In the first year, students are introduced to the basics of French or Spanish and the cultures associated with the French or Spanish language. Students learn the skills required to function in a variety of situations.

In the second year, students encounter more complex situations and verb tenses. Students work to express themselves in writing within the context of short essays.

Students in the third year work with more complex grammatical structures and write and read longer texts. There is a continued emphasis on using the French or Spanish language in an authentic context.

Students in the fourth year begin the advanced study of either French/Francophone literature or Spanish (Peninsular)/Latin American literature. The class will also conduct an advanced review of complex grammatical structures. Class will be discussion-based.

This course is conducted entirely in French and does not focus on grammar or structures. To learn about French culture, we follow the life cycle of an individual from birth to death within French society with its unique practices and attitudes. Each phase of life is presented including facts and data, but there is always an attempt to get beyond the facts to the underlying values and beliefs of the society.

This course is designed to elevate the communication abilities of students in the Spanish language and to deepen their understanding of Latino and Hispanic cultures. A primary focus will be for students to achieve proficiency in oral communication and to be able to exchange information in authentic conversations.

This course will use outstanding films from the Spanish speaking world to explore the cultures and histories of Spain and the Americas. The movies will be a catalyst for classroom conversation. Students will hear Spanish as it is spoken in various countries and will be encouraged to discuss social and cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries around the world. This course is designed to hone all of the four major communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with special emphasis on aural comprehension and oral fluency.

In the Advanced Placement Language class, students will work to perfect their grammar as much as possible and practice their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in preparation for the AP test in May. Classes are typically thematically based and interdisciplinary in nature, touching upon literature, art, and culture.

Chinese I is an introductory course, which is designed for students with no prior of or a limited knowledge of the language. This class uses the Pinyin system and simplified characters to ease students into the world of Chinese. This class focuses on listening, speaking, reading and writing through hands-on activities, oral and written exercises, songs, videos, games, and stories. Special emphasis is placed on culture awareness and oral communication skills. By the end of the year, students will be able to express thoughts about their daily life, family, pets, food, weather, and preferences in a basic yet culturally appropriate way.

Chinese II reviews concepts learned in Chinese I and introduces new vocabulary and grammatical concepts. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills will be practiced through topics pertaining to real life situations. Each unit has a specific theme, such as shopping, colors, ordering food, etc. In addition to language skills, the class will continue to explore the culture of the Chinese and the rest of the Asian world. By the end of the year, students will be able to express thoughts about their daily life with increasing sophistication in terms of style and usage.