World Languages

Three years of Spanish or French are required for graduation. Appropriate placement is determined through a process that includes faculty consultation, interviews with students, writing samples, and students’ prior experience and recommendations. Students may take more than one language with approval of the world languages department and the director of the High School.

World languages classes at Trevor Day School are designed around the National Standards for Foreign Languages Learning. All classes aim to educate students to be life-long language learners through activities that build proficiency in the 5 C’s: COMMUNICATION – students communicate in languages other than English, CULTURES – students gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures, CONNECTIONS – students connect with other disciplines and acquire information through the use of the target language, COMPARISONS – students develop insight into the nature of language and culture, and COMMUNITIES – students participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world.

Integration of technology is an important component of all levels of world language courses. Beginning and continuing students alike create and maintain a reference tool for verb conjugations in all tenses using the Excel program in the Microsoft Office Suite. As the student's knowledge base grows, so does this permanent record. Class activities, assignments and projects use Word and PowerPoint in addition to Excel. Additionally, students use the Internet as a source of culturally authentic materials and on-line activities. They also use software programs such as Discourse and BYOBroadcast. Most assignments are delivered through the Class Server program.

French

French 1: (full year - 1 credit): This course is an introduction to the French language for High School students. No prior experience with French is required. The course emphasizes the development of speaking and listening comprehension skills while secondarily developing reading comprehension and writing skills. Students develop proficiency in listening and speaking, and learn the basic vocabulary structures and expressions for everyday communication. Thematic units based on authentic literature enhance the course.

French 2: (full year - 1 credit): This course is for students who have successfully completed French I or its equivalent. Oral skills, reading comprehension and writing abilities continue to be developed using the same methods and activities used in French I. Students expand their knowledge of vocabulary and language structure and spend time focusing on verb tenses. Moreover, students learn to write, converse and acquire the cultural awareness needed to interact in social and work situations. Thematic units based on authentic literature enhance the course.

French 3: (full year - 1 credit): This course is for students who have successfully completed French II or its equivalent. The course enables students to communicate in French with a high degree of proficiency using more complex structures and more expressive language. Class discussion and assignments in reading authentic French texts, expository writing and oral presentations further develops student proficiency in all skills and competencies. Students acquire several more verb tenses and explore the subjunctive mood.

French 4: (full year - 1 credit): This course, for students who have successfully completed French III or its equivalent, focuses on the continued development and honing of skills. Essays, creative pieces, poems, and short reports are all a part of the writing portfolio. Students read stories, poems, and other literary pieces. The course introduces advanced grammar points and recycles and reviews prior material. Speaking in French continues to be stressed, and students are asked to discuss and present topics in depth.

French Electives

After completing level IV, students may choose from among a variety of elective courses. The courses are offered on a rotating basis. Qualified students may take the SAT II or AP French examination with the recommendation of the department.

French 5 - Advanced French Elective Survey of French Literature and Culture: 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - French 4 or equivalent. This course begins in eighteenth-century France with the events leading up to and including the French Revolution and concludes in the twentieth century after World War II. Students have an opportunity to examine key works of literature as they gain an understanding of what life was like in France during the period of time that produced them. They are given a complete picture of the achievements of the time period as they view such aspects as the arts (architecture and painting, furniture styles and decoration, and fashion), science and industry, and, cuisine. Students broaden their writing skills through textual analysis, with an eye to sharpening the supporting grammatical skills. An expansion of students’ vocabulary base facilitates writing, discussion and advanced conversational skills. Virtual, on-line explorations allow students to connect with a wide range of materials and places. Projects include research, presentations and discussions.

French 5-Cinema: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - French 4 or equivalent. This course explores film from the Francophone world. Students study one to three films per trimester. During the study of each film, students analyze cultural, social, and historical themes. In addition, they discuss several aspects of cinematography. The biographical information of directors and actors is introduced. Students have the opportunity to write film reviews, design movie posters, read magazine and newspaper articles, discuss, debate, and act. Grammar is studied in context and is specific to each film.

AP French: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - Advanced French course or equivalent and permission from the department. Students may take this course by departmental recommendation only. Proficiency in French for active communication using advanced writing and formal and informal conversation skills is the goal of this course. The activities preparing students to take the Advanced Placement Examination encompass aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar and composition. Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions is an integral part of the required course work. Students read a variety of texts such as newspaper and magazine articles, literature, essays, and journal articles. Discussion of the readings and advanced vocabulary topics provide students with conversational practice. Students practice for the AP exam by taking practice tests of past AP exams.

