Student Expectations

Students will develop and demonstrate:

#3 – critical and creative thinking and problem solving skills

#4 – the skills needed to communicate:  read, write, speak, and listen effectively

#10–knowledge of and appreciation for various cultures

#14–an understanding of the issues that affect the quality of life on our planet

 Guidelines:

The study of modern foreign (or world) languages is elective; students may select between French and Spanish in grades 9 – 12 and following the sequential course offerings as listed in the Program of Studies.  Both languages are taught with the standards of the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the State of Connecticut as the underlying philosophical guidelines.  These languages are taught so that the individual student may have the opportunity to reach his/her full potential.

 It is strongly recommended that students who intend to enter a four-year college pursue the study of one foreign language for no less than two years at the high school level.  Please consult the requirements of individual post-secondary institutions for further information. 

Students who complete French Grade 8 will take French II with the recommendation from the Har-Bur instructor; students who take Spanish Grade 8 will take Spanish III  L1 or L2 with the recommendation from the Har-Bur instructor.   

French I                                                          Level 2                                                   Grades 9,10,11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

This course is open to students who have not previously studied French or have been recommended by the Har-Bur French instructor. Students will begin to acquire proficiency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing basic French. French language software is also used by the student, primarily for drill and practice activities and assessments. Thematic vocabulary is used for practical conversations, skits and dialogues in order to develop speaking and listening skills. The emphasis is on listening/speaking skills which are developed through class participation, paired activities, dialogues, and interaction with taped material.  French culture is introduced through oral presentations, discussions, and videos.  Quizzes, tests, and other forms of assessment may be written or oral.

French II                                                         Level 2                                                   Grades 9,10,11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  French I (with recommended grade of C or better)

Students will continue to develop proficiency in the target language through further study of vocabulary, conversation, dialogues, tape recordings, videos, selections from the Internet and traditional print format.  Elementary grammatical constructions are reviewed and more advanced grammatical structures are introduced and practiced.  Students work towards expressing themselves in the present and past tenses.  Intensive practice and drill are required.  The French-speaking world and the culture of these peoples are studied in great detail, especially in video and written formats.

 French III                                                       Level 1                                                     Grades 10,11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  French II (with recommended grade of C+ or better)

This course is designed to prepare students for advanced courses by using more authentic materials and requiring stronger listening, reading, speaking and writing skills.  While all four skill areas are practiced and assessed, listening and reading comprehension are extended through the use of longer audio-video recordings and weekly reading selections.  Speaking is further developed with an emphasis on story telling.  Students are required to work toward mastery of the past tenses, as well as being introduced to the future, conditional, and perfect tenses.  The forms of the subjunctive are also introduced in Year III.  Opportunities for further drill and practice are provided in computer lab situations, allowing for individual pacing and development of the language.  The study of French culture is integrated into the classroom activities.  Quizzes, tests and other forms of assessment may be written or oral. 

French IV                                                        Level 1                                                           Grades 11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  French III (with recommended grade of C+ or better)

In this advanced curse, a variety of authentic materials are used to engage the students in meaningful experiences in the language while constantly strengthening their language skills.  Comics, film classics, short stories, opera and selections from the Internet make learning from context the chief method of language acquisition and discovery.  Along with culture units, there will be frequent review and amplification of major grammar points in order to perfect speaking and writing skills.  Students will be expected to narrate events from stories, movies, etc., as well as participate in all spoken and written class activities.  They will also create PowerPoint presentations for their culture units.

 Advanced Placement French                             Level AP                                                             Grade 12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  French IV (with recommended grade of C+ or better)

This course offers the students a survey of French history as seen through artistic and literary works, as well as visiting Internet sites to obtain information.  All skill work from preceding years is once again stressed, accompanied by a review of verb and grammar structures.  Special attention is given to speaking and writing correctly, with the intention of preparing those students who plan to take the AP French Language exam.  PowerPoint projects are introduced at this level, with a final project that will become the basis of the speaking section of the final exam.  French, as the language of the classroom, is expected to be spoken by the student.

Complete the form on Page 8 and return to your counselor.  Quizzes, tests, and other forms of assessment may be written or oral.

 Spanish I                                                         Level 2                                                   Grades 9,10,11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

This elective course is open to students who have not previously studied Spanish at the high school level. Students’ proficiency in understanding, speaking, writing, and reading for everyday use is developed through a listening/speaking approach. Audiovisual materials are used to stimulate the students’ responses. Spanish language software is also used by the student primarily for drill and practice activities and assessments. Thematic vocabulary is used for practical conversations, skits, and dialogues in order to develop speaking and listening skills. The culture of the Spanish-speaking countries is introduced through written, audiovisual, and internet materials.  Quizzes, tests, and other forms of assessment may be written or oral.

