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Foreign Language Program

The need for increased and better communication among peoples of the world is our reason for presenting a strong and well-rounded language program. Learning a language enables a student to rediscover the world in terms of this language. The student experiences culture through language and literature as a source of personal enrichment and at the same time as a means of entering into and participating in another’s community. Foreign language study develops in the student a positive attitude toward speakers of other languages and brings about a more enlightened perspective and appreciation of his own American culture, as well as an awareness of each person’s responsibility to the world community. Although customs may vary due to cultural differences, the student will discover that Christian values remain the same.

French

Course: French IV Honors ACC (FLF 450) *

Prerequisite: Successful completion of FLF 300 with a B average and approval of the instructor Description: The purpose of this fourth year course is not only to deepen the student's knowledge and skills but also to acquaint him with a variety of literary passages that reflect the culture and spirit of the times. A reader, videos and a project in French will supplement his knowledge and provide other avenues to further his understanding and appreciation. The traditional skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing will be sharpened. The target language will be used almost exclusively. College credit through St. Louis University is available with approval of the instructor.

Course: French IV (FLF 400)

Course: French III Honors ACC (FLF 350) *

Prerequisite: Successful completion of FLF 200 with a B average and approval of the instructor Description: The purpose of this third-year course is to further add to the student's knowledge and appreciation of this beautiful language. New grammatical structures from the text, interspersed with selected videos, and excerpts from literature will expand his understanding. He will be expected to sharpen his skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The target language will be used with the goal of communicating orally in French. 1-8-1-8 credit through St. Louis University is available with approval of the instructor.

Course: French III (FLF 300)

Course: French II Honors (FLF 250)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of FLF 100 with a B+ average and approval of the instructor Description: This course continues to build up the four basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The student is expected to express himself accurately in the target language while mastering more difficult concepts. He will be expected to finish the first year text and complete a good portion of the second year text as well. Supplementary reading and/or projects may also be assigned.

Course: French II (FLF 200)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of FLF 100 Description: This course continues to build up the four basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The student is expected to express himself more frequently in the target language while mastering more difficult concepts. He will be expected to finish the first year text and complete a good portion of the second year text as well.

Course: French I (FLF 100)

Prerequisite: None Description: This course introduces the student to the four basic language skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through a series of dialogues, readings and drills from the text plus an exposure to web sites and cultural inquiries, the student learns to read, write and converse in French. Freshmen who have had French in grade school may be allowed to advance to the second level on the basis of a test and the recommendation of their grade school language teacher. Two years of French are required regardless of entry level.

German

Course: German V AP (FLG 550)

Prerequisite: German IV Honors, submission of the AP Form and approval of the AP instructor Description: A course in advanced German writing and conversation, this class emphasizes the use of German for active communication. It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar. Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions is included. Dubbed German Films and other German language materials such as grammar workbooks, newspapers, short stories, magazines and on-line materials will be used in developing a student’s skills. Students will take the AP exam in May. This course is conducted entirely in German.

Course: German 4 Honors (FLG 450)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 3 with a B average and departmental approval Description: German 450 brings the students to a greater enjoyment of the language through communication and meaningful study of literary selections. Further grammatical topics are explored. Culture is studied through reading and discussion. Class participation is necessary in both English and German. Special emphasis is placed on the lives and culture of German-speaking people past and present. Daily homework will be assigned and memorization of short selections in German and a research project are included. Students, with the help of their teacher, will write and present an original play in German. A more diligent effort will be expected from students as is consistent with an honors course.

Course: German 4 (FLG 400)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 3 with a B average and departmental approval Description: German 400 brings the students to a greater enjoyment of the language through communication and meaningful study of literary selections. Further grammatical topics are explored. Culture is studied through reading and discussion. Class participation is necessary in both English and German. Special emphasis is placed on the lives and culture of German-speaking people past and present. Daily homework will be assigned and memorization of short selections in German and a research project are included. Students, with the help of their teacher, will write and present an original play in German.

Course: German 3 Honors (FLG 350)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 2 with a B average and departmental approval Description: German 350 is similar to German 300 with the exception of better accuracy in completed assignments and additional homework. Videos and CD’s that accompany the text will be used to better listening skills. Readings in German newspapers and Internet sources will be discussed. Readings of German fairy tales will also be used. Through the readings and projects the students will gain further knowledge of the German-speaking culture. A research project are required. Homework is expected daily.

Course: German 3 (FLG 300)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 2 with a B average and departmental approval Description: German 300 continues the emphasis on speaking-listening phase of language study as well as building on the reading and writing skills and increase grammatical expertise. Videos and CD’s that accompany the text will be used to better listening skills. Readings in German newspapers and Internet sources will be discussed. Readings of German fairy tales will also be used. Through the readings and projects the students will gain further knowledge of the German-speaking culture. A research project is required. Homework is expected daily.

Course: German 2 Honors (FLG 250)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 1 with a B average and departmental approval Description: German 250 builds on the skills developed in German 100. Greater emphasis is placed on speaking and reading while a more detailed study of grammar and the written language is made. German culture is learned through supplementary material, videos and projects. Class participation is required. Role plays and memorization of short selections in German are included. Daily homework assignments will be given. This section proceeds at a more rapid pace and includes additional material to make the course more challenging. Students are encouraged to continue their study of German. (German 3 is required for students who begin at this level.)

