Welcome to 9th Grade Spanish - Catalan Studies

This course, varied and dynamic in content and format, is required for all non-Spanish students in grades 6-10, meeting three times a week for a full academic year.  The course aims to broaden the student’s knowledge and understanding of Spain and Catalunya.  Although some review and reinforcement of  Spanish language skills will take  place,  the main focus of the course is on history, geography and culture rather than on language development.  The student will be exposed to the essential features of Spain and Catalunya, with units on history, the arts, literature, drama, cinema and festivals among others.  The principal means of assessment will be through a variety of projects undertaken, that will immerse the student in the study of the country and region we live in.  The language of instruction will be English with a strong component of Spanish to supplement the language development that occurs in SFL classes.  The course is designed to serve beginning, intermediate and advanced learners of Spanish with a scope and sequence of study appropriately designed for learners from grades 6through 10.

Course guidelines 

This initial year of French instruction is aimed at conversation and developing basic  communication skills. The lessons are always conducted in French with little or no resort to English. We will use a text and an exercise book “bien joué 1”that the students need to bring for each lesson. Along with those books, we will use other authentic materials, adapted to their levels, as well as games, songs and multi-media activities. I will integrate a variety of communicative and interactive activities that focus on the four basic skill (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and that ensure that learning about a new language and culture will be a memorable and enjoyable experience for your child.

Course guidelines  

This second year of French instruction is aimed at conversation and developing basic  communication skills. The lessons are always conducted in French with little or no resort to English (or Spanish!) We will use a text and an exercise book “bien joué 1”that the students need to bring for each lesson. Along with those books, I will use other authentic materials, adapted to their levels, games, songs and multi-media activities. I will integrate a variety of communicative and interactive activities that focus on the four basic skill (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and ensure that learning about a new language and culture will be a memorable and enjoyable experience for your child.

Course guidelines  

This third year of French instruction is aimed at developing conversations, at better expressing opinions and feelings and at gaining insight into French culture. The lessons are always conducted in French with little or no resort to English. We will use a text and an exercise book “Bien joué 2”that the students need to bring for each lesson. Along with those manuals, I will use other authentic materials like extracts of movies excerpts of articles and multi-media activities. I will integrate a variety of communicative and interactive activities that focus on the four basic skill (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and place the students in an active role to foster critical thinking. Students will also be asked to make oral presentations using different means of technology. By the end of the year, students should be able to handle simple conversations in French, to understand the news and to talk more freely and fluently about some topics learnt in class.   

Course Guidelines 

During this fourth year of learning French, students should gradually become more independent and more comfortable using the target language to discuss and write about varied issues. The year is divided around Units of studies or themes that are aiming at developing the students´ language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) with some emphasis on grammar.  We will use a text and an exercise book “Bien joué 2”that the students need to bring for each lesson. Along with those books, we will use other authentic materials like extracts of movies, excerpts of articles  and multi-media based activities. It is important that the students are actively engaged in class activities and in group discussions to ensure they seize every opportunity to improve their language skills. They will also get a better insight into the French culture by watching the news and by being introduced to some aspects of French customs, arts and politics. 

Course guidelines 

This course is required for all non French students who want to reinforce their four basic language skills and broaden their knowledge and understanding of France and the francophone world. This course is designed to serve advanced learners of French who have studied the language for a minimum of four years. Students will not use a specific textbook but instead they will use varied authentic materials  like articles taken from different newspapers and magazines, book excerpts, advertisements, TV and radio programs. There will be some emphasis on grammar but learning a language is not just about words and grammar; it’s about gaining insight into another culture and seeing things from a different point of view. The students will thus be solicited to read and watch the French news, to learn and make research about some aspects of French history, politics, arts etc….. Students will be encouraged to communicate their ideas and opinions in the target language to take part into class debates. They will also be asked to make oral presentations and to write essays. Bearing that in mind, I would highly recommend the students to read and watch the news as much as they can outside the classroom (cf below for newspapers titles and websites) 

Course guidelines 

This course is required for all non French speakers who want to reinforce their four basic language skills and broaden their knowledge and understanding of France and the francophone world. This course is designed to serve advanced learners of French who have studied the language for a minimum of four years. Above all, this course aims to prepare the students to the A.P. exam. This is an intensive course and difficult exam that will require a lot of commitment and hard work from the students. Students will not use a specific textbook but instead they will use varied authentic materials  like articles taken from different newspapers and magazines, short stories, poems, advertisements, TV and radio programs. There will be some emphasis on grammar to meet the requirements of the A.P. exam, but learning a language is not just about words and grammar; it’s about gaining insight into another culture and seeing things from a different point of view. The students will thus be solicited to read and watch the French news, to learn and make research about some aspects of French history, politics, arts etc….. Students will be encouraged to communicate their ideas and opinions in the target language and to take part into class debates. They will also have to make oral presentations and to write essays to get use to the A.P. exam format. Bearing that in mind, I would highly recommend the students to read and watch the news as much as they can outside the classroom (cf below for newspapers titles and websites)