WHY STUDY A WORLD LANGUAGE? 

• It creates more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward people who are different.
• It teaches and encourages respect for other people.
• It leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity.
• It expands one’s world view and limits the barrier between people.

DOES LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE BOOST MY BRAIN POWER?  YOU BET IT DOES!

• Improves memory
• Sharpens the mind
• Enhances ability to multi-task.
• Enhances decision- making
• The first language is improved
• Improves performance in other academic areas

WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY SPANISH OR FRENCH?

• Stand out in a competitive job market.
• Prepares you to do your job better.
• Improves your English: boost your vocabulary by familiarizing with English words that have Latin roots.
• Learn Spanish or French to enhance your travel experiences.
• Prepare for study abroad opportunities.
• Work abroad and be able to communicate with clients, negotiate business deals and collaborate with experts across the globe.
• Immersion is easy: Spanish is the second largest language in the USA.
• French is the international language of culture (fashion, theater, the visual arts, dance, architecture and cooking) and International relations (a working language and official language of the United Nations, UNESCO, the European Union, the International Olympic Committee, the Red Cross and International Courts).
• Besides being an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking, French is also a beautiful, rich melodious language, often called the language of love. 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The Spanish 1 course is designed to attain an acceptable level of proficiency in four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The course curriculum concentrate in the acquisition of vocabulary to produced formulaic language: phrases, sentences and short paragraphs, and in the correct grammar usage. Students are also able to understand and talk about daily life topics such as, family relationships, school, likes and dislikes, foods, the weather, personality traits, etc. The study of the Hispanic culture will promote an appreciation and understanding of the Spanish- speaking people. This course is aligned to The California State World Languages Standards.

The Spanish 2 course involves a review and extension of the principles taught in Spanish 1AB. Students are introduced to new grammatical structures and vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on the refinement of basic reading skills, greater development of writing skills, and continued study of the important aspects of Hispanic life and cultures. An ongoing effort is made to develop students’ ability to express ideas and think in Spanish. Class is taught in Spanish and students are encouraged to participate freely in class discussions using the target language. It is expected that at the end of the course, students will understand and communicate information about the self (family, home, health, school, leisure activities, likes and dislikes, shopping, clothes, prices, etc.) and understand and communicate information beyond the self (geography, giving directions, buildings and monuments, weather and seasons, symbols, cultural and historical figures, places and events, foods and customs, transportation, professions, etc.).

The major emphasis of Spanish 3 is to provide students with successful experiences in developing the following communication skills: Listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension and writing. Appreciation of the culture of Spanish speaking countries is an integral part of this Spanish course. Students will be able to read and comprehend intermediate to advanced informative texts on a variety of topics. Students will also continue to write strings of paragraphs and compositions. Emphasis will be placed as well in listening comprehension; students will be able to understand oral language in a variety of topics. It is expected that students use the Spanish language to orally communicate at an intermediate level on a variety of formal and informal situations (personal descriptions, family, real-life situations, etc.) using appropriate grammatical structures and vocabulary.

The purpose of the Spanish Speakers 1AB course is to enable students whose heritage is Spanish to develop, maintain, and to enhance proficiency in their heritage language by reinforcing and acquiring skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including the fundamentals of Spanish grammar. Emphasis is placed in preparing students to become literate in the Spanish language and gain a better understanding of the nature of their primary language as well as other languages to be acquired. The course is aligned to the World Language Standards and is conducted in Spanish.

Spanish Speakers 2AB is a course designed as a continuation of Spanish Speakers 1. In this course the students will be introduced to more literary material: Short Story, poetry, and theater. Students oral skills will continue to improve based on their additional oral participation. Grammar and written skills will continue to be stressed. Culture and history of the many Spanish Speaking countries is presented in class through various Medias.

The AP Spanish Language and Culture course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The AP Spanish 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 Spanish. The AP Spanish 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, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions).

The French 1 and 2 classes introduce the fundamentals of morphology, syntax, phonetics and orthography. A strong emphasis is placed on developing oral skills and practicing vocabulary and grammar in patterns that imitate natural conversational exchanges. Through the use of the target language and group work the students develop a better understanding of the basic French language. The students also learn important cultural aspects of the French-speaking world.

The Honors French 3 classes enable students to strength their conversational skill by learning how communicate in typical daily situations. The students also read stories and dramatic scenes by recognized francophone authors. Multiple oral and written activities ( A/B dialogues, role plays, short plays performances, songs, poems, creative art projects, dramatic prompts, e-mail responses, oral presentations) reinforce the four basic language skills in a natural and enjoyable environment. The students are daily exposed to authentic sources: websites, videos, films, music, blogs, podcasts, books, and newspapers from francophone countries in order to immerse themselves in the richness of the French language. The French Club supports the program by giving students the opportunity to participate in more hands-on activities (such as a traditional French cooking or crafts) and to build more communication skills through conversations with native French speakers.

The AP French Language and Culture class culminates in an exam to test students' proficiency and give them an opportunity to earn placement credit for a college-level French course. The AP French Language and Culture course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The AP French 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 French. The AP French 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, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions).