Foreign Languages

French Program

Why is it important?

• Children have the ability to learn and excel in the pronunciation of a foreign language.
• Children who study a foreign language in elementary school achieve gains and higher scores on standardized tests in reading, language arts, and math.
• Children who study a foreign language show greater cognitive development in areas of mental flexibility, creativity, divergent thinking, and higher order thinking skills.
• Children who study a foreign language develop a sense of openness to and appreciation of other cultures.
• Children studying a foreign language have an improved self concept and sense of achievement in school.

Early Childhood

Kindergarten:

• Instruction in French, 30 minutes once a week.
• Uses auditory, visual, and kinesthetic activities to learn French.
• Emphasis on listening, speaking French through songs, rhymes, and stories.
• The primary focus is on the enjoyment of learning French.

Primary (Grades 1 - 3)

Grades 1,2:

• Instruction in French, 30 minutes once a week.
• Children develop listening and speaking skills in learning French.
• Stories, songs, and varied interactive activities encourage language acquisition and an awareness of the French culture.
• Reading in French is introduced with simple expressions in Grade 2.

Grade 3:

• Instruction in French, 30 minutes twice a week.
• The text , "Vive le Francais," series, "Promenades 1", the first part, provides basic vocabulary and language structures---relevant to the interests and environment of the student.
• The program is an activity-oriented approach aimed at developing the communication skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
• An introduction to Quebec, Canada as a French-speaking country is also presented.

Intermediate (Grades 4 - 6)

Grade 4:

• Instruction in French, 30 minutes twice a week.
• The text series, "Promenades 1" is continued from Grade 3, using the second half of the text. The vocabulary and structures, while still relevant to the student, become more complex, furthering language development in all four skill areas.
• Aspects of French Canadian culture are also introduced.

Grade 5:

• Instruction in French, 30 minutes twice a week.
• The text, "Promenades 2", escalates the level of language development with more challenging activities. Some fundamental grammar features are presented and exercises become more open-ended for creative communication. Students are involved in creating skits and learning language in contexts related to their experiences.
• Students at this level also study the French heritage in North America, focusing on the French explorers, Quebec, Louisiana, and the holiday celebrations that are particular to the culture.
• Students are invited to join the French Club to explore more avenues of "fun with French"!

Grade 6:

• Instruction in French, 30 minutes twice a week.
• Students at this level use the "Acti-Vie" French program, a core French program adopted for use in Ontario, Canada. Students learn French in contextual situations that reflect real life and participate in hands-on projects. Theme-based units require communication in French to complete a project. Students also study the French influence and contribution in art, music, science, and history and develop an awareness of the French-speaking world with activities that support their general education.
• Students are invited to join the French Club to explore more avenues of "fun with French"!

Junior High (Grades 7 - 8)

• Is a High School, Level 1 program.
• Instruction in French occurs every day for 45 minutes.
• The key objective is to build proficiency in the language - focusing on communicative competence with a reasonable degree of accuracy in the four skill areas.
• A second objective is to build an awareness and appreciation of the French culture.
• Travel to Quebec, Canada offers a cultural experience for the students.
• Students have earned National and State recognition of language competence through the French National Test - sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.
• The program affords students an opportunity for advanced placement in the high school language class.
• Students are encouraged to join the French Club to explore more avenues of French culture.

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Latin Program

Junior High (Grades 7 - 8)

The goals of the Latin program in the junior high are to help students become proficient in level 1 Latin; to develop English vocabulary skills through the study of Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes; to improve English grammar through the study of Latin grammar; and to study the influence of Latin and the ancient Romans on modern American culture. Our basal text is Ecce Romani and it is supplemented with Jenney's Latin Book 1. In addition to the basal texts, the course includes several projects, internet activities, and video presentations. A variety of modes of teaching are employed to help students maximize their enjoyment of the language. The Latin Club meets several times each month and plans activities such as the annual spring chariot races.

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Spanish Program

Junior High (Grades 7 - 8)

Grade 7:
The 7th grade year is spent learning what would be the first semester (first half) of a high school Spanish I class. In short, we learn chapters 1-8 of a 16 chapter textbook.

We begin the year with basics such as the Spanish alphabet, basic greetings, numbers and more. We move on with regular verbs and add in irregular verbs eventually too! All along, we learn all sorts of vocabulary and practice our newfound language skills with games, partner conversations, class conversations and other fun activities and projects.

Grade 8:
8th grade is a continuation of 7th grade Spanish. During this class, we will learn the 2nd semester/half of what would usually be a high school Spanish I class. In the spring of this year, most students will have the opportunity to take a Spanish placement test at the high school they will attend. Some students are able to "test out" of high school Spanish I classes after completing Spanish at St. Ursula Villa!

8th grade Spanish challenges students to apply knowledge gained in 7th grade to less concrete learnings. Students will venture in to tenses other than present tense as well as other more complicated grammar concepts. We will also continue to learn fun and useful vocabulary and culture, supplemented by games, conversations (both large and small group), activities and projects.

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