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One of the best reasons for choosing Western for your study of Foreign Language is the expertise of our Foreign Language teachers.

Spanish

Spanish I uses the first half of the textbook, "Paso a Paso Level 1," and students learn introductory vocabulary, culture, conversation, and basic grammar. It's quite a fun year! Señora Owens usually teaches this level.

Spanish II uses the second half of the textbook, Paso a Paso Level 1," and students work on more introductory and intermediate vocabulary, culture, conversation, and basic grammar. Now that the students' skills are increasing, their fluency will be getting better and therefore the classroom interaction becomes more enjoyable. Señora Hiteshew and Señor Ruth usually teach this level.

Spanish III uses the textbook, "Paso a Paso Level 2," and students work on more intermediate vocabulary, culture, conversation, and basic grammar. Now that the students' skills are increasing even more, their fluency will be getting even better and students should be able to speak quite well by this level. A native speaker, Señora Clopein usually teaches this level.

Spanish IV is an Honors Course, and uses the national College Board "Pacesetter" program. It is taught with a non-traditional format focusing on students' speaking and writing skills. The nation-wide "Pacesetter" Test is in April, and the rest of the year is spent focusing on grammatical knowledge. Señora Clopein ususally teaches this level.

Spanish V is an Advanced Placement course, and uses a college-level textbook, "Pasajes" for grammar instruction and uses "Barrons" as a preparatory textbook for the A.P. test. It is an extremely rigorous but satisfying course. The nation-wide A.P. Spanish Test is in May. Señor Ruth usually teaches this level.

French

In French 1, the beginning of the year is basically getting acquainted with the language and the culture. The students start out with chapter 1 in the textbook, “Allez Viens! Holt French Level 1”, and with the workbook that correlates. The class usually begins with a drill in the workbook or in the textbook, followed by discussion of homework and the drill, then a lesson on the current chapter, usually with a listening activity and a written and speaking assignment. Towards the end of the year after the food and drink chapter, the students take a field trip to Les Madelines, a French restaurant and bakery in Columbia. They finish out the year in the middle of the textbook, with verb congregations and a limited vocabulary under their belts. In the beginning of French 2, the students pick up right where they left off in the French level 1 book, and the correlating workbook. The class is run the exact same way as it was in French 1, except a new concept is added at the middle of the year, the consequences. After winter break, Mme. Currie will have each student write a consequence in French, and place it in a can. After that, anyone who speaks English when they could say it in French will receive a consequence, and at the end of every week, the students will perform or carry out every consequence that they had gotten for that week. At this time, they also begin to use the French level 2 book, and continue on in sequence with the chapters. At the end of the year, once the students have finished the giving and asking for directions chapter in the level 2 book, the students take a field trip to the french restaurant, Tersiguel's.

At the beginning of French 3, the students continue to work out of the French level 2 books, continuing the classes as in French one and two, but the consequences become stricter and points are taken off the participation grade if a student continues to receive consequences. Writing becomes a more important part of the class, and an exam for one of the chapters is a written essay. The class goes by a lot quicker, and the course ends with the last chapter in the French level two.

French IV has an exciting new curriculum called A Vive Allure with enriched vocabulary and emphasis on productive language and creativity. It is innovative and very rewarding. It is an Honors course.

French V is offered as an Advanced Placement class at Western. It is a rigorous program. The nationwide AP French test is given in May. Madame Hiteshew usually teaches this course.

 

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