World Language
The Upper School offers Beginning through Advanced courses in Spanish, Chinese, French, and German and students may enroll in more than one world language course. Throughout the world language program, students are exposed to increasingly complex themes and develop their proficiency in alignment with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language standards. As they progress, students build cultural awareness and skill in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. In upper levels, substantive units on social, cultural and political issues are central to our courses. After completing Level IV of a language, students often elect to take Advanced Language Seminars, which explore topics at an advanced level entirely in the target language in a seminar format.
Students who advance to the Advanced Language courses are typically prepared to take Advanced Placement tests.
Chinese
Chinese I
Ways of greeting Chinese people that explain your identity, ways of showing a beginning appreciation of Chinese language and culture, and ways of discussing trade and migration are the focus of this course. Themes and grammatical structures align with the Integrated Chinese I. By the end of this level, students can communicate about and identify the main idea and a few supporting details of short written and spoken messages on highly predictable, everyday topics on familiar themes involving personal identity, family, and daily life. They can use simple sentences that have been encountered, memorized, and recalled. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in Novice Mid to Intermediate Low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Chinese II
This course explores how traditional medicine and health, unique features of Chinese housing, and Chinese historical relationship with the world all have a profound impact on daily life for children and adults in modern China. Themes and grammatical structures align with the Integrated Chinese 2 and Tales and Traditions I textbooks. By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations and present information on a number of familiar topics using increasingly complex sentences. They can handle short social interactions in everyday situations, write messages about familiar subjects, and recognize the main topic and some supporting details heard or read. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in the Novice High to Intermediate low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Chinese III
Level III students focus their learning by analyzing and discussing traditional Chinese stories, food culture, and ideas of traditional architecture. Using text and video, they compare modern and ancient social structures. Themes and grammatical structures align with the Integrated Chinese 3 and Tales and Traditions I textbooks. By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations on familiar topics using a series of sentences, make presentations and write on a wide variety of familiar topics, and understand the main idea in the messages, presentations and texts on topics related to everyday life and personal interests. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Chinese IV
Students in level IV get an introduction to ancient literature, discuss nuances of environmental protection in China, compare personal responsibilities of Chinese youth, and explore plans for professional life in China. Themes and grammatical structures align with the Integrated Chinese 4 and Tales and Traditions II textbooks. By the end of this level, students should be able to participate in conversations and handle common social interactions, write on a variety of topics, and understand the main idea in messages and presentations on a variety of topics. They can use and understand connected sentences while doing presentations, having conversations, reading, and hearing about everyday life. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Advanced Chinese
Advanced Chinese is an upper-level seminar course, the topics and foci of which will rotate over the course of two school years. For 2024-2025, the seminar is called "Classic and Modern Literature" and it focuses on several essential classical and modern readings studied and known by all Chinese middle and high school students. The literature will include Four Classic Chinese Novels, books of Luxun (a leading figure of modern Chinese), books from Ba Jin and other popular book excerpts. Some of the novels form the core of Chinese classical literature and still inform modern culture. Some of the modern literature has been introduced to the students in the forms of movies in Chinese I-IV classes and all of the indicated texts are highly interesting to read and study. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines. Sem 1 Fall 2024 Classic Literature; Sem 2 Spring 2025 Modern Literature
French
French I
French I students build foundational knowledge to meet basic needs - food, clothing, shelter, and identity - in authentic scenarios. The Upper School French I curriculum covers the Middle School French curriculum in one accelerated year, focusing on practical linguistic skills and cultural competency for basic interactions with French speakers. By the end of this level, students can communicate about and identify the main idea and a few supporting details of short written and spoken messages on highly predictable, everyday topics on familiar themes involving personal identity, family, and daily life. They can use simple sentences that have been encountered, memorized, and recalled. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in Novice Mid to Intermediate Low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
French II
French II focuses on problem-solving and expressing emotion around a variety of thematic units, including daily routines, technology, dating and relationships, illness and injury, and media. By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations and present information on several familiar topics using increasingly complex sentences in the past, present, and future. They can handle short social interactions in everyday situations, write messages about familiar subjects, and recognize the main topic and some supporting details heard or read. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in the Novice High to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
French III
School life in France, careers and future plans, storytelling, French-speaking African countries and French-speaking communities in North America (Acadians/Cajuns) are the foci in French 3. Grammar topics include building fluency in multiple time frames (past, present, future, and related tenses). By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations on familiar topics using a series of sentences, make presentations and write on a wide variety of familiar topics, and understand the main idea and specific details on topics related to everyday life and personal interests. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
French IV
The lottery, fables and morals in the era of Louis XIV, immigration, religion, and secularism in France are some of the topics in French 4. Students also analyze a film of a Parisian middle school and read the short novel Le Petit Prince. The grammar focus is on hypothetical situations in multiple time frames. By the end of this level, students should be able to participate in conversations and handle common social interactions, write on a variety of topics, and understand the main idea and specific details on a variety of topics. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate High range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Advanced French
Advanced French is an upper-level seminar course focusing on self, community, and justice, with specific topics rotating over the course of two school years. One set of courses centers around issues of environmental justice, revolutions across the Maghreb, and the preservation of cultural and linguistic heritage within the North American Francophone community. The second set of courses centers around ideas of self and community in a variety of contexts: the foundations of "Frenchness" in the French Revolution, the relationship between language, culture, and history in postcolonial Africa, and the idea of authentic selfhood as explored in existentialist theater and the arts. By the end of this level, students can participate with ease in conversations and everyday social interactions and can present information on topics of personal, community, national, or international interest. They can also interpret the main ideas and supporting details from written and spoken texts from literature and current news media. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in the Intermediate Mid to Advanced Low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
German
German I
Food, school supplies, clothing, shopping and the weather are at the core of German 1. Utilizing materials in Deutsch Aktuell Level 1, this course teaches students the basic structures necessary to navigate authentic scenarios such as introducing oneself and asking for help. It also covers the basic geography and cultures of the German-speaking countries. By the end of this level, students can communicate about and identify the main idea and a few supporting details of short written and spoken messages on highly predictable, everyday topics on familiar themes involving personal identity, family, and daily life. They can use simple sentences that have been encountered, memorized, and recalled. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in Novice Mid to Intermediate Low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines. The Upper School German I curriculum covers the Middle School German curriculum in one accelerated year, focusing on practical linguistic skills and cultural competency for basic interactions with German speakers.
