Academics: World Languages

The United States is increasingly more global and St. Francis DeSales is among the increasingly fewer local schools to offer four different language options. We offer five years of Spanish and French, including Advanced Placement levels, and four years of Latin and Italian, with dual enrollment options through Ohio Dominican University for Italian III and IV. Whatever language you choose to study at DeSales, you can be assured of receiving college-level studies with exceptional teachers.

French I

An introduction to the language and culture of France and other French speaking countries, students are introduced to basic language structures and vocabulary and will begin to explore French culture.

French II

Students continue to develop communicative, reading and writing skills and will expand their knowledge of language structures and vocabulary.

French III

This course introduces students to more advanced language structures and vocabulary while building communicative and reading skills.

French IV

In French IV students will further develop their language skills while exploring French culture in a more in-depth manner. The course will include a review of language structures as well as an extensive reading and writing component. Students will be expected to communicate exclusively in French in class.

French IV AP

This course includes a fast-paced review of French grammatical structures as well as extensive reading, writing and speaking components. Students will be expected to communicate exclusively in French in class. All students take the AP French Language exam in the spring.

French V

French V is a continuation of French IV and includes an introduction to Francophone literature. Students should be prepared to take the AP French Language examine in the spring.

French V AP

As in French IV AP, this course is a fast-paced review of French grammatical structures with extensive reading, writing, and speaking components which include an introduction to Francophone literature. Students will be expected to communicate exclusively in French in class. All students take the AP French Language exam in the spring.

Latin I

Latin I is an introduction to the fundamentals of grammar and vocabulary, and to the history and culture of Roman Civilization.

Latin II

Latin II continues the study of grammar and vocabulary and the story line from Latin I into Roman Britain again.

Latin III

Students complete all grammar and continue to read real Roman authors such as Caesar, Pliny the Younger and Plautus. They will learn about the Gallic Wars, Christianity in the Roman Empire and Roman comedy theatre.

Latin IV

Students study Vergil’s Aeneid, an epic poem about the legendary Aeneas and his wanderings from Troy to Italy. Students become familiar with the history and culture of the time in which the epic was written and also analyze the poem as a literary work.

Latin IV AP

In Latin IV AP, students will study Vergil’s Aeneid, an epic poem about the legendary Aeneas and his wanderings from Troy to Italy. Students will become familiar with the history and culture of the time in which the epic was written and also analyze the poem as a literary work. Students will have extra training to prepare them for the AP Latin: Vergil exam in the spring.

Italian I

Italian I is an introduction to the language and culture of Italy. Students will begin to develop reading, writing and communicative skills and will be expected to use as much Italian as possible in class.

Italian II

Students continue to develop communicative, reading and writing skills and will expand their knowledge of language structures and vocabulary. The course is conducted primarily in Italian.

Italian III

Introduced to more advanced language structures and vocabulary while building communicative and reading skills, students develop advanced writing skills and explore modern Italian social issues, linguistic and cultural diversity in Italy, as well as historical people and events.

Italian IV

This course includes a review of language structures and exploration of higher-level grammatical concepts. Students will be required to read and respond to a wide variety of publications and literature, as well as analyze and discuss a wide variety of cultural issues. The course is conducted exclusively in Italian and is offered as a Dual Enrollment Course.

Itlian IV AP

The AP Italian course includes an intensive review of grammatical structures as well as an exploration of contemporary and classic Italian culture. Strong emphasis is place upon fluency in speaking and accuracy in listening, along with refining of reading and writing skills. The course is conducted in Italian.

Spanish I

Students will be exposed to basic language structures and vocabulary, and will begin to explore Hispanic cultures. Students begin to develop reading, writing and communicative skills and are expected to use as much Spanish as possible in class.

Spanish II

A continuation of the study of the language and cultures of Spain and Latin America, students are introduced to more advanced language structures and vocabulary. They are expected to speak Spanish as much as possible in class.

Spanish III

Students are introduced to more advanced language structures and vocabulary while building communicative and reading skills. Students will explore modern social issues, linguistic and cultural diversity as well as historical people and event in the Spanish speaking world. The course will be conducted primarily in Spanish.

Spanish IV

In this course students further develop their language skills while exploring Hispanic cultures in a more in-depth manner. The course includes a review of language structures as well as an extensive reading and writing component. Students will be expected to communicate exclusively in Spanish in class. Those who wish may take the AP Spanish Language exam in the spring.

 

Spanish IV AP/Spanish V AP

This will be a continuation of Spanish IV, though advanced Spanish III students may also be eligible based on the grade earned. The course includes a review of language structure as well as extensive reading and writing activities. Those who wish may take the AP Spanish Language Exam in the spring.

Spanish V

Students will further develop their language skills while reading modern literature in the target language. This course will include extensive reading of authentic texts, extensive writing and discussions exclusively in Spanish.