FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

Spanish I

First year Spanish is a basic conversational course that primarily emphasizes active listening and active speaking. Along with speaking, the student learns the grammatical structure of the language through oral, aural and written examples along with elementary compositions. Furthermore, the student is exposed to several aspects of Hispanic culture throughout the year.

Grade 9

1 Credit

Spanish II

Second year Spanish reinforces the knowledge learned in Spanish I. Additional complex grammatical structures are presented along with further appreciation for the Hispanic culture. A stress on comprehension and oral proficiency permeate throughout the course.

Grade 10

1 Credit

Spanish III

Third year Spanish places an emphasis on reinforcing the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing Spanish. Grammar is reviewed and actively enhanced through more sophisticated conversation. Students will also be required to keep a journal and write exclusively in the target language.

Grade 11

1 Credit

Honors Spanish IV

Fourth year Spanish is a course where the student can put into practice her conversational and writing skills. In addition to furthering students’ knowledge of Spain, the instructor will give the class the opportunity to read works of Hispanic literature including short stories, poems and novel excerpts-in the target language. This course will also involve compositions and essays that reflect the reading selections.

Grade 12

1 Credit

AP Spanish V

The curriculum of this course is determined by the syllabus of the the Advanced Placement Language examination. Students hone their skills in listening, reading, writing and grammar acquired in previous courses. Emphasis will be placed upon extemporaneous speaking and on-demand writing. Some reading of native fiction and writing of literary analysis will be required.

Prerequisite: Spanish IV

Grade 12

1 Credit

French I

First year French is a basic conversational course which not only emphasizes active listening and speaking, but which also introduces the student to a complex and interesting country, its people and its culture. Along with speaking, students will learn the grammatical structure of the language through oral, aural and written examples as well as through writing elementary compositions themselves. As students work on these essential skills, various aspects of French and Francophone culture will be studied in order to broaden each student’s understanding of the French speaking world.

Grade 9

1 Credit

French II

 Second year French is a course, which connects the basic structures learned in French I with the more complex structures that define French II. French II not only works on refining and expanding the student’s knowledge of grammar, but also builds on expanding her facility with the language in reading, listening and writing as well as in conversation. Along with working on improving writing and speaking skills, the student will learn more about French and Francophone culture and the active role that France and the French language play on the world stage.

Grade 10

1 Credit

French III

Once a student has mastered the important skills learned in French II, French III is able to focus not only on rounding out and refining one’s grammar base, but also on providing an introduction to French history and French literature. Throughout this course, texts describing French and Francophone history, literature and culture will used to illustrate key grammar points and will serve as points of departure for in class conversations in French. Along with intense conversation practice, the student will have the opportunity to hone her writing and reading skills with topics also drawn from the history, literature and culture of France and several Francophone countries. By the course’s conclusion, the student will discover that, as Federico Fellini once stated, “a different language is a different vision of life.”

Grade 11  and
Grade 10 for students who maintained a 93% average in French I and completed a French II summer study program provided by the instructor.

1 Credit

French IV

{College in High School/La Roche College Scholar Program}

This weighted course, offered for college credit through the La Roche College Scholar Program, is open to those qualified juniors and seniors who have chosen it as an elective. Throughout the year, students will have the opportunity to actively utilize the essential skills acquired in French I through III.  More emphasis will be placed on oral proficiency through discussions based on readings and through spontaneous conversation. Furthermore, the majority of the lectures and all written work will be in French. Grammar will continue to be studied and to be “fine tuned” through regular writing assignments incorporating themes found and discussed in the readings.  Text readings will be chosen so that the students will be introduced to the rich tableau of French history and literature spanning the Middle Ages to the present day. Not only will the history, current events and literature of France be studied, but the student will be given a brief introduction to the literature and history of several Francophone countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The prerequisite for this course is a grade of at least 80% in French III or teacher recommendation.

Grade 12 and

Grade 11 for students you maintained a 93% average in French II and completed a French III summer study program provided by the instructor.

1 Credit OR
 3 Credits through

LaRoche College

French V

{College in High School/La Roche College Scholar Program}

French V endeavors to take students beyond the parameters of the typical high school French class and prepare them to, what Sandra Savignon calls, "take place in the human community." As part of the Mount Alvernia High School's "College in High School" program, French V is afforded the weighted grade offered in AP classes and is a course where each student will receive college credit through the Scholar Program at La Roche College. Unlike the usual high school French class, this course will give each student the opportunity to learn French from the inside out. In order to achieve this goal, the class will be a total immersion experience because all lectures, classroom discussions, readings and written work will be in French. By using French exclusively as the language of communication and instruction, each student will come to have a better understanding of how the language works. Throughout the year, the four domains of language study- reading, writing, listening and speaking- will be honed and fine- tuned through the study of current events, history and literary trends, not only in France, but in the Francophone countries of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe as well.

Grade 12

3 College Credits through the

                            La Roche College Scholar Program

Latin I

Far from being a ‘dead language,’ Latin is the one language that can infuse life into anyone’s knowledge of English. Latin I will show students not only how Latin works, but why English functions the way that it does. Through the study of grammar and syntax, not only will the student’s own vocabulary grow as she learns the origins of many words often found on the SAT, but she will come to have an appreciation for the mechanics of English by developing stronger language skills that will strengthen her writing abilities. In addition to the Latin language, students will learn about the civilization of Ancient Rome, its daily customs and its mythology. As each cultural topic is studied, students will be surprised by how many aspects of contemporary civilization have been and still are influenced by Ancient Rome and its supposedly ‘dead language.’

Grade 12

 1 Credit

Italian I

No one can deny the influence that Italian has had not only on American culture but on the culture of the world as well. Whether one is eating pizza, drinking a latte or gazing at a fresco, Italian has been incorporated into nearly every language in the world. While only a year long course, Italian I will introduce students to the major grammatical points of Italian while instructing them in proper pronunciation. This course will also give the students ample opportunity to use the language through written and oral expression. In addition, various aspects of Italian culture and history will be studied in order to broaden each student’s understanding of Italy and the Italians.

Grade 12 

1/2 Credit

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