Course Offerings in
WORLD LANGUAGES

The World Language Department offers courses of study in Spanish, French, and German.  While world language study is not mandatory for high school graduation, many colleges require further study of a world language at the university level in order to receive a degree.  A strong, continuous language background in high school gives the student a solid basis for success in those college courses. Communicating in another language is fast becoming part of our daily life, not solely a college prerequisite.  The awareness and understanding of other cultures are crucial in today’s world.  Therefore, it is highly recommended that students study a world language during high school, regardless of future goals.

Colleges expect prospective students to successfully complete a minimum of two to three years of a single world language in high school. However, to be considered an attractive candidate to the most selective colleges and universities, students are encouraged to reach the highest level possible in the same language. Students interested in attending technical school or any post-high school training should complete a minimum of two years of world language study.

Studies of student success in languages have shown that one should score a minimum grade of 75% in the current language level in order to maximize one’s chances of continued success at the next level.  A student must successfully complete the Upper Moreland School District World Language Proficiency Test to move from the first level of the language to the second level and from the second level to the third level.

FRENCH I                                                                                                                     Credit: 1.0
This course is the first part of a sequential program in the study of French.  It stresses the major aspects of language learning: comprehension, speaking, listening reading, writing and cultural analysis. Students will engage in conversations, read brief passages in French, and study the beliefs of the people who speak French in relationship to their culture.  In addition, students will write brief paragraphs, connect aspects of the French language and culture to their own language and to other disciplines.  They will begin to develop an understanding of cultural influences and explore ways to connect with others who speak the language and attempt to use the language outside of the classroom. 

FRENCH II                                                                                                                    Credit: 1.0
This course is the second part of a sequential program in the study of French. French II requires extensive speaking, reading, writing, comprehension and cultural analysis activities conducted in the French language. The course continues basic structures taught in French I.  The students will be exposed to the language and the culture through authentic materials. The students will be building upon and expanding on communicative skills learned in Level I.   Prerequisites:  Successful completion of French I and theUpper Moreland School District Proficiency Test

FRENCH III                                                                                                                   Credit: 1.0
In year three of the language, students continue to develop skills in the four language areas:  listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Cultural activities and information will continue to be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  Students will be expected to communicate primarily in the target language so that these skills are developed to their maximum potential. Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities in French.  Prerequisites: Successful completion of French II and the Upper Moreland School District Proficiency Test

FRENCH IV (HONORS)                                                                                            Credit: 1.0
In year four of the language, students will continue to develop skills in the four language areas:  listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Cultural information will be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  Students will be expected to communicate primarily in the target language so that these skills are developed to their maximum potential.  Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities in French.  Authentic literature, arts and current events will drive classroom topics and discussions in which students will relate these topics to themselves.  Prerequisites:  Successful completion of French III

ADVANCED PLACEMENT  FRENCH                                                                   Credit: 1.0
The AP French Language course is designed to be comparable to college/university French language courses.  It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition.  Students taking such a course, emphasizing the use of French for active communication, have the following objectives:

1. the ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken French;
2. the acquisition of vocabulary and a grasp of structure to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as of modern literature in French;
3. the ability to compose expository passages; and
4. the ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.

Course content might best reflect intellectual interests shared by the students and teacher (the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, sports, etc.)  Materials might well include recordings, films, newspapers, and magazines.  The course seeks to develop language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to various activities and disciplines rather than to the mastery of any specific subject matter.  Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions must be an integral part of the AP French Language course.  Prerequisites: Successful completion of French IV (H)

GERMAN I                                                                                                                   Credit: 1.0
This course is the first part of a sequential program in the study of German. It stresses the major aspects of language learning: comprehension, speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural analysis.  Students will engage in conversations, read brief passages in German, and study the beliefs of people who speak German in relationship to their culture.  In addition, students will write brief passages, and connect aspects of the German language and culture to their own language and to other disciplines. They will begin to develop an understanding of cultural influences and explore ways to connect with others who speak the language and attempt to use the language outside the classroom. 

