Foreign Languages

Foreign Languages

St. Mary’s Dominican High School offers three different Foreign Languages from which each student may choose: French, Latin, and Spanish. These programs include the following:

• four levels of each language with the fourth year as an AP course

• all languages offer honors credit at each level

• all languages include the study and appreciation of their respective cultures,

civilizations, and language

• all languages include extra-curricular organizations that allow students the opportunity to enjoy the study of their chosen language outside of the classroom

French I

French I introduces the student to the study of French language, grammar, and culture. Students learn through multimedia methods, as well as classroom trial-and-error. Students learn the fundamental skills required to speak, write, read, listen to, and understand French.

French I Honors

French I Honors introduces the student to the study of French language, grammar, and culture. The honors course moves at a faster pace, and students are expected to speak, write, read, listen to, and understand the language at a higher level.

French II

French II is designed to bring students back to language learning, then to continue the students’ process of learning a second language with more challenging concepts. Students are required to communicate in French.

French II Honors

French II Honors is designed to bring students back to language learning, then to continue the students’ process of learning a second language with more challenging concepts at a faster pace. Students are required to communicate in the target language.

French III

French III continues the learning and practice which began in French I and II with more challenging concepts. Speaking French is stressed, as much of the class is conducted in the language. Students in this class will produce two projects, one per semester.

French III Honors

French III Honors continues the learning and practice which began in French I and II with more challenging concepts. Speaking French is stressed, as much of the class is conducted in the language. In addition, French III Honors has a weekly journal-writing component as well as four quarterly honors projects.

French IV AP

Students in French AP Language gain proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in preparation for the AP French Language Exam. Students enrich their knowledge of the culture and history of the francophone world. Students are encouraged to be mono-lingual in French in the classroom, to read and comprehend their readings every day, to note and incorporate new vocabulary into their own writing and speaking, to become more familiar with French grammar terms, as well as the actual grammar topics, and to utilize French outside of the class. Students in this course are required to take the Advanced Placement examination given in May.

Greek I Honors

Students in Accelerated Greek I Honors pursue a thorough understanding of Attic Greek grammatical structures in the context of reading Greek texts. Readings center on the literature and mythology of ancient Greece. Knowledge of Greek culture, history, and art is enhanced through individual projects, audio-visual programs, and special assignments.

Latin I Honors

Latin I Honors is designed to introduce students to the language and culture of Ancient Rome. The primary focus of this class is the development of the student’s proficiency in reading and understanding Latin through close attention to grammar and syntax using the Our Latin Heritage series. Students will also become familiar with the early stages of Rome’s history (from the Monarchy to the Republic), its culture, and myth, as well as the basic tools for researching topics related to the Classical culture of the Mediterranean.

Latin II Honors

Latin II Honors is designed to continue the students’ education in the language and culture of Ancient Rome. During the second year of studying Latin, the students’ understanding of the structure of language will continue to grow. The main focus of this class continues to be reading and understanding Latin through the use of the Our Latin Heritage series before moving into Latin poetry. Students will also continue learning about Rome’s history (the transition from the Republic to the Empire) and culture.

Latin III Honors

Latin III Honors is designed to foster a greater appreciation of the Latin language through reading literature in different genres, both prose and poetry. Students experience a wide range of authors from various time periods while the development of translation skills continues. Authors covered in this class include Cicero, Petronius, Ovid, Vergil, and more. Students also work to further their understanding of how Classical civilization has influenced modern culture and society.

Latin IV AP

Latin IV AP is designed to offer a challenging Latin course during which the student continue to utilize and strengthen productive language skills by translating, reading, and analyzing Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic Wars. In addition to these skills, the student also work towards a richer and more nuanced understanding of the social, political, and historical context of Vergil’s poems and Caesar’s commentaries. A student wishing to enroll in this course must be able to work independently in a self-directed environment. Students must also be willing to devote considerable time to homework and study in order to hone sight translation skills during their preparation for the AP exam. All students who enroll in this class must take the AP Latin exam in May.

Spanish I

Spanish I introduces the student to the study of the Spanish language, grammar, and culture. Students learn the fundamental skills required to speak, write, read, listen to, and understand the target language.

Spanish I Honors

Spanish I Honors introduces the student to the study of the Spanish language, grammar, and culture. The honors course moves at a faster pace, and students are expected to speak, write, read, listen to, and understand the language at a higher level.

Spanish II

Spanish II is designed to increase writing, speaking, and listening skills by learning new tenses and grammatical structures. The student is also exposed to the Spanish language through culture.

Spanish II Honors

Spanish II Honors is an accelerated track designed to bring students back to language learning, then to continue the students’ process of learning a second language by learning new tenses and grammatical structures. The student is also exposed to the Spanish language through culture.

Spanish III

This course continues to develop listening, understanding, speaking, reading, and writing while deepening students’ insight into Hispanic culture through an exposure to Spanish history, music, cinema, and some light literature. This course introduces and covers the subjunctive mood in grammar and context. It emphasizes advanced grammar and writing.

Spanish III Honors

This course continues to develop listening, understanding, speaking, reading, and writing while deepening students’ insight into Hispanic culture through an exposure to Spanish literature, history, music, and cinema. This course introduces and covers the subjunctive mood in grammar and context. It emphasizes conversation, advanced grammar, writing, and reading works of Spanish literature and articles on Spanish culture.

Spanish IV AP

Students in Spanish AP Language gain proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in preparation for the AP Spanish Language Exam. Students enrich their knowledge of the culture and history of the Hispanic world. Students are encouraged to be mono-lingual in the classroom, to read and comprehend their reading every day, and to note and incorporate new vocabulary into their own writing and speaking. Students in this course are required to take the Advanced Placement examination given in May.