Modern & Classical Languages

Students acquire language proficiency through an integrated program, focusing on vocabulary development, conversation practice, and the mastery of basic structures.

French and Spanish students are required to take 3 years of French or Spanish. Honors French and Spanish are offered as electives in senior year. These honors courses are designed to be a bridge to intermediate-level university language study. French 4 and Spanish 4 require that the student has demonstrated mastery and interest in the subject and the ability to work independently. These courses are based on classroom discussion and written assignments of poetry, drama, short stories, and novels and are intended to increase proficiency in conversation and written expression.

Latin students may take up to 3 years of Latin in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. The primary goals of these courses are for students to acquire comprehension of the Latin language, primarily through reading; to develop, through their reading, an understanding of Roman culture, particularly of the first century CE; and to recognize through vocabulary study the Latin roots of English and the Romance languages. Latin 3 is a senior Honors elective. Latin 3 requires that the student has demonstrated mastery and interest in the subject. The work of Latin 1 and 2 continues, but in greater depth with more complex work, culminating with an introduction to Latin authors.