World Languages

Spanish | French | Latin | Chinese | Rassias (coaching)

The faculty of the world language department is committed to a curriculum through which students develop the skills necessary for comprehension and effective communication in Latin, French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Upon entering the Upper School, every student will take an exam to ensure accurate placement. Each level is a progression aimed at building upon the skills of the previous year. For this reason, there are established prerequisites for each course beyond the introductory level. Our faculty believes that the study of people and culture is critical to the appreciation of a language; therefore, appropriate historical and cultural material is integrated at each level of the program. Packer requires three years of world language study in the Upper School. Students must also successfully complete level III in French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese or Latin to fulfill the graduation requirements. Due to the full range of courses we offer at the advanced level, Packer students may enroll in as many language courses as their schedules permit. Courses without sufficient enrollment will not run. Any student intending to take a second language must receive approval from the department head and his/her academic advisor. Upper School students with documented language-based learning differences may qualify for one or more of the following accommodations: World language waiver, pass/fail option, extended time and/or computer testing.

Spanish

Spanish I
Spanish 217   Year
This Upper School course is an introduction to the Spanish language. The beginner will work on four skills necessary for the mastery of a language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will acquire a solid basic vocabulary. This course aims at making beginners feel comfortable expressing themselves in four tenses by the end of the year: the present, the near future, the recent past, and the preterit. Appropriate readings, activities and cultural presentations will serve to enhance student learning.

Texts include: Aventuras, textbook, Vista Higher Learning

Spanish II
Spanish 227   Year
Spanish II students continue to consolidate the skills learned in Spanish and be exposed to new grammar topics, which will include a thorough study of pronouns as well as the preterit and the imperfect tenses. Students will be introduced to authentic literary texts that will serve as a basis for vocabulary acquisition, brief writing assignments and in-class discussion.

Texts include: Aventuras, textbook, Vista Higher Learning
Prerequisite: Spanish I with a grade of C- or above.

Spanish I-II
Spanish 228   Year
This intensive basic Spanish class combines the content and goals of both Spanish I and II. It is an accelerated course designed for students of solid linguistic ability and dedication who already have a solid background in the study of another Romance language. Students who have successfully completed advanced levels of study in Latin or French and have a strong interest and commitment to studying Spanish should consider this course.

Texts include: Aventuras, text and workbook, Vista Higher Learning
Prerequisite: A grade of B+ or above in French or Latin and permission of the department head.

Spanish III
Spanish 238   Year
Spanish III students will progress from an intermediate to an advanced level in Spanish. Advanced grammar topics will include the subjunctive and conditional moods. Authentic Spanish literature will in part replace the traditional textbook. Written and oral summaries of these works, together with discussion in the classroom, will provide a meaningful context for the student’s progress in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Texts include: Enfoques, text and workbook, Vista Higher Learning
Prerequisite: Spanish II or a grade of C- or above or Spanish I-II with a B or above.

Spanish IV-A: Advanced Spanish Grammar, Composition and Style
Spanish 247    Year
This advanced course works toward mastery of the grammar seen in Spanish I, II, and III. Students are introduced to the skills and standards of the SAT II/Spanish and the Advanced Placement Spanish Language examinations. This course focuses on advanced vocabulary acquisition, speaking, reading comprehension, and listening. Students will be introduced to basic literary themes and movements in Hispanic literature. Students enrolled in this course will be prepared to sit for the SAT II/Spanish test.

Texts include: Abriendo Paso Lectura and Gramática, Prentice Hall
Prerequisites: A grade of A- or above in Spanish III or permission of the department head.

The following courses are offered in alternating years and satisfy the requirements for Spanish 248 and 258:

Spanish IV/V: South American Language, Literature and Culture
Spanish 248/258   Year   Offered 2009-10
This advanced language class provides students with a variety of opportunities to learn about the Spanish-speaking world. Students study history, cultural trends, and literature. In the fall semester, our study focuses on Chile. During the spring semester, students will study Argentina. In all aspects of this course, students continue to work on the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: Spanish III.

Spanish IV/V: Spanish Language Literature and Culture: The Iberian Peninsula
Spanish 248/258   Year   Offered 2010-2011
This advanced language class provides students with a variety of opportunities to learn about the Spanish-speaking world. Students study history, political trends, artistic movements and literature from Spain. The course begins with a survey of the medieval and the Golden Age periods. The focus of the spring semester is on modern and contemporary Spain. Authors may include, but are not limited to, Cervantes, Lorca, Hernandez, and Machado. Students will continue to work on the four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Prerequisite: Spanish III.

