Foreign Language

411 – FRENCH I
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

At this level of French, the instructor provides opportunities for the student to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The course introduces cultural topics concerning France and French speaking countries. A main emphasis of the course is vocabulary, including such topics as greetings, classroom/everyday objects, nationalities, adjectives, cafes, numbers, calendar information, etc. Students engage in question/answer pair activities using verbs (regular and irregular) in the present tense. It is highly recommended that students keep important handouts (that is, a resource file) throughout their study of French to help them maintain a basic foundation of the language. Students taking this course should be at a ninth grade reading level or better.

412 – FRENCH II
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

At the French II level, students will improve the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. They build upon the foundation of information acquired in French I in order to communicate in practical situations. Topics may include: giving directions and commands, talking about time, weather, shopping, places in the city, descriptions of self and others, family, professions, etc. Students expand their knowledge of verbs in the present tense and talk about past and future events. The construction of dialogues, projects and presentations strengthen vocabulary and grammar acquisition. The instructor emphasizes the completion of homework (both written and unwritten) and active class participation. Students should earn a grade of 70% or better to advance to the second level.

415 – FRENCH III
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

In third level French, students continue to develop communication skills. They apply their existing knowledge of the language to participate in extended conversations. Topics include detailed food/shops and restaurant vocabulary as well as sports and leisure activities, French holidays, hotel reservations, house and household terms, etc. Further examination of the past tense and irregular verbs in the present tense also appears. The instructor encourages students to use as much French as possible in the classroom. In addition to quizzes and tests, the course grade continues to reflect performance in these areas: homework, projects, and class participation. Students should earn an average of 75% or better to advance to the third level.

414 – HONORS FRENCH IV
Credit - 1.00
All students
AP/Honors Grading

In fourth level French, students enhance their studies through longer and more complex literary formats, such as tales, fables, and short stories. From these works, students gain the main vocabulary and grammar points. Vocabulary includes a variety of everyday nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, etc. not covered in previous courses. Grammatical structures become more detailed and combine aspects of already existing knowledge. Students expand their verbs by constructing sentences with imperfect, conditional tenses as well as the introduction of compound verb tenses. Students engage in role-play, interviews, conversations, and other activities, to enhance speaking skills. The use of English in the classroom is at a minimal level. Participants may earn college credit from Duquesne University. Students should earn an average of 85% or better and have the teacher's approval to advance to the fourth level.

402 – SPANISH I - Part I
Credit 1.00
Sophomore
Standard Grading

This two-year course is designed for sophomores who were enrolled in Reading in the ninth grade, uses a slower paced style suited to the student’s academic level. All of the major concepts introduced in the regular Spanish I course are covered in this class as well, but on a less-detailed basis. As with all foreign language classes, the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are targeted. There is a very strong emphasis on cultural topics and vocabulary due to the basic nature of the course.

404 – SPANISH I - Part II
Credit 1.00
Sophomore
Standard Grading

401 – SPANISH II FOR FRESHMAN
Credit 1.00
Freshman
Standard Grading

Students who have studied Spanish daily in eighth grade are eligible to enroll in this course. Placement into this class is by invitation only and is dependent upon results from a school administered test. It is also strongly recommended that the student earn an 80% or above in both English and Spanish in 8th grade.

421 – SPANISH I
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

Students enrolled in Spanish I learn basic are, er, and ir verb conjugation (regular and irregular) of the present tense, question formation, noun-adjective agreement, basic vocabulary, (colors, body parts, days of the week, months of the year, seasons, dates, school subjects, family members, etc.). They are introduced to simple sentence structure, which will be used to facilitate basic conversations with classmates. General cultural information is presented within the context of the curriculum as it applies to given topics. Students must be reading on a ninth grade level or above upon entrance to this course. A working knowledge of basic English grammar is also strongly recommended. By the end of the first year of study, students are able to report and solicit information on the following: name, birth date, number of family members, possessions, likes and dislikes, and can make simple comparisons.

