Foreign Languages

Philosophy

The Browning foreign language program begins in the Middle School with Grade Five students studying one half-year each of French and Spanish. This year introduces students to practical vocabulary and the distinctive cultures of the French and Spanish speaking worlds. Emphasis is on fostering students’ comfort speaking and listening to a language other than their usual one, and this is achieved through a deliberate program of language immersion. All students choose one modern language for a full year of study in Grade Six and continue that language through at least Form II. In Form I, students add to their modern language the study of classical Latin, which they continue to take through at least Form II. The objectives of Latin in Forms I and II are grounded less in the acquisition of oral skills than in the recognition and generation of the written language, familiarization with classical civilization and mythology, and developing awareness of the primary role of Latin in the formation of English vocabulary.

French

Grade Five: French

This course is an introduction to the French language and culture. Concentration is on building a vocabulary and learning the very basic rules for numbers, time, date, etc. Interrogative words, basic verb conjugations, the notions of gender and number as they apply to adjectives, and singular and plural nouns are introduced. Much of the learning takes place within the context of an imaginary trip from Paris to Marseille, France. Classes meet three times a week for half the year. Text: Amsco, French is Fun and information distributed over the course of the term by the instructor. Students will also be expected to keep an organized binder that should be brought to class daily.

Grade Six: French

The students will learn basic vocabulary of daily life, the present tense, negative and interrogative statements, the possessive forms, and the definite and indefinite article. Cultural studies continue to center on daily life, and emphasis is placed on cultural awareness, which is created by work on a project in art, history, literature, or geography of the French speaking world. Reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are all addressed in this class. Classes meet three times a week. Bon Voyage, Level IA; Writing Activities Workbook, Audio and Video Manual; Storytelling Booklet.

Form I: Elementary French

Students come to Introduction to French with prior knowledge of basic beginning French. This knowledge is reinforced through review and continued enhancement of vocabulary, writing, speaking, listening, and reading comprehension. Emphasis is placed on the student’s ability to use the language in a wide variety of contexts from describing an average day to buying groceries or making travel arrangements. Students are taught to write within the limits of their language resources, without a dictionary, and are encouraged to express themselves in French whenever possible. Students are also required to master basic geographical, cultural, historical, and political knowledge of the French-speaking world. The course is paced to meet the changing needs of the students. Text: Bon Voyage, Level IB; Writing Activities Workbook, Audio and Video Manual; Storytelling Booklet.

Form II: French I

The course is designed to introduce students to the richness and culture of the French-speaking world through a representative sampling of various situations from daily life. An emphasis will be placed on oral and writing abilities. Comprehension of the fundamental structure of the language is the aim of this program. A fluent command of the present, future, and past tenses of regular and irregular verbs is expected. In addition, special attention is given to basic French expressions and verbal idioms, with reference to their English counterparts. An audio-visual program, French In Action, is also used to develop four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening in French. This program reflects contemporary life in France. Students will “see and hear” real French men and women and will see France: its people, their customs, clothes, food, cities, and homes. Texts: Bon Voyage II; Writing Activities Workbook, Level II; Storytelling Booklet; Amsco, French First Year

Spanish

Introduction to Spanish

Students are expected to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students begin to expand their use of the language by expressing themselves through a series of oral and written exercises. The present tense of stem changing and irregular verbs and the past tense of regular verbs are emphasized. Emphasis is also placed on the enrichment of the vocabulary and cultural awareness. Primary Texts: ¿Cómo te va? (B) (textbook, workbook and audiobook) and El misterio de la llave. Dictionary: Spanish Dictionary for Beginners.

Grade Five: Spanish

The objective of this half-year course is to expose the students to practical vocabulary and conversational Spanish through useful, daily expressions. Interrogative words, basic verb conjugations, singular and plural nouns, basic adjectives, and numbers are introduced. Aspects of the culture and history of the Spanish speaking world are also presented. Music and audiovisual materials complement the course and allow for the natural acquisition of language. . Primary Text: ¿Cómo te va? (Intro) (textbook, workbook and audiobook). Dictionary: First Thousand Words in Spanish.

Grade Six: Spanish

The students are introduced to the language through situations that a contemporary adolescent would be likely to encounter. The present indicative of verbs, and the gender and number of nouns, adjectives, and articles are introduced through simple passages. Colors, numbers, family life, clothing, seasons, weather, and time, as well as a look at family life, comprise the cultural aspects of the course. Glencoe Middle School Spanish, ¿Cómo te va? Series A.

Form I: Elementary Spanish

This class develops the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each lesson covers everyday situations and begins with a dialogue forming the basis for oral and written exercises. The present tense of irregular verbs and the past tense of regular verbs are emphasized. Glencoe Spanish 1, ¡Buen viaje!

Form II: Spanish I

Students are expected to master beginning Spanish grammar and simple oral and written expressions. Emphasis is also placed on vocabulary enrichment and cultural awareness, which is fostered by work on a project on some part of the Spanish-speaking world and cultural days/events such as eating at a restaurant or sampling home cooking. The class focuses its efforts on four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Spanish.

Latin

Form I: Introduction to Latin

Form I Latin has three objectives. The first is providing students with an introduction to the fundamentals of Latin grammar and morphology, including the present and imperfect tenses of regular and irregular verbs, the first three noun declensions and the functions of at least four noun cases, and a range of Latin vocabulary words. The second goal is to reinforce students’ awareness of the cultural context of Latin and the rich literary and mythological heritage bequeathed to us by the classical world. Finally, Latin vocabulary is highlighted as the root bed of English derivatives so that students may begin to read, write, and otherwise use the English language in a more accurate and effective manner. Longman: Ecco Romani, IA.

Form II: Latin I

Students in Latin I move rapidly into more complex noun syntax and their study of nouns broadens to include all five declensions. By the end of the year they have learned at least six tenses of regular and irregular verbs in the indicative mood. In addition, students are expected to memorize and recite passages from Latin poetry in the original meter. Vocabulary is stressed both as an avenue to students’ growing competence at reading a variety of passages as well as a way to deepen their English vocabulary skills through the study of derivatives. Longman: Ecco Romani, IB.