• World Language

    The department offers comprehensive courses in Romance and Sign-based languages. The primary goal is to ensure that students are communicatively competent and proficient in grammar concepts. Understanding culture is also an important part of our language program.  We also feature a Spanish Honor Society, Junior Classical League, and Sign Language (ASL) Club. Each of these is active in the school and Brandon communities. Many colleges and universities are now requiring a minimum of three years of a world language as an admissions requirement.

     

    NOTE:

    1. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to take any world language as an elective course.
    2. College prep students are required to take at least 2 years of a world language and it is strongly encouraged to take 3 years.

  • Students will be given an exam after taking Spanish 2 to determine what Spanish level is appropriate to take next.

  • World Languages Course Descriptions

     

    Spanish 1 Academic

    1 credit                                                      Grades 9-12

     

    Students will be introduced to the Spanish language and its culture. The students will also learn to develop communicative skills and cross-cultural understanding. The content includes listening activities in Spanish and

    students are expected to speak, read and write in Spanish. It is strongly recommended that students have a solid background in English grammar.

     

    Spanish 2 Academic

    1 credit                                                      Grades 9-12

    Prerequisite: Must have passed Spanish I

     

    Students will reinforce the fundamental skills previously acquired. Reading, writing, listening and speaking skills will continue to be developed while adding more complex grammatical structures. This course will also continue the cultural survey of Spanish-speaking people through readings, video, individual and group projects.

     

    Spanish 3 Honors

    1 credit                                                        Grades 9-12

    Prerequisite: Must have passed Spanish II

     

    Students will learn to master and expand the skills previously acquired. The content includes expansions of vocabulary and conversational skills through discussions based on selected readings. Student's acquisitions of grammatical concepts should stress activities which are important to the everyday lives of Spanish-speaking people.

     

    Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1-2

    1 credit                                                         Grades 9-12

     

    These courses are specially designed for students who are fluent in Spanish (reading, writing and speaking) as their native language. Specifically, emphasis will be placed on reading strategies, vocabulary development, and problems of grammar and orthography.

     

    Cambridge (AICE) Spanish Language

    1 credit                                                   Grades 10-12

    Prerequisite: Passed Spanish 3; Teacher recommendation

     

    Spanish Language helps learners to develop language proficiency and practical communication skills in Spanish. The syllabus: develops learners' ability in all four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Builds knowledge of vocabulary and grammar in the context of six areas covering both familiar and more general topics. Encourages engagement with the culture and society of countries and communities where Spanish is spoken.

    French I

    1 credit                                                       Grades 9-12

     

    Students will be introduced to the French Language and its culture and will develop communicative skills and cross- cultural understanding. The content includes beginning skills in listening and speaking with special attention to pronunciation. There will be an introduction to reading and writing and the fundamentals of grammar and culture.

     

    French II

    1 credit                                                       Grades 9-12

    Prerequisite: C in French I

     

    Students will reinforce the fundamental skills previously acquired. This course develops increased listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and cultural awareness. Reading and writing should receive more emphasis, while oral communication remains the primary objective. This course should continue the cultural survey of French-speaking people.

     

    American Sign Language 1

    1 credit                                                  Grades 9-12

     

    This course introduces students to the target language and its culture. The student will develop communicative skills in all 3 modes of communication and cross-cultural understanding. Emphasis is placed on proficient communication in the language with introductions to culture, connections, comparisons, and communities.

     

    American Sign Language 2

    1 credit                                                Grades 10-12

    Prerequisite: Must have passed ASL 1

     

    This course reinforces the fundamental skills acquired by the students in American Sign Language 1. The course develops increased receptive and expressive skills as well as cultural awareness. Specific content to be covered is a continuation of skills acquired in American Sign Language 1 while communication remains the primary objective. The cultural survey of the target language is continued.

     

    American Sign Language 3-4

    1 credit                                                Grades 11-12

    Prerequisite: Must have passed ASL 2, Teacher recommendation

     

    This course develops increased receptive and expressive skills as well as cultural awareness. Specific content to be covered is a continuation of skills acquired in American Sign Language 2 while communication remains the primary objective. The cultural survey of the target language is continued.