Classical & Modern Language Course Offerings
Classical/Modern Languages Course Offerings
Classical Languages
LATIN (YEARLONG)
Latin 1
Latin 1 provides an introduction to the foundational elements of the Latin language. Students begin to develop their ability to read and write in Latin, in addition to gaining an introductory history of the ancient Greek and Roman world. Readings include passages of historical, political, and mythological interest.
Latin 2
In Latin 2, students continue to explore Latin as a language that is read and listened to, that is used to communicate ideas, and that endures beyond the ancient world. Through exercises of interpretive reading, listening, and writing, students actively build their working knowledge of Latin vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. By the end of Latin 2, students are reading unadapted classical and post-classical Latin texts, and they are approaching or have acquired intermediate-level proficiency in reading and listening.
Latin 3
In Latin 3, students begin to read authentic, unadapted works of Latin poetry and prose, while continuing to solidify the foundation of grammar and vocabulary acquired in the first two years of Latin study. Classes are student-centered and discussion based as students not only translate Latin, but also discuss the themes, style, and history of the texts they are reading. Readings will vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the class and instructor; authors may include Ovid, Catullus, Caesar, Nepos, or Eutropius.
Latin 4
Students learn to read Latin poetry through extensive study of the works of classical and post-classical authors. Through close readings and collaborative in-class activities, students explore how Latin poetry works, building both linguistic sensitivity and an aesthetic appreciation for language. Diving deeply into ancient Greek and Roman culture, they explore mythology, ritual, history, politics, art, and reception. A core text is Ovid’s epic poem, the Metamorphoses , but readings may vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the class and instructor.
Advanced Study Latin: Vergil
AS Vergil is meant to be an introduction to Vergil’s Aeneid , a masterpiece of Latin literature that narrates how the Trojan hero Aeneas came to Italy and became the ultimate ancestor of the Roman people. We will read selections of the Aeneid in Latin and the whole poem in English translation. Students will write short journals and papers on different aspects of the poem, and they will read scholarly essays and book chapters to deepen their understanding of the literary, historical, and socio-political significance of the Aeneid .
Advanced Topics Tutorial in Latin
ATT Latin provides an immersive study of one or more Latin authors. Readings will vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the class and instructor; authors may include Ovid, Catullus, Livy, Cicero, Pliny, or Seneca. ATT Latin may also include a Latin prose composition unit, in which students would explore the nuances of Latin, study the styles of various Latin authors, and develop their own writing style in Latin.
GREEK (SEMESTER-LONG ELECTIVE)
Greek 1
Greek 1 is a semester-long, half-credit course that introduces students to basic elements of ancient Attic Greek. Through translating, writing, and reading aloud, students build their knowledge of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and they learn about the history and mythology of ancient Greece.
Greek 2
Greek 2 continues to introduce the basic elements of classical Greek, the language in which Sophocles, Thucydides, and Plato wrote, and the language from which much modern literary, scientific, and medical terminology is drawn. Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension and building vocabulary, as well as the fundamentals of grammar and
syntax. Readings will vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the class and instructor; authors may include the Gospel of John, selections from Plato’s Symposium , and Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus .
Modern Languages
CHINESE (YEARLONG)
Chinese 1
Offers students an introduction to Chinese language and culture. Students develop Chinese listening and speaking skills in everyday situations, and work on building basic reading comprehension and writing skills. Chinese history, art, calligraphy and cuisine are also integrated into the course. Students master a minimum of 300 characters, become familiar with basic sentence patterns and expressions, and are able to converse on such topics as family, hobbies, school life, shopping, weather and transportation.
Chinese 2
This course builds on the skills mastered in Chinese 1. Short plays, poems, songs and online resources supplement the textbook as students develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students learn approximately 300 characters, as well as more sophisticated sentence patterns. They write and converse on topics such as dining, travel, a doctor’s appointment, renting an apartment and other basic survival subjects.
Chinese 3
This course is a continuation of Chinese 2 and aims to consolidate students’ knowledge of fundamental grammatical structures of Chinese and increase their abilities to communicate using Chinese in a wide range of situations of daily life. Students are introduced to reading materials of increasing complexity on a variety of topics in traditional and modern Chinese culture. Movies, articles from Chinese newspapers and magazines, internet resources and television programs supplement reading in the text.
Chinese 4
Conducted entirely in Chinese, this intermediate level course strengthens the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through comparative cultural and social studies. Movies and articles from newspapers and magazines supplement readings in the text.
FRENCH (YEARLONG)
French 1
This is an introductory French course, in which we immerse ourselves as much as possible in the language. We focus on all four linguistic skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Our main learning objectives include the ability to comprehend and respond to basic conversational patterns, understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, knowledge of basic grammatical structures and terminologies, basic proficiency in reading and writing, and knowledge of some significant cultural practices and historical events from the French-speaking world.
French 2
In French 2, we build upon the skills gained in French 1 and continue using contextualized stories but have more emphasis on student output, which is to say speaking and writing. The verb conjugations that students saw and used repeatedly in French 1 will now be presented as explicit conjugations, with assessments including not only comprehension but also production of the language. Students are expected to be able to ask and answer questions in complete sentences on commonplace topics.
