MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSES
At MPH, we believe that fluency in a foreign language is the gateway to a truly international life. We value the study of languages not only for the immediate practical benefits, but also for the way in which learning a new language enables the student to learn a new culture, and thereby see his own more clearly.
MPH offers instruction in classical languages (Greek and Latin) and modern languages (Spanish, French, and Mandarin).
In classical studies, students focus on the reading and writing aspects of Greek and Latin, in order to gain an understanding of the linguistic and cultural heritages derived from these languages.
Small classes are key to MPH’s excellence in language instruction. Students are immersed in the cultural products of the country whose language they are studying. They may prepare a Spanish meal, read a French magazine, or watch a Chinese film. Because the study of a world language entails a progressive acquisition of linguistic skills, our program is intentional in its vertical articulation. Students progress, over their time here, from beginners, to truly fluent speakers and connoisseurs of the culture, and many choose to master more than one language.
Spanish 6 is a transitional course, allowing the students to practice the basic Spanish they have learned in the Lower School, and to transfer their previously acquired knowledge to more sophisticated structures of Spanish. In addition, the students learn different idiomatic expressions from various Spanish-speaking countries. They are expected to use their Spanish orally and to demonstrate accurate spelling in the written language. The students learn more about Hispanic Culture and create an original project for the Spanish Culture Fair which they put on for their Pre-K buddies.
Text: Exploring Spanish, Exploring Spanish Activity Book, EMC/Paradigm.
Seventh Graders begin the first level of French, Spanish, or Latin and complete one-half of the standard high school French I/Spanish I/Latin I curriculum. Upon successfully completing the Seventh Grade program, Eighth Graders study the second half of the standard French I/Spanish I/Latin I curriculum. Seventh and Eighth Grade world language courses are termed IA and IB, respectively. Students successfully completing French IB, Spanish IB, or Latin IB receive one high school world language credit.
In Spanish and French, a communication-oriented approach is used. Students attain proficiency in the skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. They also develop an awareness of the language's culture. Latin IA and IB emphasize the fundamental grammatical concepts of language through the writing and reading of Latin, and also a student's awareness of ancient culture.
Texts: Spanish IA/IB - Realidades, Prentice Hall.
French IA/IB - Bon Voyage, Glencoe.
Latin IA/IB - Latin For Americans, Ullman Henry, Glencoe, 2007.
Mandarin Chinese I develops the students’ basic communication ability by learning language structures, functions and related cultural knowledge as well as by training their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. This course focuses on the beginning level proficiency in phonetics, characters, basic daily life conversations and grammar. Classes consist of a variety of activities including classroom lecture and practice, cultural enrichment activities, multimedia presentations and field trips.
Text: Chinese Link, part 1 Level 1, textbook and workbook.
Chinese II (1 credit)
Mandarin Chinese II continues the program of Chinese I, but in more detail and complexity. While maintaining the focus on developing the students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, this course helps students to reach to the introductory/intermediate level proficiency in Chinese phonetics, characters, basic daily life conversations and grammar. Students are exposed to more cultural knowledge about China.
Textbook: New Practical Chinese Reader, Book 1
Mandarin Chinese III (1 credit)
Mandarin Chinese III puts greater emphasizes on students' ability in communicating, making comparison and building communities using their Chinese language skills. Through cultural immersion, students' vocabularies are expanded and their reading and speaking skills are sharpened through constant interaction with the native language speakers and cultures. Greater emphasis is also placed on student's writing skills when students are trained to type out letters and essays to express their opinions in Mandarin Chinese and correspond directly with the Chinese students in China.
Textbook: New Practical Chinese Reader, Book 2
English as Second Language
The objective of the ESL class is to build communication skills amongst the international students, and to foster an ongoing exchange of ideas in a relaxed environment. The ESL class provides an opportunity for international students to work on developing their strengths and weaknesses. This course aims to build skills in all areas of language development, reading, writing, and study skills. The texts, supplemental materials, and films for this course are springboards for facilitating cross cultural dialogue, as well as developing English proficiency and critical thinking skills. Assessments for this class are based on a combination of structured and unstructured tasks such as journals, writing samples, speech presentations, and projects. All first year international students are required to take ESL unless given an exemption by the Head of Upper School.
Texts: American Ways, Discovering Fiction View and Voices
French I (1 academic credit)
The French I, and French 1A, and French 1B courses develop the student's oral communication skills in the French language by stressing vocabulary, correct pronunciation, and basic grammatical structures of increasing complexity. Students read and comprehend passages that focus on cultural affairs in France and in French-speaking countries. The course develops writing skills, from the simple sentence to paragraph compositions in French.
