World Languages
World Language Courses
Students enter Ursuline Academy with varied backgrounds and abilities in language skills. Through the various course levels, the department is able to meet each student where she is and provide her the content, skills, and experiences that develop proficiency, fluency, and cultural awareness expected at the college level. In near-immersion classrooms, teachers emphasize the three modes of communication — interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational — that help instill a love of language while promoting deep appreciation of culture. Students in all three languages can move through the sequence to advance to the highest level, the College Board-approved Advanced Placement course.
French
French 7
In this course, Grade 7 students experience an introduction to the study of the French language. Students work towards competence in conversation through lessons and exercises that place an emphasis on acquiring listening and speaking skills. Additional work in reading and writing complements and reinforces newly acquired language skills. Grade 7 students complete the first half of the French I curriculum.
French 8
In this course, students continue to increase their oral and aural proficiency in French. They expand their command of topical vocabulary and their control of basic structures. Students comprehend a variety of written sources and communicate effectively in writing. In addition, they continue to develop their appreciation of the culture of French-speaking countries. Grade 8 students complete the second half of the French I curriculum.
French I Honors
In this course, students develop communication skills in French through proficiency-based activities. They learn structure and relevant vocabulary in culturally accurate contexts. Students appreciate the wide scope and diversity of French culture through readings and discussion of authentic materials. Guided practice encourages writing ability in a variety of styles and formats.
French II Honors
In this course, students continue to acquire aural, oral, reading, and writing skills through the comprehensive listening and speaking program. Instructors place increased emphasis on structural concepts, idioms, and syntax through oral and written exercises and directed short compositions.
French III Honors
In this course, French III students further develop their proficiency in narration in the past, present, and future tenses, including extensive practice of the subjunctive mood. They increase aural comprehension of a variety of authentic sources. Students comprehend written French in both fictional and nonfictional modes. They express their ideas in written form through factual and creative writing in French. In addition, they expand their appreciation of the wide variety of geography, history, and cultures of French-speaking countries.
French IV Honors
In this course, students build on the skills of French III and seek to reinforce their oral-aural proficiency with an increasing emphasis on global and detailed reading and writing skills. Students continue their intensive study of structure using a variety of classic and contemporary texts intended to reinforce the grammatical competencies acquired in previous years of study. Audio, film, and interactive resources are used in the classroom to refine pronunciation and listening comprehension skills. Additionally, students develop their expression of ideas in written form through extensive practice in creative and factual formats.
French V Honors
In this course, students will communicate completely in French. The French V curriculum follows the same curriculum as the AP students but only the AP students take the College Board examination. The course rotates on a yearly cycle, enabling students in French V to cover different material if they choose to take AP French after having taken French V. The College Board-approved AP French Language and Culture is designed around six themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, and Beauty and Aesthetics. Students enrolled in this fast-paced course practice advanced grammar topics, narrative and expository writing, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and extemporaneous speaking. Students analyze, reflect on, and discuss contemporary issues and explore a wide range of topics. Through their reading of Francophone literature through the centuries, they study Francophone culture and history and write essays and reviews.
AP French
In this class, students follow the curriculum as set by the College Board and may earn college credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam taken in the spring. Students develop their French language skills and learn about the cultures in French-speaking parts of the world. The class practices communicating in French and studies real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music, and books. Students hold conversations in real-life situations, and write stories, letters, emails, essays, and other texts in French.
Latin
Latin 7
In this course, students learn the fundamentals of the Latin language by emphasizing elementary Latin morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. To contextualize the language and lay the groundwork for subsequent study, the course introduces students to classical geography, mythology, and daily life. For texts, students use Jenney’s First Year Latin and Roach’s Libellus Fabularum Latinarum.
Latin 8
In this course, students continue to master morphology, syntax, and vocabulary, while translating increasingly complex sentences and stories about Roman history and mythology. Students continue their studies of Roman culture, with a focus on Roman values, mythology, daily life, and basic Roman history. Latin 7 and 8 comprises the year-long Latin I course so that, as 9th graders, students may enter Latin II.
Latin I Honors
In this course, high school students learn the fundamentals of the Latin language through morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. As students progress through grammar topics, they read increasingly complex sentences and stories. To contextualize their language experience, Latin I students also learn about classical mythology, the city of Rome, and daily life. Students use Jenney’s First Year Latin course and Roach’s Libellus Fabularum Latinarum.
Latin II Honors
In this course, students finish their study of Latin grammar and basic vocabulary, with a focus on translating difficult syntax. After students complete Jenney’s First Year Latin, they translate from intermediate level readers about Roman history and Greek mythology, supplemented by a study of epigraphy and Roman graffiti. By the end of the year, students transition to translate authentic Latin prose authors such as Petronius, Eutropius, or Caesar. Cultural topics studied include famous men of ancient Rome, Roman education, warfare, and heroes of mythology and poetry.