 Spanish II                                                       Level 2                                                   Grades 9,10,11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  Spanish I (with recommended grade of C or better)

Students continue to develop proficiency in the target language through further study of vocabulary, conversation, oral themes, dialogues, tape recordings, videos and selected readings. Elementary grammatical constructions are reviewed, and more advanced grammatical structures are introduced and practiced. Students work toward expressing themselves in past and future tenses, in addition to the present tense. Intensive practice and drill are required; computer programs designed for this purpose are used extensively and classroom time is also designated for this purpose. The Spanish-speaking world and culture of these peoples are studied in greater detail.  Quizzes, tests and other forms of assessment may be written or oral.

Spanish III                                                      Level 1                                                  Grade 9,10,11,12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  Spanish, grades 6-8 or Spanish II (with a recommended grade of B+ or better and meet departmental criteria.)

Spanish III L1 incorporates material covered in Spanish III L2 (see description below) but is more rigorous in its demands of language use in all four skill areas:  Listening, Speaking, Reading & Writing.  Students are expected to function in the language in a more spontaneous manner with greater accuracy.  Additional verb tenses and grammatical forms are presented which enable students to express needs, preferences, emotions, and uncertainty.  Students focus on mastering the skill of narrating past, present, and future events with a particular emphasis on the ability to manipulate the various past tenses, plus the conditional and the subjunctive.  Classes are conducted primarily in Spanish and students are expected to participate verbally every day.   La Catrina, II and Destinos, Ep. 1-11 (video series) is used in order to provide opportunities to apply the year’s content in a meaningful way.  The culture and literature of Spanish-speaking countries are strongly featured at this level, and lengthier reading materials include cultural topics such as art, music, and literature (short stories and poetry).  Writing and speaking activities include narration and enactment of stories, poetry writing, and discussion of their themes in the language.

Spanish III                                                      Level 2                                                            Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Credits: 1.00                                                                                                                                 Full Year

Prerequisite:  Spanish, grades 6 – 8, or Spanish II L2 (with a recommended grade of C or better)

This course is open to students who have successfully completed the Har-Bur Spanish courses, grades 6 – 8 or Spanish II L2.  Spanish III involves further study of grammatical structures and verb tenses, the acquisition of additional thematic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions in communicative situations.  All skill areas are further developed, with greater attention placed on developing oral proficiency skills.  Classes are conducted regularly in Spanish and students are expected to participate verbally every day.  La Catrina, II and Destinos, Ep. 1-11 (video series) is used in order to provide opportunities to apply the year’s content in a meaningful way.  This course is intended to be a slower paced alternative to Spanish III L1.

Spanish IV                                                       Level 1                                                       Grade 10,11,12

Credits: 1.00                                                                                                                                    Full Year

Prerequisite: Spanish III (with a recommended grade of C+ or better)

This course is designed to prepare students for advanced courses using authentic materials and requiring strong listening, reading, speaking and writing skills.  Through the use of the “Destinos” video programs and related materials, application of the four skills constitutes the core activities, with the goal of approaching the “Intermediate High” proficiency level as defined by ACTFL.  Advanced verb and grammar structures are introduced early in the year and applied to storytelling and conversation activities.  Classes are conducted in Spanish and students are expected to participate verbally every day.  Students will frequently be expected to narrate events from the series, as well as participate in all spoken and written class activities.  Use of technology enhances student progress throughout the year, including PowerPoint presentations of cultural units’ information.  Authentic materials, including Latino music, short stories and use of Hispanic websites provide further activities and assessments.

Spanish V                                                        Level 1                                                                      Grades 11,12

Credits:  1:00                                                                                                                                Full Year

Prerequisite:  Spanish IV (with recommended grade of C+ or better)

The content of this level is based on an overview of Hispanic geography and thematic units that describe life in the cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries.  Students use information taken from authentic sources:  print and on-line newspapers, taped interviews, television programs, movies and documentaries.  These sources acquaint the student with aspects of cultural interest in Hispanic countries at an increasingly higher level of language. A thorough review of grammar is completed at this level, with special emphasis on the uses of the subjunctive.  All four skills are used and assessed equally.  Classes are conducted in Spanish, and the students are expected to practice the language both in and out of the classroom.

Advanced Placement Spanish                          Level AP                                                              Grade 12

Credits:  1.00                                                                                                                                   Full Year

Prerequisite:  Spanish V (with recommended grade of C+ or better)

Advanced Placement Spanish is the final preparation for students who choose to take this exam.  Grammar and verbs are reviewed on a needs basis.  The four skills are further developed through authentic Spanish short stories, movies, documentaries, print and on-line newspapers.  These form the basis for practice and assessment.  Format practice is essential and frequent.  For a more complete preparation, a full-length Advanced Placement exam is given at the end of each quarter and is part of the marking period grade.  In place of a final exam, students are expected to make a presentation on the topic of his/her choice.  Classes are conducted in Spanish, and the students are expected to practice the language both in and out of the classroom.  Complete the form on Page 8 and return to your counselor.

Mandarin Chinese                                           Level 1                                                            Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Credits: 1.00                                                                                                                                 Full Year

Students will learn the basic outline of Mandarin grammar and conversation appropriate to social and business situations.  This introductory class is designed for those who are interested in Chinese culture for purposes of business, education, or travel.  (Pending Board of Education approval)