Course: German 2 (FLG200)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 1 Description: German 200 builds on the skills learned in German 100. Greater emphasis is placed on speaking and reading while a more detailed study of grammar and the written language is made. German culture is learned through supplementary material, videos and projects. Class participation is required. Short role plays will be included. Daily homework assignments will be given. Students are encouraged to continue their study of German. (German 3 is required for students who begin at this level.)

Course: German I (FLG 100)

Prerequisite: None Description: This course introduces students to the four basic skills of communication in German through videos that immerse them in authentic language and culture, a text that meets National Foreign Language Standards and individual and group activities. We will encourage retention of the language with study strategies and present materials in ways to help various learning styles and ability levels. Students are encouraged to plan on a four year commitment and taking AP German in their senior year. Students will become acquainted with people and cultures of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. A vocabulary notebook should be maintained and retained for every year of study. There will be daily homework and class participation is required. Several short projects and memorization of the Hail Mary in German will be completed during the semester. During time between levels, students will be asked to complete a variety of assignments to keep their language skills fresh. Note: Freshmen who have had German in grade school or middle school are encouraged to seek placement in level 2 through teacher recommendation. Two years of foreign language are required regardless of entry level.

Spanish

Course: Spanish 4 Honors ACC (FLS 450

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 350 with a B average and departmental approval Description: Spanish 450 brings the students to an enjoyment of the use of the language, both through communication and meaningful study of literary selections. The emphasis continues on the listening/speaking phase of the language. The course begins with an in-depth review of the grammar and usage of the language. Further grammatical topics are explored. Class participation is necessary in both English and Spanish. Normal class business is conducted, as much as possible, in Spanish. Special emphasis is placed on the lives and culture of Spanish speaking people historically and today. College credit through St. Louis University’s 1818 Program is available with approval of the instructor.

Course: Spanish 4 (FLS 400)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish III with a B average and departmental approval. Description: Spanish 400 brings the students to an enjoyment of the use of the language, both through communication and meaningful study of literary selections. The emphasis continues on the listening/speaking phase of the language. The course begins with an in-depth review of the grammar and usage of the language. Further grammatical topics are explored. Culture is studied through reading and discussion. Class participation is necessary in both English and Spanish. Normal class business is conducted, as much as possible, in Spanish. Special emphasis is placed on the lives and culture of Spanish speaking people historically and today.

Course: Spanish 3 Honors ACC (FLS 350)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 250 with a B average and departmental approval. Description: Spanish 350 continues the emphasis on the communication while continuing to increase grammatical knowledge and vocabulary. The course begins with a review of the previous years’ work and builds on that foundation. Grammatical study includes more complex constructions involving feelings, opinions and desires. A survey of the Spanish speaking world continues through the course. Listening activities, written assignments, paired conversations, and authentic speakers are all included. Class participation in necessary in both English and Spanish. This section proceeds at a more rapid rate, explores topics in greater depth, and requires more listening and speaking in Spanish than FLS 300. College credit through St. Louis University’s 1818 Program is available with approval of the instructor.

Course: Spanish 3 (FLS 300)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish II with a B average and departmental approval. Description: Spanish 300 continues the emphasis on the communication while continuing to increase grammatical knowledge and vocabulary. The course begins with a review of the previous years’ work and builds on that foundation. Grammatical study includes more complex constructions involving feelings, opinions and desires. A survey of the Spanish speaking world continues through the course. Listening activities, written assignments, paired conversations, and authentic speakers are all included. Class participation in necessary in both English and Spanish.

Course: Spanish 2 Honors (FLS 250)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish I with a B+ average and departmental approval. Description: This course builds on the basic Spanish skills taught in Spanish 100—speaking, listening, reading comprehension and writing. Hispanic culture is introduced through text articles, audiovisual materials and projects. Class participation is required in Spanish and English. Several short projects are required. This section proceeds at a more rapid rate and includes supplementary material to challenge the more advanced student. (Spanish III is required for students who begin at this level.)

Course: Spanish 2 (FLS 200)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish I. Description: This course builds on the basic Spanish skills taught in Spanish 100: speaking, listening, reading comprehension and writing. Hispanic culture is introduced through text articles, audiovisual materials and projects. Class participation is required. Several short projects are required and vocabulary is emphasized. (Spanish III is required for students who begin at this level.)

Course: Spanish 1 (FLS 100)

Prerequisite: None Description: This course introduces the student to the basic elements of foreign language skills—listening, speaking, reading comprehension and writing. The culture of Spanish-speaking countries is studied through text articles, supplementary material and projects. There is daily homework to reinforce the day’s material. Class participation is required. Several short projects will be completed during the semester and there is an emphasis on vocabulary Note: Freshmen who have had Spanish in grade school may be allowed to advance to the second level on the basis of a test and the recommendation of their elementary school language teacher. Two years of language are required regardless of entry level.