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. Readings, charts, the Internet, and films are some of the sources for discussion topics.

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.

In the Advanced Placement Literature class, students undertake a fast-paced survey of some of the great writers of the Spanish/Latin American canon. Students will refine techniques of literary analysis and write extensively in preparation for the AP test in May.