World Languages

The World Languages Department at Flintridge Prep believes that language is not only a means of communication among people but is also a reflection of the culture of a specific people. The goal of the department is to develop the intellectual curiosity and cultural sensitivity of our students as they become more mature, responsible citizens in a global community. In order to achieve our goal, students will be immersed in their chosen language and will experience a curriculum that blends the rigor of a language's usage with the inspiration of its artistic heritage and the applicability of its culture.

Students are required to take three years of a language, but are encouraged to take four or five. Prep's World Languages department offers French, Latin, and Spanish. Language study begins in the eighth grade.

The French and Spanish curriculum stresses the four aspects of language learning, developing skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing the language. The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning serve as curricular blueprints in the development of accuracy and proficiency. Integral to the program is fostering in the student an appreciation of the culture or cultures using that language, a realization of the interdisciplinary relationships in areas relating to the arts, music, literature, social studies and the sciences. In addition, students use the department's language lab and the department's state of the art media-rich classrooms.

Many students compete in national and regional world language contests and qualify for membership in the Latin, French or Spanish Honor Societies. The AFS program is also attractive to those who want to enhance their language abilities through travel abroad.

New students are required to take a placement test in their chosen language. Based upon this evaluation and teacher recommendations, the department will place the student at the appropriate level.

1 unit
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Latin and provides opportunities to translate from Latin to English and vice versa. The grammar of both languages is frequently compared. Attention is also given to the Latin roots of English vocabulary and to other aspects of Roman civilization which have influenced the modern world.

1 unitStudents complete their study of the essential forms, grammar and vocabulary of Latin. They also read stories in Latin about life in ancient Roman times as well as stories from mythology.

1 unitFollowing a review of forms and grammar, students read a variety of works in Latin. Each quarter will focus on a specific topic. In the first quarter, students will read about mythology with passages from Jason and the Argonauts and Seneca’s Medea. In the second quarter, they will read passages from the Vulgate and assorted Medieval/Renaissance writers. The third quarter will move back to classical Latin with passages from Cicero’s letters and discussion of his oratory in general. The year will end with the lyric poetry of Catullus.

1 unitThis course will continue with the lyric poetry of Catullus that began in Latin III. Students will read a substantial portion of his opus. In addition to translation, students will scan a variety of meters and analyze the use of figures of rhetoric. After Catullus, students make the transition to the lyric poetry of Horace with a smaller but equally important sampling. Students spend the remainder of the year with Virgil’s “Aeneid,” reading passages from Books I and IV in Latin and most of the six books in English. Here students can explore many facets of the Roman epic in general and Virgil’s influence both on his own age and our own.

1 unit
We will continue our focus on Latin poetry, however, with a thematic approach. The theme will be how the relationships of men and women are depicted in Classical Latin. The three poets that we read this year are Catullus, Virgil and Ovid. The course will be more idea-centric, so we will do more literary analysis both in class and via written assignments. In addition, we will do more creative projects in both English and Latin involving poetry.

1 unit
This course emphasizes oral communication in French with close attention to basic grammar and vocabulary. Development of reading and listening comprehension is accomplished through short readings and the presentation of auditory stimuli via audio and visual media. Students will begin to write original paragraphs in the second semester, and particular focus is placed on the presentational and interpersonal modes of speaking and writing. Students are introduced to the culture of French speaking countries.

1 unit
This course continues to emphasize the skills taught in French I. Reading comprehension and oral communication skills continue to be an integral part of the program. At this level, much emphasis is placed upon the instruction of the various French verb tenses. In preparation for the more advanced courses, students utilize their knowledge of presentational and interpersonal writing and speaking. Students also continue their study of Francophone cultures.

1 unit
In French III, emphasis is placed on the mechanics of French which will enable the student to think and speak clearly in French. Students will write compositions, prepare oral presentations and study French culture. Selections from various French authors such as St. Exupéry, Camus and Sartre will be studied. Some sections may be designated honors.

1 unit
This course will continue to refine skills acquired in French III. Emphasis will be on conversation, writing skills and a general grammar review. Materials used in this class may come from video, magazines, newspapers, literature and the Internet. Literary studies of works from authors such as Sartre, Ionesco and Baudelaire will also be included.

