Modern Languages

Departmental Statement

As nations become increasingly interdependent, the need for effective communication and sensitivity to other cultures becomes more important.  As individuals, we must be culturally and linguistically prepared to participate in a global society.

Through practical performance, students have the opportunity to develop the necessary language skills that will enable them to better adapt to the demands of the changing global community.  The study of Chinese and French enhances divergent thinking and motivates students to think independently. It cultivates intellectual abilities, skills and attitudes.

Course Selection

In order to graduate with a High School Diploma, students must successfully complete two credits in Modern Languages.  These credits must be in the same Modern Language (i.e. both in Mandarin or both in French). The suggested prerequisites for each language subject are stated below.

Mapping the Modern Languages Program

French

Course Description

The objectives of this course are to introduce French language and culture, and to present both spoken and written French as a means of communication. Language learning is built around everyday situations.

Students develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Vocabulary, grammar and its structures are introduced using themes such as school, daily home life, family relationships, sports, hobbies and shopping. A variety of learning tasks including discussions, role-plays, group work, individual writings, and oral presentations that focus on these specific themes are conducted.  Resources include videos, visuals, audiotapes, and reading materials.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Acquire vocabulary for greetings, introductions and partings
• Describe personal details, daily routines, home and family
• Become familiar with the French school system and its subjects
• Talk about the days of the week, seasons, weather and other general topics
• Describe relationships with other people
• Learn about the café culture in France, recognize and express likes and dislikes, and desire for items on a simple menu
• Learn about food and drink, telling others what they would like to eat / drink, and refusing food / drinks
• Describe the color of clothing they and others are wearing, and express their preferences

Assessment

• Unit tests
• Dictations / spelling
• Quizzes
• Listening exercises / role plays
• Weekly journal
• Projects
• Semester exams

Course Description

The objectives of this course are to emphasize learning language structure, comprehension, and the use of the language for oral communication. Students develop skills for interpretive reading, process writing, as well as listening and speaking. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, group work, presentations, creative writing, and dictation. Resources include videos, magazines, advertisements, short stories, textbooks, and workbooks.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Ask for and give information about directions
• Learn about various means of transportation (train, bus, plane, and subway)
• Describe where they live in detail and provide information about the rooms of the house, furniture and appliances as well as their location
• Tell what happened using different forms of the past tense
• Learn about health and welfare
• Acquire vocabulary to describe movies, music and books
• Talk about vacation experiences (beach vacations, skiing, camping etc.) and travel arrangements, and how to pack a suitcase/ bag pack

Assessment

• Unit tests
• Quizzes
• Listening exercises / role plays
• Projects
• Weekly journal / Essays
• Semester exams

Course Description

There is a continued emphasis on oral communication skills, with reading and writing skills becoming more important. Short stories, simple poems and audio/video material supplement and support the course. Communication skills are also refined through an appropriate novel study, vocabulary expansion tasks, discussions, role-plays and oral presentations. Advanced grammar is also studied.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Learn about the culture of other French speaking countries and regions (Belgium, Switzerland, Morocco, Tunisia, Guadeloupe, Louisiana)
• Learn how to inquire, expressing enthusiasm and dissatisfaction
• Describe how a place was
• Ask for, grant and refuse permission, express obligation, forbid, reproach and justify action and reject other’s excuses
• Learn how to ask for future plans, express wishes and indecisions
• Write and close a letter to friends and family members
• Express their feelings, fears and preferences, compare and contrast.

Assessment

• Unit tests
• Quizzes / small essays
• Listening exercises / role plays
• Projects / oral presentations
• Weekly journal / Essays
• Semester exams

Mandarin

Course Description

The objectives of this course are to focus on introducing a new language and exposing the language through interesting materials. Students develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  A variety of learning tasks are presented through communication activities, role-plays, and individual and group presentations. Various resources include textbooks, skill books, reading material, poetry, CDs, cassettes, newspaper, and short stories.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Broaden their knowledge of China and the Chinese language
• Learn how to greet friends, say goodbye, identify themselves and say what country they come from
• Talk about where they live, their age, family
• Count
• Learn how to talk about possessives, to ask questions,  to say the date, and to give good wishes
• Know how to talk about time, daily routines, various modes of transportation, and the weather

Assessment

Assessment will focus on communicative activities, dialogue exercises, translation practice of both Chinese and Hanyu pinyin, unit quizzes, role plays, projects, essays, listening exercises and semester examinations.

