World Languages

Department Philosophy

The World Language Department offers students the opportunity to learn about and appreciate other cultures by providing them with the skills to understand, read, write, and converse in another language. Students must successfully complete the study of two years of the same foreign language at Fontbonne Academy to satisfy the minimum language graduation requirement. They may elect French, Latin, or Spanish. However, since Latin is offered only at the honors level, students opting for Latin must have Department approval.

The Fontbonne Academy language placement test is given in the spring to all incoming freshwomen who have previously studied a foreign language. Membership in honors classes and advanced classes for freshwomen is assigned by the Department based upon placement test score, high school entrance exam score, overall academic record, and previous language course results.

Modern technological advances and the constantly changing population make it imperative that we learn to communicate in other languages. Therefore, students with the aptitude for language are encouraged to pursue the study of a language for three or four years and to consider studying two languages at Fontbonne Academy. A proposal to increase graduation requirements to 3 credits in language beginning with the Class of 2011 is currently under consideration.

In order to enhance students’ listening comprehension and speaking facility, Fontbonne Academy recently installed a state of the art language laboratory which is used regularly with all Spanish and French students. Latin students may work in the language laboratory at the discretion of their teacher.

Faculty

Curriculum

Spanish 1

This course helps each student attain an acceptable degree of proficiency in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Spanish language is presented within the context of the contemporary Spanish speaking world and its culture. The activities and vocabulary learned are designed to promote self-expression.

Spanish 1 Honors

The objectives for the Honors level of this course include those of the standard course, with all areas being covered at a more rapid rate and in greater depth.

Spanish 2

Spanish 2 presents the more complex structures of basic Spanish and expands the cultural themes of the first level. By the time the students complete the second level, they will have acquired a command of the key vocabulary and the structures necessary for personal communication as well as an appreciation of the breadth and variety of the Spanish speaking world. The basic objective of Spanish 2 is to help each student attain an acceptable degree of proficiency in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Spanish 2 Honors

The objectives are the same as for standard Spanish 2 courses, but all areas are covered more rapidly and in more depth. Spanish 2 Honors students acquire more proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish than students in the regular courses.

Spanish 3

This course is an elective course for those interested in pursuing the study of Spanish. Significant grammar points will be taught and reviewed, including the formation and use of the subjunctive mood. Conversation is stressed throughout the year. A video series, Isabel, will be used during second semester in order to synthesize much of what students have already learned in their study of the Spanish language.

Spanish 3 Honors

Spanish 3 Honors is a more challenging course than level 3 regular. While Spanish 3 completes the second-year text begun the previous year, the honors course begins immediately with the Spanish 3 book. Students will study more difficult language structures and read more advanced material than the standard third-year course. They will continue to work toward proficiency in listening and speaking. They will be encouraged to express their ideas in writing with a greater degree of maturity. During second semester a video series, La Catrina, will be presented, enabling students to synthesize many of 32 the skills they have been learning over the three-year sequence.

Spanish 4

This course provides an opportunity for students to read and discuss Spanish and Latin American short stories and poetry. There will be a comprehensive grammar review included in the video series Destinos I. The literary selections and the video series enable students to work with grammar concepts in context. Students are required to speak and write about the material covered. They will deepen and broaden their insight into the culture, history, and civilizations of Spain, Argentina, and Puerto Rico.

Spanish 4 Honors

This course is a more intensive course than the regular Spanish 4. Students will use the target language at all times. It is a combination of language and literature through which the student grows in language ability and cultural understanding. To this end, representative authors of Spain and Latin America are studied with special emphasis on the short story. There is an intensive grammar review, especially of the subjunctive mood. Frequent themes, both oral and written, are required. These themes help the students to sharpen their own use of the language. The course also includes a unit in civilization, as well as a video series shown in the second semester entitled El Ultimo Secreto, sequel to the series viewed in Spanish 3 Honors.

The successful completion of this course should motivate the students to continue their study of Spanish and avail themselves of the many career opportunities that are open to those who are bilingual.

Spanish 5

This course is conducted in the target language and allows students to practice their oral language skills using the video series Destinos II. There will be a comprehensive review of grammar and writing skills using everyday life experiences. During the second semester students will study the culture, history and geography of Mexico and the Mexican influence in the United States watching the video series La Catrina and El Ultimo Secreto.

Spanish 5 Honors

This course is a very intensive course conducted in the target language. The course is designed to enhance students' skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. There will be a comprehensive review of grammar points. The course will also include a video series Destinos II to deepen and broaden the students’ insight into Hispanic culture, history, Aztec civilization and traditions.

