Course Descriptions - Foreign Language, MCSD Program of Studies

Level I - 9170 French, 9180 Spanish (Grades 9-11) 1 Credit

Experience another culture through new sounds, new sights, and new tastes. Use basic French or Spanish to talk about yourself, your family and friends, your surroundings, and your activities. In addition to listening and speaking, you will begin to read and write in your new language. Learning a language is not only fun, but it is also a worthwhile skill for the future.

Level II- 0170 French, 0180 Spanish (Grades 10-12) 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Level I

Speaking and listening skills continue to be developed, with increasing emphasis on free responses and creative use of the target language. Writing activities become more personalized, focusing on the students' own experiences. Grammar and vocabulary first introduced in Level I are expanded significantly. Short stories and articles pertaining to student interests are included, and students continue to explore cultural and geographical similarities and differences between their own and the target cultures.

Level III - 1170 French, 1180 Spanish (Grades 11-12) 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Level II

Students begin to develop more sophisticated conversational strategies which will eventually enable them to interact with native or near-native speakers of the target language. Among others, these strategies include how to express and defend opinions as well as how to discuss emotions and attitudes. Reading material at this level encourages students to explore the target culture and civilization and provides a basis for discussions and mini-talks in the target language. Writing activities are less structured and more creative and incorporate more complex grammatical structures.

Level IV - 2170 French, 2180 Spanish (Grades 12) 1 Credit

Prerequisite: Level III

Students participate to a much greater extent in spontaneous conversations rather than in prepared dialogues, and vocabulary words become more specialized. Role-playing and skits further enhance the students' ability to speak. Students receive practice in sustained listening by watching films and videos and hearing radio broadcasts in the target language. Grammar from the prior levels is reviewed in order to prepare the students for understanding additional grammatical subtleties of the language. Students take an in-depth look at various aspects of the target culture; and this material as well as topics for individual projects, continues to be determined to a certain extent by the personal interests of the students. Longer reading and writing activities will focus on the chosen areas of study.

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