Latin I
Recommended For: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: None
Students gain a basic understanding of Latin language, culture, history and art. Our focus is reading stories, but students will get a chance to listen, write and speak the language. By the end of the course, students will read some authentic Latin poetry and have constructed a Roman garment. This course is meant to provide choice to students who wish to take something a little different than Spanish. It also attracts students who already speak other languages and are interested in Latin to learn about the linguistic development of a language they already know.
Latin II
Recommended For: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicants must have completed Latin I
Students gain an intermediate understanding of Latin language, culture, history and art. Our focus is reading stories, but students will get a chance to listen, write and speak the language. By the end of the course, students will read some authentic Latin poetry and examine its meter. Students will have participated in a Roman dinner party and composed and performed several short plays.
Latin III
Recommended For: Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicants must have completed Latin II
Latin III is for polishing up Latin skills to begin looking at Latin literature. As we do this, students will explore Roman slavery and the public life of a Roman citizen. In the course of this, students will create a slave costume and reenact a slave auction. Students will continue to show their understanding of Latin language and culture by putting on plays and slideshows. By the end of the course, students will be able to read Roman prose by Julius Caesar and Pliny the Younger.
Latin IV
Recommended For: Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicants must have completed Latin III
Latin IV is the final level in the Latin program. Students will solidify their foundation in grammar and to build fluency in translation while making a transition to authentic Latin. To analyze the use Latin as literature, including elements of style and technique as well as of the mythological, historical, and social elements addressed by the author. In the fourth and final book of the Cambridge Latin Course series, students will continue to ‘Hail Caesar’! Domitian has been Emperor of Rome for only two years but already fear and suspicion are rife among his imperial advisors, associates and opponents.
Under his rule, life is perilous. So enter into Domitian’s palace and the inner workings of his Council, join a Roman wedding ceremony, look at Roman law, relax in a country villa – but tread carefully and watch your back... Domitian’s never far away!
Finally, we wrap up the course in Stages 41 – 48 by reading real Latin poetry and prose from a selection of famed Roman authors, as well as further exploring their culture.
Spanish I
Recommended For: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: None
Spanish I an introduction to basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence structure in Spanish. Basic listening and reading comprehension will be developed and students will hold simple conversations and write short compositions. This course will also develop cultural awareness by examining the different cultural aspects of the Spanish speaking cultures throughout the world. Students taking this course will be expected to practice vocabulary in and outside the classroom as well they will be required to complete presentations and research applying learned vocabulary.
Spanish II
Recommended For: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have completed Spanish I
This course will continue to strengthen vocabulary and grammatical concepts of the Spanish language and prepare students to develop fluency in the Spanish language. Speaking, reading and writing will continue to be developed though conversations, presentations, reading and writing compositions in Spanish. Grammatical concepts such as reflexive verbs, present progressive, the preterite and imperfect tense will be covered. This course will also develop cultural awareness by examining the different cultural aspects of the Spanish speaking cultures throughout the world.
Spanish III
Recommended For: Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have completed Spanish II
In this course, students will develop communicative competence by interacting orally and in writing with other Spanish speakers. Students will also understand oral and written messages in Spanish and will complete oral and written presentations in Spanish. Students will communicate on a variety of topics at a level commensurate with their study, using more complex structures in Spanish. Grammatical concepts such as the review of the preterite and imperfect tense as well as the introduction of the future and the subjunctive tense will be covered. Students will also comprehend main ideas of authentic materials in Spanish.
Honors Spanish IV
Recommended For: Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisites: Applicant must have completed Spanish III
Honors Spanish IV is an intensive course designed to meet the needs of students who are interested to communicate in writing and orally in Spanish at an advanced level. Students will acquire in cultural appropriate ways a deeper knowledge of thematic vocabulary related to the immediate and external environment and more complex grammatical structures using the four language modalities: speaking, reading, listening and writing. In addition, students will be exposed to customs and traditions of the Spanish speaking countries through literature, history and visual art. The course guidelines are aligned with the World Language Content Standards for California Public Schools.