philosophy of the foreign language department - Lemont High School

Foreign Language
PHILOSOPHY OF THE
FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
The Lemont High School Foreign Language Department believes that students should develop the following
characteristics:
• Proficiency in writing and speaking skills
• Increasing ability in reading and listening skills
• Recognition and use of the structure and style of the language
• Understanding of the culture and civilization
Courses offered within the Foreign Language curriculum help students develop competence in oral and written
language skills and learn to utilize higher order thinking skills, specifically synthesis, analysis, interpretation and
problem solving. Additionally, students acquire improved listening skills, recognition of the structure and style of
the language, and knowledge of different cultures and civilizations. All courses offered by the foreign language are
appropriate for college-bound students.
Based on their abilities and course level, students shall:
• Recall grammatical conventions, conjugate verbs and work toward word accuracy
• Read, understand and translate written passages
• Communicate through conversation and respond to oral interrogation
• Communicate through written responses to prompts
• Demonstrate understanding of the culture and civilization
Grading Standards: Student grades are determined by their performance on homework and examinations, as well
as communicative proficiency. Students enrolled in third- or fourth-year courses are given honors credit; those
students enrolled in the highest level of a language may have the opportunity to earn college credit.
CORE COURSES - FOREIGN LANGUAGE
French I
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: None
Description: This introductory course provides a background in French vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and
culture. Students learn vocabulary covering useful daily language. Writing, reading, listening and speaking skills are
developed through work with both regular and irregular verbs. Verb conjugation and French syntax are introduced,
as is correct pronunciation. An emphasis is placed on the geography of France and its overseas holdings, as well as
the cultural differences between France and the United States.
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Foreign Language
French II
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in French I or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course based
on their performance on the French I final exam
Description: This course builds upon the knowledge of French I and uses a similar classroom format. After a review
of material from French I, students study more sophisticated grammar and syntax and are introduced to vocabulary
that is applicable to upper-level study and overseas travel, with a goal of obtaining functional reading ability by the
end of the course. Verbs that were previously learned are reviewed and used to form new tenses. The focus of cultural
study is daily French life. Students complete more oral presentations and begin to demonstrate fluency in writing.
French III Honors
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in French II or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course based
upon their performance on the French II final exam
Description: This advanced-level course provides students with most of the remaining grammar base needed
for college-level study. Student mastery of material presented in French I and II is required in order for the class
to perform at a high level. The course is grammar-intensive and readies students for advanced study. Linguistic
structures enable students to produce increasingly sophisticated writing and speech. Reading selections and
compositions help students exercise these skills.
French IV Honors
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in French III or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course
based upon their performance on the French III Honors final exam
Description: The culmination of the French curriculum, the focus of this course is French history, civilization and
literature. Literary selections from prehistory to the Enlightenment are used as tools for instruction. These selections,
as well as a review of grammar, are presented in an all-French text. Students participate in oral drills, games and
activities to develop an ease with the spoken language; they are also expected to demonstrate a sophisticated level of
writing.
German I
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: None
Description: This introductory course provides a background in German vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation
and culture. Students acquire working vocabulary while learning fundamental grammar structures and verb tenses.
Students begin working toward proficiency in speaking, writing and comprehension, and develop grammar and
vocabulary skills needed for further study. German culture and history are also explored. Technology is highly
integrated into the course, including the use of the Internet.
Lemont High School Program of Studies
35