1 unit
This course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use and does not overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. The three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century are foundational to the French Language and Culture (AP) course. The AP course provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in each of the three modes in the intermediate to pre-advanced range as described in the ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K–12 Learners. The French Language and Culture (AP) course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of products, both tangible (e.g., tools, books, music) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes) and assumptions that underlie both practices and products. This course is taught in French.  This course requires the permission and/or recommendation of the faculty.

1 unit
Extensive oral practice emphasizing communication and application of grammatical structures in oral patterns comprise the basis for this course. Students are introduced to the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. In the second semester, the students will begin to read and write more extensively in the target language, and special emphasis will be placed on the presentational and interpersonal modes of communication.

1 unit
Spanish II continues to emphasize the skills taught in Spanish I. Reading comprehension and oral communication skills continue to be an integral part of the program. At this level, much emphasis is placed upon the instruction of the various Spanish verb tenses. In preparation for the more advanced courses, the students utilize their writing skills to develop compositions. Through speaking and writing, students will continue to emphasize presentational skills and interpersonal modes of communication. Students also continue their study of Hispanic culture. Some sections will be designated honors, which is a prerequisite for Spanish III (H).

1 unit
In Spanish III, emphasis will be placed on the mechanics of the Spanish language which will enable the student to think and speak clearly in Spanish. Continued study of Hispanic culture, history and art are part of this course. The student will be required to prepare oral presentations and write original compositions. This creative format will enable the student to make a smooth transition into the Spanish IV course.  This course is recommended as preparation for Spanish IV. some sections may be designated honors, which is a prerequisite for Spanish language (AP).

1 unit
This course provides additional practice to help students attain a higher level of skill development (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic accuracy. The course emphasizes a skill-based approach in which students gain mastery of the language through a considerable amount of discussion, reading and writing on a variety of contemporary topics. The course concentrates on expanding vocabulary and strengthening grammatical accuracy as an aid to overcome any communicative problems. The culture study of Spain and Latin America is an integral component of this course. Music, film and literature are used throughout the course to enhance students’ understanding of Hispanic culture and society.

12 Grade; Fall Semester; 1 unit
This course is designed for students who wish to improve their conversational skills. The emphasis of this course is to develop students’ fluency of the language. Improvement in fluency requires practice and will require oral presentations, group discussions and daily participation. While the primary aim of the course is communication in Spanish, a parallel goal is to stimulate interest in, and appreciation of, the diversity of Hispanic culture by structuring conversations around current events, short stories and films in Spanish.
Course not offered this academic year. 

12 Grade; Spring Semester; 1 unit
Students will be assigned to specific agencies in the San Gabriel Valley area where they have the opportunity to be involved in service projects that address real community needs. All student activities will be monitored and coordinated by the teacher in cooperation with representatives from the community organizations that participate. The objective is to give the student opportunities to use his or her language skills in real-life situations in their communities as well as to increase the student’s intercultural awareness and understanding.
Course not offered this academic year. 

1 unit
This course examines prose and poetry by women writers from the Americas. Students examine the narrative strategies employed by these writers in interpreting social, political, cultural, and religious forces of Latin American society. Special emphasis is placed on the works written by Alvarez, Allende, Belli, Castellanos, Ferre, Poniatowska, and Velenzuela.
Course not offered this academic year. 

1 unit
This course helps students continue to develop a strong command of the Spanish language, emphasizing the integration of language and honing their ability to analyze and synthesize information and to communicate their ideas in a variety of forms and modes. This class provides the students with diverse opportunities to develop their writing, speaking, listening and reading comprehension skills. Students are exposed to the literature and current events of the Hispanic world through authentic texts, including newspaper and magazine articles and literary texts and newscasts. Students are expected to understand conversations, lectures, narratives and other spoken material and they are also expected to express themselves in a variety of styles, using audience-appropriate language. Students may take this course with departmental recommendation only.

1 unit
The Spanish Literature (AP) course is intended to be the equivalent of a third-year college introduction to Literature in Spanish that provides an in-depth study of the works and authors from Spain and Spanish America. Students discuss and analyze prose, poetry and drama using proper terminology. Because students read, analyze and discuss literature in Spanish, the language proficiency reached by the end of the Advanced Placement course is generally equivalent to that of college students who have completed a fifth or sixth semester of Spanish in composition, conversation and grammar.