Students are encouraged to study a World Language for a minimum of three years in high school, as recommended by most colleges/universities. Students who have not begun language study before entering Souhegan should start in either grade 9 or 10. All courses are offered pending sufficient enrollment.
The ability to communicate with respect and cultural understanding in more than one language is an essential element of global competence. Souhegan High School world language classes are therefore organized following a set of essential questions specific to each level using the ACTFL proficiency model. Focusing on the three modes of communication: presentational, interpretive and interpersonal, students will investigate the world, recognize and weigh different perspectives, acquire and apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge and communicate ideas. Students will demonstrate proficiency through interaction with a variety of authentic resources including reading, writing, listening and speaking activities.
All courses address the six overarching themes of Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, Contemporary Life, Science & Technology, Global Challenges and Beauty and Aesthetics at the appropriate proficiency level. Since proficiency is not determined by “seat time”, students may progress at their own pace to achieve their goals.
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(1 or 2 years) Proficiency Benchmark: sustained Novice High to move to Intermediate
Students can spend 1 or 2 years at the Novice level building their fundamental vocabulary, function & structure, comprehensibility, culture and interpersonal communication skills. Students are ready to move from Novice A or B to Intermediate A when they are able to sustain the language comprehension and production described at the Novice High level on the proficiency rubric. For some students, they will be ready for Intermediate A after one year at the Novice level, where others will be ready to move to Intermediate A after two years at the Novice level.
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(2 or 3 years) Proficiency Benchmark: sustained Intermediate Low to move to AP or Advanced Conversation
Students can spend 2 or 3 years at the intermediate level growing their vocabulary, function & structure, comprehensibility, culture and interpersonal communication skills. Students are ready to move from Intermediate B or C to Advanced Placement or Advanced Conversation when they are able to sustain the language comprehension and production described at the Intermediate Low level on the proficiency rubric. All students at the Intermediate level must complete at least two years before moving to AP or Advanced Conversation due to the depth and complexity of the vocabulary themes and grammatical structures discussed at the Intermediate level. For some students, they will be ready for AP or Advanced Conversational French after two years at the Intermediate level, where others will be ready to move to AP or Advanced Conversational French after three years at the Intermediate level. This course is available in the 2022-2023 academic year.
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How does personal identity compare with public persona? What is community and how have I contributed? What does food reveal about a culture? How do people take care of themselves and each other in different cultures? What are the environmental challenges we face around the world? How are they being addressed? How does music reflect culture? How does culture reflect music?
Through stories and film, students will recognize common elements that characterize the life of students in France.
Students will advance speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills as they gain more foundation in grammar, verb tenses and vocabulary. They will explore French cultural phenomena, including the contributions and inventions of French explorers and artists. Prerequisite is credit in French 2.
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How can personal circumstances influence goals, values, hopes and dreams? What impact does the economy have on family and communities? Why do people move? What are the effects of technology on the individual and society? How does our past shape our present? How does art reflect history and culture?
Students study French short stories, magazine articles, music and movies to further develop skills in reading, writing, and oral discussion. An overview of French history will be presented from pre-historic times to the French Revolution. Students engage in conversational French to enhance speaking and listening skills, and continue to build their vocabulary. Prerequisite is credit in French 3.
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This course follows national standards to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Exam in French Language and Culture. Students will explore six universal, interwoven themes (Families and Communities, Beauty and Esthetics, Science and Technology, Public and Private Identities, Global Challenges and Contemporary Life) to learn about the linguistic and cultural practices, products, and perspectives throughout the French-speaking world. Through this study, students will also refine their lexical and grammatical skills to enhance their abilities to communicate using the interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive modes of communication. Many web-based documents and materials will be used to explore the themes of the course, as well as classic and contemporary literature, films and music.
Students enrolling in AP French Language and Culture must attend a spring orientation session that will introduce them to the course expectations where summer assignments will be distributed. All students enrolled in the course are expected to take the AP French Language and Culture exam. Prerequisite is at least 2 credits in Intermediate French.
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This conversation course is based on texts, current events, films, songs, social issues, ethical dilemmas, and others topics as driven by students’ interest. Emphasis will be placed on developing ease of spontaneous speech. Students may engage in oral debates, conversations, impromptu speeches, skits, theater presentations, video productions, radio broadcasts, and more. Students will also practice their interpretive and presentational communication skills through reading, listening and writing. This course may be taken concurrently with intermediate French, AP French, or may be taken alone. However, this course does not replace a leveled class. Students may enroll for a full year for one credit, or for one semester for 1/2 credit. Prerequisite is credit in at least one credit in Novice French and one credit in Intermediate French.
- 01
(1 or 2 years) Proficiency Benchmark: sustained Novice High to move to Intermediate
Students can spend 1 or 2 years at the Novice level building their fundamental vocabulary, function & structure, comprehensibility, culture and interpersonal communication skills. Students are ready to move from Novice A or B to Intermediate 1 when they are able to sustain the language comprehension and production described at the Novice High level on the proficiency rubric. For some students, they will be ready for Intermediate 1 after one year at the Novice level, where others will be ready to move to Intermediate A after two years at the Novice level.
