World Languages Department

During 20 weeks, students will receive instruction in both French and Spanish in order to explore the two world languages offered at Jenkintown Middle School/High School starting in eighth grade. Topics will include popular songs, a novel covering topics learned in Elementary School, and introducing new ones like soccer, transportation, art, weather, body parts, nature, food, animals, as well as how to express one’s feelings, likes, dislikes, and opinions.  Cultural information about countries where the languages are spoken will be introduced throughout the French and Spanish courses.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from a guidance counselor.

This high school level first-year course is open to students in grades 8 – 12. Through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities, students practice and develop basic thematic vocabulary and sentence structure in the present tense of the target language. Francophone cultural learning is integrated into course content.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 70% or better in Level I is required.

Students expand their development of communicative skills by way of broadening thematic vocabulary, as well as practicing and applying more complex grammar. This course continues to integrate all four basic language skills through patterned and creative person-to-person communication. Structured readings are used to encourage language comprehension and production, as well as cultural learning.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 75% or better in Level II is required.

Students in third-year French continue to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in French. New vocabulary is learned in thematic units. New verb forms are added at an increased rate and enable students to use French in past, present, future, and conditional tenses. More information on the French-speaking civilizations is presented to further increase students’ cultural awareness.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 80% or better in Level III is required.

In this course, the students continue to develop and reinforce their communication skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and broadening their cultural knowledge. It especially concentrates on conversation and discussion based on readings—short stories, short novels in the target language. Grammar reviews are embedded in the reading program. Various learning activities are used to increase students’ functional abilities in the language.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 80% or better in Level IV and teacher recommendation.

Students polish their language skills through short works of literature, feature-length films, and other authentic materials related to social, historical, and linguistic expressions of the French-speaking cultures. A grammar review program is also included in the course. The objective of the course is to enable students to become life-long learners of the language and culture.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 90% or better in Level IV, a successful interview in the target language, and teacher recommendation.

This course is intended for high school students in their fifth year of study of French and is the equivalent of a third-year college French course. At this point, students have learned the structures necessary to communicate in French. In AP French, students review and refine those grammatical structures while learning new vocabulary to communicate in French on six central themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, Beauty and Aesthetics. These themes serve as springboards for the practice of the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational—as defined in the Standards for Foreign Language in the 21st Century. Emphasis will be on the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills involved in the three modes of communication. When communicating, students demonstrate an understanding of the Francophone cultures, incorporate interdisciplinary topics, make comparisons between the native language and the target language, as well as between cultures and use the target language in real-life settings. AP French Language and Culture are conducted exclusively in French—except for necessary instruction and directions. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP French Language and Culture examination.

Credit: 1.

Prerequisite: Recommendation from a guidance counselor.

This high school level first-year course is open to students in grades 8 – 12. Through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities, students practice and develop basic thematic vocabulary and sentence structure in the present tense of the target language. Culture learning is integrated into course content.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 70% or better in Level I is required.

Students expand their development of communicative skills by way of broadening thematic vocabulary, as well as practicing and applying more complex grammar as well as the preterite past tense. This course continues to integrate all four basic language skills through patterned and creative person-to-person communication. Structured readings are used to encourage language comprehension and production, as well as cultural learning.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 75% or better in Level II is required.

Students in third-year Spanish continue to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in Spanish. New vocabulary is learned in thematic units. New verb forms are added at an increased rate and enable students to use Spanish in past, present, future, and conditional tenses.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 80% or better in Level III and teacher recommendation are required.

Students in fourth-year Spanish continue to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in Spanish. New vocabulary is learned in thematic units. Review of different verb tenses and introduction of the subjunctive mood.

Credit: 1

Prerequisite: A final grade of 80% or better in Level IV and teacher recommendation are required.

Students polish their language skills through short works of literature, feature-length films, and other authentic materials related to social, historical, and linguistic expressions of the Spanish-speaking cultures. A grammar review program is also included in the course. The objective of the course is to enable students to become life-long learners of the language and culture.

Credit: 1.

Prerequisite: A final grade of 90% or better in Level IV, a successful interview in the target language, and teacher recommendation

This course is intended for high school students in their fifth year of study of Spanish and is the equivalent of a third-year college Spanish course. At this point, students have learned the structures necessary to communicate in Spanish. In AP Spanish, students review and refine those grammatical structures while learning new vocabulary to communicate in Spanish on six central themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, Beauty and Aesthetics. These themes serve as springboards for the practice of the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational—as defined in the Standards for Foreign Language in the 21st Century. Emphasis will be on the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills involved in the three modes of communication. When communicating, students demonstrate an understanding of the Spanish-speaking cultures, incorporate interdisciplinary topics, make comparisons between the native language and the target language, as well as between cultures and use the target language in real-life settings. AP Spanish Language and Culture are conducted exclusively in Spanish—except for necessary instruction and directions. This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture examination.

Credit: 1.

The Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy recognizes graduating students who demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more additional world languages. This distinction celebrates students’ language skills and recognizes an accomplishment that can be valuable as they pursue college, careers, and opportunities in an increasingly connected world.

Why Earn the Seal?

The Seal of Biliteracy provides students with official recognition of their language proficiency and:

• Recognizes achievement in two or more languages
• Highlights language skills valued by colleges, universities, and employers
• May be recognized for college credit by participating postsecondary institutions
• Celebrates the value of bilingualism, biliteracy, and cultural understanding

 

How Do Students Earn the Seal?

Students must meet all requirements for high school graduation and demonstrate the required level of proficiency in both English and an additional world language. At Jenkintown, students may demonstrate proficiency through qualifying assessments, including:

• English: Score Proficient or Advanced on the Keystone Literature Exam
• English Learners: Meet the applicable English proficiency criteria through the WIDA ACCESS assessment by October 1st of their graduating year
• World Language: Earn a qualifying score on the STAMP 4S proficiency assessment or a score of 4 or higher on an AP Language and Culture Exam

 

Additional pathways may be available for students based on their language background and individual circumstances. Pennsylvania recognizes multiple ways for students to demonstrate the proficiency necessary to earn the Seal.

Interested in Earning the Seal?

Students and families interested in learning more about the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy are encouraged to connect with our World Language faculty, who are happy to answer questions and help students understand the pathway to earning the Seal.