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World Languages

The World Languages Department of Saint John's believes that the study of a foreign language is a vital component in the' education of the whole person. Never before in the history of the world has there been a stronger need to develop an awareness of the cultural, linguistic and sociological diversity that coexists in our multi-ethnic society. In responding to our role as facilitators of cultural awareness and language acguisition, the World Languages Department endeavors to develop a program balancing language proficiency with the national heritage of the target language.
To realize this philosophy, the World Languages Department has designed a balanced four-year program of studies that encourages the student to develop increased proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing and to encourage in our students a desire:
• To communicate effectively and appropriately in a wide range of situations for a variety of purposes in a language other than the student's own
• To continue growth and specialization in his acquired language
• To demonstrate knowledge of the culture of those who speak the language studied and its effect on the world
• To appreciate the contributions to society of other languages and cultures

  • Advanced Spanish l (H)

    This course taught primarily in Spanish is designed for those students who have shown some background in Spanish on the Language Placement exam and who have demonstrated above average aptitude on the entrance exam. Following a thorough review of basic vocabulary
    and grammar, the course continues to develop situational vocabulary, to introduce more advanced grammar and to offer the student ample opportunity to increase his practical communicative skills. Reading passages of increasing length and difficulty present the student to the broad
    spectrum of Hispanic cultures. Dialogues and compositions allow the student to express his ideas creatively while reinforcing acquired vocabulary and grammar.
    Note: A student who has little or no language experience, but who demonstrated high aptitude on the entrance exam, may be invited into the Advanced Spanish 1 (Honors) program.

  • Chinese (AP)

    This course will follow the syllabus of the College Board Advanced Placement program in Chinese Language, and students will take the A.P. Exam in May.

  • Chinese I (1)

    Chinese I introduces students to Mandarin, the standard language in China. Students begin with the Pinyin system of romanization to learn the pronunciation of Mandarin and will soon learn to write simplified characters. Students learn to communicate about topics such as getting to know
    each other, families, feelings, hobbies, the date and time, location, daily routines, shopping, school life and weather.
    The goal of this course is to develop communicative competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the elementary level. Chinese culture and history are woven into the language lessons to lend a sense of vitality.

  • Chinese I (H)

    Chinese I introduces students to Mandarin, the standard language in China. Students begin with the Pinyin system of romanization to learn the pronunciation of Mandarin and will soon learn to write simplified characters. Students learn to communicate about topics such as getting to know
    each other, families, feelings, hobbies, the date and time, location, daily routines, shopping, school life and weather.
    The goal of this course is to develop communicative competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the elementary level. Chinese culture and history are woven into the language lessons to lend a sense of vitality.

  • Chinese II (1)

    This course is designed for those students who have satisfactorily completed Chinese I. Chinese 11 (1), will strengthen those skills learned in Chinese I, while working with simplified characters and relying less on the Pinyin system of romanization. Students will learn to communicate
    about topics such as food, sports, travel, going to a party, and renting and apartment. The goal of this course is to solidify communicative competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

  • Chinese II (H)

    After the successful completion of Chinese J, Chinese II (H) continues students' study of the Pinyin system of Romanization. However, greater emphasis is now paid to the writing and reading, simplified characters and relying less on the help of Pinyin. More advanced topics such as food,
    sports, travel, going to a party, and renting an apartment are studied. The goal of this course is to develop accuracy in the fundamentals of Mandarin. Students accepted into the honors section must have a minimum A- average in
    Mandarin 1, and the recommendation of that teacher.

  • Chinese III (1)

    This course is designed for those students who have satisfactorily completed Chinese I. Chinese 11 (1), will strengthen those skills learned in Chinese I, while working with simplified characters and relying less on the Pinyin system of romanization. Students will learn to communicate
    about topics such as food, sports, travel, going to a party, and renting and apartment. The goal of this course is to solidify communicative competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

  • Chinese IV (H)

    This is an intermediate level course in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin). It aims to prepare students to have more confidence in their skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing Chinese. The students will be able to understand longer narratives and sustain comprehension through inferences in short communications with native
    speakers. The student will improve his ability to write paragraphs describing situations in pictures, using intermediate vocabulary and more complicated structures.

  • French I (1)

    This course is designed for those students who have had little or no background in French. A thorough introduction to situational vocabulary and basic grammatical concepts allows the student to develop his communicative skills in listening,
    speaking, reading, and writing. The student is introduced to the diversity of the Francophone world through cultural readings and audio/ visual materials. Dialogues, written and presented by students, provide the opportunity for creative and practical use of the acguired skills.

  • French I (H)

    This course taught primarily in French is designed for those students who have shown some background in French on the Language Placement Exam and who have demonstrated above average aptitude on the Entrance Exam. Following a thorough review of basic vocabulary and grammar, the course continues to develop situational vocabulary, to introduce more advanced grammar and to offer the student ample opportunity to increase his practical communicative skills. Reading passages of increasing length and difficulty present the student to the broad spectrum of Francophone cultures. Dialogues and compositions allow the student to express his ideas creatively while reinforcing acguired vocabulary and grammar.
    Note: A student who has little or no language experience, but who has demonstrated high aptitude on the Entrance Exam, may be invited into the Advanced French I (Honors) program.

  • French II (1)

    This course, taught largely in French, is designed for those students who require an intense review of all the elements of the French I curriculum before proceeding with the more advanced aspects of French II. Paired groupings, situational dialogues and audio/visual materials allow the student to actively review and continue to develop proficiency
    skills. The course introduces the major indicative
    tenses, while offering the student numerous opportunities to practice these applications. Cultural readings introduce the student to the diversity of the Francophone cultures.
    Directed dialogues and creative paragraphs develop the student's ability to express his ideas creatively and to reinforce his acquired vocabulary and grammar.