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(2 or 3 years) Proficiency Benchmark: sustained Intermediate Low to move to AP or Advanced Conversation
Students can spend 2 or 3 years at the intermediate level growing their vocabulary, function & structure, comprehensibility, culture and interpersonal communication skills. Students are ready to move from Intermediate B or C to Advanced Placement or Advanced Conversation when they are able to sustain the language comprehension and production described at the Intermediate Low level on the proficiency rubric. All students at the Intermediate level must complete at least two years before moving to AP or Advanced Conversation due to the depth and complexity of the vocabulary themes and grammatical structures discussed at the Intermediate level. For some students, they will be ready for AP or Advanced Communication after two years at the Intermediate level, where others will be ready to move to AP or Advanced Communication after three years at the Intermediate level. This course is available in the 2022-2023 academic year.
- 03
How does personal identity compare with public persona? What is community and how have I contributed? What does food reveal about a culture? How do people take care of themselves and each other in different cultures? What are the environmental challenges we face around the world? How are they being addressed? How does music reflect culture? How does culture reflect music?
Students experience more advanced readings, composition writing, and discussion topics. Students explore Hispanic culture in greater depth and enhance their proficiency by improving their accuracy in written and spoken expression. Prerequisite is credit in Spanish 2.
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How can personal circumstances influence goals, values, hopes and dreams? What impact does the economy have on family and communities? Why do people move? What are the effects of technology on the individual and society? How does our past shape our present? How does art reflect history and culture?
The four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are refined and broadened through extensive oral and written work. Reading and listening selections are designed for and by native speakers of Spanish. This class is conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite is credit in Spanish 3.
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This course follows nationally established standards to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in Spanish Language. Students will refine grammatical, syntactical, and lexical components of the language, enhance their abilities to comprehend written and spoken Spanish, improve their fluency in oral and written production, and gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures. The course will include authentic texts by classical and contemporary authors and poets, as well as many articles on contemporary issues. The course is enhanced by the use of films, traditional and contemporary music, radio broadcasts on current events and contemporary issues, online resources, as well as culinary and cultural experiences. Students enrolling in Advanced Placement Spanish must attend a course orientation session in the spring that will introduce them to the course expectations and summer assignments. Students are expected to take the AP Exam. Prerequisite is at least 2 credits in Intermediate Spanish.
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This conversation course is based on texts, current events, films, songs, social issues, ethical dilemmas and others topics, as driven by students’ interest. Emphasis will be placed on developing ease of spontaneous speech. Students may engage in oral debates, conversations, impromptu speeches, skits, theater presentations, video productions, radio broadcasts and more. Students will also practice their interpretive and presentational communication skills through reading, listening and writing. This course may be taken concurrently with intermediate Spanish, AP Spanish, or may be taken alone. However, this course does not replace a leveled class. Students may enroll for a full year for one credit, or for one semester for 1/2 credit. Prerequisite is credit in at least one credit in Novice Spanish and one credit in Intermediate Spanish.
- 01
Students are introduced to Latin with a focus on the relevance of classical language to modern vocabulary and literature. Students learn basic skills as well as concepts of grammar and etymology, which strengthen their overall language base. Ancient history, classical mythology, and Roman culture are integral components of the course.
Latin I is centered on the following 6 essential questions:
What is the value of the family and home in ancient societies?
How does my daily life compare to that of Roman?
How was geographic location important to the social, economic, and political development of ancient Rome?
How did Greco-Roman art and architecture survive the test of time?
What role did violence play in entertainment in Rome and is violence part of today’s entertainment?
In what ways do myths illustrate the belief systems and cultures that create them?
- 02
Students review and expand on skills learned in Latin 1. Roman history, from its origins in classical mythology, to the end of the Roman Empire is the focus of the cultural aspect of the class, and the subject of reading exercises. Students analyze and comment on some television and film interpretations of the events in Romans history, conduct intensive work in the geography of the ancient world, and begin the study of classical art. Prerequisite is credit in Latin 1.
Latin II is centered on the following essential questions:
What are the essential characteristics of an epic hero and how has mythology influenced literary text?
What does it mean to be a Roman?
Why was it necessary for Rome to conquer Carthage and then go on to extend its influence across the entire Mediterranean basin and much of Western Europe?
How did the government of the Roman Republic become more democratic in its decision-making?
How did an imperial monarchy come to rule Rome?
What were the lasting characteristics of the Roman Republic & the Roman Empire?
- 03
This competency based course will have students work on advanced grammar and vocabulary skills as reading moves from adapted to original textual materials. Students will focus on the prose works of Caesar, Cicero, Livy and Tacitus along with the history and figures of the late Republic. Prerequisite is credit in Latin 2.
Latin 3 is based around these essential questions:
What skills are necessary to analyze, read, and demonstrate fuller comprehension of Roman history and Latin literature with increasing proficiency?
What are important events that lead to the downfall of the Roman Republic?
Why do wars happen? What questions do these works raise about the consequences of war?
In what ways do the authors portray the various non-Roman peoples that appear in the works?
How does Cicero’s thinking, as revealed in his writings, further elucidate traditional Roman values during the Republican era and the seeds of its downfall?
What characteristics have always been and continue to be necessary for other people to consider a man “great?”