Memorial
High School
Foreign Language
Students wishing to take Foreign Language II at the
ninth grade level must have two years of Foreign Language in seventh and eighth
grades with a B (4.0) average or above. Satisfactory
performance on a Foreign Language Department Exam may be required.
Grades 7-8 Foreign Language will not count as credits or in a student’s
GPA. For the Academic Honors
Diploma, six additional credits in Foreign Language must be taken in high
school.
French
I- Level II
Two Semesters, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: English grade of 3 or above
In this course students are introduced to the French
language and to the cultures of several Francophone countries.
Although students develop basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing
skills, there is an emphasis on oral proficiency.
Students participate in paired and small group activities designed to
build knowledge of practical vocabulary and to develop a standard pronunciation
of French. By engaging in enjoyable
communication activities, creative projects, and cultural discussions, first
year students develop an interest in French.
Upon completion of French I, students will have a solid foundation in the
target language. This will enable
students to continue working toward the goal of functioning effectively in the
French language.
French
II- Level II
Two Semesters, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: French I with an average of 2 or above
French II students begin with a basic review of the
grammar and vocabulary acquired in French I.
After completing this review, students continue to build upon their
foundation by learning new vocabulary and advanced grammatical structures.
Students become more proficient in the skills of listening, speaking,
reading, and writing. Because there
is a continued emphasis on oral proficiency, students create dialogues and work
together in paired activities. Students
are required to read short stories and to write short compositions in French.
Cultural topics are incorporated throughout the course to encourage
understanding and appreciation of French-speaking people.
Two Semesters, Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: French II with an average of 3 or above
Third year students will be given the opportunity to
study advanced grammatical structures such as plus-que-parfait and the
subjective in addition to reviewing vocabulary and grammar.
French III students continue to master their pronunciation and listening
skills through communicative activities such as dialogues and historical and
cultural presentations. Cultural and
historical preludes are explored to enhance the student’s cultural
understanding of French-speaking people throughout the world.
Although oral proficiency continues to be emphasized, students increase
their ability to write longer compositions and to read short stories and
cultural realia. This
standards-based approach assures the student the opportunity to become
proficient in French.
French,
Advanced Placement- Level IV
Two Semesters, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: French III with an average of 3 or above
This advanced course gives students the opportunity
to improve their proficiency in the four areas of French: speaking, listening,
reading and writing. The use of
college level texts and materials aid in an intensive review of French grammar,
vocabulary and pronunciation during the first semester.
An in-depth study of French history allows students to better understand
the French people and culture. Conversational
topics prepare students for immersion situations at universities and abroad.
During the second semester, students work with an Advanced Placement
textbook to prepare for college entrance exams.
Students complete a French novel and continue to study French
civilization. Throughout the year,
students watch French films and learn how to critique and discuss them in
French. Students are required to
complete a final written and oral project using a specific event, person, or
cultural phenomenon from among those discussed during the course of study.
This standards-based approach to the entire Advanced Placement French
course assures students the opportunity to improve their French oral, written,
reading and listening skills so that they are able to function well in a
French-speaking society. They should
prepare to continue their French studies at the university level.
German
I- Level II
Two Semesters, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: English grade of 3 or above
German I is the first step in learning a language
which can significantly help students to succeed in higher education,
government, business, science and technology.
Students are introduced to the German language and to the cultures of
German-speaking countries in order to help them understand cross-cultural
differences and appreciate German contributions to our American culture.
Students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills with
emphasis on communicative activities. Upon
completion of German I, students will have acquired knowledge of phonology,
basic grammar, and listening and speaking skills.
Two Semesters, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: German I with a average of 3 or above
After
a basic review of the vocabulary and grammar acquired in German I, students will
continue to expand their vocabulary and will be introduced to new grammatical
structures. German II students
engage in group activities with emphasis on oral proficiency, reading and
writing. This includes reading
material and writing short dialogues and compositions in German.
Students continue their study of the culture of German-speaking countries
with the focus on teenagers and contemporary lifestyles.
German
III- Level III
Two Semesters, Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: German II with a grade of 3 or above
This course is designed to give students an
understanding of cultural aspects such as politics, history, and civilization.
Students have the opportunity to become proficient in German by mastering
complex grammatical structures and expanding their vocabulary on specific
cultural topics through reading and writing activities.
In addition, creating real-life group discussion situations and every day
conversations emphasizes oral proficiency.
Two Semesters, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: German III with a grade of 3 or above
This advanced foreign language course will
prepare students for their study of German at the university level.
It focuses on German literature as it relates to history along with
related vocabulary and advanced grammatical structures.
Students engage in exciting activities such as use of the internet,
educational games, and research to explore German culture and to develop an
appreciation for the differences. Students
completing this course should be well prepared to function at the university
level.
