Languages are at the heart of what makes us human, allowing us to express thoughts and ideas, meet new people, and expand our world. Being multilingual improves attention, creativity, self-control, and organization. Multilingual students are better prepared to succeed in a global economy, connect across cultures, and be the problem-solvers our communities need to meet their greatest civic, social and economic potential. As a result of their study in the World Languages program, students will:
The purpose of this class is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement test for college credit. The emphasis is on listening to native speakers, reading literature intended for native speakers, writing compositions several paragraphs in length, and orally communicating facts and ideas. A thorough review of grammar is an integral part of this course.
French 1: Students will learn to listen, speak, read, and write in the language through a study of cultures that use the language as part of their heritage. Students will learn basic vocabulary and essential grammar to communicate in simple sentences and navigate real-world experiences. Students will practice basic literacy and gain insight into the way of life of cultures associated with the language.
French 2: Continues to build on skills learned in the first year of the language. Students continue to work towards proficiency in all five-language skills: listening, reading, writing, studying culture, and a special emphasis on speaking.
French 3: Conducted almost entirely in the target language, French 3 refines speaking, reading, and writing skills as it emphasizes vocabulary building. There is also intense grammar work in preparation for standardized tests that are encountered in the upper levels of the target language. Culture, geography, and history are included.
French 4: Conducted exclusively in the target language. As an honors course, it places great responsibility for progress on the student. Students are expected to engage in self-instruction, independent work, readings, projects, and research. Emphasis is on communication skills and competency in the language. Literature and culture are studied and grammar is reviewed. Students are prepared for the SAT II Test.
French 3 and 4 are weighted courses.
This class prepares students to take the Advanced Placement test for college credit. The emphasis is on listening to native speakers, reading literature intended for native speakers, writing compositions, and communicating orally. A thorough review of grammar is an integral part of this course.
German 1: The purpose of German 1 is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement test for college credit. The emphasis is on listening to native speakers, reading literature intended for native speakers, writing compositions several paragraphs in length, and orally communicating facts and ideas. A thorough review of grammar is an integral part of this course.
German 2: Continues to build on skills learned in the first year of the language. Students continue to work towards proficiency in all five language skills: listening, reading, writing, studying culture, and a special emphasis on speaking.
German 3: Conducted entirely in the target language, German 3 refines speaking, reading, and writing skills as it emphasizes vocabulary building. There is also intense grammar work in preparation for standardized tests that are encountered in the upper levels of the target language. Culture, geography, and history are included.
German 4: Conducted exclusively in the target language. As an honors course, it places great responsibility for progress on the student. Students are expected to engage in self-instruction, independent work, readings, projects, and research. Emphasis is on communication skills and competency in the language. Literature and culture are studied and grammar is reviewed. Students are prepared for the SAT II Test. German 4 has an AP option.
German 3 and 4 are weighted courses.
The purpose of this class is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement test for college credit.
Latin 1: Through elementary readings and sentences, students in Latin 1 learn how the Latin language operates and how English grammar and vocabulary stem from it. Students learn the inflections, rules of syntax, and vocabulary needed for the comprehension and translation of simple Latin stories. Other activities include English to Latin translation, both oral and written; word study (derivatives and formation of words); and discussion of Roman civilization and mythology.
Latin 2: In the first half of Latin 2, students review Latin 1 (if needed). Stories about Roman life and customs are translated in the second half of Latin 2. Emphasis on vocabulary and word study is continued and an understanding and appreciation of the history and civilization of Rome is gained through various readings.
Latin 3: Students will read selections from various texts including Pliny, Aulus Gellius, Apuleius and/or passages in Medieval Latin. Emphasis is placed on acquiring an understanding of Roman culture and an appreciation of Roman literature and on developing an increased English vocabulary through observing derivations. Studies in rhetoric and classical philosophy provide students with a valuable background for collegiate scholarship.
Latin 4: Provides an in-depth study of the poetry of Virgil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace, and/or Martial. Mythology, Roman history, poetic devices, and linguistic forms peculiar to poetry are studied. This course may be offered in alternate years.
Prerequisite: Latin 1 students should possess good knowledge of English grammar.
Latin 3 and 4 are weighted courses.
This class is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement test for college credit. The emphasis is on listening to native speakers, reading literature intended for native speakers, writing compositions several paragraphs in length, and orally communicating facts and ideas. A thorough review of grammar is an integral part of this course.
This AP Spanish Literature course is comparable to a third-year college introduction to Hispanic literature course. The required reading list of literary significance represents various historical periods, literary movements, genres, geographic areas, and groups within the Spanish-speaking world. The course will help students to interpret and analyze literature in Spanish.
IB Spanish aims to develop students’ intercultural understanding; enable students to understand and use the language they have studied in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes; encourage, through the study of texts and social interaction, an awareness and appreciation of the different perspectives of people from other cultures; develop students’ awareness of the role of language in relation to other areas of knowledge; develop students’ awareness of the relationship between the languages and cultures with which they are familiar; provide students with a basis for further study, work and leisure through the use of an additional language; and provide the opportunity for enjoyment, creativity, and intellectual stimulation through knowledge of an additional language.
Prerequisite: Spanish 3 or equivalent
Spanish 1: Students will learn to listen, speak, read, and write in the language through a study of cultures that use the language as part of their heritage. Students will learn basic vocabulary and essential grammar to communicate in simple sentences and navigate real-world experiences. Students will practice basic literacy and gain insight into the way of life of cultures associated with the language.
Spanish 2: Continues to build on skills learned in the first year of the language. Students continue to work towards proficiency in all five-language skills: listening, reading, writing, studying culture, and a special emphasis on speaking.
Spanish 3: Conducted almost entirely in the target language, Spanish 3 refines speaking, reading, and writing skills as it emphasizes vocabulary building. There is also intense grammar work in preparation for standardized tests that are encountered in the upper levels of the target language. Culture, geography, and history are included.
Spanish 4: Conducted exclusively in the target language. As an honors course, it places great responsibility for progress on the student. Students are expected to engage in self-instruction, independent work, readings, projects, and research. Emphasis is on communication skills and competency in the language. Literature and culture are studied and grammar is reviewed. Students are prepared for the SAT II Test.
Spanish 3 and 4 are weighted courses.
This course will support our growing number of Spanish speaking students in high school who have achieved fluency (either through the dual language program or as heritage or native speakers) and want to continue their study of Spanish. Students may choose to take this class before or after AP Spanish coursework. The focus of this class will be on practical applications of Spanish within the Albemarle County community, including partnerships for work-based learning and information around interpretation and translation credentialing, as well as building academic vocabulary in Spanish for students, including specific terminology related to future career and college pathways.
Spanish for Fluent Speakers is a weighted course.
