This course begins the sequence of the study of Mandarin Chinese language and Chinese culture and centers on mastering the Mandarin sound system and the rudiments of the Chinese writing system. Students in Mandarin Chinese I will learn to read and write the sounds of Mandarin using Pinyin (a phonetic system using the Roman alphabet). Students will also learn to read and write up to 300 essential characters in order to engage in simple correspondence.

This course is designed to allow our students to dive into masterpieces of Spanish literature. The journey will begin in the Middle Ages and will end with contemporary texts. The literary selections will be studied in depth, along with their authors and their historical context. At the beginning of the course, we will review literary forms and figures. Readings, comments, and discussions in class will be the foundation of the course. The lessons will be held 100 percent in Spanish.

Students in Advanced Francophone Culture will use their proven linguistic skills to dive deeper into social and cultural issues across the Francophone world. Through studies of history, literature, art, and current events, students will become culturally competent experts in the Francophone region of their choosing. This yearlong course is reserved for students at the highest level of French and will be conducted entirely in French. Departmental approval required.

Spanish III Honors is an intensive course for highly motivated language students who wish to become more linguistically and culturally proficient. The class will study grammatical topics outside the regular third-year curriculum, such as the uses of definite and indefinite articles, the gerund and infinitive, and verbs that require certain prepositions. Although grammar is an integral part of the curriculum, the course will also help students to see grammar as a tool for effective communication rather than simply a set of rules to be memorized. Throughout the course, students will study history, music, food, literature, film, and other offerings from the Spanish-speaking world, helping them to understand and to draw connections between various cultures, practices, and perspectives. Student-led discussion is essential, and the class is conducted exclusively in Spanish.

The course is designed to master all the language skills through a variety of activities and projects. The students will be exposed to multiple sources to improve their language skills and they will be able to study some key cultural aspects of multiple Spanish speaking countries. The course will be based in the 6 topics that are the core of the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam: Beauty and Aesthetics, Contemporary life, Families and communities, Global challenges, Personal and public identities and Science and technology. This class will be conducted 100 percent in Spanish. The teacher will provide extra worksheets for the students who might be interested in taking the AP exam in May.

This Advanced Latin course is a survey course in Latin literature of the Late Republic and Early Empire, with special emphasis on the prose of Caesar and Livy and the poetry of Catullus, Ovid, Horace, Juvenal and Martial. Students will develop an appreciation of the different genres of Latin prose and poetry, refine their sight translation skills, participate in the National Latin Exam, prepare for the SAT 2 Subject Test in Latin, and build a foundation for the further study of Latin at the collegiate level. Departmental approval required.

In this course students will explore Chinese literature in the classical period from Pre-Qin Dynasty to Qing Dynasty (in fall term), modern period from 1840 to 1919 to 1949 (in winter term), and contemporary period from 1949 to present (in spring term). The students must complete the advanced level of Mandarin Chinese or are fluent/near fluent in Mandarin Chinese prior to joining the class. In the target language learning environment, students will immerse themselves in learning Chinese classics, poetry and prose, novels, and odes and songs to appreciate the elegance of this unique Chinese art form, Literature. Apart from reading and analyzing the original literature pieces, students will have ample opportunities to express their admiration and critique on the literature writing, and to practice their own literature rhetoric writing skills. Summer reading is required prior to the class starts.