Modern Language Courses

The aim of the Level I course is to stress the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language. Students become familiar with common expressions and vocabulary, as well as basic sentence structures and tenses of verbs. The course also offers an introduction to the culture, civilization and geography of the countries where the target language is spoken.

Prerequisite
none

Students admitted to Honors French I will follow the normal French I syllabus in a more accelerated fashion. In addition, the student will be responsible for monthly writing assignments and a final presentation in French.

Prerequisite: Incoming freshmen should have completed at least two years of French at the elementary level. They must provide information about the French courses taken at their elementary school and provide a letter of recommendation from their modern language teacher. Students having no prior French experience may apply for placement, based on recommendations and grades from eighth grade. Current freshmen must have a GPA of 3.5 at the end of the second semester and must secure a recommendation from two current teachers.

Prerequisite
see description

This course is conducted in the target language. Communication skills are expanded to an intermediate level. Students learn to function in a real-life context, building vocabulary skills that help them to function in practical situations. Class activities include small group work, individual and group writing projects, as well as individual projects that enhance the students' appreciation of the culture and civilization of the target country.

Incoming freshmen or current freshmen may be required to take a placement test for admission to this course without having completed Level I at The Prep.

Prerequisite
MLA 201 or
MLA 205 or
placement test

In this course, students cover the syllabus for French II at a more accelerated pace and may be required to complete monthly writing assignments and a final project in French.

Prerequisite: Completion of level I at the Prep and an "A" average in the course as of the 3rd marking period. Approval of the French I/Honors French I instructor is required. In certain situations, a student with a "B+" who has demonstrated proficiency and interest in the language may be admitted to this course with the recommendation of the current instructor and the approval of the department chair.

Incoming freshmen or current freshmen may be required to take a placement test for admission to this course without having completed Level I at The Prep.

Prerequisite
see detail

The Level III course is conducted almost entirely in the target language. Advanced grammatical concepts and vocabulary help the students to improve their accuracy in listening, speaking, reading and writing the target language. Students develop the ability to express their needs and preferences and to carry on extended conversations. Short stories, articles, video and other materials are used to strengthen skills and further develop cross-cultural awareness.

Prerequisite
MLA 301 or
MLA 305

This course is conducted entirely in the target language. In addition to the normal French III syllabus, students engage in writing/speaking projects on a monthly basis and must complete a presentation in French at the end of the year.

Prerequisite: An "A" in French II at the end of the first semester and the approval of the French II instructor.  Students must sign a "French-only" contract to be admitted to this course. In certain situations, a student with a "B+" who has demonstrated proficiency and interest in the language may be admitted to this course with the recommendation of the French II instructor and the approval of the department chair.

Prerequisite
see description

This advanced course is conducted entirely in the language. A variety of literary, historical and cultural readings are used to increase the student's facility in using the language. Advanced grammar topics are introduced to help the student to become a more proficient writer. Participation in class discussions is emphasized and frequent student presentations in the target language are expected. Several feature films supplement the course material.

Successful completion of level III and the approval of the level III instructor are required.

Prerequisite
MLA 401 or
MLA 409

This advanced course is conducted entirely in the language. A variety of literary, historical and cultural readings are used to increase the student's facility in the language. Advanced grammar and vocabulary is thoroughly reviewed and serve as a basis for advanced writing and a survey of literature from France and other francophone countries. Students will complete various writing assignments and projects during the course.

Students must sign a "French-only" contract. Successful completion of level III and the approval of the level III instructor and the department chair are required.

Prerequisite
MLA 401 or
MLA 409

The aim of the Level I course is to stress the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language. Students become familiar with common expressions and vocabulary, as well as basic sentence structures and tenses of verbs. The course also offers an introduction to the culture, civilization and geography of the countries where the target language is spoken.

Prerequisite
none

Students admitted to Honors German I will follow the normal German I syllabus in a more accelerated fashion. In addition, student will be responsible for monthly writing assignments and a final presentation in German.

Prerequisite: Incoming freshmen must make a special application to be admitted to this course. They must provide information about the German courses taken at their elementary school and have a letter of recommendation from a current teacher or administrator. Students having no prior German experience may apply for placement, based on recommendations and grades from eighth grade. Applicants who are current freshmen must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at the end of the second semester and must secure a recommendation from two current teachers.

Prerequisite
see description

This course is conducted in the target language. Communication skills are expanded to an intermediate level. Students learn to function in a real-life context, building vocabulary skills that help them to function in practical situations. Class activities include small group work, individual and group writing projects, as well as individual projects that enhance the students' appreciation of the culture and civilization of the target country.

Incoming freshmen or current freshmen may be required to take a placement test for admission to this course without having completed Level I at The Prep.

Prerequisite
MLA 202 or
MLA 206 or
placement test

The Level III course is conducted almost entirely in the target language. Advanced grammatical concepts and vocabulary help the students to improve their accuracy in listening, speaking, reading and writing the target language. Students develop the ability to express their needs and preferences and to carry on extended conversations. Short stories, articles, video and other materials are used to strengthen skills and further develop cross-cultural awareness.

Prerequisite
MLA 302

This advanced course is conducted entirely in the language. A variety of literary, historical and cultural readings are used to increase the student's facility in using the language. Advanced grammar topics are introduced to help the student to become a more proficient writer. Participation in class discussions is emphasized and frequent student presentations in the target language are expected. Several feature films supplement the course material.

Successful completion of level III and the approval of the level III instructor are required.

Prerequisite
MLA 402

The aim of the Level I course is to stress the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language. Students become familiar with common expressions and vocabulary, as well as basic sentence structures and tenses of verbs. The course also offers an introduction to the culture, civilization and geography of the countries where the target language is spoken.

