Modern & Classical Languages

This course continues to emphasize the training of all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) begun in the first year. Students will also develop a more sophisticated understanding of socio-linguistics and the socio-cultural factors that are important to cross-cultural communication. Besides continuing to work with basic grammatical structures and functional daily language, students will learn and practice calligraphy. 

This course reinforces what has been taught in Chinese 2 and continues the development of the four major language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) by introducing new and more sophisticated language structures and vocabulary. Students develop conversational skills by participating in discussions and role-playing. Compositions in Chinese are a regular part of the curriculum.

This course reinforces what has been taught in Chinese 3 and continues the development of the four major language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Intensive conversation, writing, and translation are required. This course places a particular emphasis on building vocabulary. Writing skills progress to include descriptions, storytelling, and the integration of extended vocabulary and sentence structure. 

This course introduces advanced language structures, grammar functions, and related cultural knowledge. The class is conducted entirely in Chinese. The readings broaden the range of students’ vocabulary and their understanding of the content, as well as improving students’ language skills. The course is designed to provide students with opportunities for deeper and broader cultural understanding. Supplementary materials will also be used to help students prepare for the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam.

This course is an immersion in Chinese culture, including social life, thought, history, current events, literature, music, and fine arts in Chinese-speaking communities worldwide. It is designed to deepen students’ cultural and linguistic understanding and to help students further develop their language skills by applying their knowledge to real-world experiences. Developing appreciation and awareness of Chinese culture is an integral theme throughout the course. In semester one, emphasis is placed on the major cultural and social developments, spanning from prehistory to the twentieth century. The second semester gives students an in-depth look at the lifestyles of modern Chinese people and the philosophies that guide their lives. The readings include articles, stories, essays, plays, movies, radio and TV broadcasts. Students will produce research projects based on specialized readings or different topics, which will be presented both orally and in written form throughout the two semesters. This course incorporates Curricular Travel to a Chinese-speaking country during Spring Break. While there, students will engage in a real-world immersion experience in Chinese life, language and culture by traveling to the Chinese-speaking world and focusing on a community service project. This course is most appropriate for non-native Chinese students who have successfully completed AP Chinese Language and Culture.

This course is an immersion in Chinese culture, including social life, thought, history, current events, literature, music, and fine arts in Chinese-speaking communities worldwide. It is designed to deepen students’ cultural and linguistic understanding and to help students further develop their Chinese language skills by applying their knowledge to real-world experiences. Developing appreciation and awareness of Chinese cultures is an integral theme throughout the course. The first semester covers a variety of thought-provoking topics, such as the changing attitudes toward women and marriage, the one-child policy, economic development, and China’s ethnic minorities, etc. The second semester continues to explore a variety of contemporary Chinese social issues through the study of Chinese literary works (short stories, plays, etc.), essays, movies, and TV programs, etc. Course texts include new paper articles and critiques, works of literature, as well as other source documents. This course has a Curricular Travel component to a Chinese-speaking country during Spring Break. While there, students will engage in a real-world immersion experience in Chinese life,language and culture by traveling to the Chinese-speaking world and focusing on a community service project. This course is most appropriate for non-native Chinese students who have successfully completed AP Chinese Language and Culture.

This course further develops reading, aural comprehension, speaking and writing skills by introducing several new major language structures. These include the imperfect tense and the contrast between the two past tenses, as well as direct and indirect pronouns. Students acquire a broader vocabulary base of new words and expressions, often working in small groups to maximize use of the language and studying authentic material from the target languages, such as newspapers, films, and websites. Students complete projects relating to French geography, politics, society and culture.

This course emphasizes oral, written, and listening facilities, bringing students to a higher level of language proficiency. Students learn additional and more sophisticated grammar and vocabulary; read advanced material such as newspaper editorials, literary prose and poetry; and compose essays in the target language. This course further explores the customs, history, geography and culture of countries where French is spoken. 

This course focuses on comprehension, conversation, and listening skills, emphasizing recognition and use of complex grammar and new vocabulary in everyday speech. To increase proficiency, students participate in class discussion, listen to and watch authentic media, compose essays of many kinds, including opinion and creative pieces, and confront practical, everyday scenarios. Students read articles and short stories and participate in debates to gain awareness of relevant social issues. Students utilize a wealth of online resources, including TV5Monde, France 24, and Bien-Dire to maximize their linguistic and cultural understanding, to stay abreast of current events, and to effectively communicate in the target language.

This course provides rigorous practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening for the purpose of gaining proficiency in the language. Students also study advanced grammar and vocabulary, read and discuss original texts of varying genres and styles, write compositions, give oral reports and gain cultural knowledge through videos, songs, and Internet research. Debates, Harkness discussions, recordings, and other conversational activities build fluency. Language proficiency is built within the context of the six themes prescribed by the AP curriculum: Global Challenges, Beauty and Aesthetics, Science and Technology, Family and Community, Personal and Public Identities, and Contemporary Life. This AP course is  conducted entirely in the French language and will build proficiency in the language while assisting students in preparing for the required AP language examinations. 

This course finishes the study of the fundamentals of Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary begun in Latin 1, introduces the subjunctive mood and its advanced constructions, and emphasizes further development of sound reading and composition skills. Ancillary topics include a survey of Roman history from the establishment of the Empire to the fall of Rome, a review of Greek and Roman mythology with special emphasis on the stories of heroes, and a close study of the geography of the ancient Mediterranean. The course continues the development of English vocabulary skills through Greek and Latin roots, as well as the study of Roman culture, technology, and archeology—including the sites of Pompeii, Ephesus and Knossos—begun in Latin 1. A wide range of technological platforms will facilitate teaching, learning, and research.

