Overview
Language, communication, and culture are the essence of all human interaction. They connect us locally, nationally, and globally, helping us to understand the world. We are no longer a program that teaches “foreign” languages; rather we are committed to the concept of “world” languages. The languages of our community are not foreign, as they represent the diverse backgrounds of our students. World Language teachers in Elmhurst CUSD #205 believe in placing these students at the center of our World Language classrooms, and are working to inspire and equip their students to be exemplary citizens of the global community. Elmhurst CUSD #205 is proud to offer a comprehensive, sequential, and uninterrupted world language program that provides opportunities for longevity in language learning to over 6,000 students in grades 3 through 12.
National Standards
In order to address the national standards, world languages seek to develop students in five different areas: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Curriculum content, methods and assessments reflect the learning in these five areas:
Communication
World language students will converse in the target language and understand thoughts and ideas spoken by people of other cultures. They will provide information about themselves and others as well as interpret what others are saying or writing.
Culture
World language students will compare and contrast their own culture with another culture. They will demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to another way of life, other traditions, and other ideas that characterize this culture.
Connections
World language students will apply information and skills acquired in world language class to their studies in other classes. World language class reinforces, complements, and enhances other disciplines.
Comparisons
World language students will develop a more profound understanding of their own language by studying a world language. They will examine grammatical structures more closely and their relationship to meaning.
Communities
World language students will explore uses of world language outside of the class. Students will use language for personal enjoyment and enrichment, to promote greater understanding between diverse members of our community, to promote greater understanding and respect on an international level, and to eventually function on a global scale.
PROGRAM
At the elementary level the World Language program follows the Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) model. FLES is an approach to language learning that allows students to develop basic communicative skills in a language while reinforcing and enriching content in other disciplines. The goal of a FLES program is to acquire functional proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing the second language. FLES programs come in many different varieties ranging from programs where approximately 5% of the school day, as in District 205, is devoted to the second language, to programs where 50% of the day is devoted to the second language.
As a complement to literacy learning at the elementary level, the Elementary Spanish program provides an enriched learning experience for all students. In light of the literacy adoption of Reading Street, our FLES program is evolving to include content-based support of the concepts taught in the areas of Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Music, Art, and Physical Education. It both complements and reinforces the skills and knowledge base of the second through fifth grade elementary curriculum.
At the end of fifth grade, students may continue their Spanish studies or choose to study French. Eighty-five percent of students are enrolled in a world language class in the middle schools. Students with an IEP who are enrolled in a guided study class (including ELL guided study) and students enrolled in PLUS are the only students who are not enrolled in a World Language class.
The content of the sixth through eighth grade curriculum is equivalent to the first-year high school class. It is a core academic subject designed to prepare students to advance directly into a second-year World Language class as freshmen. Discovering French Bleu Nouveau and Exprèsate are the instructional materials that serve to support the curricula at the middle and high school levels.
The World Language program at York high school addresses the needs of those students interested in studying Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish. As four year courses of study, Italian, French, and Spanish provide opportunities for students to develop a high level of proficiency in the target language. Teachers incorporate a variety of print and non-print materials including authentic target language sources.
Chinese, in its third year of implementation, is moving toward the four-year program of study already established in the other languages. The addition of Chinese provides students with a choice of studying a language deemed critical by the US government. Native Spanish speakers may choose to follow a sequence of study created to serve their specific needs by enrolling in Heritage Spanish. It is a course for those who already fluent in spoken Spanish. Through the study of Hispanic literature, history and geography, students refine their skills in reading, writing, and grammar.
During the course of World Language study, students go beyond learning to communicate in languages other than English. They gain understanding of other cultures and languages while formulating insights into their own language and culture. By participating in multicultural communities at home and around the world, students learn to value and respond to each others’ needs. Far from detracting from the rest of the curriculum, World Language study enhances and reinforces it, by providing opportunities for students to connect to all scholastic areas. With the exploration of the themes and issues that cross disciplinary lines, students compare and contrast languages and cultures allowing them to make connections to their own community and the outside world.
The College Board World Language Curriculum Framework (Gunterman, 2006) states: “The world language classroom is designed to facilitate genuine interaction with others, whether they are on another continent, across town, or within the neighborhood.” Illinois State Goal 28 restates this and mandates that students will use the target language to interact with confidence and fluency in oral and written contexts with native speakers and in authentic settings. The additional state goals call for students to use the target language to develop an understanding of the customs, arts, literature, history, and geography associated with the target language (Illinois StateGoal 29), and also, to make connections and reinforce knowledge and skills across multiple disciplines (Illinois State Goal 30). It is these principles that serve as the goals for the Elmhurst CUSD 205 World Language Program.
STUDENT RESOURCES
PARENT RESOURCES
YORK HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OFFERINGS
CHINESE 1
Chinese 1 is an introduction to the Chinese language and culture. The four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are developed. Students will participate actively and cooperatively in classroom activities, engage in guided conversations, and write using basic vocabulary and structures. Cultural information about daily life and social customs is integrated into the curriculum. Good study skills and attention to detail are essential to success.
