World Languages
"To have another language is to possess a second soul." - Charlemagne
World language study creates more positive attitude and less prejudice toward all people. World language study leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity. By learning about other cultures and languages, we gain an understanding about our own culture. By obtaining a second language, we become global thinkers and are able to compete in the global economy.
AP Spanish Language This course is designed to give students a comprehensive experience with Spanish, and to provide the skills needed for taking the Spanish Language AP exam. Students will encounter advanced grammatical structures, reading of literary pieces, study of Hispanic culture, extensive writing and reading assignments, an emphasis on vocabulary development and frequent communicative activities. A significant amount of time outside of class is required for course work and study. Teaching and class discussion are in Spanish. World Language Placement TestsThe World Language Department no longer gives a placement test for Incoming Freshmen or new students. The recommendation for ALL Incoming Freshmen is to be placed into the first level of the selected language, unless coming from another school where the class has been successfully passed. The level 1 teacher will determine within a three week time period if a student should be placed at the next level. Should a parent/student decide not to begin the first level of the language course, a waiver must be signed. Click here for the paperwork. | In this introductory class you will learn the language by listening and responding physically to commands. You will begin to speak naturally after considerable exposure to listening. You will learn to talk about yourself, friends and family, community, likes and dislikes, and activities that you enjoy. You will learn to communicate in a foreign language class where you and the teacher speak Spanish in class. In this class, you will learn to communicate more proficiently in the present tense and begin to speak in the past tense. You will be able to identify foods, discuss celebrations, etc. In addition, you will read about different cultural traditions from the Spanish-speaking world and will improve your writing skills. In this class you will develop a more advanced level of speaking by reviewing and significantly expanding acquired vocabulary and verb tenses. You will improve your reading comprehension and writing ability by using the present, past, imperative and future verb tenses. Increased class participation and informal conversation only in Spanish is required. In this advanced class you will become more proficient in the second language. You will continue to increase your vocabulary, study literature, compose compositions, and broaden your study of grammar. You will read literature representing the culture of the language you are studying and will learn to analyze and discuss topics evoked by stories. This advanced class is not the same class as the regular Spanish IV described above. This course is offered through Sierra College. Click this link for more information. | American Sign Language l In this introductory class you will learn the language by watching (receptive skills) and then respond physically to commands. You will begin to sign (expressive skills) naturally after considerable exposure to watching. You will learn to sign about yourself, friends and family, community, likes and dislikes, and activities that you enjoy. You will learn to communicate in a language class where you and the teacher sign in the target language. Glossing and grammar rules are emphasized as well as mutual respect for the Deaf community and understanding of cultural norms. American Sign Language ll In this class you will learn to communicate more proficiently. You will be able to identify foods, order in a restaurant and shop in a marketplace. You will improve your signing/expressive skills as well as your watching/receptive skills. You will only sign in class. American Sign Language lll In this class you will develop a more advanced level of signing and finger spelling by reviewing and significantly expanding acquired vocabulary and verb tenses. You will improve your conversational skills (expressive and receptive) as well as story telling ability. Focus is on grammatical structure, use of classifiers, more numbering systems, and glossing. Increased class participation and informal conversational ASL only is required. American Sign Language lV American Sign Language 4 is a dual credit course with Sierra College for students who have successfully completed ASL 3. ASL 4 reviews and builds on all material learned previously such as role-shift, signer’s perspective, classifier predicates, time, subject-object agreement, and loan signs. The class focuses on receptive ability of current events and stories, and expressive skills of storytelling and narratives.Vocabulary will include formulating opinions and decision making. Expressive and receptive skills are stressed in order to increase fluency and self-confidence in the target language. Students will receive college credit as well as high school credit for this course. |
