(1 credit)

This introductory course is designed for Upper School students with or without prior knowledge of Chinese language. The primary goal of this course is to help students establish the foundation of vocabulary, knowledge of Chinese and communication skills through the natural and gradual integration of language, content, and cultural elements. This course is designed to emphasize the development of communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It provides an opportunity for students to learn basic phonetics and pronunciation skills, practice dialogues and short conversations, and gain basic reading and writing skills in the target language. It emphasizes building basic vocabulary and establishing basic skills in listening and speaking Chinese. 

(1 credit)

Chinese II focuses on continuing to develop students’ listening, speaking, and reading skills. Students are also encouraged to use the target language to compose short dialogues and presentations. More complex sentences and texts are studied and grammar skills are required at this level. The course aims to expand students’ vocabulary and improve all their skills through selected texts, audio and videos, storybooks, and research project presentations. 
Prerequisite: Chinese I or equivalent and departmental assessment placement.

(1 credit)

Chinese III Honors is an intermediate level of Chinese that focuses on continuing to develop students’ listening, speaking, and reading skills. Students are required to use the target language to compose short dialogues and presentations. More complex sentences and texts are studied and grammar skills are required at this level. The course aims to expand students’ vocabulary and improve all their skills through selected texts, audio and videos, storybooks, and research project presentations.
Prerequisite: Chinese II or equivalent and departmental assessment placement.

(1 credit)

Chinese IV focuses on the language skills of writing, listening, and speaking while also aiming to expand students’ vocabulary to a total of 1600 words. The teacher-guided conversations help students gain more native-speaker skills. More advanced typing skills are also required at this level. Students are encouraged to use the target language to make conversations and speak in short online events. Throughout level IV, students practice and improve their language skills across interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communicative modes. Chinese IV introduces the topics of the economy, the environment, business, globalization, and international affairs to prepare students who are interested in international trade, relations, or other international affairs. The online readings and projects expose students to the culture, customs, and lives of people in China.
Prerequisite: Chinese III or equivalent and departmental assessment placement.

(one credit)

Chinese V course is designed for students who have completed Chinese IV study and intend to work on advanced Chinese culture and history research. Students in Chinese V are encouraged to continuously study Chinese language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. They are required to use the target language to make conversations, speeches, read stories and news, and write emails. The research work will focus on China’s ancient dynasties, emperors and their contributions to the development of China, famous people in Chinese history, how the Chinese culture and history related and affected each other, greatest philosophers and their thoughts, how their points of view affect our contemporary society etc. The research topics will include 40 themes on the economy, the environment, business, globalization, and international trade etc. The topics covered: protect wild animals and our environment, college preparations, business emails, street and public signs, compare eastern, western northern, and southern China different diet habits and lifestyles, China’s ancient capital “Xi’an”, China’s four major rivers, Mo-gao cave and the silk road, Buddhism in China, etc.
Prerequisite: Chinese IV or equivalent and departmental assessment placement.

(1 credit)

The AP Chinese Language and Culture course in Mandarin Chinese emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The AP Chinese Language and Culture course strives not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. To best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught almost exclusively in Chinese. The AP Chinese Language and Culture course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of cultural products (e.g., tools, books, music, laws, conventions, and institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions). The AP Chinese Language and Culture course is designed to be comparable to fourth-semester (or the equivalent) college/university courses in Mandarin Chinese.  Students are expected to sit the AP Exam.  Students who do not sit for the AP examination may receive a zero for the end-of-year exam in the AP course. 
Prerequisite: 10th grade and above. Chinese IV Honors or equivalent or departmental placement test.

(1 credit)

This course provides the introduction to the study of a world language and culture. Students acquire beginning skills in pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading and writing within cultural settings in the target language. They learn basic vocabulary essential for simple conversations: greetings, numbers, telling time, dates, days, months, weather, the classroom, family and friends, shopping, food, likes and dislikes, pastimes and sports, giving and receiving directions, possessions, travel, health, seasonal activities, clothing, eating and ordering in a restaurant, and shopping. The text provides consistent reinforcement and mastery of the basic structures of the target language, especially in the present, and immediate future. Printed, audio and audio-visual resources, paired communicative tasks, skits, and online activities for cultural enrichment regarding customs, holidays, history and geography of the Francophone world supplement the text and workbook. This course is open to students new to the Upper School and with no prior study of the language, and to those upperclassmen who choose to undertake an additional world language.

(1 credit)

This course guides students to build on the communicative skills they acquired from the first year of study. Students work at short and simple conversations on familiar topics, writing short paragraphs, and reading cultural selections from different French-speaking countries. The course is conducted primarily in the target language, so that students gain oral facility and improve aural comprehension. Students are introduced to more complex vocabulary and language rules within cultural contexts.
Prerequisite: Level I or equivalent and departmental assessment placement and approval.

