World Language
Arabic 1
Arabic is a communication-focused course in which students will be introduced to the Arabic language and diverse cultures of the Arab world. The year will begin with a conversational approach that will give students practical tools to interact in the language and develop an understanding of dialects, while beginning to learn the alphabet. Throughout the course, students will gain vocabulary that can be used in the context of friends, family, and their interests. By the end of the year, students will be able to interact with native speakers at a conversational level and read and write short texts in Arabic. The class will also include authentic texts, photos, and videos designed to deepen students' knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa region and scope of the Arabic language, native to over 300 million people in 26 countries.
Arabic 2
Arabic 2 will continue to focus on oral communication, preparing students to engage with native speakers on everyday subjects such as personal interests, daily life, and local culture. In addition, the course will increase exposure to written Modern Standard Arabic and build students’ vocabulary, always focused on authentic materials from a variety of written and online sources. Through their interaction with media from across the Arab world, students will begin to discuss cultural comparisons and deepen their understanding of the wide scope of the Arabic language.
Spanish 1
In this introductory course, students take the first steps towards fluency by learning proper pronunciation, accumulating a vocabulary of up to 650 words, and learning the present, present progressive, direct object pronouns, and the beginnings of the preterite tense. Each week students making use of that vocabulary through grammatically correct conversation relevant to the student's high school experience. This course is about learning the language that can be used in the context of friends, family, and in the larger community. By the end of the year students will have read their first novel in Spanish, and they will be comfortable having basic conversation revolving around who they are, what they like, and what they observe about the people and the world around them. Starting in the second semester, the class is taught solely in Spanish.
Spanish 2
This is an intermediate-level course where students review and expand on basic grammar concepts and conversation previously learned. Students will review the present and present progressive tense and will learn the preterite tense, preterite imperfect, reflexive verbs, and commands. Students continue to apply and learn vocabulary relevant to their high school experience and the city of Chicago, and they will now begin to apply what they know to a global context. Lessons will be taught mostly in Spanish, and students are expected to engage with their peers and teacher solely in Spanish. By the end of the year, they will have read a beginner/intermediate Spanish novel and will be writing and able to engage in Spanish conversation using complex sentences.
Spanish 3
In this more advanced course, the curriculum focuses on advanced grammar, such as the future tense, conditional tenses, and the subjunctive. The course begins with a review of previously learned tenses and the addition of specialized vocabulary. All lessons will be taught in Spanish and students are expected to engage with their peers and teacher solely in Spanish. The course incorporates trips to Spanish speaking neighborhoods of Chicago to engage with the community in the Spanish language. Students will also write essays in Spanish, read an intermediate-level Spanish novel, and become eloquent conversational Spanish speakers.
Advanced Topics in Spanish
Designed for very advanced 9th-10th grade students, this course focuses on particular aspects of Spanish (e.g. culture, civilization, literature, linguistics, film) by examining a varied selection of works. Assignments include readings, discussion, and papers in Spanish.
IB Spanish HL, SL, and ab initio
The purpose of IB Spanish is to foster the language acquisition process necessary for students to become proficient in Spanish by improving the four languages skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will be able to use Spanish effectively and respond spontaneously according to the cultural context of a situation. They will also be able to analyze and respond critically to the topics developed in class. Students will also develop an objective appreciation of the different views of people from other cultures and their cultural legacy.
French 1
This course is intended for the beginning French student; no previous knowledge of the language is necessary. Using immersion-based classroom techniques, songs, and games, we will focus on the four major areas of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. There will be an emphasis on interactive communication skills, and students will be encouraged to focus on how they can use the language in practical contexts. We will also cover cultural topics and authentic texts from the Francophone world, such as short stories, poems, current events, music videos, short films, and social media. Possible areas of focus include French-speaking countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean.
French 2
Building upon students’ previous knowledge of the French language, this course will focus on extending skills and acquiring a deeper understanding of the language. Instruction will be designed to meet students’ individual needs, with the knowledge that there may be a variety of levels within the classroom. We will work together on more complex grammatical structures and developing skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. As in French I, there will be an emphasis on interactive communication skills, and students will be encouraged to focus on how they can use the language in practical contexts. This course will also cover cultural topics and authentic texts from the Francophone world, such as short stories, poems, current events, music videos, short films, and social media. Possible areas of focus include French-speaking countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean.
French 3
Designed for the student who is extending their knowledge of French, this course puts an emphasis on more in-depth communication and critical thinking skills. Students will have the opportunity to devote class time to their own individual interests so that content drives their acquisition of new, more complicated grammatical structures. They will concentrate on writing lengthier compositions and reading more advanced articles from the francophone world. The course will also integrate a more advanced comparison of cultural contexts between francophone countries and the students’ own cultures.
IB French HL, SL, and ab initio
The purpose of this course is to foster language acquisition, intercultural understanding, and global citizenship. The course is organized into thematic units that put the French language into context and encourage development of the IB learner profile. By exploring thematic content, students will expand their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will be able to use the language effectively and respond spontaneously according to the cultural context of a situation. They will also be able to analyze and respond critically in the target language to the topics developed in class. Students will also develop an objective appreciation of the different views of people from other cultures and their cultural legacy.