Group 2  ::  Second Language 

•    Spanish I
The primary aim of Spanish I at the high school level is to develop both linguistic skills and intercultural awareness to promote communication with other speakers of the language. This course is structured to lead students through experiences that will provide them with a window to different aspects of Hispanic culture. The students’ learning will concentrate on the four skills: listening speaking, reading and writing.  They will be introduced through thematic units to different aspects of the culture such as: school, leisure activities, food, family, house, shopping, technology and Spanish speaking people and countries. They will also be introduced to the linguistic aspect of Spanish and will learn: infinitives, nouns, adjectives, articles, direct and indirect object pronouns, present tense, stem-changing verbs, present progressive and preterite tense.  Their learning will be enhanced and complemented by field trips to museums, the use of the Internet, Spanish movies and DVDs, songs and project presentations in Spanish.

•    Spanish II
At this level, the students will further develop and refine the skills already gained during the previous years. The objectives of the second language class study are social, academic and cultural, with emphasis upon communication and interaction in the target language. Students will gain greater insight into the Spanish and their culture, their way of life whilst acquiring a more detailed knowledge of the structure and rules of the language in operation. Materials used will include newspaper and magazine articles; poetry, music, drama, readers, short stories, novels and extracts from famous Spanish writers; audio and video cassettes; language-learning computer software.

•    Spanish II Honors
At this level, the students will further develop and refine the skills already gained during the previous years. The objectives of the second language class study are social, academic and cultural, with emphasis upon communication and interaction in the target language. Students will gain greater insight into the Spanish and their culture, their way of life whilst acquiring a more detailed knowledge of the structure and rules of the language in operation. Materials used will include newspaper and magazine articles; poetry, music, drama, readers, short stories, novels and extracts from famous Spanish writers; audio and video cassettes; language-learning computer software. This course is taught in the target language.

•    Spanish for Heritage Speakers I and II
This course is designed especially for “heritage language learners” – students who are raised in a home where a non-English language is spoken and who speak or at least understand Spanish.  It is also an opportunity to study Spanish formally in an academic setting in the same way native English-speaking students study English language arts. The course allows students to reactivate the Spanish they have learned previously and develop it further, to learn more about their language and cultural heritage, to acquire Spanish literacy skills and to develop or augment Spanish academic language skills. Further more, this course will prepare students for the IB Diploma Programme Course Language A2 (Spanish) or Language B Spanish HL.  By participating in either one of these courses, a student may be able to graduate with a prestigious bilingual Diploma. 

•    Spanish III
This course expands the students' knowledge of the Spanish language through five curriculum strands: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Experiences.  Communicative abilities are developed in three modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational; integrating the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and showing through a variety of media.  Students explore cultural themes by learning about cultural practices, products and perspectives. Students use language to acquire new information and knowledge in other subject areas through interdisciplinary activities.  The nature of language and culture is learnt by comparing other languages and cultures with one's own. Finally, students go beyond classroom and school to explore how to use Spanish for personal enjoyment and career possibilities.

•    French I
The primary aim is to continue giving students the tools that will enable them to communicate both fluently and accurately in French speaking environments, and to develop gradually a higher ability to communicate naturally. This class will offer insight into civilization and culture of France and other French speaking countries. Study begins with everyday aspects of life, moving on to more specific aspects of culture.

•    French II
At this level, the students will further develop and refine the skills already gained during the previous years. The objectives of the second language class study are social, academic and cultural, with emphasis upon communication and interaction in the target language. Students will gain greater insight into the French and their culture, their way of life whilst acquiring a more detailed knowledge of the structure and rules of the language in operation. Materials used will include newspaper and magazine articles; poetry, music, drama, readers, short stories, novels and extracts from famous French writers; audio and video cassettes; language-learning computer software.

Diploma Programme Courses

•    IB Spanish 11 ab initio SL
•    IB Spanish 12 ab initio SL

Ab initio courses are only available at standard level.
The Spanish language ab initio course is a language learning course for beginners, designed to be followed over two years by students who have two years or less experience of learning Spanish. The main focus of the course is on the acquisition of Spanish required for purposes and situations used in everyday social interaction. The Spanish ab initio course aims to develop a variety of linguistic skills, and a basic awareness of Spanish speaking cultures, through the study of language-specific  vocabulary and a core syllabus.

•    IB Spanish 11 Language B SL
•    IB Spanish 12 Language B SL
The goal of the International Baccalaureate Second Language program is to teach an additional language over a two-year period to students with some previous experience of the language.  The primary focus of the course is language acquisition and the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. International Baccalaureate Second Language courses give students the opportunity to expand their competence in the target language and to explore the cultures where the language is used.

•    IB French 11 ab initio SL
•    IB French 12 ab initio SL
Ab initio courses are only available at standard level.
The French language ab initio course is a language learning course for beginners, designed to be followed over two years by students who have no previous experience of learning French. The main focus of the course is on the acquisition of French required for purposes and situations usual in everyday social interaction. The French ab initio course aims to develop a variety of linguistic skills, and a basic awareness of French speaking cultures, through the study of a core syllabus and language-specific syllabuses.

•    IB French 11 Language B SL
•    IB French 12 Language B SL
This course is designed for second language learners with some previous experience learning the language. French Language B courses give the students the opportunity to reach a high degree of competence in French and explore the French speaking cultures. The range of purposes and situations for which and in which the language is used, extends to the domains of work, social relationships, and the discussion of abstract ideas, for example. The types of language needed for these purposes and situations are more refined than those used in an ab initio course. This course is taught in the target language.