Welcome to our World Languages Program!

Current Course Offerings for the 2011-2012 School Year:

• French I
• French II
• French III
• French IV
• AP French
• Spanish I
• Spanish II
• Spanish III
• Spanish IV
• AP Spanish
• Chinese I
• Chinese II
• Chinese III
• Japanese I
• Japanese II

Wld Hist/Geog – Meets the World History/Geography Requirement based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum

FRENCH I – F110 CHS, EHS, NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

The four language skills, listening, speaking, reading, and writing are emphasized daily through the use of physical activity, listening comprehension, text, activity books, games, CD’s, dialogues, computers, songs, films, television, and “realia.” French grammar and French speaking cultures are integral parts of daily study. Students learn to use modern vocabulary in conversation, which revolves around everyday situations such as school, self, sports, food, shopping, clothes, travels, or the home.

FRENCH II – F210 CHS, EHS, NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French I

Students continue to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Emphasis is on expressing past events. Some themes include restaurant, house, pharmacy and health care, directions, and learning about different cultures of the French-speaking world. The exam involves building a village and using only French to communicate in the village.

FRENCH III – F310 CHS, EHS, NHS 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French II

At this level, students are expected to do most course work in French and the class will be conducted almost entirely in French. This course includes more advanced work in the four language skills using texts, CDs, films, computers, songs, reading of French stories, novels, original videotapes, continuing grammar and verb study, and culture units in Francophone art, history, geography, and civilization.

FRENCH IV – F410 CHS, EHS 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French III

French IV continues to perfect speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing skills with a survey of French history and literature as the main focus. The course is conducted in French. Grammar and vocabulary review is also stressed.

AP FRENCH – F610 CHS, EHS, NHS 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Fluent in French.

This course, conducted entirely in French, addresses in depth the topics of French literature, history, conversation, composition, and culture. College texts are used for reading, conversation, and grammar study. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are developed and refined. The class will prepare the student for the AP French Language test, the SAT II French test and college placement tests.

SPANISH I – F120 CHS, EHS, NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Students will learn to comprehend, read, speak, and write entry-level conversations in Spanish with an emphasis on spelling, basic grammar, and sentence structure. Listening skills will develop by hearing Spanish spoken and by participating in class activities. Special emphasis is placed on the Spanish and Latin American cultures. Classroom experiences will be enriched by the use of DVDs, computers, music, Spanish magazines and newspapers. This class will be conducted in Spanish and English.

SPANISH II – F220 CHS, EHS, NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish I

In this course, students will strengthen their language and grammar skills, and expand their knowledge of geography and culture. Topics include: friendships, travel, daily life, school, health, pastimes, and further development of geographical and historical elements. Topics will be covered through speaking, reading, writing, and listening in Spanish.

SPANISH III – F320 CHS, EHS, NHS 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish II

Students will be expected to do most course work in Spanish and this class will be conducted primarily in Spanish. This course will reinforce and extend student knowledge in Spanish language and culture through listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Students will be introduced to authentic materials.

SPANISH IV – F420 CHS, EHS, NHS 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish III

This course, which will be conducted entirely in Spanish, is designed for serious, advanced students who are interested in becoming more fluent in conversational and written Spanish as well as enriching their cultural, historical, and geographical awareness of the Spanish-speaking world. Advanced and college texts will be used for reading, conversation, composition and grammar study.

AP SPANISH – F620 CHS, EHS, NHS 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Fluent in Spanish.

Students will concentrate on creating precise, advanced essays and other writings. Students will produce authentic, fluid dialogues, and oral essays. Student also will use various authentic reading materials to strengthen their reading comprehension.

CHINESE I – F140 CHS, EHS, NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

This course introduces students to Mandarin Chinese language and culture. Students will utilize an e-textbook as one of the learning tools.

CHINESE II – F240 CHS, EHS, NHS 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Chinese I.

Students will further develop skills acquired in Chinese I. Language and culture will continue to be emphasized as students learn more sophisticated language structures for speaking, listening, writing, and comprehension.

