Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: none
Description: This introduction to the French language will get students talking, reading, and writing in French. We will do this by using the language in activities, and through interaction with authentic media including videos, music, and conversation. Learners use the language to investigate, explain, compare and reflect on practices and perspectives of the cultures and communities studied. Successful completion of this course allows students to enroll in French 2 during the following school year. Students completing this course will be able to engage in familiar conversations in French
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: French Level I
Note: Placement test required for students new to BISD World Language program. Students entering from Woodward in 9th grade should enroll in next level in sequence based on teacher recommendation.
Description: Second year progresses into more complex tenses and grammatical structures. There is more emphasis on free oral expression with skits and dialogues, comprehension of written stories, followed by oral and written response. The program continues to include the text, workbook, an on-line site plus other components. Continued study of the French speaking cultures with small projects, videos and films.
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: French Level II
Note: Placement test is required for students new to the world language program at BHS.
Description: This course continues further in depth with French grammar, more tenses, vocabulary and communication/oral proficiency skills. It is suggested that students have a good French/English, English/French dictionary. Students will study other Francophone countries and do supplemental readings from a variety of magazine and newspaper articles on current events, short stories and poetry. There will be an independent project, student-written skits and dialogues, videos, and feature films that complement the chapters’ cultural themes.
(Curriculum B: offered in odd numbered graduation years; ie. Fall 2020-Spring 2021)
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit.
Prerequisite: French Level III
Note: Placement test is required for students new to the world language program at BHS. Fifth-year French students may take one semester or both of Advanced French.
Description: This curriculum will focus on the history of France from 1715 to the present and the literature of that time period. Greater proficiency in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening continue to be developed in this program.
(Curriculum A: offered in even numbered graduation years; ie. Fall 2019-Spring 2020)
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: French Level III
Note: Placement test is required for students new to the world language program at BHS. Fifth-year French students may take one semester or both of Advanced French.
Description: Students will gain deeper understanding of France’s rich historic past, beginning with the cave drawings in Lascaux, France, and continuing through the centuries to the French Revolution of 1789. Key historic figures and events will be studied, along with development of French literature. Greater proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening will be developed.
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Description: Spanish 1 is a full-year (2-semester) elective. This introduction to the Spanish language will get students listening, talking, reading, and writing in Spanish almost immediately. Learners will interact with meaningful authentic media, including videos, music, and conversation. Students will use Spanish to investigate, explain, compare and reflect on familiar topics as well as many practices and perspectives of the Spanish-speaking cultures and communities studied so students can connect with people and discover appropriate ways to interact with others whose perspectives may be different from their own. Students will practice pronunciation and learn grammar and vocabulary both inductively and deductively to help with dialogue. Students are expected to complete the course at a proficiency level of novice high. Students completing this course will be able to engage in familiar conversations in Spanish.
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish Level I
Note: Placement test required for students new to BISD World Language program. Students entering from Woodward, Odyssey or Hyla in 9th grade should enroll in next level in sequence based on teacher recommendation.
Description: Spanish 2 is a full-year (2-semester) elective which carefully aligns grammar, vocabulary, and culture with the content introduced and practiced in Level 1. Students will listen, speak, read and write in Spanish while interacting with their teacher and classmates. Students will also interact with meaningful authentic media, including videos, music, and conversation, and will use Spanish to investigate, explain, compare and reflect on familiar topics as well as many practices and perspectives of the Spanish-speaking cultures and communities studied. This level allows learners to interact with students from different Spanish-speaking countries and discover appropriate ways to interact with others whose perspectives may be different from their own. Students who leave the course at intermediate mid proficiency level may enroll in Spanish 3 during the following school year.
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish Level II
Note: Placement test required for students new to BISD World Language program. Students entering from Woodward, Odyssey or Hyla in 9th grade should enroll in next level in sequence based on teacher recommendation.
Description: This course continues to practice, reinforce and expand both orally and in writing the structures introduced in the first two years. Additional grammar concepts are taught. Speaking in the target language and listening comprehension are major components of this course. The emphasis is on reading, discussing and writing about authentic materials in Spanish.
Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish Level III
Note: Advanced Spanish courses are not sequential and may be taken in any order. A placement test is required for students new to the world language program at BHS. Spanish students in their 4th or 5th year of the language may take one semester or both.
Description: This course is taught in Spanish. It explores what it means to be bicultural/ bilingual and offers an overview of the history, geography, culture, contemporary issues, current events, and literature (emphasis on Spain). The course explores a variety of genres and literary movements and popular music. Grammatical concepts will be reviewed and introduced. This course consists of thematic units such as diversity, conflicts, as well as regional languages, people, food, music, customs etc. Thematic units will differ between Fall semester and Spring semester. Authentic materials used will reinforce the students’ proficiency in reading, writing, listening and / or speaking the target language.
Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish Level III
Note: Advanced Spanish courses are not sequential and may be taken in any order. A placement test is required for students new to the world language program at BHS. Spanish students in their 4th or 5th year of the language may take one semester or both.
Description: This course is taught in Spanish. The course begins by exploring cultural identity. The emphasis of the course is the diverse history, literature, culture, and peoples of Latin America from the time of the conquest to the present. Current issues are also covered in this course. Grammatical concepts will be reviewed and introduced. Thematic units will differ between Fall semester and Spring semester. Authentic materials used will reinforce the students’ proficiency in reading, writing, listening and / or speaking the target language.
(Note: offered only during zero period)
Length/Credit: 1 year/1.0 credit
Prerequisite: Spanish Level III with a B grade or above and teacher recommendation.
Note: A placement test is required for students new to the world language program at BHS. Students are required to take the AP Spanish Language exam in May.
Description: The AP Spanish Language course is intended for students who wish to develop proficiency and integrate their language skills, using authentic materials and sources. Students who enroll should have an intermediate knowledge of the language and cultures of Spanish-speaking peoples and should have attained a reasonable proficiency in using the language. The AP Spanish Language course will prepare students to demonstrate their level of Spanish proficiency. The course is meant to be comparable to third year (fifth or sixth semester) college and university courses that focus on speaking and writing in the target language at an advanced level. The class is conducted in Spanish and is offered only during zero period.
**Advanced Placement Course Fee: There is a fee for AP Exam, determined by The College Board each year. BHS has scholarship funds available to students to cover this fee as needed. Students enrolled in an AP class will be required to take the Advanced Placement examination in May. College credits may be granted based upon individual performance on this test and the policy of the college attended.