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Academics >  World Languages > 

Language Department Philosophy and Goals    
FrenchClass.jpg
French Class with Madame Delfosse

Salisbury seeks to expose students to the history, art, music, cinema, and cultural mores of people who speak the languages studied. Initial emphasis is on developing the oral/aural confidence necessary to communicate in a foreign language while steadily perfecting the grammatical competence required for written accuracy.

Salisbury School began using well-known programs for the first three levels of our modern language classes beginning in 1992. French In Action is followed for French and the Destinos programs for Spanish. Both are multi-media approaches to language learning/assimilation, with video and audio elements in each lesson. Native speakers play various roles in episodic films that gradually teach students grammar and an extensive topical vocabulary. Students are expected to speak the language extensively and to develop an ability to understand conversation earlier than in more traditional approaches to language training.

 

Language Department Courses    
French I  F111-HF112
Through films, tapes, text and workbook, the beginning student is engaged in conversation, and understands and interprets written and spoken French on a variety of topics. All testing is balanced to evaluate the student's overall progress with aspects of the language: oral proficiency, listening comprehension and written accuracy. Text: Bon Voyage, Level 1.
 
French II F221-H, F222
The second year student, continuing French In Action, gains conversational skills and learns to discuss the story line with greater accuracy. Vocabulary acquisition is accelerated and complex grammar is introduced. Text: Bon Voyage, Level 2.
 
French III F331-H, F332
The study of French gramar is continued through more complex use of the grammar.  The students also continue to further their knowledge of the language through use of more specific vocabulary.  This course introduces the student to all elements of the language necessary to move on to advanced study.  Text:  Bon Voyage, Level 3.

French IV F441 Honors
The study of advanced concepts in French grammar continues. We practice listening comprehension through movies and news and speaking skills with class discussion.  To improve their readying comprehension the students read novels such as Sarte's Les Jeux Sont Faits.
 
French V F551 Honors
In French 5, the student should be proficient with grammar.  Focus will thus be on French literature.  We will read French novels such as Voltaire's Candide, Maupassant's Pierre et Jean, and Laye's L'Enfant Noir.  Also, the students will read French poetry by such poets as Apollinaire, Baudelaire, Du Bellay, Hebert, Labe, and La Fontaine.  The students will contiue to practice listening comprehension through moveis and news, and speaking skills with class discussion.
 
AP French Language F551-AP
This course is designed to enhance the student's ability to speak the language and comprehend the spoken word. The intent of the course is to prepare the student for the Advanced Placement French Language examination given in May.
 
Latin I L112
This introductory course emphasizes the fundamentals of Latin grammar and vocabulary. After building a solid foundation, the class translates paragraph-length excerpts from narratives such as The Trojan War. English derivatives from Latin and common Latin phrases are emphasized throughout the year in an effort to enlarge students' working vocabularies. Students will also be exposed to elementary readings to insure that their ability to read Latin authors in the original language. In addition, cultural readings, historical lectures and student projects examine Roman history and archaeology of the Roman Republic. Text: Wheelock’s Latin, 6th edition

Latin II L222
Second year Latin students complete the study of Latin grammar, focusing on the subjunctive mood and its various uses. The reading of simplified Latin progresses gradually to the point where students are able to read excerpts from ancient authors such as Ovid, Caesar, Petronius, and Livy. In addition to translation, emphasis is on Roman culture, history, as well as the Latin etymologies of English words. Text: Wheelock's Latin, 6th Edition
 
Latin III L332
The third year course begins with a review of Latin grammar. Students read and translate selections of prose from major authors in the original Latin. Particular emphasis is placed upon accurate translations while maintaining proper English standards. Several authors will be chosen so that students will explore authors representing both prose and poetry genres. Previous authors and works have included: Caesar’s de bello Gallico, Ovid’s ars amatoria, Selections of Vergil’s Aeneid, Cicero and Sallusts' s De Catilinam, and selections from Petronius’s Satyricon.

Latin IV L442
This course will delve into major authors, exploring either the lyric poetry of Horace and Catullus, or the prose of the statesman Cicero. Special attention is paid to vocabulary, translation, and peculiarities of the authors’ styles. (Prerequisite: students in this class must have a minimum of three years of Latin study or permission of the instructor.) Text: Cicero’s de amicitia 

Advanced Placement Latin L551
The fifth year course continues the study of Vergil’s Aeneid. The course covers approximately 1,800 lines of Latin. Students should be able to translate up to 40 lines of Latin poetry per evening and must also be prepared to examine the text critically. Students in this class must take the Latin AP Literature exam in May, and may receive college credit for the course if the student receives a qualifying score. (Permission of the instructor and the Director of Studies is required.) Text: Vergil’s Aeneid

Mandarin Chinese I C112
This course covers the elementary structures of the Mandarin Chinese language. It provides beginning training in reading, writing, and oral skills, and includes mastery of 250 characters. The study of Chinese culture is an important aspect of study.

Mandarin Chinese II C222
This course continues the study of the language at the second-year level of proficiency.

Mandarin Chinese III C332
This course is intended for students who have completed Chinese II or its equivalent. The course will help students improve their ability to understand, speak, read, and write Chinese, and particularly aims at helping students enlarge their vocabulary and learn more complex sentence structures. 

Mandarin Chinese IV C442
The fourth year of Mandarin Chinese is intended for students who have completed Chinese 332 or equivalent. This course is designed to help students develop more sophisticated vocabulary and further enhance reading, writing and speaking ability in Chinese. Authentic materials such as newspapers, short stories and other multimedia sources are used extensively in this course. Students will be trained to converse and write basic compositions in Chinese for general communication purpose.

Spanish I  SP112
This course introduces students to the basic sound, structures, word order, and vocabulary of the Spanish language. Listening, understanding, speaking, reading and writing skills are emphasized equally. Aspects of Spanish and Hispanic American geography, history, culture and customs are dealt with through readings from textbooks and supplementary videos. Text: Paso a Paso #1

Spanish II SP221-H, SP222
Students continue the study of grammar and vocabulary in order to expand on their ability to converse and write in Spanish. The attempt is made to complete the study of all verb forms, including those of the subjunctive mood. The telenovela Destinos is incorporated as a supplemental stimulus to enhance the skill of discussing a story line.Text: Paso a Paso #2

Spanish III SP331-H, SP332
The third-year course provides students with the opportunity to further develop the Spanish language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with greater emphasis on reading and writing than is the case during the first two courses. As much as is reasonably possible, class sessions are conducted in Spanish. Discussions are based on readings selected for their cultural significance, as well as their universal appeal as literature (poems, short stories, and a short novel). Considerable emphasis is placed on increasing vocabulary and on reviewing major aspects of Spanish grammar. Sp. 331 Text: Avanzando (Grammar and Reading). Sp 332 Text: Paso a Paso #3
 
Spanish IV SP 441-H, SP442
Advanced Placement Spanish SP 551
These elective yearlong courses include thorough review of major grammatical concepts, forms, and structures, with major emphasis on pursuing mastery of the application of the subjunctive mood. History and culture combine with representative literary themes. Texts: Spanish Four Years (Advanced Spanish With AP Component), Lecturas Avanzadas (Spanish AP Reader)
 

      
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