Advanced Placement Spanish Language
Spanish 257   Year
This advanced Upper School course combines an exploration of twentieth century literature with an intensive grammar review. Contemporary writings, newspapers, magazine articles and audio recordings are used to engage discussion and improve oral proficiency, an essential part of the Advanced Placement exam. Essays and oral presentations are directed toward increased accuracy and fluency. Students enrolled in this course are normally required to sit for the AP Language examination in May.

Texts include: Preparing for the AP Spanish Exam, Prentice Hall and Spanish for Oral and Written Review, Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Prerequisites: A grade of B+ or above in Spanish IV-A and permission of the department head.

Spanish-Language Cinema
Spanish 278   Year
In this post-Advanced Placement course, students explore Spanish and Latin American film and attempt to understand and appreciate the socio-political contexts of these cinematic masterpieces. Films from the Spanish-speaking world will be used as springboards for conversation, reading, writing, and advanced language study. Supplementary, authentic readings will aid students in grasping a variety of themes, genres, and cultural experiences encapsulated in the films while presenting natural language in context. Class discussion, essays, and oral presentations are geared to improve proficiency in speaking and writing.
Prerequisites: A grade of B or above in AP Spanish Language or an A- or above in Spanish V.

French

French I
French 217    Year
This Upper School course is an introduction to the French language. The beginner works on the four skills necessary to master a language: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Students will acquire a solid basic vocabulary. This course aims at making beginners feel comfortable expressing themselves in four tenses by the end of the year: le présent, le futur proche, le passé récent and le passé composé. Appropriate readings, activities, and cultural presentations will serve to enhance student learning.

Text: Discovering French, McDougal Littel

French II
French 227   Year
French II students continue to consolidate the skills learned in French I. Students will be exposed to new grammar topics that include a thorough study of pronouns as well as le passé composé and l’imparfait tenses. Students are introduced to authentic literary texts that will serve as a basis for vocabulary acquisition, brief writing assignments, and in-class discussion.

Texts include: Discovering French, McDougal Littel
Prerequisite: French I with C+ average or above.

French I-II
French 228   Year
This intensive basic French class combines the content and goals of both French I and II. It is an accelerated course designed for students of solid linguistic ability and dedication who already have a solid background in the study of another Romance language. Students who have successfully completed advanced levels of study in Latin or Spanish and have a strong interest and commitment to studying French should consider this course.

Texts include: French in Action, Capretz, Yale University Press
Prerequisites: A grade of B+ or above in Spanish or Latin and permission of the department head.

French III
French 238   Year
French III students progress from an intermediate to an advanced level in French. Advanced grammar topics include the subjunctive and conditional moods. Authentic French literature will, in part, replace the traditional textbook. Written and oral summaries of these works together with discussion in the classroom will provide a meaningful context for the student’s progress in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Texts include: Allez-Viens 3, text and workbook, Holt, Reinhart and Winston
Prerequisite: French II with C+ average or above or a B in French I-II.

French IV-A: Advanced French Grammar, Composition and Style
French 247    Year
This advanced course consolidates the student’s mastery of the grammar topics seen in French I, II and III. Students are introduced to the skills and standards of the SAT II/French and the Advanced Placement French Language examinations. In addition to grammar consolidation, the major focus of the class will be advanced vocabulary acquisition, speaking, reading comprehension, and listening. Authentic literary selections as well as the video- and audio-recordings of French in Action serve in part as “textbooks” in this course. Students enrolled in this course will be prepared to sit for the SAT/II French test in June.

Texts include: Interaction, Prentice Hall
Prerequisites: French III with A- average or permission of the department head.

The following two courses are offered in alternating years and satisfy the requirements for French 248 and 258:

French IV/V: Francophone Language, Literature and Culture
French 248/258   Year   Offered 2009-10
This advanced language class provides students with a variety of opportunities to learn about the French-speaking world. Students focus on the history, cultural trends, and literature of Africa, the Caribbean and North America. Topics will include geography, health, cuisine, colonization, post-colonization, ethnicities, economics, and current events. Students will explore contemporary literature, art and music and continue to consolidate the four basic skills of language acquisition: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Prerequisite: French III.