Text: Discovering French Bleu, Valette
French II (1 academic credit)
This course entails the same program as the French I, French 1A, and French 1B courses, but in greater detail and complexity, while maintaining the same emphasis on oral communication. Greater attention is given to written compositions and reading selections. Integrating the cultural material into the learning process, students acquire an awareness of youth-related life in the French-speaking world.
Text: Discovering French Blanc, Valette
French III (1 academic credit)
French III emphasizes the development of greater speaking and writing skills through vocabulary units and French literature. Students review basic grammar and start learning intricate patterns of French grammar. They incorporate conversational tenses into the language use. They demonstrate independent written and oral control of the language through compositions, and reports. Reading passages include authentic materials and an introduction to French Literature.
Texts: Discovering French Rouge, Valette; French 3 Years, Valette.
AP Language and AP Literature are offered in alternate years depending on the strength, motivation, or needs of the students. AP Language consists of a reinforcement and expansion of the four skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. This course develops the student’s ability to understand spoken French in different contexts, the ability to read newspapers, magazine articles, and literary texts of different forms and periods, and the ability to express coherent written and spoken French using idiomatic expressions and correct grammatical structures.
French Conversation 1
Book used is Quant a moi. Heinle and Heinle.
French Conversation II or Advanced Conversation
French Conversation II is geared towards students who after F4 do not wish to take an AP course.
This intermediate to advanced level course is for French students who want to keep their fluency in communication and expend their registry to a deeper involvement with the language. The class is based on discussions and debates. We discuss emotions, reactions to advanced themes.
It is a mixed of cinema, literature, philosophy and currents events.
Moments in French Literature
An Anthology – the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century
Goals: The primary goal is to discover and develop an appreciation for the variety and richness of the great works of French literature. The secondary goal is to become a more fluent reader and speaker of French. There will be a small writing component to compliment the reading activities, though the class will center on discussion.
The text covers literature from each time period, either by excerpts or short integral pieces. Works covered include Marie de France, Ronsard, La Fontaine, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Rostand, Camus, and Ionesco (to name a few). When applicable, we will watch appropriate videos.
The Latin I course develops awareness and mastery of Latin grammar. The course stresses proficiency in a language based on endings rather than word order. Vocabulary building is fundamental. Latin forms and endings are practiced and drilled daily. While the ultimate goal is translating sentences from Latin to English, there is practice in translating from English to Latin. A classical pronunciation is used. The class emphasizes the impact of Greek and Roman civilization on literature, culture, and art.
Text: Latin For Americans, Ullman Henry, Glencoe.
Instructor: William O'Malley
Latin II (1 academic credit)
The Latin II course continues the sequence begun in Latin I. The first half of the year is devoted to a student's development of a secure knowledge of grammar and a mastery of reading Latin prose. The last semester is devoted to reading Caesar’s Gallic Wars: Book I. There is much emphasis on the student's awareness of ancient culture.
Text: Latin For Americans - Book II, Ullman Henry, Glencoe.
Latin III (1 academic credit)
Students in Latin III read three ancient authors: Sallust, Cicero, and Ovid. Selections from Cicero’s Ad Catilinam and Sallust’s Bellum Catilinae begin the year. Considerable time is spent discussing the causes of the Civil War and the breakdown of the Roman Republic. Selected portions of the Metamorphoses of Ovid, which introduce the student to authentic Latin poetry, complete the year. A word-by-word, line-by-line explication of the text is the basic approach. Students are introduced to Latin epic meter.
Texts: Selections from Ovid's Metamorphoses, Anderwon, Frederick, eds., Longman; Cicero and Sallust: On the Conspiracy of Catiline, E.J. Barnes and John Ramsey, eds., Longman.
Latin IV/V/AP: LATIN LITERATURE (1 academic credit)
The Latin IV/V/AP: Latin Literature course offers selections from Catullus paired with selections from Horace (Odes and Satire 1.9) . Students learn to read, translate, understand, analyze, and interpret the selections. Also, students review Latin grammar and develop skills in reading Latin poetry, including the ability to scan and to identify poetic devices.
Texts: Ancona, Ronnie, Horace Selected Odes and Satire 1.9, 2nd Edition, Wauconda, IL, Bolchazy CarducciPublishers, Inc., 2005.
Bender & Forsyth, Catullus: Expanded Edition, Wauconda, IL, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers , 2005.
Murphy & Ancona, A Horace Workbook , Wauconda, IL , Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc , 2005.
Dettmer & Osborne, A Catullus Workbork, Wauconda, IL, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc , 2006.