  • French II (H)

    This course, taught primarily in French, is designed for those students who have mastered the major elements of either the Advanced French I or the Beginning French I curriculum. In French II, the student is presented with an in-depth review of the important structures and vocabulary of French I. Paired groupings, situational dialogues and audio/visual materials allow the student to develop his aural/oral proficiency. The course continues to develop all major tenses (simple and compound) of the indicative as well as to introduce some basic concepts of the subjunctive.
    Cultural readings introduce the diversity of the Francophone cultures. Compositions and dialogues provide the student the opportunity to express his ideas creatively and to reinforce his acquired vocabulary and grammar.

  • French III (1)

    This course is designed for students who need to reinforce practical vocabulary and to review major grammatical concepts in order to continue their understanding and appreciation of the Francophone cultures and short literary extracts. The use of audio/visual materials increases
    comprehension skills. Paired groupings and student presentations promote a practical  appreciation of the target language. In addition, writing assignments reinforce acguired grammatical structures and prepare the student for increased oral and written proficiency.

  • French III (H)

    In this course, taught almost entirely in French, students will expand their communication and reading skills by learning to use more advanced grammar, structure and vocabulary.
    Students will also learn to express their thoughts
    more naturally and effectively, and increase their awareness of the Francophone world by reading literary extracts, essays and an abridged novel.

  • French IV (H)

    French IV is a student-centered course conducted entirely in French, designed to develop the student's oral proficiency, his written skills and his aural comprehension as he compares and contrasts American and Francophone cultures. The student acquires oral and written confidence as he expresses his ideas on a variety of cultural,  sociological articles and literary extracts. Advanced grammar and structure is regularly integrated throughout the course.

  • French Language (AP)

    This course is a more accelerated version of Honors
    French IV. In addition to more sophisticated literary
    extracts, students do grammar exercises and aural
    comprehension passages geared to the AP Exam.
    Prerequisite: A minimum grade of 600 on the SAT II French Exam

  • French V (H)

    French 5 focuses on a study of French literature as well as a performance based practicum. Based on the former AP French Literature course, each semester students commit to reading works from one particular author or literary genre of their choice. Classes will include close reading and extensive discussion of texts with particular attention to character and theme, structure and style, and to how these elements are related to overall interpretation. At the end of each quarter, students will produce an academic product to the class. Students will also serve as Teaching Assistants in the Brother Robert Middle School Division. Each quarter students will prepare and animate a thematic unit for the middle school French classes. Prerequisite: Successful completion of either French 4H or AP French

  • Spanish I (1)

    This course is designed for those students who have had little or no background in Spanish. A thorough introduction to situational vocabulary and basic grammatical concepts allows the student to develop his communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The student is introduced to the diversity of the Hispanic world through cultural readings and audio/visual materials.
    Dialogues, written and presented by students, provide the opportunity for creative and practical use of the acquired skills.

  • Spanish II (1)

    This course, taught largely in Spanish, is designed for those students who require an intense review of all the elements of the Spanish I curriculum before proceeding with the more advanced aspects of Spanish II. Paired groupings, situational dialogues and audio/visual materials allow the student to actively review and continue to develop proficiency
    skills. The course introduces the major indicative
    tenses, while offering the student numerous opportunities to practice these applications.

  • Spanish II (H)

    This course, taught primarily in Spanish, is designed for those students who have mastered the major elements of either the Advanced Spanish I or the Beginning Spanish I curriculum. In Spanish II, the student is presented with an in-depth review of the important structures and vocabulary of Spanish I. Paired groupings, situational dialogues and audio/ visual materials allow the student to develop his aural/ oral proficiency. The course continues to present all major tenses (simple and compound) of the indicative, as well as to introduce some basic concepts of the subjunctive.
    Cultural readings introduce the diversity of the
    Hispanic cultures. Compositions and dialogues afford the
    student the opportunity to express his ideas creatively and
    to reinforce his acquired vocabulary and grammar.

  • Spanish III (1)

    This course is designed for those students who need to reinforce practical vocabulary and to review major grammatical concepts in order to continue their understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic cultures and short literary passages. The use of audio materials exposes the student to the variety of Hispanic accents and experiences.
    Classroom discussions and collaborative writing promote a practical appreciation of the target language. Writing assignments reinforce acquired grammatical structures and prepare the student for increased oral proficiency.

  • Spanish III (H)

    This course taught almost entirely in Spanish, is designed for students who have demonstrated a mastery of all aspects of the Spanish II curriculum. The use of audio and audio/visual materials exposes the student to a variety of Spanish accents and experiences. Paired groupings, student presentations, improvisational scenes and class discussions prepare the student for more sophisticated use of the language. Condensed works by Hispanic authors introduce the student to the culture and the literature of the Hispanic world. These works serve as the basis for creative writing assignments. This course also presents an in-depth and intensive study of grammar and structure.

  • Spanish IV (H)

    Spanish IV is a student-centered course conducted entirely in Spanish, designed to develop the student's oral fluency and comprehension as he compares and contrasts contemporary Hispanic and American cultures. The student acquires oral and written confidence by expressing his ideas on a variety of current issues taken from their Spanish
    text. Oral presentations, written exams, essays and classroom participation, written essays, and classroom participation serve as a means of evaluating the student's fluency.
    A rapid review of grammar and structure is presented.

  • Spanish Language (AP)

    This course will follow the syUabus of the College Board Advanced Placement program in Spanish Language, and students will take the A.P. Exam in May.

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