French IV/V: French Language, Literature and Culture: The Expatriate Experience: NYC as seen through the eyes of the French and Paris as seen through the eyes of the American expatriates:

French 248/258    Year   Offered 2010-2011
Just like Paris, New York is a city full of clichés. Both are fantastic cities (literally and in a literary way), half-way between fact and fiction. Whereas Paris has served as a backdrop for many novels (as the American expatriates), NYC is a “movie” city, meaning as a backdrop for film. Through literary excerpts, we will study the dynamism and the plethora of images created by NYC. Based on the revolutions, cataclysms, and changes of the 20th century, we will see that even if all these writings were written under different circumstances and under different states of minds, all share the technique of clichés that their authors taint, deconstruct or transform- authors on both sides of the Atlantic reshaped and transformed these clichés in their work. We will see that NYC is de-realized: it is no longer a geographic place but as a literary “topos”, as a place where to write …. Just like Paris. We will let the American expatriates give us a tour of Paris.
This course will focus on oral communication and will review some grammatical aspects of the French language.
Prerequisite: French III

Advanced Placement French Language   French 257    Year
This advanced Upper School course combines a survey of literature with grammar review. Classical as well as contemporary writings, newspapers and magazine articles are used to perfect reading comprehension skills. Advanced vocabulary and idiom acquisition are major focuses of this course. Essays and oral presentations on a variety of topics will lead the students toward increased oral and written accuracy. In addition to improving reading, writing, and speaking skills, the students will spend time perfecting their listening comprehension skills. All students are expected to sit for the AP French Language exam in May.

Texts include: Preparing for the AP French Examination, Une Fois pour toutes, by Cregg, Hebst and Sturges, Prentice Hall
Prerequisites: French IV-A with B+ average and permission of the department head.

Latin

Latin I
Latin 215   Year
This Upper School course is an introduction to the Latin language. For the purpose of enriching the student’s vocabulary, the course emphasizes the study and memorization of Latin vocabulary and its roots and derivations. The class will increasingly focus upon identifying parts of speech and using basic grammatical forms and functions in Latin as well as in analogous English sentences. Within the context of narrative reading passages, students will encounter the various types of nouns, their inflected endings, and the different tenses of verbs that occur in Latin. This introduction to the nuances of the Latin language will be accompanied by an emphasis on the rich historical and cultural aspects of antiquity so that students may gain an understanding and appreciation for the impact of the ancient world upon our own heritage.

Texts include: Ecce Romani - Book 1, by Lawall, et al.

Latin I-II
Latin 218   Year
This intensive-basic Latin class combines the content and goals of both Latin I and II. It is an accelerated course designed for students of solid linguistic ability and dedication who already have a solid background in the study of another Romance language. Students who have successfully completed advanced levels of study in Spanish or French and have a strong interest and commitment to studying Latin should consider this course.

Texts include: Wheelock’s Latin, Fifth Edition; Latin Stories by A.Groton and J. May
Prerequisite: A grade of B+ or above in French or Spanish and permission of the department head.

Latin II
Latin 225   Year
This Upper School course is a continuation of all basic skills introduced and mastered in Latin I. During the course of the year, students further their exploration of the grammatical forms and functions of the Latin language, developing and sharpening their ability to read Latin with comprehension, to translate with accuracy, and to analyze grammatically the structural components of a Latin sentence. Analogies to English grammar will be plentiful. New vocabulary, grammar and syntax are studied within the meaningful context of continuous passages of Latin prose. Word study and a focus on the culture and history of Rome reinforce the connection between Latin and English and the link between Roman civilization and ours.

Texts include: Ecce Romani -Book 2, by Lawall, et al.
Prerequisite: Latin I with a grade of C- or above.

Latin III
Latin 235   Year
This intermediate Upper School course is a continuation of all the skills mastered in previous Latin courses. Students will continue to develop and sharpen their ability to read Latin with comprehension, to translate with accuracy, and to analyze grammatically the structural components of a Latin sentence as presented within the context of patterned sentences and continuous passages. The more advanced structures of Latin grammar are introduced through and reinforced by the reading of authentic Latin authors, including Caesar, Cicero, Pliny, Catullus, Martial, Vergil, and Ovid. Students engage in more in-depth historical and cultural studies of Rome and the development of Latin literature as these topics emerge from the readings. For the purpose of enriching the student’s English vocabulary, the course emphasizes the etymology and derivations of the Latin vocabulary encountered.

