Graduation Requirements
Two consecutive years of a foreign language are required for graduation. The Academy offers Italian, French, and Spanish.
Faculty
Mr. Franklin, Spanish
Mrs. Herlea, French and Italian
Special Events in Foreign Language Department
Sharing the Italian culture with pictures.
Italian 1 students presenting holiday and traditional events.
French 1 students present “Le Monde Francophone”.
Art projects related with French and Italian culture:
- "French and Italian Cities"
- "French and Italian Artists"
- "French and Italian Literature"
- "Victor Hugo: art work and Les Miserables"
Mrs. Herlea and her students
The Foreign Language Department took part in a number of assemblies:
- "La Moda Italiana"
- "La Martinique"
- "Italian and French Songs"
Class Presentations
Each quarter, students take turns giving oral presentations about French or Italian culture, famous people, specific foods, landmarks, traditions, and customs.
Foreign Language Goals and Objectives
We offer a four year program in French, Italian and Spanish. Two years are required of all students in order to graduate, though we strongly urge a third and fourth year for those who have been successful in the first two. Students typically study a foreign language for a variety of reasons, including fulfilling a requirement for college. It is, therefore, the goal of our Department, in accordance with the 1996 guidelines promulgated by the ACTFL National Standards and Michigan Merit Curriculum to guide students to becoming proficient in the following areas: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.
The general goals and objectives are that the students became familiar with the language and culture of the countries in question. Since the point of language is communication, we strongly encourage the oral participation of each student. However, the acquisition of the language skills will be such that the student is equally exposed to the four aspects of learning a foreign language: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. These four skills are given equal emphasis throughout the four years but in the 3rd and 4th years the subject matter greatly increases in sophistication.
The Foreign Language teachers believe that today’s youth must be prepared to participate in a language-diverse global society, and that all students can benefit from foreign language instruction. We try to help them gain knowledge of the foreign language and culture, and to better understand and appreciate their own culture. We constantly strive for academic excellence and therefore our foreign languages courses are rigorous, challenging, and demanding for both teachers and students. At the same time we recognize that not everyone learns at the same rate and in the same way: nevertheless, we give each student the opportunity to learn according to their individual abilities.
Teachers use a variety of resources and teaching approaches to meet varied student interests and abilities. Textbooks, workbooks, readers, newspapers, magazines, video and audiotapes, films, realia, computer software, and other technological resources as available help bring language and culture to life. Through teaching strategies such as large and small group instruction, pair and group communicative activities, class discussions, individual and group projects, and games, students are actively involved in language learning.
Course Description
French IA/IB and Italian IA/IB
Textbook: "Allez, viens!" Level I /
"Oggi in Italia" Level I
Prerequisite: "C" average in English
Description: An introductory course providing for the elementary acquisition of a second language, language appreciation, and language consciousness. The work shall be toward the development of:
- Accurate pronunciation of French/Italian, making use of the mechanics of the language;
- Ability to listen and understand, to speak, to read, and to write the language in its simple forms;
- Awareness and understanding of the culture of the French/Italian-speaking world
French 2A/2B and Italian 2A/2B
Textbook: "Allez, viens!" Level
II / "Oggi in Italia" Level II
Prerequisite: "C" in French/Italian I or
consent of instructor
Description: A continuation of French I /Italian I, providing the opportunity to obtain fluency in both written and spoken French/Italian. The work shall be toward the development of:
- Fluency and accuracy of pronunciation;
- Ability to converse freely in simple, practical, everyday French/Italian;
- Ability to read easily and intelligently, prose of increased difficulty;
- Ability for oral comprehension of the language, including idioms and common expressions;
- Appreciation of the contemporary civilization of the French/Italian-speaking world.
French 3A/3B and Italian 3A/3B: Honors
Textbook: "Allez, viens!" Level
III / "Oggi in Italia" Level III
Prerequisite: "C" average in preceding
course
Description: French/Italian III focuses on the continuation of the study of grammar, literature, and customs. Emphasis is placed on speaking and writing.
French 4A/4B and Italian 4A/4B
Textbook: "Allez, viens!" Level
IV / "Oggi in Italia" Level IV
Prerequisite: "C" average in preceding
course
Description: During the forth year, fluency in conversation will be emphasized. Some important works in French/Italian literature appropriate to this level will be read and discussed. In addition, the student will be afforded the opportunity for individual oral performance through brief reports, discussions, etc