GERMAN II                                                                                                                           Credit: 1.0
In year two of the language, students continue to develop skills in the four language areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing while cultural activities and information continue to be imbedded in ongoing instruction. A major goal of this course is more effective communication in the target language. Teachers provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities primarily in German.  Prerequisites: Successful completion of German I and the Upper Moreland School District Proficiency Test

GERMAN III                                                                                                                         Credit: 1.0
In year three of the language, teachers will continue to provide instruction primarily in the target language while students further develop the skills in the four language areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Cultural activities and information will continue to be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  Students will be expected to communicate primarily in the target language so that these skills are developed to their maximum potential. Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities primarily in German.   Prerequisites:  Successful completion of German II and the Upper Moreland School District Proficiency Test

GERMAN IV (HONORS)                                                                                                  Credit: 1.0
In year four of the language, students will continue to develop the skills in the four language areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  All cultural information will be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  Students will be expected to communicate primarily in the target language so that these skills are developed to their maximum potential.  Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities in German.  Authentic literature, arts and current events will drive classroom topics and discussions in which students will relate these topics to themselves. Prerequisites:  Successful completion of German III .

ADVANCED PLACEMENT GERMAN                                                                  Credit: 1.0
The AP German Language course is designed to be comparable to college/university German language courses.  It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition.  Students taking such a course, emphasizing the use of German for active communication, have the following objectives:

1. Possessing a strong command of vocabulary and structure;
2. Understanding spoken German in various conversational situations;
3. Reading newspaper  and magazine articles, contemporary fiction, and non-technical writings without the use of a dictionary;
4. Organizing and composing expository passages;
5. Expressing ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.

Course content might best reflect intellectual interests shared by the students and teacher (the arts, history, current events, contemporary literature, culture, sports, etc).  As such, students will develop language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to various activities and disciplines rather than to the mastery of any specific subject matter.  Prerequisites:  Successful completion of German IV (H).

SPANISH I                                                                                                                    Credit: 1.0
This course is the first part of a sequential program in the study of Spanish.  It stresses the major aspects of language learning: comprehension, speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural analysis.  Students will engage in conversations, read brief passages in Spanish, and study the beliefs of people who speak Spanish in relationship to their culture.  In addition, students will write brief passages and connect aspects of the Spanish language and culture to their own language and to other disciplines.  They will begin to develop an understanding of cultural influences and explore ways to connect with others who speak the language and attempt to use the language outside the classroom.

SPANISH II                                                                                                                           Credit: 1.0
In year two of the language, students continue to develop skills in the four language areas:  listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Cultural activities and information will continue to be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  A major goal of this course is more effective communication in the target language.  Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities primarily in Spanish.  Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Spanish I and the Upper Moreland School District Proficiency Test

SPANISH III                                                                                                                         Credit: 1.0
In year three of the language, students continue to develop skills in the four language areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Cultural activities and information will continue to be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  Students will be expected to communicate primarily in the target language so that these skills are developed to their maximum potential. Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities in Spanish.  Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Spanish II and the Upper Moreland School District Proficiency Test

SPANISH IV (HONORS)                                                                                                 Credit: 1.0
In year four of the language, students will continue to develop skills in the four language areas:  listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Cultural information will be imbedded in ongoing instruction.  Students will be expected to communicate primarily in the target language so that these skills are developed to their maximum potential. Teachers will provide instruction and facilitate classroom activities in Spanish. Authentic literature, arts and current events will drive classroom topics and discussions in which students will relate these topics to themselves.  Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Spanish III.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SPANISH                                                                  Credit: 1.0
The AP Spanish Language course is designed to be comparable to college/university Spanish language courses.  It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. Students taking such a course, emphasizing the use of Spanish for active communication, have the following objectives:

1. the ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish
2. the acquisition of vocabulary and a grasp of structure to allow the easy and accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as of modern literature in Spanish
3. the ability to compose expository passages
4. the ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency

Course content might best reflect intellectual interests shared by the students and teacher (the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, sports, etc.)  Materials might well include recordings, films, newspapers, and magazines.  The course seeks to develop language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to various activities and disciplines rather than to the mastery of any specific subject matter. Emphasis in the organization and writing of compositions will be stressed as an integral part of the AP Spanish Language course.  Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Spanish IV (H)