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Home / Curriculum / High School - Program of Studies / Course Descriptions by Subject / World Languages

World Languages

 

Level I Courses

  • French I (A502/A502SM)​  Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHHS, SHHS 
  • Honors French I (A502H/A502HSM) Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHS, SHHS 
  • German I (A512/A512SM) Offered at NHHS
  • Honors German I (A512H/A512HSM) Offered at NHHS
  • Honors Japanese (A552H/A552HSM) Offered at BHS
  • Honors Latin I (A522H/A522HSM) Offered at SHS
  • Spanish I (A532/A532SM) Offered at all WCPS High Schools
  • Honors Spanish I (A532H/A532HSM) Offered at all WCPS High Schools

Level I world language courses are designed to introduce students to language and culture. Level I courses prepare students to communicate authentically in the target language by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information on a variety of topics. Level I world language courses introduce the relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures. Students will end the course at an ACTFL novice mid-proficiency level.
 

Level II Courses

  • French II (A504/A504SM) Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHHS, SHHS 
  • Honors French II (A504HA504HSM) Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHHS, SHHS 
  • German II (A514/A514SM) Offered at NHHS
  • Honors German II (A514H/A514HSM) Offered at NHHS
  • Honors Japanese II (A554H/A554HSM) Offered at BHS
  • Honors Latin II (A524H/A524HSM) Offered at SHS
  • Spanish II (A534/A534SM) Offered at all WCPS High School
  • Honors Spanish II (A534H/A534SM) Offered at all WCPS High Schools

Level II world language courses build upon skills developed in level I, preparing students to communicate authentically in the target language by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information on concrete topics. Level II world language courses introduce the relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures. Students will end the course at an ACTFL novice high proficiency level. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the level I course
 

Level III Courses Accelerated Courses

  • Honors French III  (A506H/A506HSM) Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHHS, SHHS 
  • Honors German III (A516H/A516HSM) Offered at NHHS
  • Honors Latin III (A526H/A526HSM) Offered at SHS
  • Honors Spanish III (A536H/A536HSM) Offered at all WCPS High Schools
  • Honors Japanese III (A556H/A556HSM) Offered at BHS

Level III world language courses prepare students to communicate authentically in the target language by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information, concepts, and ideas on a variety of topics, including connections to other subject areas. Level III courses expand students’ knowledge of relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of target language countries and cultures. Students will end the course at an ACTFL intermediate low proficiency level. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Level II course


Level IV Courses Accelerated Courses 

  • Honors French IV (A507) Dual Credit (FRN201/FRN202) Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHHS, SHHS 
  • Honors Latin IV (A523) Offered at SHS
  • Honors Spanish IV (A537) Dual Credit (SPN201/SPN202) Offered at all WCPS High Schools
  • Honors Japanese IV (A557) Dual Credit (JPN201/JPN202) Offered at BHS

Level IV world language courses prepare students to communicate authentically in the target language by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information, concepts, and ideas on a variety of topics, including connections to other subject areas. Level IV courses promote students’ understanding of the relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of target language countries and cultures. Students will end the course at an ACTFL intermediate low/mid proficiency level. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Level III course
 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES 
 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT LANGUAGE AND CULTURE Courses  AP Weight
  • Advanced Placement French Language and Culture (A508AP)  Offered at BHS, BISFA, NHHS, SHHS 
  • Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture (A538AP) Offered at all WCPS High Schools
  • Advanced Placement Japanese Language and Culture (A558AP) Offered at BHS

Designed by the College Board to parallel third-year college-level courses in world language, AP Language and Culture courses build upon prior knowledge and develop students’ ability to express ideas, exchange opinions, and present information in the target language both orally and in writing. These courses also help students understand and interpret the written and spoken target language. In addition, students explore the culture of the target language’s historical and contemporary contexts. Students will end the course at an ACTFL intermediate high proficiency level. Students who take an AP course are expected to take the AP exam offered for that course in early May. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Level IV course
 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT LANGUAGE AND CULTURE Courses  AP Weight

  • Advanced Placement Spanish Literature (A540AP) Select schools depending on enrollment. Please check with your school counselor for additional information. 

