This first year course in Mandarin Chinese introduces Chinese systems of Pinyin Romanization, basic Chinese characters, and basic sentence structures. Oral/aural communication and Chinese cultural context are emphasized. Reading and writing are introduced from the beginning of the course with a goal of mastering two hundred characters by the end of the year. This course develops conversational, reading, and writing skills at a sentence level, while cultivating cultural awareness through a highly communicative and dynamic approach.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course begins with a review of key concepts and structures from Chinese 1. Oral/aural communication continues to be emphasized. Short reading selections and basic sentence structures will be expanded from the previous year with a goal of mastering four hundred characters. Students begin to develop short paragraph writing skills on familiar topics. This course promotes the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing through a student-centered approach.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course begins with a review of key vocabulary and sentence structures from Chinese 2 and continues to develop students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills by introducing more complex sentence structures. Students start to apply the vocabulary and sentence structures they have accumulated to compose short essays. More supplementary media and reading materials will also be added to encourage students to explore and understand Chinese culture.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Building on the fundamentals established in earlier courses, students in this course are introduced to a variety of topics including personal relationships, education, community, food health, holidays, and travel through a content-based and immersive curriculum. The focus is on reading more extensive articles, writing different types of texts, refining interpersonal communication skills, and broadening the student’s cultural understanding. Videos, Chinese websites, and other media are employed to reinforce students’ language skills.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

In this course, students read authentic texts on a variety of topics and compose in a variety of different formats including notices, advertisements, blogs, and speeches in Chinese.

Ab initio students take an IB Chinese preparation mod in 12th grade, together with either Chinese 4 or Advanced Chinese (CHI500), depending on their level of proficiency.

Students in this course are required to take the IB Chinese ab initio exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 4.0-6.0

The goal of Advanced Chinese is to take students to the next level in their proficiency. Students interact much more with authentic materials—both written and audio, from literature to culture—and are expected to be even more vocal, making presentations, debates, and leading the class in discussions surrounding these materials and topics. In terms of producing Chinese, students explore different and more sophisticated ways of expressing themselves and learn to use more advanced structures, particularly in their speaking and writing. Advanced Chinese can be taken multiple times.

There are 2 mods specific to this course. Students who would like 3 credits in the course should select Chinese Society as the third mod.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 2.0-3.0

In this course, students read authentic texts on a variety of topics and compose in a variety of different formats including notices, advertisements, blogs, and speeches in Chinese.

This course consists of 3 mods of Chinese 4 (CHI400A), 2 mods of Advanced Chinese (CHI500) and 1 mod specific to IB Chinese preparation. The IB module will help students expand the topics they have learned in previous courses, while helping them sharpen the language skills to prepare for the IB SL Chinese B exam. Advanced Chinese and the IB Chinese mod must be taken in the year the student is sitting for the IB SL Chinese exam.

Students who register for this course are required to take the IB SL Chinese B exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-6.0

Designed for students with little or no previous experience, this course introduces students to communication in French. Using an immersion method, students develop skills in speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Components include audio, video, and grammar study along with short writing assignments. The class is conducted almost entirely in French.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Students in this course continue with the immersion method. The course begins with a review of key contexts and structures from French 1 and continues to deepen students’ command of French language communication through the study of video, audio, and grammar components. This class is conducted almost entirely in French.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Students in this course continue with the immersion method. The course begins with a rapid review of key contexts and structures from French 1 and continues to broaden students’ command of French language communication through study of video, audio and grammar components. Students begin to apply language skills in more analytical and creative ways and gain their first exposure to French literature. This class is conducted in French.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course focuses on transitioning from acquisition to application of language through the study of culture and literature. Following a review of key contexts and structures from French 2, the course continues to expand students’ knowledge and command of the language. Writing skills are further developed through short essays and weekly journal entries. Students study a selection of poems by Jacques Prévert. Students intending to continue on to IB French 4 will need to do independent reading and grammar work over the summer in addition to the French 4 summer reading assignments.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course focuses on transitioning from acquisition to application of language through the study of culture and literature. The course begins with a rapid review of key contexts and structures from Intensive French 2. Students extend their ability to use language skills in analytical and creative ways and also develop writing skills through short essays and weekly journal entries. Students study a selection of poems by Jacques Prévert and short stories by other French authors. This course is a pre-IB course, preparing students for IB French 4.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course focuses on further enhancing the students’ communicative skills in all four language areas–listening, speaking, reading, and writing–as well as further developing cultural awareness. A variety of media, including films, web-based resources, songs, articles, and short literary works will be used to build vocabulary, enhance listening skills, stimulate discussion, improve grammar, achieve greater linguistic proficiency, and make connections with a variety of Hispanic cultures. Students will explore each of the five IB core themes—Social organization, Identities, Experiences, Human Ingenuity, and Sharing the Planet.