CHINESE 2
This course is a continuation of Chinese 1 with an emphasis on the Chinese language grammatical system as well as the functional use of the language. Students continue to develop their reading and writing skills and their knowledge of Chinese culture.
Chinese 2 Honors
This course is a continuation of Chinese I with an emphasis on oral expression and comprehension. Students continue to develop their reading and writing skills and their knowledge of Chinese culture. Higher standards in terms of motivation, diligence and academic performance are expected from the students in this class.
CHINESE 3
Students who have successfully completed Chinese 2 can expand their knowledge and usage in Chinese 3. There is continued emphasis on the practical uses of Chinese in more complex structural forms. Students will begin to read and interpret simple texts and authentic materials about Chinese culture.
CHINESE 3 HONORS
Students who have successfully completed Chinese 2 Honors can expand their knowledge and usage in Chinese 3 Honors. Chinese 3 Honors introduces sophisticated topics and emphasizes using of authentic materials. Culture learning and development of insight into the nature of the language and culture are integrated into the curriculum. Students are expected to reach higher levels of proficiency in the target language in terms of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
FRENCH 1
In this course students are introduced to conversational use of the French language. Pronunciation, vocabulary, listening comprehension skills and basic grammatical structure are developed through oral and written exercise. The students are also introduced to the culture and civilization of French-speaking countries.
FRENCH 2
This course is a continuation of French 1. Emphasis is placed on the practical use of French in speaking, reading, and writing. Attention is given to developing structural understanding through grammatical study and drills and to building vocabulary through readings and question/answer activities. Students continue to study the geography and culture of francophone countries.
FRENCH 2 HONORS
This course is a continuation of French 1 but at an accelerated pace with emphasis on oral expression and comprehension. In addition to structural and vocabulary development, students will read and interpret simple poems and articles. Students will develop expository themes and write creative stories. Students continue to study the geography and culture of francophone countries. There is an increased emphasis on the use of French as the language of communication in the classroom.
FRENCH 3
Students who have successfully completed French 2 can expand their knowledge and language usage in French 3. There is continued emphasis on the practical uses of French in speaking, reading, writing and oral comprehension using a variety of verb tenses and more complex structural forms. Students will begin to read and interpret simple literary texts and documentary material about French culture.
FRENCH 3 HONORS
Although continuing to concentrate on speaking and understanding skills, the student now aims for a broader understanding of language structure. Although continuing to concentrate on speaking and understanding skills, the student now aims for a broader understanding of language structure. More attention is given to writing skills, and in the second semester, a reading unit (Le Petit Prince) is introduced. Students expand their cultural knowledge of France and of French-speaking Africa.
FRENCH 4/5
This course is a combined class with a 4 semester sequence that can be entered at the 1st or 3rd semester without detriment to either group of students. Concepts are reviewed at each level to bridge the gap. Continuous refinement of all four skills, with emphasis on listening and speaking, through the use of multi-media programs, takes place. More advanced reading and writing are explored as major cultural issues, similarities and differences are discussed.
FRENCH 4 HONORS
This course is a continuation of French 3H. Emphasis is placed on speaking and understanding the spoken language as well as refining reading and writing skills. Videos, cassettes, group and individual presentations, and field trips (when appropriate) are included in the curriculum. The study of French culture, which includes a survey of French art and a study of the opera Carmen, is an integral part of the program. French is the primary language of the classroom as the student prepares for the Advanced Placement level work of French 5AP.
FRENCH AP
The Advanced Placement Program in French Language is intended for those who have chosen to develop their proficiency in French with no necessary emphasis on literature. Students should have a command of the grammar and considerable competence in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The objectives of the course will be: (a) ability to understand spoken French in various conversational situations; (b) development of a French vocabulary sufficiently ample for reading newspaper and magazine articles, literary texts and other non-technical writings without dependence on a dictionary; and (c) ability to express oneself in both written and spoken French, at an advanced or first year college level. This class is conducted entirely in French.
ITALIAN 1
The course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of the Italian language and culture. Communication in Italian is developed through the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Oral proficiency activities, dialogues, and readings develop those skills and present the unique aspects of Italian culture. Students will engage actively and cooperatively in classroom activities. These include guided oral and written dialogues and skits using basic vocabulary and structures, and listening comprehension activities within cultural and thematic units.
ITALIAN 2
The course is a continuation of Italian 1. In the second year, students will continue to be engaged actively and cooperatively in classroom activities. Students continue to develop the four skills and expand their knowledge of Italian culture. In addition to the text, songs, films, compositions, dialogues, and tapes are among the many ways in which new vocabulary and structures are learned.
ITALIAN 2 HONORS
This course is a continuation of Italian 1 but at an accelerated pace with emphasis on oral expression and comprehension. In addition to structural and vocabulary development, students will read and interpret readers and other material selected by the instructor. Students will also write short compositions and participate in cultural activities. Audio and visual technology material will be used to intensify the students listening and speaking ability in the target language.
ITALIAN 3
Students in Italian III develop a higher degree of proficiency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in the target language. The basic text systematically reviews previously taught concepts and presents new structures and vocabulary. In addition to the text, realia and authentic audiovisual material are consistently used to enhance and broaden the students ability to communicate in Italian.