Designed by the College Board to parallel college-level Introduction to Hispanic Literature courses, AP Spanish Literature and Culture courses cover representative works of literature from Spain and Spanish America, encompassing all genres. The courses build students’ Spanish language proficiency, with special attention given to critical opinions and literary analyses in oral and written Spanish. Students are encouraged to relate the texts to their cultural contexts. Students will end the course at an ACTFL advanced low proficiency level. Students who take an AP course are expected to take the AP exam offered for that course in early May. Prerequisite: AP Spanish Language and Culture

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I (A1055SM) Dual Credit (ASL101), Accelerated Credit Offered through Hagerstown Community College
Designed to introduce students to American Sign Language and culture, American Sign Language I prepares students to communicate authentically in American Sign Language by interpreting (reading/viewing), exchanging (signing and reading), and presenting (signing) information on a variety of topics. They introduce the relationship among the practices, perspectives, and cultures of deaf people and communities.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II (A1056SM)  Dual Credit (ASL102), Accelerated Credit Offered through Hagerstown Community College
American Sign Language II courses build upon skills developed in American Sign Language I, preparing students to communicate authentically in American Sign Language by interpreting (reading/viewing), exchanging (signing and reading), and presenting (signing) information on concrete topics. American Sign Language II courses introduce the relationship among the practices, perspectives, and cultures of deaf people and communities. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ASL I

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE LANGUAGE (Offered at NHHS)

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE LANGUAGE PART 1 STANDARD LEVEL (SL)

  • French (Part 1) (SL) (A505/A505SM) Dual Credit (FRN201/FRN202)
  • German (Part 1) (SL) (A518/A518SM) Dual Credit (GER201/GER202)
  • Spanish (Part 1) (SL) (A541/A541SM) Dual Credit (SPN201/SPN202)

IB Language B—World Language courses prepare students to take the International Baccalaureate Language B exams. These courses focus on improving students’ accuracy and fluency in oral and written communication (usually in the students’ “second” language). Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Level III course

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE LANGUAGE PART 2 STANDARD LEVEL (SL)

  • French (PART 2) (SL) A511IB
  • German (PART 2) (SL) A519IB
  • Spanish (PART 2) (SL) A541IB

This concluding course prepares students to take the IB Language B—World Language courses prepare students to take the Inter- national Baccalaureate Language B exams. These courses focus on improving students’ accuracy and fluency in oral and written communication (usually in the students’ “second” language). Prerequisite: Successful completion of IB SL (Part 1)

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE LANGUAGE HIGHER LEVEL (HL)

  • French (HL) (A522IB)
  • German (HL) (A520IB)
  • Spanish (HL) (A560IB)

This higher-level course prepares students to take the International Baccalaureate Language B exams. These courses focus on improving students’ accuracy and fluency in oral and written communication (usually in the students’ “second” language). In HL, students are required to study two literary works originally written in the target language and are expected to extend the range and complexity of the language they use and understand in order to communicate. Prerequisite: Successful completion of IB SL (Part 2)

HONORS LANGUAGE INDEPENDENT STUDY

  • French (A511H) 
  • German (A519H) 
  • Japanese (A560H)
  • Latin (A531H)
  • Spanish (A541H)

Language Independent Study offers students an independent study of language, literature, and cultures. It is designed to improve a student’s ability to speak and understand spoken and written in a variety of diverse situations with native speakers and authentic materials. This course improves the student’s ability to read for social and literary needs and to speak and write with increased accuracy and complexity. Students explore topics related to history, literature, and the arts. Students in Independent Study are scheduled with students in Levels I, II, III, IV, or Advanced Placement. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Level IV course