CHINESE III – F340 CHS, EHS, NHS 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Students will continue where Chinese II left off with a continued emphasis on speaking, reading, writing, and culture lessons. Students will learn increasingly sophisticated structures and become more adept at handling themselves in varied situations using Chinese entirely.

SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM: Ada Vista, Northern Trails, Northern Hills Middle, Northern High

The Forest Hills Spanish Immersion Program began twelve years ago through the combined efforts of a committed group of staff, students, and parents who believed in the importance of early acquisition of a second language. Originally housed at Ada Elementary School, the program grew from one section of students, who are now entering eleventh grade at NHS, to over 650 students. The K-4 Spanish Immersion Program was moved to its own facility, Ada Vista Elementary School, in 2002. Northern Trails 5/6, Northern Hills Middle School, and Northern High School were selected as the sites to host the Spanish Immersion Program in the higher grade levels.

Students who participate in the Spanish Immersion Program are taught primarily in Spanish through second grade. While they cover the same curriculum content as their peers in all the other schools in Forest Hills, they learn, speak, and write in Spanish. In third grade, some classroom instruction begins to occur in English, to ensure students can also read, write, and speak correctly in both Spanish and English. In 5th and 6th grade, students are taught in Spanish for core classes, while elective classes are taught in English. By middle school, students are scoring at a fluency and comprehension level comparable to college graduates who have majored in Spanish. They participate in two classes, taught entirely in Spanish, each day, and join their classmates at Northern Hills Middle for other classes for the remainder of their schedule. The high school component of the Spanish Immersion program also will offer students the opportunity to take two classes each year taught entirely in Spanish, along with Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment opportunities.

COMMUNICATION FOR SPANISH IMMERSION – A700 NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 .5 Credit

Students will explore avenues to expand and improve their reading, writing, and speaking skills with the Spanish language using various medias and technology. Students will work on multi-media projects both individually and in small groups to present key ideas and associated activities to improve their communication capacities in Spanish. This course does not fulfill the Visual, Performing & Applied Arts Requirement based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

LITERATURE FOR SPANISH IMMERSION – B710 NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 .50 Credit

Students will explore varying genres to include short stories, novels, essays, and poetry to expand their reading and comprehension in the Spanish language as well as model correct vocabulary and grammatical usage across genres. This course is designed as reading-intensive in order to build capacities in the area of comprehension. This course does not fulfill the English Language Arts Requirement based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

CREATIVE WRITING FOR SPANISH IMMERSION – B720 NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 .50 Credit

This is a writing-intensive class for students desiring to improve their writing fluency in Spanish. Students will explore different writing styles through selective readings/discussions to extend and cement vocabulary and grammar usage. Students will experiment with writing in different styles. This course does not fulfill the English Language Arts

Requirement based on the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

WORLD HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY FOR SPANISH IMMERSION (Wld Hist/Geog) – C311 NHS 11, 12

1.0 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of eighth grade Spanish Immersion Program or teacher permission

This course, taught entirely in Spanish, will continue to perfect speaking, listening, writing and comprehension skills for students who have participated in the Spanish Immersion Program. It will cover the same High School Content Expectations as the regular World History/Geography courses (see descriptions above), however students also will focus on the economics, geography, culture, and governmental functions of a variety of Spanish-speaking countries.

HUMANITARIAN LAW FOR SPANISH IMMERSION – C700 NHS 9, 10, 11, 12 1.00 Credit

Students will build analytical skills as they explore different perspectives on the rules of conflict, the effects war has on human life and their personal connections to it. This course will be taught in Spanish. Students will receive elective credit for successful completion of this course.

CULTURE & DIVERSITY OF THE SPANISH SPEAKING WORLD – F724 NHS 10, 11, 12 1.0 Credit

Students will explore the historical dimensions of the past and the new developments of the 20th and 21st centuries in the Spanish-speaking world. Students will gain insight into Hispanic culture and civilizations, and achieve a more global understanding of the issues and challenges faced by the Spanish-speaking world today. Students will explore art, popculture, music, cinema, history, readings. architecture, politics and governments, geography, and native cuisine. Through course readings, videos, class debates, written assignments, and class presentations, students will achieve greater flexibility in their use of the language and greater appreciation for the cultural and linguistic variation present in the Spanish-speaking world.