Academic Handbook 2021-2022 | Page 99

Academic Handbook 2021-2022 99

AP Chinese Language & Culture

The primary goal of this course is to help students to improve their interpersonal communication skills , their abilities to present and interpret language in spoken and written forms , and their understanding of Chinese society and culture in six thematic areas : Families and Communities , Personal and Public Identities , Beauty and Aesthetics , Science and Technology , Contemporary Life and Global Challenges . Students are expected to work intensively in advanced language to apply skills and perspectives across content areas and in cultural explorations to investigate and express different views on real-world issues , make connections to other disciplines / personal experiences , and compare aspects of the target cultures to their own . Students in this course will be prepared to write the AP Chinese Language and Culture examination , which is equivalent to a second-year university Mandarin course . This course is open to Grades 11 and 12 . Assessment includes interpretive , interpersonal , and presentational modes of communication .

Spanish Program Introduction

Learning Spanish prepares students to connect in the multilingual and multicultural world we share . The Spanish program focuses on literacy , real world applications and 21st century skills . The goals of the program are to prepare students to communicate effectively and to enable students to interact with global competence while participating in communities locally and globally . The Spanish program engages students in the study of the language , the development of their language proficiency , and the analysis of the Hispanic culture throughout the Spanish-speaking world , from Latin America , the Caribbean , and the United States , to Spain . Resources include authentic music , films , audio , literary texts and novels . Cultural activities include culinary field trips , cooking lessons , dance lessons , web projects and art projects . Spanish students also host two senior school wide celebrations : the annual Day of the Dead and Hispanic Day .

The Spanish program is designed to be taken in a sequence as the material in each course builds upon previous courses . Students are grouped in levels according to their ability , interest and experience with the language .

The program is made up of dynamic and intensive courses designed for motivated and committed students interested in moving through the curriculum at their own pace . These levels are defined as it follows :

• Spanish 9 : This half year course provides students with exposure to the Spanish language and Hispanic culture . Students with limited or no previous experience with the language as well as students with previous exposure to Spanish are welcome in this course .

• Spanish 10-11-12 program : The goal of this program is that by the end of the Spanish 12 course , students can understand and express themselves in familiar situations and can use the cultural and strategic knowledge they have gained to sustain their communication .

• Spanish 11 ( 10 accelerated ) , Spanish 12 ( 11 accelerated ) and AP Spanish courses are part of an intensive program for students with an advanced Spanish background or a strong Spanish linguistic and cultural proficiency . These students move through the curriculum at an accelerated pace and will normally complete the Grade 12 program in their Grade 11 year . In Grade 12 , students in the advanced program are welcome to join the AP Spanish class .

Decisions about a change in placement or additional entry point are considered in exceptional circumstances early in the school year with the permission of the Department Head and with teacher recommendations .