Course Description

The objectives of this course are to strengthen the students’ skills in listening, speaking, interpretive reading and process writing. Students will engage in a variety of tasks such as creative writing, independent research, communicative activities and role-plays. Resources include textbooks, CDs and audiocassettes, and a variety of reading material that includes poetry, plays, short stories, non-fiction and newspaper articles.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Express themselves orally in a variety of situations
• Talk about what they like and dislike doing; what they can and cannot do
• Know how to talk to their friends
• Describe what they like to wear, discuss clothes with friends, talk about colors and describe people
• Talk about their subjects at school and give their opinions, compare their timetable with a Chinese school, and discuss weekly activities

Assessment
Assessment contains both communicative activities and practice exercises in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Besides text materials and Hanyu pin yin translation, essay writing, projects, performing role-play, unit quizzes, and listening tasks together with a final exam are included.

Course Description

The objectives of this course are to improve communication and phonetic skills through spoken and written drills.  Students develop skills in contrasting and debating.  Students engage in a variety of tasks such as discussions, individual and group presentations, creative writing, communicative activities, and speeches.  Resources include textbooks, CDs, cassettes, skill books, newspapers, literature, magazines, advertisements, non-fiction materials, poetry, short stories, and videos.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Broaden their knowledge of holidays and festivals
• Communicate effectively in a variety of situations
• Know how to buy things in a shop; how to find out where something can be bought; what to say when comparing things
• Learn to express injury or illness, and what to say when they visit a doctor
• Talk about television programs, movies and sporting events

Assessment

Assessment will focus on communicative activities, the phonetic transcription of Chinese character use, listening exercises, role plays, unit quizzes, the solutions to word-games and puzzles in Pin Yin and Chinese characters, projects, diary entries and a semester examination.

Course Description

The objective of this course is to provide the opportunity for students to become proficient in speaking and writing.  Students develop skills in lateral thinking, writing for different audiences and purposes, and inferring.  Students engage in a variety of tasks such as debates, speeches, creative writing, and individual and group presentations.  Resources include textbooks, CDs, and cassettes, newspaper, computer software, magazines, non-fiction materials, novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and videos.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of key elements of Chinese culture
• Learn about Chinese provinces and regions
• Know how to describe their personal history and culture
• Learn about making travel arrangements, writing a letter or faxing relatives

Assessment

Assessment will emphasize specific aspects of communicative activities, projects, topical speeches, text translations, pin yin study, diary, letters and essay writing. Unit quizzes, listening practice, dictionary use, and semester exams will be used in the assessment of this course.

Course Description

The objective of this course is to provide the opportunity for students to be prepared to sit the Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture Examination. Students develop skills in lateral thinking, writing for different audiences and purposes, inferring and develop a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and how it impacts on the language.  Students engage in a variety of tasks such as debates, speeches, creative writing, and individual and group presentations.  Resources include textbooks, CDs, and cassettes, newspaper, computer software, magazines, non-fiction materials, novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and videos.

Learner Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of key elements of Chinese culture
• Know how to describe their personal history and culture in Mandarin
• Demonstrate advanced skills in writing, reading and speaking Mandarin
• Compare and contrast Mandarin with other languages
• Apply advanced Mandarin skills to a variety of contexts.

Assessment

Assessment will emphasize specific aspects of communicative activities, projects, topical speeches, text translations, pin yin study, diary, letters and essay writing. Unit quizzes, listening practice, dictionary use, and semester exams will be used in the assessment of this course.