Latin IV/V/AP: Vergil (1 academic credit)
The Latin IV/V/AP: Vergil course emphasizes a close reading and explication of Books I, II, IV, VI, X, and XII, and a familiarity with the content of Books 1-12 of Vergil's Aeneid,. Students review Latin grammar and develop skills in reading classical Latin epic poetry. Skills include the ability to translate, analyze, interpret, read aloud, and scan dactylic hexameter verse. The course places a strong emphasis on the epic tradition in western literature, the Trojan War, and the founding of Rome.
Texts: Vergil's Aeneid, Boyd; Bolchazy-Carduzzi, Inc, 2005.
A Vergil Workbork, Bradley and Boyd; Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Inc , 2006.
Current Issues in Latin America and Spain (1 academic credit)
This course is open to all students who have completed Level IV Spanish. Students discuss and write about current issues in Spanish-speaking countries. All classes are conducted in Spanish. Students increase their awareness of cultural similarities and differences in the Spanish-speaking world through reading international newspapers, magazines and books, watching films, and using the Internet.
Spanish I (1 academic credit)
In Spanish I, students begin to communicate in Spanish with other people who speak the language. They are also introduced to Spanish and Hispanic culture. Students listen to and read Spanish in order to interpret meaning and to convey their own ideas through speaking and writing. Class activities include whole group questions and answers, pair and small group activities, the writing of paragraphs, and the reading of authentic materials. Videos featuring native speakers are also used.
Text: Realidades, Prentice Hall.
Spanish II (1 academic credit)
In Spanish II, students continue to develop communication skills, learning higher-level vocabulary and new verb tenses. Speaking activities become more complex and writing reflects a more sophisticated thought process. Passages written in Spanish develop reading comprehension skills, as well as cultural appreciation of Spanish and Hispanic cultures.
Text: RealidadesII, Prentice Hall.
Spanish III (1 academic credit)
Students in Spanish III continue the communicative approach to language learning begun in levels I and II. They communicate successfully in more challenging conversational situations, such as expressing and defending opinions, and narrating past, future, and hypothetical events. Vocabulary units expand on previously learned topics and introduce multiculturalism and the global community. Reading passages include authentic materials and an introduction to Hispanic literature.
Text: RealidadesIII, Prentice Hall.
Spanish IV (1 academic credit)
This course is for students who have completed Spanish III successfully. Advanced Composition and Conversation develops ease in speaking through expanding vocabulary, refining pronunciation, and practicing grammar concepts orally. Students learn vocabulary word groups that reflect the interests of the class members, as well as vocabulary idioms and colloquial language that appear in current Spanish publications. Students refine pronunciation by developing a command of the allophones of Spanish and their distribution. Extensive oral practice of verb tenses, moods, and grammatical structures improves students' ability to use them naturally and at a normal speaking rate. Students also read two modern Spanish dramas.
Texts: Album, Rebecca M. Velette and Joy Renjilian-Burgy; Una Vez Mas, James H. Couch and Rebecca D. McCann; En La ArdienteOscuridad, Buero Vallejo, Scribners; Spanish Student Dictionary,Spanish Four Years, AMSCO.
Advanced Placement Spanish: Language (1 academic credit)
The AP Spanish Language course is designed for the fifth year students who have demonstrated proficiency in grammar, composition, and conversation. The course prepares students to comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish, to acquire vocabulary and a grasp of structure, to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles as well as modern literature in Spanish, to compose expository passages, and to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency. Course content reflects intellectual interests shared by the teacher and students (the arts, history, current events, literature, sports, etc.). A personal tape recorder with a built-in microphone using standard size tapes is required. Materials include recordings, films, newspapers, magazines, grammar texts, and works of literature.
Text: Aura, Carlos Fuentes.
Spanish Conversation and Culture (1 academic credit)
Spanish Conversation and Culture is a course that meets the graduation requirement of four years of a sequence. The course focuses on conversational Spanish for travel and everyday situations. Students work on listening comprehension and speaking proficiency. In addition, they work to strengthen their usage of grammar concepts learned in previous years. Cultural topics and projects are an essential part of the course that helps students understand similarities and differences in the Spanish-speaking world. Students who successfully complete the course and who wish to continue with Spanish are well prepared to take Spanish IV.
Spanish Through Cinema (1 academic credit)
This course is for students who have successfully completed Level IV Spanish or a more advanced course. This class is conducted entirely in Spanish. Students strengthen their conversational skills by watching and discussing movies from Spain and Latin America. They learn idiomatic expressions as well as current slang and will strengthen their listening comprehension skills. Students will work together to plan, write and produce their own movies I Spanish each semester.