(1 credit)

This course continues to develop students’ spoken and written fluency in the target language through class discussion of social and cultural issues, using authentic material and various printed, audio and audio-visual resources. In addition, students expand their grammar base. Students are encouraged to use the target language creatively to present information, to support opinions, to suggest and analyze outcomes, and to persuade others. Readings may include newspaper articles, extracts from plays, short stories, poetry, or a novel. Audio and audio-visual resources help to enhance vocabulary acquisition, to refine listening comprehension and oral presentations, and to promote awareness of a diverse world and its cultural history.
Prerequisite: Level II or equivalent and departmental assessment placement and approval.

(1 credit)

This course continues to develop students’ spoken and written fluency in the target language through class discussion of social and cultural issues, using authentic material and various printed, audio and audio-visual resources. In addition, students expand vocabulary and grammar more in depth, as well as well as familiarity with concepts not taught in French regular courses. Students are expected to use the target language creatively to present information, to support opinions, to suggest and analyze outcomes, and to persuade others. Readings may include newspaper articles, extracts from plays, short stories, poetry, or a novel. Audio and audio-visual resources help to enhance vocabulary acquisition, to refine listening comprehension and oral presentations, and to promote awareness and appreciation of a diverse world and its cultural history.
Prerequisite: Level II or equivalent and departmental assessment placement and approval.

(1 credit)

Built on a rigorous curriculum, this course is designed to lead directly to the Advanced Placement French Language and Culture course for the top academic students. Through exposure to a variety of French films and readings, students expand their knowledge of culture, history, and current events in French-speaking countries and hone their skills in listening and reading comprehension. Impromptu discussions, debates, cultural presentations help students learn to express their ideas with accuracy and fluency. Students perfect their writing in organized, detailed, expository essays. They read and discuss short stories, poems, plays, and a novel in the target language. The aim is for them to achieve mastery of French at the advanced intermediate level.
Prerequisite: French III or equivalent, departmental assessment placement, and approval.

(1 credit)

To prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Language examination in May, this college-level course focuses on three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational.  The preparation is done by using authentic cultural resources, studying and practicing in depth with the six global themes, and making connections to the many sub-themes on which the exam is based. The main themes are global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, public and personal identity, family and community, and beauty and aesthetics. Course goals, assessments, and the student portfolio are organized in three areas: Spoken Communication, Written Communication, and Facilitating Skills. 
Prerequisite: 10th grade and above, French IV Honors and/ or Advanced French Culture or equivalent or departmental placement test.

(1 credit)

Offered Alternate Years
This course is designed for advanced speakers of French. The purpose of this course is to expand the conversational and written skills of the students in the target language. Salient aspects of geography, history, art and music are covered through short readings of advanced texts and viewing feature-length films. Readings and films explore aspects of Francophone culture in countries and regions around the world where French is one of the official languages because of its historical ties with France. Since the linguistic component is of primary importance, the study of colloquial and slang expressions encountered is an integral part of each unit. To maximize exposure to a wide vocabulary experience, the readings and the films need to cover different genres, decades and countries. There is an emphasis on class participation in written and oral projects. This course, conducted exclusively in French, is open to students eager to prepare for the AP French Language and culture course or that have already taken it.  This class is recommended for juniors and seniors only.
Prerequisite: French IV Honors, AP French Language and Culture or equivalent, or departmental placement test.

(1 credit)

(1 credit)

This course guides students to build on the communicative skills they acquired from the first year of study. Students work at short and simple conversations on familiar topics, writing short paragraphs, and reading cultural selections from different Spanish-speaking countries. The course is conducted primarily in the target language, so that students gain oral facility and improve aural comprehension. Students are introduced to more complex vocabulary and language rules within cultural contexts.

(1 credit)

This course continues on the adventure of learning the Spanish language by providing mastery and expansion of skills acquired in previous courses and developing students’ spoken and written fluency in the target language through class discussion of social and cultural issues, using authentic material and various printed, audio and audio-visual resources. In addition, students expand their grammar base and encourage the use of the target language creatively to present information, support opinions, suggest and analyze outcomes, and persuade others. Students will also be introduced to the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world with an emphasis on contemporary Latin culture. Specific content includes but is not limited to, expansions of vocabulary and conversational skills through discussions of selected readings. Contemporary vocabulary stresses activities that are important to the everyday life of the target language-speaking people. 
Prerequisite: Level II or equivalent or departmental placement test.