422 – SPANISH II
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

The course focuses on strengthening the skills learned in Spanish I and the mastery of several additional tenses: present progressive, preterit, imperfect, and imperative. Emphasis is placed on more elaborate oral and written skills. Students use the above tenses to report and solicit information on these topics: weather, time, seasons, days, dates, preferences, giving and requesting directions, shopping, physical and personality profiles, daily routines in the past, present and future of proximity. Students must earn a grade of a 70% or better in Spanish I in order to be admitted to the second level of study in this language.

423 – SPANISH III
Credit - 1.00
Sophomore, Junior, & Senior
Standard Grading

Spanish III enables the student to engage in more advanced topics of conversation, reading, and writing. Oral tests are weekly. Students at this level are able to discuss at some length their childhoods, past activities and memories, future plans, their hopes, dreams, and fears for themselves and others. They are able to give fairly elaborate directions to places of importance to them and give detailed critiques of people, places, and events. An extensive study of the preterit and imperfect tenses is undertaken, and students are also exposed to the future and the present subjunctive. Upon completion of the course, students have a working knowledge of all major concepts of this language. They are encouraged to use the target language whenever possible. For consideration for third year language study, the student must attain a final average of 80% or above in the second year of Spanish.

424 – HONORS SPANISH IV
Credit -1.00
Junior & Senior
AP/Honors Grading

In the fourth year of Spanish, students strive to perfect their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. A major emphasis is placed on the use of the present and imperfect subjunctive. Students are not permitted to use English in the classroom unless a grammatical explanation or concept is being presented. They are required to take oral proficiency tests on the average of two times per week, to present skits, read short stories, magazines, poetry, etc. and to critique each in Spanish. In addition, they listen to authentic tapes of music, dialogue, and discourse and must respond to questions on them both orally and in writing. To qualify for the fourth year of Spanish, the student must have acquired an average of 85% or above, unless there is an unusual desire to continue despite a lower average. Students may also earn college credit through Duquesne University.

426 – AP SPANISH
Credit - 1.00
Senior
AP/Honors Grading

In this course students will review and elaborate upon grammar skills and prior knowledge from previous courses. Students are encouraged to use Spanish regularly within the class with an emphasis placed upon extemporaneous speaking formally and informally.

Students should be able to use the language to refine and expand their writing skills both informally and formally in a variety of styles. Hone and improve their comprehension skills both in written and aural forms through exploration of Hispanic culture through literary works, periodicals and Internet sites relevant to the target language. Broaden their styles of communication through daily conversations addressing contemporary issues of interest to the student.

A final average of 85% or better in the fourth year of Spanish is expected and instructor approval is needed for admittance to this course.

430 – ITALIAN I
Credit - 1.00
Senior
Standard Grading

For this introduction to Italian, the instructor will provide opportunities for the students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The instructor will introduce cultural topics such as regions within Italy and Italian influences in the United States. A major emphasis of the course is vocabulary. However, a basic knowledge of English grammar and other Romance languages (i.e. French or Spanish) will assist students in understanding key grammatical points of the Italian language. In addition to quizzes and tests, students will be responsible for completion of homework, projects, and active participation. Students who will be taking a third or fourth level course in another language, while enrolled in Italian, should obtain a recommendation from their current language teacher. This course may be offered for 1.0 credit.

441 – LATIN I
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

The focus of Latin I is classical Latin. Students acquire basic skills in vocabulary and grammar. Emphasis is placed on connection of Latin with the other Romance languages. Since Latin is spoken very rarely now, emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and writing. The instructor will introduce cultural topics as well as the history and literature of ancient Rome. Students must be at a ninth grade reading level or better.

442 – LATIN II
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

This course will continue classical Latin. Students will increase their skills in vocabulary and grammar. Emphasis is placed on reading and translating classical writers such as Livy, Pliny and Ovid. Concentration is placed on the history and literature of ancient Rome, especially Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars. Students must have attained a 70% or better grade in Latin I.

445 - LATIN III
Credit - 1.00
All students
Standard Grading

This course will continue classical Latin. Emphasis is placed on reading and comprehending the literature and history of ancient Rome, with some work in later Latin. Students must have an 80% or better in Latin II to be admitted to the third level.

Foreign Language

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