Foreign Languages

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The Foreign Languages curriculum offers a four-year sequential program in French, German, Japanese, and Latin.  The curriculum also offers Intensive Spanish and Russian to sophomores and above, interested in starting a second language.  The Intensive Spanish classes complete the equivalent of three semesters of college level Spanish in one year of high school study.

 

Two years of one foreign language are required for all students.  Although only two are required, the vast majority complete four years of study in one language and many begin a second language.  One may begin (with permission) a second foreign language after completing two years of a first language.

 

It is also the goal of the department to provide students an opportunity to travel in the target country during their course of study.  Trips and exchanges are conducted regularly in the following languages:  German, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish.  French-speaking students took an inaugural trip during the summer of 1997.

 

The primary goal of the Foreign Languages curriculum is to help students develop proficiency skills in listening, reading and writing.  The curriculum's purpose is to increase the student's knowledge and appreciation of diverse cultures of the countries whose languages they are learning.  Perhaps the best summation of our department's goals are made by the proposed National Foreign Language Goals and Standards:

 

Communication in Languages Other Than English

·         Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.

·         Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.

·         Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

 

Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures

·         Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.

·         Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.

 

Connect With Other Disciplines and Acquire Information

·         Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.

·         Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

 

 Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

·         Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.

·         Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparison of the cultures studied and their own.

 

Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World

·         Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.

·         Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

 

Foreign Language Placement Procedures

Subfreshmen Placement

 

 

Transfer Students

 

·         Placement of transfer students with prior language experience will be made on an individual basis. (consultation with language instructor and department chair)

 

Current Students

 

·        Placement of students taking language instruction outside of University High School will be done on an individual basis. (consultation with language instructor and department chair)