Seniors who would like to take the IB SL French ab-initio exam should register for the French ab-initio course (FRE450A) instead of this course.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

This course focuses on further enhancing the students’ communicative skills in all four language areas–listening, speaking, reading, and writing–as well as further developing cultural awareness. A variety of media, including films, web-based resources, songs, articles, and short literary works will be used to build vocabulary, enhance listening skills, stimulate discussion, improve grammar, achieve greater linguistic proficiency, and make connections with a variety of Hispanic cultures. Students will explore each of the five IB core themes—Social organization, Identities, Experiences, Human Ingenuity, and Sharing the Planet.

Students taking this course must take the IB SL French ab-initio exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course is designed for intermediate level students and will aim at further honing their reading, writing and speaking skills. The class is conducted entirely in French and active oral participation is expected. Speaking and writing activities are based on cultural themes and contemporary issues are explored through movies; periodicals; songs of social, historical and artistic content; visual art; poems; and short stories. Review and continued refinement of grammatical structures are aimed at helping students develop their self-expression.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

IB SL French B is designed for students whose interest is primarily in the contemporary French-speaking world. The class is conducted entirely in French and active oral participation is expected. Speaking and writing activities are related to the contemporary world and prepare the students to a variety of tasks (oral description of a visual stimulus, writing letters, blogs, diaries, emails, etc.). Cultural themes and contemporary issues are explored through varied sources and correspond to the IB Themes. Review and continued refinement of grammatical structures are aimed at helping students develop their self-expression. Assignments are both written and oral. Juniors and seniors may, but are not required to, sit for the IB Language B standard-level exam at the end of this course.

IB SL French consists of the IB SL mod plus two mods of either Intensive French 4 (FRE451A) or Advanced French (FRE550A). Students must have at least two mods of French (including the IB-specific mod) in the year they sit for the exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-4.0

Students enter this class experienced in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding French. This class is conducted entirely in French and active oral participation is key. Each year, the literary, grammatical, and cultural foci of this class varies. Students read, interpret, and discuss formal and informal prose and literature; listen to authentic audio and video recordings; develop speaking skills in a variety of settings; and write both formal essays and informal communications.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

followed by at least 2 mods of Advanced French (FRE550A) or French Seminar (FRE650A) and the IB HL mod in 12th grade.

Students in this course must sit for the IB exam in May of 12th grade.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 5.0-8.0

This course is for students who have native or near-native command of the French language. Content is tailored to the needs and interests of the students taking the course in a particular year. While this class will be an asset for those students who wish to take the AP exam, it is not an official preparatory course for the AP exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

This course introduces students to Latin, the language not only of ancient Rome, but also the European Middle Ages and the fields of early modern math, science, and philosophy. We will use Suburani, a story-based introductory Latin textbook that shows the diversity of the Roman empire and addresses issues important to students. Students will learn the essentials of grammar and vocabulary through reading and writing Latin. They will also increase their English vocabulary and learn about the history and culture of Rome. Course objectives include learning to communicate in Latin through reading and writing; gaining a basic knowledge of the daily life of the ancient Romans, of some famous Roman individuals, and of historical and geographical facts; recognizing Latin words and derivatives in modern English; and understanding basic patterns of English as they relate to the structure of Latin. The course grade will be determined by regular progress checks and proficiency assessments, including open-book assessments.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course continues the introduction to Latin grammar and Roman culture begun in Latin 1. We continue reading about our friends from Suburani while reviewing the basics from Latin 1 and learning the remaining grammatical structures needed to start reading authentic texts in Latin 3. The course grade will be determined by regular progress checks and proficiency assessments, including open-book assessments.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Latin 3 introduces students to the excitement that is reading authentic Latin texts written by real Romans over two millennia ago. Course objectives include developing a proficiency for reading authentic Latin, identifying the use of literary devices in context, learning to scan Latin poetry, learning to efficiently use a Latin lexicon, recognizing Latin words and derivatives in modern English, and improving your ability to communicate, both in Latin and in English. The course grade will be determined by regular progress checks and proficiency assessments, including open-book assessments.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Latin 4 helps students advance from merely translating Latin to reading it and appreciating it as literature. The readings change from year to year, but often include selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Vergil’s Aeneid, and poems of Catullus and Horace. Students increase their Latin reading comprehension, translation ability, and literary analysis skills. The course grade will be determined by regular progress checks and proficiency assessments, including open-book assessments.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

Students begin their study of IB SL Latin by taking 2 mods of Latin 4 (LAT400A), followed by a mod that is focused on preparation for the IB SL Latin exam. The IB standard-level readings change from year to year, but often include selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Vergil’s Aeneid, and poems of Catullus and Horace. Students increase their Latin reading comprehension, translation ability, and literary analysis skills. Each student chooses a research topic and completes a research dossier using primary sources from the classical world. Assessments in this course are based on the questions found on the IB exam.