(1 credit)

This course continues to develop students’ spoken and written fluency in the target language through class discussion of social and cultural issues, using authentic material and various printed, audio and audio-visual resources. In addition, students expand vocabulary and grammar more in depth, as well as well as familiarity with concepts not taught in Spanish regular courses. Students are expected to use the target language creatively to present information, to support opinions, to suggest and analyze outcomes, and to persuade others. Readings may include newspaper articles, extracts from plays, short stories, poetry, or a novel. Audio and audio-visual resources help to enhance vocabulary acquisition, to refine listening comprehension and oral presentations, and to promote awareness and appreciation of a diverse world and its cultural history.
Prerequisite: Level II or equivalent or departmental placement test.

(one credit)

This course is an intermediate course designed for heritage or near native speakers of Spanish. It aims to develop further effective oral and written communication with a thorough review of complex grammatical structures. Students read newspaper and magazine articles, short stories, and two novels. Students are introduced to styles of basic essay writing and the creation of their own short original stories.
Prerequisite: Spanish II S or equivalent and departmental assessment placement and approval.

(1 credit)

This course is an intermediate-high, pre-AP course designed for heritage, native, or near-native speakers of Spanish. At this level, the emphasis is on the development of proficient communication in the language. The cross-curricular approach includes a holistic view of learning, intercultural awareness embracing international issues, and communication as fundamental to learning. The design provides students with values and opportunities that enable them to develop respect for others and an appreciation of similarities and differences. Learning how to learn and how to critically evaluate information is as important as the content of any discipline itself. The literature is introduced through the study of important historical occurrences from different countries, in combination with movies, art, articles, documentaries, music, and research that reflects these events. Class discussions, oral reports, and compositions are the means to accomplish the objectives of the course. 

(1 credit)

This course is an advanced intermediate and pre-AP language course. It is conducted in Spanish in preparation for the AP Spanish Language and Culture class. The course will include the study of grammar and vocabulary in addition to culture, history, reading comprehension, and listening activities. Students will continue to expand their knowledge of the culture, history, and daily lives of Spanish-speaking people. It emphasizes the four communicative skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing in a culturally authentic context. Grammar skills are expanded as students make oral presentations, read short literary selections, read one novel, do research on selected Latin American countries, the USA and Spain, and write compositions in Spanish. The students learn to identify current and past contributions made by Spanish speakers to world literature, art, music, science, and commerce and make global connections.  The course is conducted exclusively in the target language and it is built around a rigorous curriculum designed to lead directly to the Advanced Placement Language course.

(1 credit)

Prerequisite: 10th grade or above, Spanish IV Honors, Spanish 4S Honors or equivalent, or departmental placement test.

(1 credit)

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to film in general, while fostering a critical appreciation for the essential features of Spanish speaking cinema. The films chosen not only entertain, they also contribute to the creation and circulation of culture as well as national and regional images and identities, and it portrays and analyzes social problems. The films provide structural and historical analysis of major exponents in contemporary Hispanic film, including the cinema of Latin America and Spain. This course seeks to review and analyze the complexity and richness of Latin American culture and history using films as a vehicle to facilitate students´ understanding. Drawing from both formal and socio-cultural models of description, the course examines the film production of well-known directors. Readings on specific films and cinema as industry are integrated with close film analysis. In this course students view and interpret significant feature-length films while identifying and analyzing notions of Spanish/Hispanic culture, historic events, and sociopolitical currents. A grounding in film theory is concurrently provided and developed throughout the year.

(1 credit)

This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement Spanish Literature Examination in May. This course is equivalent to a college-level introduction to Hispanic and Latin American literature. The AP Spanish Literature and Culture course is a survey course which covers the six AP Spanish Literature themes and the entire reading list outlined within the AP Spanish Literature Curriculum Framework. The course is conducted entirely in Spanish and covers Spanish and Latin American authors, and their works, from the medieval period to the present day. The works are presented with the aim of integrating the historical themes and literary movements of the different time periods, and highlighting the schools of literature to which each piece belongs as well as the author’s style and the characteristics of each selection. The main text provides students with the socio-cultural context necessary to fully comprehend each piece. The two-semester course and its activities are intended to teach and enhance a student’s ability to acquire, identify, understand, discuss, interpret and analyze the form and content of literary works of prose, poetry and drama along with the literary terms and conceptual aspects of art and history of the time. The lessons are designed to help students interpret the figures of speech, tone, genre, style, characters, themes and literary symbols in an effort to develop their analytical and interpretative skills. Prerequisites: 11th grade and above. Spanish IV Spanish IV Honors, Spanish IVS Honors, AP Spanish Language and Culture, or departmental placement test.