Two Semesters, Grade 9
Prerequisites: English grade below a 3 (C)
Spanish IA is a proficiency and standards-based course designed to encourage the students to use the language creatively from the outset. The integrative, communicative approach used allows the four language skills and culture to reinforce one another in an widening spiral. At this level listening and speaking are highlighted to give students a sense of accomplishment from the outset. A range of practice exercises progressing from mechanical to meaningful to communicative affords the students the opportunity to accomplish real tasks with language. Spanish IA uses various techniques and group activities in an effort to reach students of different abilities and interests. In this course, the students will be introduced to pronunciation and intonation patterns, basic grammatical structures, and vocabulary. Cultural learning, which is inseparable from the language, will present the Hispanic ways of life, attitudes, and customs which are integral parts of learning the Spanish language. Spanish IA will cover the first half of the first level textbook. Textbook material will be covered at a slower pace and will be supplemented with additional exercises for reinforcement. Both semesters combined will count as one directed elective.
Two Semesters, Grade 10
Prerequisites: Spanish 1A with an average of 2 or above
Spanish IB is a proficiency and standards-based
course designed to encourage the students to use the language creatively from
the outset. The integrative,
communicative approach used allows the four language skills and culture to
reinforce one another in an widening spiral.
In this course, listening and speaking will continue to be highlighted to
give students a sense of accomplishment from the outset.
A range of practice exercises progressing from mechanical to meaningful
to communicative will again afford the students the opportunity to accomplish
real tasks with the language. Spanish
IB will continue using various techniques and group activities in an effort to
reach students of different abilities and interests.
In this course, students will continue to learn about the pronunciation
and intonation patterns, the basic grammatical structures, and vocabulary.
Cultural learning, which is inseparable from the language, will present
more information about the Hispanic ways of life, attitudes, and customs, which
are integral parts of learning the Spanish language.
Spanish IB will cover the second half of the first level textbook.
Textbook material will be covered at a slower pace and with additional
exercises for reinforcement. Students
successfully completing this course with a grade of 2 or above will be eligible
to continue to Spanish II. Both
semesters combined will count as one directed elective.
Two Semesters, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: English grade of 3 or above
Spanish I is a proficiency and standards-based course
designed to encourage the students to use the language creatively from the
outset. The integrative, communicative approach used allows the four language
skills and culture to reinforce one another in an ever-widening spiral.
At this level, listening and speaking are highlighted to give students a
sense of accomplishment from the outset. A
range of practice exercises progressing from mechanical to meaningful to
communicative affords the students the opportunity to accomplish real tasks with
the language. Spanish I uses various
techniques and group activities in an effort to reach all students with their
different levels of ability and interests. In
this course, the students will be introduced to the pronunciation and intonation
patterns, the basic grammatical structures and vocabulary.
Cultural learning, which is inseparable from the language, will present
the Hispanic ways of life, attitudes, and customs, which are integral parts of
learning the Spanish language. This
course will cover the first level textbook at a faster pace than the Spanish IA/IB
sequence. Students successfully
completing this course with an average of 2 or above will be eligible to
continue to Spanish II
Two Semesters, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Spanish I with an average of 2 or above
Spanish II is proficiency and standards based course
which begins with a systematic review and reinforcement of material learned in
Spanish I or Spanish IA/IB. This
course continues to use the integrative, communicative approach used in the
first level Spanish courses allowing the four language skills and culture to
continue reinforcing one another. While
the emphases in Spanish I are on phonology, basic grammar, and the listening and
speaking skills, Spanish II concentrates more on syntax, the expansion of
vocabulary, and the receptive skills of reading and writing.
The reading skill, perhaps the most durable of the language skills, is
developed systematically, providing students with many opportunities to
demonstrate their reading comprehension skills.
The writing skill is developed along the same lines as the speaking
skill. Students are required to move
through a sequence of exercises, from mechanical to communicative.
On this level, culture is not just dealt with in terms of facts, but
includes cultural analysis and appropriate behavior in terms of language use.
Spanish II will continue to introduce various cultural aspects so that
the students may come to better understand and appreciate the Spanish language,
which is the core of Hispanic culture.
Two Semesters, Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: Spanish II with an average of 3 or above
Spanish III is a proficiency and standards based
course which begins with a review focusing on basic, high frequency vocabulary
and grammatical structures. The
integrative, communicative approach used in the level one and level two Spanish
courses is continued in Spanish III, allowing students the opportunity for
additional growth toward proficiency in the four language skills.
Spanish III continues to concentrate on the syntax, the mastery and
expansion of vocabulary, and the receptive skills of reading and writing, and
culture. Authenticity of expression
is an essential part of Spanish III, helping the students to develop a sense of
social/contextual appropriateness. It
is hoped that the students become more accepting and non-judgmental of other
cultures, that they become less ethnocentric about their culture, and that they
come to understand the Hispanic civilization in its own context and in the
reality of its present influence on our own society.
Spanish,
Advanced Placement- Level IV
Two Semesters, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: Spanish III with an average of 4 or above
This advanced level language course uses university
level texts to review everyday Spanish vocabulary, to provide a thorough
grammatical review, to challenge students to apply their Spanish in advanced
placement exercises (oral, written, reading, and listening), to present Latin
American culture, and to introduce
Business English Fine Arts Foreign Language Health/Driver Ed/P.E.
Math Non-Departmental Science Social Studies Theology