Foreign Language

study in a specific foreign language. We further encourage students to select additional electives of foreign language for personal enrichment and to meet more stringent requirements listed for admission to an ever increasing number of colleges and universities.

Many students who enroll at St. John’s have had prior exposure to French or Spanish either because it is spoken at home or they took language classes in elementary school. The Foreign Language department requires that all such students take a placement test to determine correct entry level. To meet the two-year minimum for foreign language, any student who has native proficiency must fulfill the requirement either in classes of a different language or in the Heritage Spanish courses.

511 French 1
541 Spanish 1		 All Grades 1 Credit
1 Credit
The level 1 language course provides the students with the fundamentals of language including basic vocabulary, verb conjugations, and practice in the use of common expressions. Emphasis is placed on conversation, recitation, and dialog in the target language. Daily and long-range assignments, audio and video tapes, CD programs, and supplementary workbooks contribute to helping the students develop proficiency and basic audio-lingual skills.
551 Spanish 1H (Heritage Spanish) Native Speakers of Spanish 1 Credit
This course is designed for those who are exposed to spoken Spanish in the home and for whom Spanish is therefore a native language. This separate track of studies will provide instruction and aid in the development of the following skills: understanding and using correctly the parts of speech in both English and Spanish; understanding verb tenses, formation, sequencing, and use; working with different types of sentence structure, including compound sentences; acquiring and using a wide range of theme targeted vocabulary; learning the rules for syllabification and accentuation; and, developing greater facility in writing Spanish correctly. Similarities and differences between Spanish and English will be stressed in order to provide students with the knowledge to comparatively analyze both languages. PREREQUISITES: Students must take a placement test in order to be considered for this course.
512 French 2
542 Spanish 2		 All Grades 1 Credit
1 Credit
In this course students will learn a wider vocabulary, have much more oral practice, and use more of the verb tenses. Daily assignments will include reading and writing exercises. Class instruction and student responses will be increasingly more conducted in the target language. The curriculum also includes a wider selection of readings. PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Spanish 1 or French 1 and department approval.
552 Spanish 2H (Heritage Spanish) Native Speakers of Spanish 1 Credit
This year long course focuses on the development of reading and listening comprehension, as well as skills for writing and speaking. Emphasis will be on learning to use Spanish as an academic and professional language, and studying Hispanic cultures in the United States. Students will continue their study of advanced Spanish grammar and orthography. PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Spanish 1H.
513 French 3
543 Spanish 3		 All Grades 1 Credit
1 Credit
Students will acquire a greater proficiency in basic language skills. Emphasis is based on higher vocabulary, advanced grammar, and common idiomatic expressions. The study of literature and culture is also stressed. PREREQUISITES: "B" average or better in same language level 2, and department approval.
514 Honors French IV Grade 10/11/12 1 Credit
Students develop a high level of proficiency in the French language as they learn many aspects of French culture and history. They focus on the history of France from Gaul to present day France. They examine short literary works and representative art forms. The text presents additional pertinent historical readings, images, excerpts, and further vocabulary and grammar reviews. In addition, students read Le Petit Prince by St-Exupéry. French IV requires regular diligence, enthusiasm, and hard work. PREREQUISITES: "B" average or better in French 3, and department approval.
548 Readings in Spanish Grade 11/12 1 Credit
Taught exclusively in Spanish, this course is designed for students adequately proficient in Spanish. This course will focus on the study of representative modern writers. Students will use the readings as a springboard for discussion and writing. PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Spanish IV or Native speaker status, and department approval.
545 Honors Spanish IV Grade 10/11/12 1 Credit
Taught exclusively in Spanish, this course enables students to develop increasing fluency in speaking Spanish and grammatical accuracy in written Spanish. In addition to the study of the text, the students do supplementary readings at increasingly higher levels, including passages from outstanding Latin American and Spanish authors. PREREQUISITES: "B" average or better in Spanish 3, and department approval.
546 A.P. Spanish Grade 11/12 1 Credit
The syllabus for A.P. Spanish is geared towards preparing students for the A.P. Spanish Language Exam. Students read and analyze selected works of literature and undertake a total grammatical review in order to prepare for the exam. PREREQUISITES: NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS: "B" average or better in Spanish IV, and department approval; NATIVE SPEAKERS: "B" average or better in Readings in Spanish, and department approval.
516 A.P. French Grade 12 1 Credit
The College Board determines the syllabus for this course. It consists primarily of an in-depth study of language and literature. Study of selected works of literature and a total grammatical review help to prepare the students to take the exam. PREREQUISITES: "B" average or better in French IV, and department approval.