9-12 One year

Recommendation from instructor World Languages

This course provides the study of both language acquisition and literature for students with a high level of competence in Chinese, and who have native or near native fluency in the language. Students will examine the study of culture, literacy, and media to gain a critical appreciation of the language used in written and spoken texts. The course focuses on the reinforcement and refinement of language skills previously acquired. Students progress through the levels as they gain expertise.

11-12 Two years

Recommendation from instructor World Languages

This is a 2-year course for students with little to no previous experience learning Mandarin. The objective of the course is clear and effective communication using the four skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The course proceeds from the learning of the fundamental skills to the acquisition of language required for the purposes and situations usual in everyday social interaction. A basic awareness of the culture using the language is also developed. The course requires 150 hours of instruction. Grades will be awarded through a combination of internal (school) and external (IBO) assessment.

11-12 Two years

Mandarin 4A World Languages

This is a two year course for students who are fluent, near native speakers of Mandarin, or for native speakers who wish to do another language at A1 level. The Mandarin A2 course is designed for students with an already high level of competence in the language. The course is based firmly on the study of both language and literature. The main focus of the course is on the reinforcement and refinement of language skills, as distinct from language acquisition. Students will also be given the opportunity to explore the culture of the language, and to make connections between other languages and cultures with which they are familiar. They will thus be able to use the language for purposes and in situations involving sophisticated discussion, argument and debate.

11-12 One year

Mandarin 4B World Languages

The AP Chinese Exam will assess students' interpersonal communication skills, their abilities to present and interpret language in spoken and written forms, and their functional familiarity with Chinese culture. This course allows students to be immersed in the Chinese language and culture by integrating cultural content, knowledge, and language skills. The course will also help students reach an advanced level of Chinese proficiency in the three communicative modes (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) and throughout five goal areas – communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities. Students will be prepared for the College Board Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture Examination in May.

11-12 Two years

Mandarin 4B World Languages

This is a two year language learning course aimed at students who are mandarin second language speakers and have 2-5 years of experience of instruction in the language. The main focus of the course is on language acquisition and the development of skills considerably beyond those expected of a beginner, up to a fairly sophisticated degree at higher level. The language B courses give students the opportunity to reach a high degree of competence in the language and explore the culture using the language. The range of purposes and situations for which and in which the language is used extends well beyond those at beginner level, to the domains of work, social relationships, and the discussion of abstract ideas, for example. The types of language needed for these purposes and situations are more refined.

11-12 Two years

Recommendation from instructor World Languages

French Ab Initio is a two year International Baccalaureate course that gives students with no previous foreign language background an opportunity to sit in on an IB Language B examination in the standard level at the end of Grade 12. This course would also be ideal for those wishing to study a foreign language as part of their diploma program. This is an intensive course with a strong focus on the acquisition and development of communicative skills through the mastery of essential grammatical, literary, social and cultural concepts of the target language in order to deal adequately with current and practical language demands and situations. The examination, like the Language B Standard Level has an internally-moderated oral assessment and an externally-moderated written assessment given at the end of Year 12.

9-12 One year

Middle School French World Languages

In this course, previously learned vocabulary and structures are reinforced, serving as a transition into new material. The students’ understanding of how the language functions is expanded allowing them to become more confident in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while continuing to make the French language relevant to their daily lives. The stress is on continued authentic communication, cultural awareness and relying on French for comprehension. The language for all communication in the class is French.

9-12 One year

French 3 World Languages

This course focuses on the practical application of the language in order to refine both spoken and written skills and to prepare for IB and AP courses. Authentic reading and listening materials such as excerpts from French literature, newspapers, magazines, film clips and cartoons are used. Students will expand their understanding of complex structures and acquire a more specialized and sophisticated vocabulary. French is the language of instruction and the language of all communication in the class.

11-12 Two year

French 4 World Languages

This class emphasizes the use of communication skills through active participation by students. Students hone their ability to comprehend formal and informal patterns of speech and to express their ideas with accuracy and fluency. Also, they are pushed to build the specialized vocabularies needed for everyday encounters with a variety of written forms from literary works to newspapers. Finally, students move beyond language to understand the cultural factors that influence the French language and how the French language has in turn influenced society. This class moves quickly through material using a variety of sources and challenging students to acquire the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills needed to be successful on the IB Diploma exam.

9-12 One year

Middle School Spanish World Languages

In this course, previously learned vocabulary and structures are reinforced, serving as a transition into new material. The students' understanding of how the language functions is expanded allowing them to become more confident in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while continuing to make the Spanish language relevant to their daily lives. The stress is on continued authentic communication, cultural awareness and relying on Spanish for comprehension.

9-12 Full year

Spanish 3(3 – 4 years of Spanish instruction) World Languages

Successful students will build upon previous years of study to develop an intermediate-high to advanced level profi ciency in the Spanish language by engaging in a variety of communicative activities that focus on developing reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Communication in the classroom will almost exclusively be in Spanish. Students will also develop cultural understanding and demonstrate practices appropriate to the cultures in which the language is used.

11-12 Two years

None World Languages

The language ab initio is a language learning course for beginners, designed to be followed over two years by students who have no previous experience learning the target language. The main focus of the course is on the acquisition of language required for normal purposes and situations in everyday social interaction. The Language ab initio are only available at Standard Level. Language ab initio aims to develop a variety of linguistic skills, and a basic awareness of Spanish culture using the language, through the study of a core and language-specific syllabus.