There is a summer assignment for this course.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-4.0

This course is for advanced students who have completed Latin 4 and wish to continue their engagement with the rich and entertaining literature of ancient Rome or perhaps even those of Medieval Europe. Students have some freedom in the choice of author and texts to be studied. Assessments will include regular progress checks, translations, and literary analyses.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-2.0

Students begin their study of IB HL Latin by taking 5 mods of Latin 4 and Advanced Latin over the course of 11th and 12th grades, followed by a mod that focuses on preparation for the IB HL Latin exam. The IB higher-level readings change from year to year, but often include selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Vergil’s Aeneid, and poems of Catullus and Horace. The HL level curriculum also expects students to do outside reading on the ancient texts in English. Students increase their Latin reading comprehension, translation ability, and literary analysis skills. Each student chooses a research topic and completes a research dossier using primary sources from the classical world. Assessments in this course are based on the questions found on the IB exam.

Students are required to take the IB HL exam in May of 12th grade.

This course requires summer work.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 5.0-6.0

This immersion-term course in Rome is cross-listed as ENG930R (English) and MUL930R (Extradisciplinary). A travel-abroad course, it requires parental consent. See MUL930R (Extradisciplinary) in the Extradisciplinary section of the catalog for description.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-1.0

In this course, students learn through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Classes also include exposure to the richness and variety of Hispanic cultures. Music, games, and projects are among the tools used to foster an environment of engaged language learners. Spanish is the primary language of instruction in this introductory course.

Students are expected to take an active role on a daily basis by working in groups, in pairs, or as individuals. Successful language acquisition requires systematic review and practice outside the classroom as well as diligent preparation of daily homework assignments. Homework can include listening, reading, writing, and speaking assignments. Evaluation is based on daily aural/oral and written assessments, quizzes, dialogues, skits, and a test following each chapter. A cumulative exam is administered at the end of each mod.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Spanish 2 begins with a review of vocabulary and structures covered in Spanish 1 and expands upon those skills. Some of the highlights include narration in the past, daily routine, personal preferences, needs, and future time. Spanish is the primary language of instruction as students learn through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Classes also include exposure to the richness and variety of Hispanic cultures. Music, games, and projects are among the tools used to foster an environment of engaged language learners.

Students are expected to take an active role on a daily basis by working in groups, in pairs, or as individuals. Successful language acquisition requires systematic review and practice outside the classroom as well as diligent preparation of daily homework assignments. Homework includes listening, reading, writing, and speaking assignments. Evaluation is based on daily aural/oral and written assessments, quizzes, dialogues, skits, and a test following each chapter. A cumulative exam is administered at the end of each mod.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Spanish 3 begins with a review of vocabulary and structures covered in Spanish 2 and expands upon those skills. The focus is on strengthening the skills acquired in Spanish 2. Short literary excerpts are introduced and writing exercises may include compositions or journal work. This course can prepare students for Intensive Spanish 4 if additional work is completed successfully over the summer. Spanish is the primary language of instruction as students learn through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Classes also include exposure to the richness and variety of Hispanic cultures. Music, games, and projects are among the tools used to foster an environment of engaged language learners.

Students are expected to take an active role on a daily basis by working in groups, in pairs, or as individuals. Successful language acquisition requires systematic review and practice outside the classroom as well as diligent preparation of daily homework assignments. Homework might include listening, reading, writing, and speaking assignments. Evaluation is based on daily aural/oral and written assessments, quizzes, dialogues, skits, and a test following each chapter. A cumulative exam is administered at the end of each term.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Spanish 3 begins with a review of vocabulary and structures covered in Spanish 2 and expands upon those skills. The focus is on strengthening the skills acquired in Spanish 2. Short literary excerpts are introduced and writing exercises may include compositions or journal work. This course can prepare students for Intensive Spanish 4 if additional work is completed successfully over the summer. Spanish is the primary language of instruction as students learn through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Classes also include exposure to the richness and variety of Hispanic cultures. Music, games, and projects are among the tools used to foster an environment of engaged language learners.

Students are expected to take an active role on a daily basis by working in groups, in pairs, or as individuals. Successful language acquisition requires systematic review and practice outside the classroom as well as diligent preparation of daily homework assignments. Homework might include listening, reading, writing, and speaking assignments. Evaluation is based on daily aural/oral and written assessments, quizzes, dialogues, skits, and a test following each chapter. A cumulative exam is administered at the end of each term.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

Intensive Spanish 3 begins with a brief review of vocabulary and structures covered in Spanish 2. The focus is on strengthening the skills acquired in Spanish 2. Short literary excerpts are introduced. During Term 3, students are exposed to sophisticated readings from sources other than their textbooks. Writing includes frequent compositions or journal work. There is an emphasis on creativity and independent thinking. Spanish is the primary language of instruction as students learn through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Classes also include exposure to the richness and variety of Hispanic cultures. Music, games, and projects are among the tools used to foster an environment of engaged language learners.