Texts include: Wheelock’s Latin, Fifth Edition; Latin Stories by A.Groton and J. May
Prerequisite: Latin II with a grade of C- or above.

Latin IV/V
Latin 265   Year
This advanced Upper School course combines a thorough review of grammar and vocabulary with a survey of Latin prose, poetry, and culture. Students develop comprehension skills as they acquire increased facility and accuracy in translating a wide range of authors. Historical and cultural topics serve to augment the readings and to illuminate aspects of the ancient world. Students enrolled in this course will be rigorously prepared to sit for the SAT II/Latin Test. They will also be introduced to those specific authors (Vergil, Catullus, and Ovid) whose works are treated at the AP level.

Texts and handouts include: Petronius, Cena Trimalchionis; Pliny, Epistulae; Phaedrus, Fabulae; Ovid, Metamorphoses; Vergil, Georgics
Prerequisite: A grade of B- in Latin III or permission of the department head.

The following AP courses are offered in alternating years:

Advanced Placement Latin: Vergil
Latin 245   Year   Offered 2009-2010
This advanced Upper School course prepares students for the Advanced Placement exam in Latin: Vergil through an in-depth study of his epic poem, The Aeneid. The skills and topics developed during the course include accurate translation and critical interpretation; scansion; figures of speech; imagery; the structure and themes of the epic; and aspects of Roman history and culture. Each student in this course is expected to take the AP exam in May.

Texts include: Vergil’s Aeneid, C. Pharr, editor; The Aeneid of Vergil, translated by Allen Mandelbaum
Prerequisites: A grade of B+ or above in Latin IV and permission of the department head.

Advanced Placement Latin: Literature
Latin 255   Year   Offered 2010-2011
This advanced Upper School course prepares students for the Advanced Placement exam in Latin Literature. Students study the lyric poetry of Catullus along with selected works from Ovid’s Amores and Metamorphoses. The skills and topics developed during the course include accurate translation and critical interpretation; scansion; figures of speech; imagery; metrical effects; and literary and historical allusions. Each student in this course is expected to take the AP exam in May.

Texts include: The Student’s Catullus, D. Garrison, editor; Love and Transformation: An Ovid Reader, R. LaFleur, editor; Ovid: Metamorphoses, Melville, translator; Ovid: Love Poems, Melville, translator
Prerequisites: A grade of B+ or above in Latin IV and permission of the department head.

Honors Latin
Latin 266    Year
This advanced level reading/special topic course is open Latin students who have either already taken AP Vergil or have completed Latin IV and wish for more reading practice prior to going on to the AP level. Students in this course will have the opportunity to sample an array of ancient authors and various genres of literature in both prose and poetry. The course will focus upon a special topic, this year upon the theme of mythology. Besides exploring how myths come about in ancient and primitive cultures and the purposes they serve, students will focus upon such topics as the creation myths of the Greeks and Romans and the anthropomorphic nature of their respective pantheon of gods and goddesses, ancient religious practices, mystery cults and initiatory rites, and the oracles of Delphi and Cumae. Students will also compare the Greek and Roman mythological systems to those of other ancient and modern cultures. A number of mythological stories, legends and fables will be read in Latin, with a concentration upon the famous mythical cycles and characters that have continued to reverberate through the centuries in the literature, art and even the psychology of later cultures.

Texts and handouts include:

In English: Hesiod, Theogony; Homer, Iliad; The Homeric Hymns; G.S. Kirk, Myth: Its Meaning andFunctions in Ancient and Other Cultures; Mark Morford and Robert Lenardon, Classical Mythology; Aeschylus, The Oresteia

In Latin: Ovid, Metamorphoses; Livy, The Early History of Rome; Phaedrus, Fabulae; Seneca, Thyestes
Prerequisite: A grade of B- in Latin IV or permission of the department head.

Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese I
Mandarin 200   Year
This introductory Upper School course aims to develop the student’s basic language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing at an introductory level. Students learn to use the phonetic system of Pinyin and to recognize and reproduce one hundred Chinese characters. They will also learn to write in simplified characters. Dialogues and simple descriptive/narrative texts cover everyday topics, issues of interest, and idiomatic expressions. Through a series of culture-based activities, students not only learn about Chinese culture but also develop a basic awareness of cultural commonality and diversity.