Foreign Language
German II
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in German I or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course
based upon their performance on the German I final exam
Description: A continuation of German I, this course furthers vocabulary and grammar knowledge necessary for
an understanding of the language. Included among the major grammar topics are the conversational past, reflexives,
dative case and interrogatives. Students learn a wide range of vocabulary. Various media are used in instruction,
including print, video and audio. Technology is highly integrated into the course, including the use of the Internet.
German III Honors
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in German II or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course
based upon their performance on the German II final exam
Description: This advanced-level course refines and expands upon the vocabulary and grammar learned in German
I and II. The course is grammar-intensive and readies students for advanced study. Included among the major
grammar topics of study are verb tenses, prepositions, use of adjectives and infinitive clauses. Students expand
their vocabulary and grammar skills to communicate in a more sophisticated manner. Various media are used in
instruction, including print, video and audio. Technology is highly integrated into the course, including the use of
the Internet.
German IV Honors
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in German III or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course
based upon their performance on the German III Honors final exam
Description: The culmination of the German curriculum, this advanced-level course completes the study of major
verb tenses and cases. Grammar topics include the genitive case, gerunds and relative clauses, as well as verb tenses
and moods. Students expand their vocabulary to discuss opinions, emotions and future goals, so that their writing
becomes more complex. Additionally, authentic literature, history and business language are explored at this level.
Various materials are used in instruction, including video and audio. The course is taught primarily in the target
language.
Spanish I
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: Recommended for students who are placed in Algebra I or more advanced Mathematics classes
Description: This introductory course provides a background in Spanish vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and
culture. Specific attention is given to phonics and the development of speaking and listening skills through the use of
audio and visual materials related to classroom and daily living situations. Construction and organization of written
and spoken sentences is introduced. Students devote time to the memorization of vocabulary and verb conjugation
to facilitate language development.
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Foreign Language
Spanish II
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in Spanish I or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course based
upon their performance on the Spanish I final exam
Description: This course is a continuation of Spanish I, with an extensive study of increased grammar and
vocabulary. A greater emphasis is placed on reading comprehension, pronunciation, speaking and writing skills.
Students increase their communicative abilities by learning and applying advanced grammatical structures. Students
are expected to increasingly express themselves in the language through class participation.
Spanish III Honors
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in Spanish II or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course
based on their performance on the Spanish II final exam
Description: This advanced-level course reviews and expands the concepts and skills studied in Spanish I and II, and
emphasizes reading, writing, speaking and listening with more fluency and sophistication. This course is grammar
intensive and readies students for advanced study. Linguistic structures assist students in demonstrating sophisticated
writing and speaking skills. Reading selections and compositions help students exercise these skills.
Spanish III Honors Accelerated
Grades Course Open To: 10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of A in Spanish II or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course by earning an
A on the Spanish II final exam and with consent of the Division Chair
Description: This course is designed for highly advanced students, as it reviews and expands the concepts and skills
introduced in Spanish II. In a culturally enriched environment, students further develop speaking, listening, reading
and writing skills through a variety of learning techniques. Language skills are acquired on a more sophisticated level,
incorporating higher order thinking skills. An emphasis is placed on student participation in class, and students
memorize vocabulary and grammar concepts to facilitate appropriate usage. Students must be independent learners
with excellent study skills and habits in order to maintain high academic standards throughout this fast-paced class.
Students must display excellent time management skills in order to meet the demands of the curriculum. Mastery
of the material presented requires daily study and practice outside of the classroom setting. The course is especially
useful for students who plan to attend major universities or who will be seeking advanced college placement. Note:
Students are expected to take the entrance exams and oral interviews for Spanish IV Honors Accelerated, a course
for which they may earn college credit.
Spanish IV Honors
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in Spanish III or teacher consent; students may also be placed into the course
based on their performance on the Spanish III final exam
Description: This advanced-level course is a culmination of the Spanish curriculum, and concentrates on reading,
speaking, listening and writing in order to help students develop a level of proficiency. The course provides a review
and extended application of language principals learned at previous levels, while also enhancing the students’
vocabulary and grammar base to allow for advanced placement at the university level. Students gain knowledge of
the history of Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries through readings, lectures, class discussions and films.
An emphasis is placed on practical application of grammatical structures in oral conversation, reading and written
compositions.
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37

Foreign Language
Spanish IV Honors Accelerated
Grades Course Open To: 11-12 Credit: 1.0 - Honors credit
Prerequisite: Placement tests administered by Joliet Junior College
Description: This is a college-level course that the school offers through a dual-enrollment agreement with Joliet
Junior College. Students receive four college credits per semester. In addition to providing a thorough review of
Spanish grammar and structure, an emphasis is placed on increasing students’ ability to communicate. Students
become increasingly proficient at expressing their thoughts, feelings and opinions on a variety of matters. The
students’ knowledge of Hispanic history, cultures and traditions is enhanced through reading and other types of
media. The course is conducted entirely in the target language, with a focus on developing students’ audio-lingual
skills. Mastery of the required skills requires daily study and practice outside of the classroom setting. The course
is especially useful for students who plan to attend major universities or who will be seeking advanced college
placement. Transferable credit from Joliet Junior College is given upon successful completion of the course.
Spanish for Native Speakers
Grades Course Open To: 9-10-11-12 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisite: Spanish spoken and understood in the student’s home; performance on placement exams and teacher
recommendation
Description: This course is designed for students whose heritage language is Spanish, and addresses the skills
and challenges they face when reading, writing, speaking and reading in their first language. Emphasizing oral
comprehension, communication, vocabulary and grammatical structure within a literary context, the course
develops these skills with a focus on problematic areas for heritage speakers. Additionally, students learn about
Spanish-speaking cultures from around the world. Students are encouraged to participate in class, and devote time
to memorizing vocabulary and grammar. Mastery of the required skills requires daily study and practice outside of
the classroom setting. The course is especially useful for students who plan to attend major universities or who will
be seeking advanced college placement. The course is conducted almost exclusively in Spanish, and prepares students
for both Spanish IV Accelerated, and the entrance exams and oral interviews associated with enrolling in that dualenrollment
course offered by Joliet Junior College.
38 Lemont High School Program of Studies