French 3
This is an intermediate French course, in which students will be writing short papers, engaging in more sophisticated conversations, and studying some literature and film. At this level, we focus on circumlocution, more advanced grammatical concepts, and self-correction. In addition, students develop reading comprehension techniques that enable them to read unfamiliar texts, and they study introductory phonetics in order to help them learn how to pronounce unfamiliar words. Throughout the entire course and interwoven into the lessons, students learn about significant cultural practices and historical events from the French-speaking world.
French 4
French 4 reviews grammatical concepts as needed but focuses more on analyzing content in the form of several literary works, more sophisticated news items, and some full-length films. At this level, students are expected to be able to sustain spontaneous analytical discussions on a variety of topics, both fiction and non-fiction. Students write regular compositions of 1-3 pages in length with greater responsibility for editing their work and attending to both form and content. Human rights, gender issues, immigration, historical events and literature are among the themes of this course.
Advanced Study French
AS French focuses on content, both literary and current events related, and on reviewing and practicing grammatical concepts as needed by students. At this level, students further develop their writing skills in progressively more independent persuasive essays on topics such as the impact of technology on human relations, housing options for the elderly, immigration, and a variety of literary works and films.
Advanced Topics Tutorial in French
ATT is an advanced French course that is project-based and driven by student interest and research inquiries. Themes will therefore vary each time the course is offered but will require critical cross-cultural engagement with a variety of texts, videos, films, and digital content. Throughout the tutorial, students will work on fine-tuning their French so they can understand and explain complex texts, conduct conversations with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, and develop sophisticated research projects, written and presented in French.
SPANISH (YEARLONG)
Spanish 1
This course is an introductory course taught in the target language using the concept of “comprehensible input”. Teaching and learning revolves around the use of stories encountered both on paper and in speech. Students acquire both vocabulary and grammatical structures via constant and targeted practice, seeing and hearing them repeatedly. Initially, each story utilizes the one hundred most-used words in Spanish, and we expand the vocabulary, verbs and grammatical constructions as the year progresses. Increasingly, then, students begin to be able to use these tools in their own language production. While no verb tense or grammar is off limits at any level, the primary targets of input and of a few more traditionally taught units are the present and past tenses. Students read short novels and stories and listen to songs chosen so that they include the vocabulary and grammar to be acquired and yield opportunities for conversation and written expression.
Spanish 2
Spanish 2 reviews and builds upon the concepts presented in Spanish 1. Based around the concept of “comprehensible input,” teaching and learning involves the use of stories encountered both in written text and in speech. Students acquire both vocabulary and grammatical structures via constant and targeted practice, seeing and hearing them repeatedly. Increasingly, then, students begin to be able to use these tools in their own language production. While review of the present tense and elementary uses of Spanish are an early focus, the center of the course is the
acquisition of the past tenses. Students read short novels and stories, listen to songs and view video programs that all include targeted vocabulary and grammar and yield opportunities for spoken and written expression.
Spanish 3
Spanish 3 extends and deepens the skills developed in the first two levels of the language. Based around the concept of “comprehensible input”, teaching and learning revolves around the use of stories encountered both on paper and in speech. Students acquire both vocabulary and grammatical structures via constant and targeted practice, seeing and hearing them repeatedly. Increasingly, then, students begin to be able to use these tools in their own language production. While no verb tense or grammar is off limits at any level, the primary targets of input and of a few more traditionally taught units are the past, future and perfect tenses, as well as the subjunctive mood in all of its tenses. Students read short novels and stories, listen to songs, and view video programs all chosen so that they include the vocabulary and grammar to be acquired and yield opportunities for discussion and written expression.
Spanish 4
Spanish 4 focuses on a survey of Latin American history through film. Each unit aims to further develop the students’ ability to understand spoken Spanish with a variety of native accents, and to increase their vocabulary and grammatical accuracy through daily class discussion and persuasive and analytical essays. Students will engage in debates, major presentations, culminating with a major project-based assessment. The course work will be supplemented by grammar review and reinforcement using Breaking the Spanish Barrier.
Advanced Study Spanish
AS Spanish deepens students’ understanding of the Spanish-speaking world by exploring how literature, film, art, and current events reflect cultural identities, social issues, and historical contexts. Students strengthen their communication and analytical skills through interactive discussions and projects that connect language to real-world contexts. Grammar is occasionally reviewed according to students’ needs, or expanded to support understanding of new structures and concepts.
Advanced Topics Tutorial in Spanish 1
ATT Spanish 1 is a college-level, independent course in which students read, analyze, and discuss history and literature in Spanish. The goal is for students to develop a nuanced and balanced understanding of the Spanish- speaking cultures and countries we study.
Through in-depth discussions of a wide range of narratives, students build a strong grasp of historical context while also appreciating the artistic and cultural expressions that shape each work. Emphasis is placed not only on comprehension, but on critical thinking and meaningful engagement with the texts. Students write analytical essays, make presentations and have one-on-one oral assessments.
Advanced Topics Tutorial in Spanish 2
ATT Spanish 2 is a college-level course that invites students to explore Latin America and Spain through topics of their own choosing. Areas of study may include politics, history, personal narratives, literature, art, and cultural movements, allowing students to pursue their interests while building depth of knowledge.
The course emphasizes not only comprehension, but also critical thinking and thoughtful engagement with a variety of texts and materials. Students develop their analytical skills through essay writing, presentations, and one-on-one oral assessments.
As a culminating experience, students design and complete a final project of their choice, applying the skills and perspectives they have developed throughout the course.