Italian I: (two trimesters - 1 credit): This introductory course in language and culture is a seniors-only elective. Students may take it in conjunction with other advanced world languages classes. The class benefits from the previous language-learning experience of the seniors who have completed a level-three or higher course in French or Spanish. No prior experience with Italian is required. The course emphasizes the development of speaking and listening comprehension skills while secondarily developing reading comprehension and writing skills. Students develop proficiency in listening and speaking and learn the basic vocabulary structures and expressions for everyday communication.

Spanish 1: (full year - 1 credit): This course is an introduction to the Spanish language for High School students. No prior experience with Spanish is required. It emphasizes the development of speaking and listening comprehension skills while secondarily developing reading comprehension and writing skills. Students develop proficiency in listening and speaking and learn the basic vocabulary structures and expressions for everyday communication. Thematic units based on authentic literature enhance the course.

Spanish 2: (full year - 1 credit): This is a course for students who have successfully completed Spanish I or its equivalent. Oral skills, reading comprehension and writing abilities continue to be developed using the same methods and activities used in Spanish I. Students expand their knowledge of vocabulary and language structure and spend time focusing on verb tenses. Moreover, students learn to write, converse and acquire the cultural awareness needed to interact in social and work situations. Thematic units based on authentic literature enhance the course.

Spanish 3: (full year - 1 credit): This is a course for students who have successfully completed Spanish II or its equivalent. A detailed review of the material in the first two levels is followed by an introduction to the formation and uses of the subjunctive mood. Students strengthen their written and oral communication skills by building vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Readings may include poems, essays, articles and short stories. The literature stimulates interest in Spanish and provides cultural information about Spanish-speaking countries. Written assignments may include poetry writing, compositions on the readings, and creative works.

Spanish 4: (full year - 1 credit): This course furthers the study of Spanish at increasingly advanced levels. Students are expected to apply the grammar structures and vocabulary learned in previous years in order to perfect their reading, writing, and speaking skills and to become effective Spanish language communicators. Grammar is reviewed in the context of literature, cultural material and other communicative activities. Discussion and conversation are integral components of the course. Works read come from a variety of genres, including poetry, essays, and short stories. Through thematic, culturally based curriculum units, students are immersed in the Spanish language and the Spanish and Latin American cultures.

Spanish Electives

After completing level IV, students may choose from among a variety of elective courses. The courses are offered on a rotating basis. Qualified students may take the SAT II or AP Spanish examination with the recommendation of the department.

Spanish 5- Cinema: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - Spanish 4 or equivalent. This course explores film from the Spanish-speaking world. Students study two to three films per trimester. During the study of each film, students analyze cultural, social, and historical themes. In addition, several aspects of cinematography are discussed. The biographical information of directors and actors is introduced. Students have the opportunity to write film reviews, design movie posters, read magazine and newspaper articles, discuss, debate, and act. Grammar is studied in context and is specific to each film.

Spanish 5- Latin American Literature: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - Spanish 4 or equivalent. Using the text "Imaginación y Fantasía" students explore the literature of Latin America. Students are introduced to works from writers such as Gabriel García Marquéz and Ana María Matute. The readings are designed to generate discussions around topics of interest such as the concepts of reality and fairness. In addition to reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar building exercises, class activities are designed to help students analyze stories as works of literature. Culminating projects would include: writing a short story, doing a play based on a short story, using MovieMaker to present a movie version of a story, writing a children’s version of the story and presenting it to younger groups.

Spanish 5-Survey of Spanish Literature: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - Spanish 4 or equivalent. This course explores a variety of literary genres (poetry, short stories, essays, a play and a novel) from Spain and Latin America in the context of their economic, cultural and historical settings. In addition, students are introduced to the techniques of literary analysis and writing. After analyzing these works of literature students create their own written pieces in the style of the author studied. Vocabulary and grammatical topics are generated from the literature.

AP Spanish: (full year - 1 credit): Prerequisites - Advanced Spanish course or equivalent and permission from the department. Students may take this course with departmental recommendation only. The use of Spanish for active communication using advanced writing and formal and informal conversation skills is the goal of this course. The activities preparing students to take the Advanced Placement Examination encompass aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar and composition. Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions is an integral part of the required course work. Students read a variety of texts such as newspaper and magazine articles, literature, essays, and journal articles. Discussion of the readings and advanced vocabulary topics provide students with conversational practice. Students practice for the AP exam by taking practice tests of past AP exams.