This course immerses students in the unabridged prose and verse of genuine Romans, reviews the important concepts of Latin 1 and Latin 2, and introduces new grammatical and syntactical elements as they appear in the readings. Developing reading fluency is the primary goal. Texts include selections from Catullus, Petronius, and Martial. Students will research the history, culture, geography, mythology, and private life that relate to the authors under discussion and will present their findings by teaching classes and leading discussions individually and cooperatively. A wide range of technological platforms will facilitate teaching, learning, research, and presentation. 

This course explores the literature, history, and culture of the first century BCE, arguably ancient Rome’s most complex, chaotic, and compelling period. Original sources, including Vergil’s Aeneid, Caesar’s "Commentarii de bello Gallico," and Cicero’s "In Catilinam," reveal not only the trials of the late Republic, but also the triumphant birth of the Empire and the Golden Age. In addition to reading selections from these works, students will research the political and cultural life of the period, especially private life, and will present their findings by teaching classes and leading discussions individually and cooperatively. A wide range of technological platforms will facilitate teaching, learning, research, and presentation. Students who wish to take the AP Latin exam may prepare independently with the instructor. 

This course further develops reading, aural comprehension, speaking and writing skills by introducing several new major language structures. These include the imperfect tense and the contrast between the two past tenses, as well as direct and indirect pronouns. Students acquire a broader vocabulary base of new words and expressions, often working in small groups to maximize use of the language and studying authentic material from the target languages, such as newspapers, films, and websites. Students complete projects relating to Spanish geography, politics, society and culture.

This course emphasizes oral, written, and listening facilities, bringing students to a higher level of language proficiency. Students learn additional and more sophisticated grammar and vocabulary; read advanced material such as newspaper editorials, literary prose and poetry; and compose essays in the target language. This course further explores the customs, history, geography and culture of countries where Spanish is spoken. 

This course is designed for students who have grown up in a Spanish-speaking environment, exhibit strong listening and conversational skills, and wish to further develop their communication in Spanish, especially reading and writing. The class will focus on writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills, with particular attention to written Spanish. Students will deepen their knowledge of grammar, broaden their vocabulary, refine their spelling, and cultivate their ability to interpret and use both a formal and an informal register. The course will be grounded within a broad range of topics throughout the Hispanic world, with a particular focus on Latinx and Hispanic cultures in the U.S., including students’ own experiences. Students will complete a variety of written and spoken assignments, including individual reflection and identity-based projects

This course is designed to alternate with “Heritage Spanish: Nuestro Patrimonio” to create an opportunity for a second year of Spanish study that is tailored to students who have grown up in a Spanish-speaking environment, exhibit strong listening and conversational skills, and wish to further develop their communication in Spanish, especially reading and writing. Students may take this course with or without having taken “Heritage Spanish: Nuestro Patrimonio,” as both courses are differentiated to individual students’ needs. As with the first year, the class will focus on writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills, with particular attention to written Spanish. Students will deepen their knowledge of grammar, broaden their vocabulary, refine their spelling, and cultivate their ability to interpret and use both a formal and an informal register. The course will introduce new topics throughout the Hispanic world, with particular focus on Latinx and Hispanic cultures in the U.S., including students’ own experiences. Students will complete a variety of written and spoken assignments, including individual reflection and identity-based projects emphasizing recognition and use of complex grammar and new vocabulary inexperiences.

Advanced Spanish 4 provides language practice in speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading. It serves primarily as preparation for AP Spanish Language and Culture. Students refine their language skills, acquire advanced, nuanced vocabulary, and deepen their understanding of complex grammar. They also broaden their knowledge of Hispanic culture. Readings include a variety of authentic, unabridged written texts in Spanish, such as journalistic writing, essays, and other literary works, as well as films, songs, and visual art. Students complete a variety of written and spoken work tailored to authentic everyday experiences, entirely in the target language. Major units cover Identity, Daily Life, Society, and History.

This course provides rigorous practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening for the purpose of gaining proficiency in the language. Students also study advanced grammar and vocabulary, read and discuss original texts of varying genres and styles, write compositions, give oral reports, and gain cultural knowledge through videos, songs, and Internet research. Debates, Harkness discussions, recordings, and other conversational activities build fluency. Language proficiency is built within the context of the six themes prescribed by the AP curriculum. Both AP courses, conducted entirely in the target language, build proficiency while assisting students in preparing for the required AP language examinations.

AP Spanish Literature and Culture is a college-equivalent course available for students who wish to pursue advanced language studies with a close examination of canonical works in Spanish, Spanish-American, Latino, and Chicano literature. The course provides an introduction to the major literary movements in the field of Hispanic literature. Students read original, unabridged works from the fifteenth century through the twenty-first century. The course includes a review of literary analysis, including genre-specific approaches, literary terms and some relevant literary theories. Students also study the socio-cultural contexts in which the course texts were written and many possible thematic links among them. There is a secondary emphasis on approaches to the visual arts of the Hispanic world and their connection to literary works studied in the course. Students develop their presentational, interpretive and interpersonal language skills through assignments in class and at home, including critical writing, listening and discussions. The class is conducted entirely in Spanish. This course is most appropriate for students who have successfully completed AP Spanish Language and Culture.