Foreign Languages

Spanish I This first Spanish course provides an introduction to the Spanish language and to the culture of Hispanic countries, with the primary focus being on Spain. By encouraging sensitivity to, and understanding of, the cultures, life styles, and philosophies of Spanish-speaking peoples, the program of study develops language skills. Communicating authentically and excellently enables us to participate in God’s redemptive plan for all cultures. These language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing will enable the student to communicate and participate in Spanish communities at home and around the world. You will make connections to other areas of study by examining the way in which the Spanish language and culture has influenced their way of life and their own native culture. These connections, and the comparisons the students make with their own culture and language, will help to prepare the students for their role in a multi-lingual, global society, as well as for fruitful Christian service.  With a primary goal of communication, this course will provide ways for the students to exchange ideas on a variety of topics by speaking and writing in Spanish. They will be able to provide and obtain information about themselves, their schools, homes, churches, family, and friends. Through the use of language tool software, the virtual student will listen to the conversations of fellow students and the online instructor and will be able to respond in like manner. This Spanish I course is the first step in using a basic Spanish vocabulary. Acquiring the language skills and understanding of Hispanic way of life will be the beginning of a life-enriching experience.

Spanish II This Spanish II course provides a more in depth look at the Spanish language and to the culture of Hispanic countries. By encouraging sensitivity to, and understanding of, the cultures, life styles, and philosophies and worldviews of Spanish-speaking peoples, the program of study develops language skills. These language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing will enable the student to communicate and participate in Spanish communities at home and around the world. You will make connections to other areas of study by examining the way in which the Spanish language and culture has influenced their way of life and their own native culture. These connections, and the comparisons the students make with their own culture and language, will help to prepare the students for their role in a multi-lingual, global society. With a primary goal of communication, this course will provide ways for the students to exchange ideas on a variety of topics by speaking and writing in Spanish. They will be able to provide and obtain information about themselves, their schools, homes, family, friends, and faith. Through the use of language tool software, the virtual student will listen to the conversations of fellow students and the on-line instructor and will be able to respond in like manner. This Spanish II course is the second step in using a basic Spanish vocabulary. Acquiring the language skills and understanding of Hispanic way of life will be the beginning of a life-enriching experience.

Spanish III This third year of Spanish is a continuation of the first two years.  The student will continue to sharpen listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through activities that are based on pedagogically proven methods of foreign language instruction.  Throughout the five units of material (Feelings, Transportation, Work, Countries and the Future), students learn to express themselves using an ever increasing vocabulary, present-tense verbs, past-tense verbs, articles, and adjectives.  Grammar is introduced and practiced in innovative and interesting ways with a variety of learning styles in mind. Culture is sprinkled throughout the course in an attempt to help the learner focus on the Spanish speaking world and their culture, people, geographical locations and histories. The course is aligned to the national Foreign Language standards.

Course Objectives Throughout this semester, the student will:

• talk about how they get to different places and explore various modes of transportation available in the Spanish speaking world.
• talk about other countries and nationalities.
• learn Spanish history and history having to do with the Spanish speaking world.
• talk about jobs and professions one can have.
• learn to talk about the future using the future tense.
• talk about how people feel using a wide variety of adjectives and expressions.
• express the conditional, talking about what would happen

Latin I Building the Via Latina: You are about to build a Roman road, the Via Latina. This road will be the foundation for your study of Latin and the culture of ancient Rome. Famous Romans from the past have agreed to be your supervisors. They will invite you to dinner, regale you with stories from mythology, introduce you to other Romans, show you around their homes, entertain you at the chariot races or the gladiatorial fights, and give you a look at what it meant to be a Roman: politically, socially, and economically. They will also be interested in hearing about your life as a Believer and how your worldview influences how you see Roman life and culture. Your task is to learn Latin, the language of the Romans. So let’s start the building process and find out how different, and yet how similar, our worlds really are.

Latin II Welcome, movie star! You will continue your journey to the time of the ancient Romans, but this time you will be the star in our movie, An Epic of Great Proportion. With your director, your script will include visits with some of the men who made Rome great. From them, you will learn about the Roman government and how Rome grew to rule most of the known world. Your epic movie will also take you back to the Trojan War where you will accompany the Greeks on a great adventure. Study your lines and get ready for "lights, camera, action!"

Latin III Welcome to our world of Latin authors. In our library, you will sample some of the brightest minds of the Classical World. Through the literature of these authors you will learn more about the culture and history of the fabulous Romans. You will meet the great Julius Caesar and learn firsthand about his Gallic campaigns. Through the letters of Pliny the Younger, you will get a firsthand account of the eruption of Vesuvius. You will also meet the great orator, Cicero. The poets Martial, Catullus and Ovid will also share their works with you. Our special guest author will be the greatest of the Roman authors, Publius Vergilus Naso.

Chinese I This is a beginning level course that will introduce the student to a variety of areas of Mandarin Chinese (Simplified). In this course, the student will learn listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through activities that are based on pedagogically proven methods of foreign language instruction. Throughout the five units of material (Introduction to Chinese, Greetings, Calendar, Weather, and Time), students learn to express themselves using an ever increasing vocabulary. Grammar is introduced and practiced in innovative and interesting ways with a variety of learning styles in mind. Culture is sprinkled throughout the course in an attempt to help the learner focus on the Chinese speaking world and their culture, people, geographical locations and histories. The course is aligned to the national Foreign Language standards. In this course, the learner will learn to do the following, at the beginning level:

• learn to appreciate other cultures.
• familiar with the Chinese phonological system
• familiar with greetings in Chinese
• know Chinese numbers
• express likes and dislikes.
• talk about themselves
• talk about calendar.
• talk about the weather.
• talk about the time
• ask and respond to simple questions on basic topics.
• Write and type words in Chinese and pronounce words appropriately.

Chinese II This course is a continuation of a beginning level course that will introduce the student to a variety of areas of language learning.  In this course, the student will learn listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through activities that are based on pedagogically proven methods of foreign language instruction.  Throughout the five units of material (Daily Routine, Animals, Hobbies, The Body and Descriptions), students learn to express themselves using an ever increasing vocabulary,  present-tense verbs, articles, and adjectives.  Grammar is introduced and practiced in innovative and interesting ways with a variety of learning styles in mind. Culture is sprinkled throughout the course in an attempt to help the learner focus on the Chinese speaking world and their culture, people, geographical locations and histories. The course is aligned to the national Foreign Language standards. 

Throughout the course, students will:

• talk about what they like to do in their free time
• talk about their daily activities using a wide range of vocabulary and reflexive verbs
• talk about animals and things animals do
• talk about the parts of their body and their function
• describe people