World Language

This is an introductory Spanish course that satisfies language requirements for high school graduation and college entrance. In this class students explore and learn to express themselves around everyday topics such as school life, extracurricular activities, food, health, plans, family, celebrations and home life. Students will interpret songs, articles, infographics, and short videos in Spanish. They will also practice communication through daily interaction with classmates, and present their Spanish in both written and spoken form. By the end of the course, students will be able to discuss the present and immediate future. Instruction is primarily in Spanish. Active listening and participation are required. 

This is a second year Spanish course that satisfies language requirements for high school graduation and college entrance. In this class students broaden and continue to develop their ability to express themselves around everyday topics studied in Spanish 1 as well as fashion, errands, giving directions, childhood, recent activities, natural disasters and cinema.  Students will interpret songs, short videos, and slightly more sophisticated articles and infographics in Spanish. They will also practice communication through daily interaction with classmates, and present their Spanish in both writing and speaking. By the end of the course, students will be able to discuss the past, present and immediate future. Instruction is primarily in Spanish. Active listening and participation are required.

Spanish 3 is an intermediate to advanced Spanish class that satisfies language requirements for high school graduation and college entrance. In this class students start to move beyond the everyday topics of Spanish 1 and 2 to explore more complicated themes such as the role that folklore plays in modern life, the future of jobs and technology, the connection between animals and humans, hopes and dreams in rural vs. urban life. Students will interpret literature, articles, songs and videos. They will practice communication through daily interaction with classmates, but will also be expected to formulate and defend their opinions in Spanish through classroom debate and other more formal formats for conversation.  Students will write both creative and analytical pieces in Spanish. By the end of the course, students will be able to discuss hypothetical or desired but improbable situations as well as the past, present, and future. Instruction is primarily in Spanish. Active listening and participation are required. 

Spanish 4 is an advanced Spanish class organized around thematic units guided by essential questions.  Students explore challenging academic topics within the same 6 themes emphasized on the AP exam: global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, families and communities, beauty and aesthetics.  Specific topics within these themes vary slightly year to year. Students interpret sophisticated articles, literature, podcasts and other audio clips around these themes. Spanish 4 students focus on expanding basic literacy, and write short responses to the materials. All students participate in socratic seminars and regular discussion with classmates. Instruction is entirely in Spanish. Active listening and participation are required.

Spanish 4 AP is an advanced Spanish class organized around thematic units guided by essential questions.  Students explore challenging academic topics within the same 6 themes emphasized on the AP exam: global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, families and communities, beauty and aesthetics.   Curriculum is organized on a 2-year rotation of units so that students who take the AP class after taking the Spanish 4 class will not repeat materials used in Spanish 4, even when the classes are concurrently enrolled in the same classroom.  Students interpret sophisticated articles, literature, podcasts and other audio clips around these themes.  Students in the AP strand will receive additional preparation for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam, and may earn college credit upon passing, and as such will be expected to engage with additional materials and tasks outside of class to interact more deeply with each theme the class explores.  AP students will focus on more academic writing and produce longer, more analytical essays and also regularly record themselves speaking, both in structured conversation and prepared cultural comparisons. All students participate in socratic seminars and regular discussion with classmates. Instruction is entirely in Spanish. Active listening and participation are required.