World Languages

World Language Department

Name	Language
Amy Howard	Spanish
Carolyn Sweeney (Dept. Chair)	Spanish
M arion Donoghue	Spanish
Holly Criswell	French
Kristin Loffreda-Mancinelli	Italian
Mauricio Salinas	Spanish
Robert Cecil	Spanish
Yanira Sanchez	Spanish
Jennifer Sommerer	Spanish

World Language Overview

The World Language Program offers students the opportunity to become proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in three languages: French, Italian, and Spanish. Students engage in meaningful and authentic activities while immersed in the target language. History, literature, and cultural contributions are also a part of these courses. Students not only gain proficiency, but also become global citizens who understand and appreciate diverse cultures. Two successful years of the same language are required for graduation in the state of Delaware. Some colleges and universities recommend or require three or four years of the same language for admission.

World Language Courses

Level I: Spanish, French, or Italian

Level I is designed for students who have not previously studied a language. Students will begin the journey to building proficiency based on the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards. Level I students will communicate on very familiar topics to increase proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication. As novice-level students, they will learn introductory phases when reading and listening. Students will be able to write about familiar topics using words, phrases, and memorized expressions. This course will prepare students for all skill areas and success in Level II.

Level II: Spanish, French, or Italian

Prerequisite: First-year completion of the same language.

Level II further develops students’ proficiency based on the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards. Students will be able to write about the most familiar topics and present information using a series of simple sentences. They will be introduced to short readings and understand the main idea of authentic texts. Level II students begin to narrate in the present as well as other tenses in writing and conversations. Level II students will increase their proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication, based on the five goal areas of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities.

Level III: Spanish, French, or Italian

Prerequisite: Second-year completion of the same language is required for Spanish III. Second year completion of the same language with a “B” or better is recommended for honors.

Level III develops students’ proficiency based on the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards. As intermediate-level students, they begin to create with language, access a variety of authentic texts, and focus on narrating in present, past, and future tenses. Level III students will increase their proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication, based on the five goal areas as communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. Homework and vocabulary reviews are assigned daily. Honors students are expected to adapt to a more rigorous pace that entails significant independent study.

Level IV: Spanish 4, French 4, or Italian 4

Level: Honors
Prerequisite: Third year completion of Honors course in the same language with a “B” or better is recommended.

Honors Level IV courses further develop students’ proficiency based on the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards. As solid intermediate mid to high-level students, they communicate effectively in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes. Level IV honors students read from a variety of authentic texts to explore social and environmental issues and literature, music, and art. They communicate daily in the target language and participate in conversations about current events, experiences, and topics they have researched. They make presentations using past, present, and future narration and write about a variety of topics. Level IV honors students will increase their proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication, based on the five goal areas of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities. Homework and vocabulary reviews are assigned daily. Honors Level IV students are expected to maintain a more rigorous pace that entails significant independent study.

Spanish for Heritage Learners 3

Spanish for Heritage Learners 3 is designed specifically for heritage speakers of Spanish who already have some language proficiency. The purpose of this course is to enable students whose heritage language is Spanish to develop, maintain, and enhance proficiency in Spanish providing them the opportunity to listen, speak, read, and write in a variety of context and a variety of audiences including family, school, and community. Students will explore the cultures of the Hispanic world including their own and better understand the nature of their heritage language.

Spanish for Heritage Learners 4

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Heritage Level 3

Spanish for Heritage Learners 4 is designed specifically for heritage speakers of Spanish. The purpose of this course is to enable students whose heritage language is Spanish to develop, maintain, and enhance proficiency in Spanish providing them the opportunity to listen, speak, read, and write in a variety of contexts and a variety of audiences including family, school, and community. Students will explore the cultures of the Hispanic world including their own and better understand the nature of their heritage language.

AP World Language Courses

AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP Spanish Language and Culture for Immersion Students

AP Spanish Language and Culture

Level: Advanced Placement
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish IV or of Level III with a teacher's recommendation.

The Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture course is equivalent to an intermediate level college course designed for students who already have strong skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening and are interested in developing a more in depth understanding of the Spanish language. Instructional materials, activities, assignments, and assessments are appropriate to this level. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish: the main objective is for students to develop a proficiency in integrating language skills and synthesizing written and audio material, the formal writing process, extensive interpersonal and presentational speaking and writing practice, and oral comprehension skills. Course content is aligned with the College Board AP Spanish Language course description. The goal of this course is to prepare students for a successful performance on the Advanced Placement exam in the Spring to earn college credit.

AP Spanish Language and Culture for Immersion Students

Level: Advanced Placement
Prerequisite: Completion of 8th grade immersion program and Intermediate Mid Proficiency on the STAMP assessment.

The Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture course for immersion students is equivalent to the level of an intermediate level college course. It is designed for students who have developed strong skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening and are interested in developing a more in depth understanding of the Spanish language. Instructional materials, activities, assignments, and assessments are appropriate to this level. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish. The main objective is for students to develop proficiency in integrating language skills and synthesizing written and audio material, the formal writing process, extensive interpersonal and presentational speaking and writing practice, and oral comprehension skills. Course content is aligned with the College Board AP Spanish Language course description. The goal of this course is to prepare students for a successful performance on the Advanced Placement exam in the Spring to earn college credit with a score of 4 or higher to continue into the Bridge immersion program.