A.P. Spanish

This AP level course is designed to enhance students' ability to function in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to a highly sophisticated level. Students will be expected to use Spanish in class at all times, to do much independent work outside of class, and to function at a college level of responsibility. Coursework will include feature-length video films, independent reading, oral work tape recorded both in and out of class, in-class conversation with a wide variety of topics and grammatical structures, and long-term writing assignments. While students will be trained in the format of the national Advanced Placement Examination, the course will include a broad range of activities not specifically geared to that test. This class is conducted exclusively in the target language.

French 1

French 1 is an introductory course in language and culture, enabling students to build basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, laying the foundation for future French study. Vocabulary and grammar are presented thematically, emphasizing culture. Additional readings include simplified excerpts of literature, as well as cultural topics expressing the diversity of the modern French-speaking world. A current day video is shown at the end of each chapter enhancing vocabulary and culture learned in the chapter.

French 2

The French 2 course is designed to enhance the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills introduced during the previous year’s course. More sophisticated grammatical concepts will be introduced, including emphasis on additional verb tenses. As in French 1, the language is presented within the context of the contemporary French-speaking world and its culture.

French 2 Honors

French 2 Honors will be offered to selected students. Supplementary work will be given as enrichment to regular French 2 material.

French 3

Taught within the context of the French-speaking world, French 3 reviews and builds on basic grammar topics before introducing more advanced concepts, such as the subjunctive. Vocabulary presented includes many topics necessary for travel, health emergencies, celebrations, and careers. In addition, students will read a short work of French literature. Students are expected to speak French in class, while special projects aim to allow the students to exercise their creativity while using French.

French 3 Honors/French 4

French 3 Honors/French 4 is a fast-paced course with study focused on the cultures of the modern French-speaking world, real-life conversations and situations, and selected articles from French language journalism. Students will review previously learned grammar, hone its application, and study new, more complex topics, especially with regard to the subjunctive mood. Frequent paired conversations, language lab listening activities, writing assignments and a contemporary video program will nourish comprehension and language production skills.

French 4 Honors/French 5

This class is conducted in the target language. The focus will be on expanding vocabulary and learning or reviewing complex grammar rules in order to enable the students to speak in a more refined manner. The main objective is to further develop communication skills of the students. To this end, students will be working on a variety of tasks: reading and discussing current events and excerpts of literature, writing essays, working individually or in groups. This class will prepare the students who will be interested in taking the Advanced Placement French or French Literature class the following year.

French Literature 5 Honors/6 Honors

A.P. French

The AP level French course is designed to enhance students’ ability to function in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to a highly sophisticated level. Students will be expected to use French in class at all times, to do much independent work outside of class, and to function at a college level of responsibility. Coursework will include feature-length video films, independent reading, oral work tape recorded both in and out of class, in-class conversation with a wide variety of topics and grammatical structures, and long-term writing assignments. While students will be trained in the format of the national Advanced Placement Examination, the course will include a broad range of activities not specifically geared to the test. This class is conducted exclusively in the target language.

Latin I Honors

The goals of Latin 1 are to teach the fundamental concepts of Latin grammar, to enable students to read and translate beginning Latin selections, and to develop skill in writing Latin. In learning Latin, students invariably strengthen their vocabulary, review or learn for the first time the principles of grammar, and develop good study habits.

The Classical Latin pronunciation is used rather than Church Latin, since the former is the pronunciation used in colleges. This will be of value in the event that the student decides to continue the study of this language beyond high school.

Latin 2 Honors

Since each succeeding course in a language is based on the fundamentals taught in the first year, Latin 2 begins with a thorough review of the material covered in Latin 1. The aim of this course is to guide students as soon as possible to the reading of Latin authors but with the realization that a true understanding of the reading requires a thorough knowledge of basic forms and syntax.

Latin 3/4 Honors

Students who have achieved the above grade in Latin 2 are encouraged to pursue the study of Latin 3 and 4. The class is usually small in size, and the course content alternates every year; one year the study is based on Cicero's orations against Cataline and his personal letters, and the following year Virgil's AENEID is studied.

Each of these courses presupposes an extensive background in Latin vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. The goal of each of these courses is to enable the student to read the authors intelligently and rapidly enough to enjoy them as literature. When the reading of poetry is begun, in addition to vocabulary and syntactical review, a careful study of the elementary principles of versification is made. All principles learned or reviewed are continually applied as the course proceeds.

Course Expectations

MRS. HERBERT

MRS. ECHEVARRIA

MRS. LINARDI

MRS. BOND

MRS. HANCHETT:
Spanish 1
Spanish 2 Honors
Spanish 4

MRS. CARPENTER:
French 1 and French 3 Honors
AP French