German II
Travel, household items, sports and high-frequency topics are at the core of German 2. The course uses materials in Deutsch Aktuell Level 2, as well as selected short stories and novels. In German 2, students expand their ability to communicate and engage in social interactions with German-speaking peers. By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations and present information on several familiar topics using increasingly complex sentences. They can handle short social interactions in everyday situations, write messages about familiar subjects, and recognize the main topic and some supporting details heard or read. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Novice High to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
German III
Careers, baking, health, and fairy tales are some of the topics included in German 3. Students read a short novel to learn about daily life in East Germany, and they research and describe famous contemporary German personalities. By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations on familiar topics using a series of sentences, make presentations and write on a wide variety of familiar topics, and understand the main idea in the messages, presentations, and texts on topics related to everyday life and personal interests. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
German IV
At this level, students can take a deeper dive into many topics including the educational system in Germany, navigating a foreign city, how memories are preserved, current events, and crime stories. By the end of this level, students can participate in conversations, express opinions, write on a variety of topics, and understand the main idea in messages and presentations on a variety of topics. They can use and understand connected sentences while giving presentations, having discussions, reading, and hearing about everyday life. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Advanced German
Advanced German is an upper-level seminar course focusing on topics of contemporary German identity. By the end of the two-year sequence, students will have a broad understanding of various aspects of identity in German-speaking countries. This course examines some of the social and political key issues of modern Germany and Austria: the joys and challenges of immigration and multiculturalism, the reckoning with Nazi crimes and the development of a culture of moral and political responsibility, the changing priorities and lifestyles in younger generations of Germans, and the role of the individual as part of a community. Students will examine these topics through the lens of articles, literary texts, graphic novels, recorded interviews, music, and film. They will hone their ability to form their personal worldview by hearing and discussing multiple perspectives. t. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in the Intermediate Mid to Advanced Low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Spanish
Spanish I
Communicating about personal identity, family, and daily life in authentic scenarios as well as basic needs - food, clothing, shelter--are at the core of Spanish I. The Upper School Spanish I curriculum covers the Middle School Spanish curriculum in one accelerated year, focusing on practical linguistic skills and cultural competency for basic interactions with Spanish speakers. Grammar in Spanish I focuses on the present tense and basic structures. Throughout this course, students practice communicating about and identify the main idea and a few supporting details of short written and spoken messages on highly predictable, everyday topics on familiar themes. They can use simple sentences that have been encountered, memorized, and recalled. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in Novice Mid to Intermediate Low range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Spanish II
Neighboorhoods and cities, travel, health, and storytelling are at the center of Spanish II. The grammar focuses on the preterit, imperfect, and future tenses. Throughout this course, students participate in conversations and present information on several familiar topics using increasingly complex sentences. They can handle short social interactions in everyday situations, write messages about familiar subjects, and recognize the main topic and some supporting details heard or read. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Novice High to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Spanish III
Music in contemporary Colombia, the Pueblos Mágicos of Mexico, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and health and well-being as a high school student are at the heart of Spanish III. In addition to reading and listening to a variety of texts and music, students engage in conversations, make presentations, and write on a wide variety of topics. Grammar at this level includes the present subjuntive and commands. Spanish III students share stories and future plans, express doubt and hope, give suggestions and instruct others.Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Spanish IV
Visual and performing arts, concepts of contemporary life, families and community, legends, myths and current global issues in Spanish-speaking countries are at the heart of Spanish IV. Students can use and understand connected sentences while doing presentations, having conversations, reading, and listening to a variety of speakers about everyday life. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Spanish V
Sustainable development in Lago Atitlán in Guatemala, traditional medicine in Bolivia, educational systems in Minnesota and abroad, and consumer culture are some of the themes in Spanish V. This course uses "Temas," a theme-based textbook that closely follows the Advanced Placement approach to learning and assessing. Topics included are Families and Communities, Science and Technology, Beauty and Aesthetics, Contemporary Life, Global Challenges, Identities and Public Personalities. By the end of this level, students typically participate with ease in conversations and everyday social interactions. They clearly communicate information on autobiographical topics, as well as topics of community, national, or international interest. The topics are handled concretely using narration and description in the major time frames of past, present, and future. These speakers can also deal with a social situation with an unexpected complication. Students completing this level typically demonstrate a proficiency in the Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.
Advanced Spanish
Advanced Spanish is an upper-level seminar course with specific topics rotating over the course of two school years. Over the course of four semesters, students study geography, history, political and social evolution of and Spain, the Caribbean, Peru (Fall 2024) and Mexico (Spring 2025). By the end of the school year, students can participate with ease in conversations and everyday social interactions. They can communicate information on autobiographical topics, as well as topics of community, national, or international interest. The topics are handled concretely using narration and description in the major time frames of past, present, and future, as well as expressing opinions, making suggestions, and hypothesizing. These speakers can also deal with a social situation with an unexpected complication. Students completing this level typically demonstrate proficiency in the Intermediate High range in all modes of communication based on ACTFL guidelines.