Texts include: Integrated Chinese: Level I, Part I Cheng & Tsui Company

Mandarin Chinese II
Mandarin 202   Year
This low-intermediate Upper School course is a continuation of all basic skills introduced and mastered in Mandarin I. Students will continue to use the phonetic system of Pinyin and will be able to recognize and reproduce an additional one hundred and fifty characters. Exercises and drills to recognize and reproduce tones will be given daily to help the students sharpen their listening and speaking skills. Students will also use the computer to write dialogues and short passages that they will share with the class. Through a series of culture-based activities, students will explore current social and economic change in China.

Texts include: Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part I-II Cheng & Tsui Company
Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese I with a grade of C or above or permission of the department head.

Mandarin Chinese III
Mandarin 203   Year
This high-intermediate Upper School course is a continuation of all of skills mastered in the previous Mandarin Chinese courses. Students will continue to develop the four main skill groups: reading and writing simplified characters, speaking, and listening. Students will expand their ability to carry out conversations in Chinese on a wider range of topics while building their vocabulary and solidifying their knowledge of basic syntax. Students will learn an additional three hundred Chinese characters to strengthen their reading comprehension and writing skills. At the completion of this course, students will be expected to carry out daily conversations with cultural sensitivity, read short articles adapted from newspapers, magazines and literary works, and write simple and short essays.

Texts include Integrated Chinese: Level 2 Cheng & Tsui Co.
Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese II with a grade of C or above or permission of the department head.

Mandarin Chinese IV
Mandarin 205   Year
This intermediate-advanced Upper School course is a continuation of all four skills mastered in the previous Mandarin Chinese courses. Students will continue to develop the four main language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will expand their ability to carry out conversations in Mandarin on a wider range of topics as well as using more idiomatic expressions while building their vocabulary and solidifying their knowledge of sophisticated syntax. Students will also enhance their ability to recognize and write characters. At the completion of this course, students will be expected to carry out regular conversations in real life with cultural sensitivity, to read articles from newspapers, magazines and literary works, and to write simple essays.

Texts include Integrated Chinese: Level 2 Cheng & Tsui Co.
Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese III with a grade of B or above or permission of the department head.

Mandarin Chinese V
Mandarin 207   Year
This advanced language class provides students with a variety of opportunities to improve language proficiency and to learn about the Chinese-speaking world. Building upon the previous levels of study, the course will focus on advanced vocabulary acquisition, oral production, reading and listening comprehension, and writing skills. The course will also introduce basic topics and themes in Chinese history, political trends, artistic movements, and literature. At the completion of this course, students will be expected to carry out oral discussions with linguistic ease and cultural sensitivity, to read newspapers, magazines, and some literary works, and to write essays on social and cultural topics.
Prerequisites: Mandarin Chinese IV with a grade of B+ and/or permission of the department head.

Advanced Placement Chinese: Language and Culture
Mandarin 209   Year   Offered 2010-2011
This advanced Upper School course combines an exploration of Chinese literature with an intensive grammar review. Contemporary literary writings, newspapers, and magazine articles will be used to perfect reading comprehension skills as well as to engage in discussions and improve oral proficiency. Advanced vocabulary and idiomatic expression acquisition will be a major focus of this course. Essays and oral presentations on a variety of topics will lead the students toward increased oral and written accuracy. In addition to improving their reading and writing, the students will spend time perfecting their listening comprehension and advanced speaking skills. All students are expected to sit for the AP Chinese Language exam in May.
Prerequisites: Mandarin Chinese IV with an A average or Mandarin Chinese V with a B+ average and/or permission of the department head.

Language Coaching

Rassias Method®:  Student Language Coach
French 204/ Spanish 206 Year
In this elective, students will learn to perfect a highly structured and rapid-fire method of oral language drilling in French or Spanish, designed to increase speaking confidence and success for beginning foreign language learners. Students will learn the Rassias Method®. The method gives speakers the skills necessary to successfully lead and manage small groups of students. In addition to training in the method, class time will be used for delivering language drills to Middle School language students, debriefing coaching sessions, and refining one’s technique. By assuming the role of an assistant teacher, students will work to improve their own command of French or Spanish while gaining valuable leadership experience.

Prerequisite: The completion of French III or Spanish III with at least a B+ and demonstrated exceptional oral proficiency and speaking confidence in French or Spanish; high energy and dramatic style; willingness to be a social and academic role model for younger students; and interest in teaching a language
This course has a limited enrollment of eight students (four French students and four Spanish students) and requires an application process that includes an audition. Applications are available from the world language department.