Latin III Honors
In this course, students use their language skills to translate a survey of Latin literature. Their exploration of Roman genres will include both prose and poetry and authors such as Cicero, Caesar, Eutropius, Ovid, and Catullus. Students will consider historical, political, and social contexts of their texts, especially focusing on the Late Republic and paying special attention to rhetorical devices and meter (hendecasyllables and dactylic hexameter).
Latin IV Honors
In this course, students continue their survey of Latin literature and genre and focus further on literary criticism. Through close reading of various genres, students evaluate how authors engage form and technique, intertextuality, views of women, and methods of persuasion. Students consider the forms and techne of the Latin genres of commentary, oratory, epic poetry, and love elegy by studying Caesar, Cicero, Sallust, Ovid, Vergil, and Horace.
Latin V Honors
In this course, students are introduced to the College Board’s syllabus of Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic War, though Latin V students do not sit for the AP College Board Examination in the spring. In addition to creating precise literal translations, students will investigate Latin grammar and syntax, the Roman army, and literary analysis. Students will discuss the impact of the following themes: Roman values, warfare, history and memory, human beings and the gods, views of non-Romans, and literary style.
AP Latin
In this course, students follow the curriculum as set by the College Board and may earn college credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam taken in the spring. Students learn to read and analyze Latin literature as they explore ancient Roman history and culture. The class translates passages from the writings of Vergil and Caesar and examines them through discussions, debates, and presentations. Students read Latin poetry and prose, understand the history, culture, and literary movements of ancient Rome, and develop an argument analyzing Latin literature. The course explores the connections between Latin and English through linguistic analysis and translation.
Spanish
Spanish 7
In this class, Grade 7 students experience an introduction to the study of the Spanish language. Students work towards competence in conversation through lessons and exercises that place an emphasis on acquiring listening and speaking skills. Additional work in reading and writing complements and reinforces newly acquired language skills.
Spanish 8
In this course, grade 8 students continue to increase their oral and aural proficiency in Spanish. They expand their command of topical vocabulary and their control of basic structures. Students will be able to read and comprehend a short novel in Spanish and will be able to communicate effectively in basic written Spanish while developing their appreciation of the culture of Hispanic countries. Spanish students completing grades 7 and 8 are usually prepared for Spanish II in grade 9.
Spanish I Honors
In this course, students new to the language or seeking to strengthen their foundation develop communicative skills in Spanish through proficiency-based activities. They learn basic structure and relevant vocabulary in culturally rich contexts. Emphasis is given to practicing listening and speaking skills. Students develop their writing ability through guided practice and reading comprehension is introduced through various texts.
Spanish II Honors
In this course, students continue with the vocabulary themes and grammar concepts presented in Spanish II and improve proficiency through extensive practice of their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Advanced grammar is integrated into thematic units, such as the arts, health, and the environment. Students continue to explore the cultures of Spanish-speaking communities through classroom discussions and celebrations.
Spanish III Honors
In this course, students use their language skills to translate a survey of Latin literature. Their exploration of Roman genres will include both prose and poetry and authors such as Cicero, Caesar, Eutropius, Ovid, and Catullus. Students will consider historical, political, and social contexts of their texts, especially focusing on the Late Republic and paying special attention to rhetorical devices and meter (hendecasyllables and dactylic hexameter).
Spanish IV Honors
In this course, the curriculum builds on the skills developed in Spanish III and seeks to reinforce students’ fluency, both in speaking and writing. This course includes intensive grammar work with the subjunctive and an overview of all Spanish tenses and moods. Additionally, the use of film, music, audio/podcasts, articles, and other authentic and interactive resources play a role in refining students’ pronunciation and listening comprehension skills. Students develop their written expression through essays, cultural projects, and other activities. Highlights of this course are class visits from guest native Spanish speakers from a variety of professions, the opportunity to establish connections with other students from the Spanish-speaking world, and live interviews with Hispanics who have immigrated to our country.
Spanish V Honors
In this course, students continue to build upon the communication skills developed in Spanish IV, honing the five major skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, as well as cultural competency. This course aims at improving each student’s level of Spanish proficiency in the three communicative modes—Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational. Students explore authentic resources in Spanish such as: documentaries, movies, podcasts, YouTube videos, essays, short stories, as well as online news sources in video and print, all in the target language. Spanish V seeks to reinforce students’ oral-aural proficiency, with an increasing emphasis on global awareness and perfecting their reading and writing skills. Students develop their expression of ideas in written form through extensive and diverse practices, such as journal writing, movie reviews, persuasive essays, and email replies. This course is conducted exclusively in Spanish to ensure an optimum immersion experience for the students, who also agree to uphold the all-Spanish environment in class.
AP Spanish Language and Culture
In this class, students follow the curriculum as set by the College Board and may earn college credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam taken in the spring. Students develop their Spanish language skills and learn about the culture in Spanish-speaking parts of the world. The class practices communicating in Spanish and studies real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music, and books. Students hold conversations in real-life situations, and write stories, letters, emails, essays, and other texts in Spanish.
