Staff
(Jump to related courses below)

Janene Mattingly    Latin
Sharlis Mecagni     Spanish
Ben Zoss              Spanish
Tracy Cowper       French

French 1-2
This course uses an integrated approach to language learning which includes all four language skills:  speaking, reading, writing, and listening.  Students are required to use and reinforce these skills while acquiring an awareness of the French culture.

French 3-4
Vocabulary is expected to be larger with an emphasis on the ability to communicate more accurately.  Reading and listening comprehension are developed.  Grammar is introduced on a more complex level.  Students begin to write creatively in the language.

French 5-6
Former grammar concepts are reviewed and more difficult grammar is presented.  Students will read, comprehend, and discuss French literature in original form, and are expected to communicate in the language.

French 7-8
Emphasis in this course is on reading, writing and speaking with fluency.  French civilization and culture are studied extensively.  More oral work is required and the student again reads French literature.
 
 

Latin 1-2
The course emphasizes the building of vocabulary, especially those words with English derivatives and the development of the ability to read and write simple Latin.  Emphasis also is placed on civilization and culture since we owe so much to the Romans.  Latin abbreviations, phrases, mottos, and professional phrases used in English are also taught.

Latin 3-4
This course emphasizes the development of more advanced grammar through the reading of various Roman authors.  Continued development of vocabulary, derivation, and writing skills is covered.  Stress is placed on college level derivatives.  The course also continues the further development of the knowledge of Roman history and culture.

Latin 5-6
The course continues the development of grammatical skills learned in Latin 1-2 by the reading of original Latin works.  A short novel is also read.  Further development of vocabulary and derivation is stressed.  The development of writing skills is emphasized by the writing of an original Latin newspaper set in a certain time period of Roman history.  Culture and civilization are emphasized.  Continuation of skills developed in Latin 3-4.  College level vocabulary derivation is stressed.

Latin 7-8
This course continues the development of grammatical skills learned in Latin 1-2 by the reading of original Latin works.  A short novel is also read.  Further development of vocabulary and derivation is stressed.  The development of writing skills is emphasized by the writing of an original Latin newspaper set in a certain period of Roman history.  Culture and civilization are emphasized.  The student continues to develop skills learned in Latin 5-6.  College level vocabulary derived from Latin is stressed.
 
 

Spanish 1-2
The first year Spanish course involves four facets of language learning:  reading, writing, speaking, and understanding.  This is on a developing level with stress on conversational vocabulary with a stress on common nouns, action verbs, and adjectives.  Hispanic culture, including the countries, life an holidays, are introduced.

Spanish 3-4
The four basic language skills--reading, writing, understanding (listening comprehension), and speaking--are further developed in this course.  Students must learn vocabulary relating to their environment, novels read, and Hispanic culture.  Vocabulary will be employed in context.  Grammar is stressed; students must learn verb tenses so they can express themselves in Spanish using correct grammatical form.  Students will write paragraphs and reports in Spanish.  Hispanic culture, including Hispanic history, geography, art, poetry and customs, plays a vital role in this class.  The Hispanic influence in the United States is also discussed.

Spanish 5-6
The four basic language skills--reading, writing, understanding, and speaking--continue to be stressed.  At this level students go beyond the mere question and answer format.  Students discuss a variety of subjects, expressing their own thoughts and feelings in Spanish.  Grammar is stressed; advanced sentence structure is also stressed.  Students will write many compositions, newspaper articles, and full length stories.  Two books will be read.  Spanish and Latin American culture play an important role in this class.  Students are encouraged to be creative.  A video project may be completed, along with many other independent projects.

Spanish 7-8
The four basic language skills--reading, writing, understanding, and speaking--continue to be stressed.  However, in Spanish 7-8, a more idiomatic approach to speaking is encouraged.  Most grammar points are reviewed from Spanish 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6, and Spanish culture continues to be stressed.  Students discuss a variety of current topics and work on independent and group projects.  One to two novels are read in addition to several smaller works by famous Latinamerica authors and legends from Latinamerica.  Vocabulary is presented to support all these different pieces of literature.  Realia and real-life situations are used to further practical understanding and usage of the language.