Prerequisite
none

Students admitted to Honors Spanish I will follow the normal Spanish I syllabus in a more accelerated fashion. In addition, the student will be responsible for monthly writing assignments and a final presentation in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Incoming freshmen should have completed at least two years of Spanish at the elementary level. They must provide information about the Spanish courses taken at their elementary school and provide a letter of recommendation from their modern language teacher. Students having no prior Spanish experience may apply for placement, based on recommendations and grades from eighth grade. Current freshmen must have a GPA of 3.5 at the end of the second semester and must secure a recommendation from two current teachers.

Prerequisite
see description

This course is conducted in the target language. Communication skills are expanded to an intermediate level. Students learn to function in a real-life context, building vocabulary skills that help them to function in practical situations. Class activities include small group work, individual and group writing projects, as well as individual projects that enhance the students' appreciation of the culture and civilization of the target country.

Incoming freshmen or current freshmen may be required to take a placement test for admission to this course without having completed Level I at The Prep.

Prerequisite
MLA 203 or
MLA 204 or
placement test

In this course, students cover the syllabus for Spanish II at a more accelerated pace and may be required to complete monthly writing assignments and a final project in Spanish.

Prerequisite: Completion of Level I at The Prep and an "A" average in the course as of the first semester. Approval of the Spanish I instructor is required. In certain situations, a student with a "B+" who has demonstrated proficiency and interest in the language may be admitted to this course with the recommendation of the Spanish I instructor and the approval of the department chair

Incoming freshmen or current freshmen may be required to take a placement test for admission to this course without having completed Level I at The Prep.

Prerequisite
see detail

The Level III course is conducted almost entirely in the target language. Advanced grammatical concepts and vocabulary help the students to improve their accuracy in listening, speaking, reading and writing the target language. Students develop the ability to express their needs and preferences and to carry on extended conversations. Short stories, articles, video and other materials are used to strengthen skills and further develop cross-cultural awareness.

Prerequisite
MLA 303 or
MLA 304

This course is conducted entirely in the target language. In addition to the normal Spanish III syllabus, students engage in writing/speaking projects on a monthly basis and must complete a presentation in Spanish at the end of the year.

Prerequisite: An "A" in Spanish II at the end of the first semester and the approval of the Spanish II instructor. Students must sign a "Spanish-only" contract to be admitted to this course. In certain situations, a student with a "B+" who has demonstrated proficiency and interest in the language may be admitted to this course with the recommendation of the Spanish II instructor and the approval of the department chair.

Prerequisite
see description

This advanced course is conducted entirely in the language. A variety of literary, historical and cultural readings are used to increase the student's facility in using the language. Advanced grammar topics are introduced to help the student to become a more proficient writer. Participation in class discussions is emphasized and frequent student presentations in the target language are expected. Several feature films supplement the course material.

Successful completion of level III and the approval of the level III instructor are required.

Prerequisite
MLA 403 or
MLA 404

This advanced course is conducted entirely in the language. A variety of literary, historical and cultural readings are used to increase the student's facility in the language. Advanced grammar and vocabulary is thoroughly reviewed and serve as a basis for advanced writing and a survey of Spanish/Hispanic literature. Students will complete various writing assignments and projects during the course.

Students must sign a "Spanish-only" contract. Successful completion of level III and the approval of the level III instructor and the department chair are required.

Prerequisite
MLA 403 or
MLA 404

The Advanced Placement Spanish Language course covers the equivalent material of a college-level course. This advanced course is conducted entirely in the language, and students are expected to be proficient in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Advanced grammar and vocabulary are thoroughly reviewed and serve as the basis for advanced writing and a survey of Spanish/Hispanic literature. Students will complete various writing assignments and projects during the course. They are also required to take the College Board AP Examination in May.

Prerequisite: Students must sign a "Spanish-only" contract. Successful completion of Spanish III at The Prep and an "A" average in the course as of the first semester. Approval of the Spanish III instructor is required. In certain situations, a student with a "B+" who has demonstrated proficiency and interest in the language may be admitted to this course with the recommendation of the Spanish III instructor and the approval of the department chair.

Prerequisite
see description

The aim of the Level I course is to stress the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language. Students learn the writing system of Mandarin Chinese characters, as well as tone and pitch of words. Students become familiar with common expressions and vocabulary, as well as basic sentence structures and tenses of verbs. The course also offers an introduction to the culture, civilization and geography of the countries where the target language is spoken.

Students wishing to take Chinese must have prior, successful second language experience. Admittance to class is through approval of the department chair.

Prerequisite
none

This course is conducted as much as possible in the target language. Communication skills are expanded to an intermediate level. Students enhance their knowledge of the writing system of Mandarin Chinese characters, as well as tone and pitch of words. Students learn to function in a real-life context, building vocabulary skills that help them to function in practical situations. Class activities include small group work, individual and group writing projects, as well as individual projects that enhance the students' appreciation of the culture and civilization of the target country.

Any student wishing to take this course without Chinese I at The Prep will be required to take a placement test for admission, which includes speaking and listening comprehension sections.

Prerequisite
MLA 501 or
placement test

This course continues to build on the skills developed in Mandarin Chinese II. Communication skills are expanded to an intermediate level. Students enhance their knowledge of the writing system of Mandarin Chinese characters, as well as tone and pitch of words. Students learn to function in a real-life context, building vocabulary skills that help them to function in practical situations. Class activities include small group work, individual and group writing projects, as well as individual projects that enhance the students' appreciation of the culture and civilization of the target country.

Any student wishing to take this course without these earlier courses at The Prep will be required to take a placement test for admission, which includes speaking and listening comprehension sections.

Prerequisite
MLA 502