ITALIAN 3 HONORS
This course continues the development of Italian acquired in Italian II Honors, but aims at a higher level of proficiency and self-expression in Italian in all four skills of language learning. These skills are practiced and applied through the use of oral proficiency activities, oral and written projects, small group work, written compositions, readers, and an in depth study of several cultural topics. These include a survey of Italian school system, pastimes, literature, geography, art and music presented through a variety of authentic readings, multimedia material and realia.
ITALIAN 4
In this course, students continue to refine their abilities to converse and express themselves in Italian in written and oral form as well as reading authentic materials while increasing their active vocabulary and understanding of Italian. Students aim to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in Italian in interpersonal, intrapersonal and presentational communicative settings. A wide variety of authentic audiovisual material and realia continue to be presented to help students communicate in Italian and to increase their cultural knowledge of Italy and Italians.
ITALIAN 4 HONORS
The goals of this course are mastery of oral and written expression as well as refining reading and listening skills in Italian. The ability to converse in Italian and to read a wide array of authentic materials will enable students to write original compositions expressing their reactions to, evaluations of, and feeling on a variety of topics. Activities will include intensive conversation, contextual application of grammar cultural readings. Students continue their study of Italian culture and civilization through readings, round-table discussions, and oral reports (group and individual). The cultural topics include a continued survey of the Italian geography, politics, history, literature, theater and cinema. Activities and assessments will practice and test the students' proficiency at an extended rigor level.
SPANISH 1
In this course, students have the opportunity to learn to speak, understand, read, and write elementary Spanish. Basic essentials of grammar are taught through drill and conversation. Proper pronunciation is developed through class work and tapes. Hispanic culture is included by way of discussion, readings, and audio-visual materials.
Spanish 2
This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. Emphasis is placed on the practical use of Spanish in speaking, reading, and writing. Attention is given to developing structural understanding through grammatical study and drills and to building vocabulary through readings and question/answer activities. Students are introduced to the geography and culture of various Hispanic countries.
SPANISH 2 HONORS
This course is a continuation of Spanish 1 but at an accelerated pace with emphasis on oral expression and comprehension. In addition to structural and vocabulary development, students read and interpret short stories and articles. Students will develop expository themes and write creative stories. Students are introduced to the culture of various Hispanic countries. Spanish is the primary language of communication in the classroom.
SPANISH 3
Students who have successfully completed Spanish 2 can expand their knowledge and language usage in Spanish 3. There is continued emphasis on the practical uses of Spanish in speaking, reading, writing and aural comprehension using a variety of verb tenses and more complex structural forms. Students will begin to read and interpret simple texts and authentic material about Latin American culture and history.
SPANISH 3 HONORS
This course is a continuation of Spanish 2 Honors. The students continue focusing on all four language skills; listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are fully emmersed in the language through the use of a Spanish video series, short stories, thematic vocabulary, and grammar units. Students will gain an appreciation and understanding of the Hispanic culture.
SPANISH 4
This course continues to provide the students with the opportunity to refine the skills acquired in their previous study. Both vocabulary and grammar will be studied in a more cultural context. Short compositions will provide the opportunity for self-expression. Listening and speaking skills will have a greater emphasis as Spanish is the primary language of the classroom. An authentic Spanish video series and the study of culture are an integral part of the program. Additionally, students will learn about the major artists from Spain.
SPANISH 4 HONORS
This course is a continuation of Spanish 3H. Emphasis is placed on speaking and understanding the spoken language, increasing vocabulary, and refining reading and writing skills. Videos, cassettes, group and individual presentations are included in the curriculum. A careful study of Spanish grammar is an important part of the course as well as the study of culture. Spanish is the primary language of the classroom as the student prepares for the Advanced Placement level work of Spanish 5AP.
SPANISH 5
Continuous refinement of all four skills, with emphasis on listening and speaking through the use of multimedia programs takes place. More advanced reading and writing are explored as students learn about major artists from Mexico and Spain.
AP SPANISH LANGUAGE
This course includes a careful study of advanced Spanish grammar. Reading skills will be developed through short stories, poetry, novels, a play, current events, and videos. By the end of the course the student will be ready to understand a five minute lecture in Spanish on a pertinent topic and give a five minute speech. The writing of essays will help the student to perfect his/her knowledge of correct grammar structure. The student will have the opportunity to increase his oral fluency with varied oral activities. The course will include an overview of Spanish culture (as in Spanish 4: Language). Spanish is the language of the classroom as the student prepares for the Advanced Placement Exam in May.
SPANISH HERITAGE I HONORS
This class is designed for Spanish heritage students who are flu-ent in spoken Spanish but would like to improve their reading, writing and grammatical skills. Students will refine these skills through the study of Hispanic literature, history and geography. In addition, students will study Hispanic culture and its place in the United States.
SPANISH HERITAGE II HONORS
This full year course is a continuation of Spanish Heritage 1 but with a greater focus on reading and writing. Students will read short stories and prose of Spanish speaking writers from across the Spanish speaking world. A great emphasis is placed on multiple writing styles. Students successfully completing this course will qualify for Spanish AP the following year.