Students are expected to take an active role on a daily basis by working in groups, in pairs, or as individuals. Successful language acquisition requires systematic review and practice outside the classroom as well as diligent preparation of daily homework assignments. Homework might include listening, reading, writing, and speaking assignments. Evaluation is based on daily aural/oral and written assessments, quizzes, dialogues, skits, and a test following each chapter. A cumulative exam is administered at the end of each term. This course is a pre-IB course, preparing students for IB Spanish 4.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course is designed for students seeking to further their Spanish-language proficiency. Through news sites, podcasts, videos, documentaries, advertisements, entertainment and other current media, students learn about the world today in Latin America, Spain and beyond. Class is conducted entirely in Spanish with a focus on active communication. Because the topics covered change with the news cycle, students can sign up for multiple mods of this course, and mods do not need to be taken in order. This course is a potential pathway to Intensive Spanish 4.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

This course focuses on further enhancing the students’ communicative skills in all four language areas–listening, speaking, reading, and writing–as well as further developing cultural awareness. A variety of media, including films, web-based resources, songs, articles, and short literary works will be used to build vocabulary, enhance listening skills, stimulate discussion, improve grammar, achieve greater linguistic proficiency, and make connections with a variety of Hispanic cultures. Students will explore each of the five IB core themes—Social organization, Identities, Experiences, Human Ingenuity, and Sharing the Planet.

Students taking this course must take the IB SL Spanish ab-initio exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-3.0

This course focuses on strengthening students’ communicative skills in all four language areas—listening, speaking, reading and writing—as well as developing greater cultural awareness. A variety of media including films, documentaries, web-based resources, songs, articles, and literary selections are used to build vocabulary, enhance listening skills, stimulate discussion, improve grammar, achieve greater linguistic proficiency, and make connections with a variety of Hispanic cultures. This class is conducted entirely in Spanish and all students are expected to actively participate in class activities.

Mod 1: Social organization and experiences
Mod 2: Identities and human ingenuity
Mod 3: How we share the planet (intermediate speaking proficiency skills)

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

IB SL Spanish consists of the IB SL mod plus two mods of either Intensive Spanish 4 (SPA451A) or Advanced Spanish (SPA550A). Students must have at least two mods of Spanish (including the IB-specific mod) in the year they sit for the exam.

Students in this course must sit for the IB exam.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-4.0

Students can prepare for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam by taking 3 mods of Intensive Spanish 4 (SPA451A) along with an additional mod that focuses on AP exam preparation. Students must have at least two mods of Spanish (including the AP-specific mod) in the year they sit for the exam.

Students enter this class experienced in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Spanish. This class is conducted entirely in Spanish and active oral participation is key. Each year, the literary, grammatical, and cultural foci of this class may vary. Students read, interpret and discuss formal and informal prose and literature, listen to authentic audio and video recordings, develop speaking skills in a variety of settings, and write both formal essays and informal communications. It is expected that students in this course will take the AP Spanish Language exam Spanish exam in May.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 4.0-4.0

Students enter this class experienced in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Spanish. This class is conducted entirely in Spanish and active oral participation is key. Each year, the literary, grammatical, and cultural foci of this class may vary. Students read, interpret and discuss formal and informal prose and literature, listen to authentic audio and video recordings, develop speaking skills in a variety of settings, and write both formal essays and informal communications.

The course includes two mods focused on literature and cinema.

This course has a summer assignment.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

The IB HL Spanish course consists of at least 2 mods of either Intensive Spanish 4 (SPA451A) or Advanced Spanish (SPA550A) along with the IB HL mod in 11th grade, followed by at least 2 mods of Advanced Spanish (SPA550A) or Spanish Seminar (SPA650A) along with the IB HL mod in 12th grade. Students may elect to include the AP Spanish mod in 11th grade if they would like to sit for the AP exam.

Students in this course must sit for the IB exam in May of 12th grade.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 3.0-7.0

This course is for students who have native or near-native command of the Spanish language and want to continue their study beyond Advanced Spanish. Content is tailored to the needs and interests of the students taking the course in a particular year. Past topics have included current events, literature, arts, history, and science.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-3.0

This summer travel-abroad course is cross-listed as MUL820P (Extradisciplinary). See MUL820P (Extradisciplinary) in the Extradisciplinary section of the catalog for description.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 1.0-1.0