I
Grades 9-12
Two semesters, 2 Credits
Spanish Level I introduces students to effective strategies for beginning language learning, and to various aspects of Spanish speaking culture.
Students will have opportunities to:
- communicate through speaking and writing
- understand and use appropriate greetings and forms of address
- participate in brief guided conversations on familiar topics
- write short passages with guidance
- develop reading and listening comprehension skills
Additionally, students will learn:
- to examine the practices, products and perspectives of the target language speaking culture
- basic routine practices of the target culture
- how to recognize and use situation-appropriate non-verbal communication
- to pray in Spanish
This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas and the application of understanding foreign language and culture outside of the classroom.
2122 SPANISH II
Grades10-12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Pre-requisite: Spanish I
Spanish Level II builds upon effective strategies for Spanish language learning by encouraging the use of the language and cultural understanding for self-directed purposes.
This course encourages
- interpersonal communication through speaking and writing
- independent participation in brief conversations on familiar topics
Additionally, students will become:
- familiar with how to write cohesive passages with greater independence, using appropriate formats
- aware of how to develop reading and listening comprehension skills
- able to describe the practices, products and perspectives of Spanish speaking culture
- familiar with the basic family and social practices of the target culture
- describe contributions from the target culture
Students will also learn to present prepared material on a variety of topics and will read aloud to practice appropriate pronunciation and intonation. This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas and the application of understanding foreign language and culture outside of the classroom.
2124 SPANISH III
Grades 11-12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite: Spanish I-II
Spanish III builds upon the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language that were emphasized in Spanish I and II. This course will begin with a review of important grammatical structures and vocabulary and will continue to build upon these skills throughout the year.
Spanish III encourages:
- communication through speaking and writing
- providing opportunities to initiate, sustain and close conversations
- solve problems encountered in daily situations
- provide cohesive information with greater detail
Students will be exposed to authentic materials including audio, visual and printed texts.
This course also helps students develop:
- reading and listening comprehension skills, such as using cognates, synonyms and antonyms to derive meaning from written and oral information, as well as comprehending detailed written or oral directions
- presentation skills through the use of student-created material on a variety of topics, as well as reading aloud in the target language to practice appropriate pronunciation and intonation
- understanding of Spanish-speaking culture through recognition of customs, celebrations and significant events in history
- an appreciation for the target language and culture abroad and in the United States.
This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas, as well the application of understanding the target language and culture outside of the classroom.
2124 SPANISH III HONORS
Grade 11
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite: Spanish I, II
Pre-AP Spanish III covers all the topics that are taught in Spanish III but at a level more geared toward the student who would like to take AP Spanish their senior year.
2132 SPANISH IV
Grade 12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite: Spanish I, II, III
Spanish IV is a course based on content established by the College Board, stressing the importance of the use of Spanish language for active communication.
Course Objectives:
- the development of advanced listening comprehension, reading without the use of a dictionary
- expanded conversational skills
- fluent and accurate written expression
- strong command of vocabulary and grammatical structures
- extensive practice in the organization and writing of compositions
- listening to authentic material for comprehension purposes
Extensive practice in the organization and writing of compositions, listening to authentic material for comprehension purposes, and speaking in the target language are emphasized.
Cultural content related to topics such as art, music, literature, customs and traditions, sports, current events, etc. will also be highlighted in the course material in order to help students better understand and appreciate the Spanish-speaking world.