World Languages Department

World Languages: Once commonly known as "foreign languages," our courses and programs are now referred to as World Languages to emphasize that, in such a global society, no language is foreign. All are languages of the world.

Graph to show world language course options.

Earn the Seal of Biliteracy!

What is the State Seal of Biliteracy?

The SSB is an award established by California Education Code 51460-51464 and is awarded annually by the California Department of Education in recognition of graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated proficiency in two or more languages.
SSB recipients receive a gold seal for their high school diploma.
Earning the Seal prepares students with 21st century skills that will benefit them in the labor market and our global society.
The SSB promotes the study of World Languages and the preservation and growth of heritage language skills that prepare students for life beyond high school.

Why earn the State Seal of Biliteracy?

Earning the Seal shows that graduates have attained measurable skills that demonstrate high levels of proficiency in English and at least one additional language.
The State Seal of Biliteracy emphasizes the value of diversity and multilingualism in educational pursuits, future employment, the military, and our global society.
Students who have earned or are working toward the Seal can state that they are "California Seal of Biliteracy Candidates" on their college applications.
Language skills provide students with a competitive edge in the employment market where the demand for multilingual and intercultural skills is always growing.
Being multiliterate and having intercultural skills provides increased access and opportunity for all students in meeting their goals in college, career, and life.
The SSB certifies that students have demonstrated functional fluency at the level of Intermediate Mid or higher in at least one language in addition to English.

Course Descriptions

French 1

French 1 students are introduced to basic structures and vocabulary dealing with everyday situations that enable them to communicate effectively in French at a basic level. Students start developing all five-communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness. Students will read basic, simple stories and readings.

Grade Level: 9-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

French 2

French 2 students continue their study of the five communication skills: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness of french. Students are able to understand simple questions related to personal interests and to initiate simple conversations. They develop the ability to read short texts and write short paragraphs dealing with everyday life.

Prerequisite: French 1

Grade Level: 10-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

French 3

French 3 students expand upon and enrich the base of knowledge acquired in French 1 and 2. As students enter into the intermediate level of language proficiency, they learn to discuss and write about personal experiences and their lives at home and school. They learn to communicate their needs using more complex verb tenses and grammatical structures. Students are also introduced to short literary texts and other authentic documents.

Prerequisite: French 2

Grade Level: 11-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English, General Elective

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Mandarin 1

Mandarin Chinese 1 is an introductory course to the Mandarin language and the culture of China. Students are introduced to basic structures and vocabulary dealing with everyday situations that enable them to communicate effectively in Mandarin at a basic level. Students start developing all five-communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness.

Grade Level: 9-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Mandarin 2

Mandarin Chinese 2 is a second year course for students who have finished Mandarin 1 or have prior equivalent Mandarin Chinese experience. In this course, students will continue to develop a mastery of the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. They will further develop their basic oral skills, their knowledge of Chinese culture/history, and the skills needed to communicate effectively. They will become more confident using target language vocabulary and practice conversational use of sentence patterns. Students will develop skills needed to read for content and begin to acquire basic writing skills in composition. They will demonstrate understanding of the general meaning, key ideas, and some details in authentic texts. Students will learn both simplified and traditional Chinese characters.

Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese 1 or equivalent

Grade Level: 10-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Mandarin 3

Mandarin/Chinese 3 is designed to bring the students to a level where they are able to satisfy many complex social demands. Students are able to gain a more concentrated study of grammar and vocabulary and an in-depth approach to the culture of Chinese society. They will create sophisticated sentence structures in both formal and informal situations. Students will be able to produce, interpret, exchange and compose personal opinions, and state the various topics beyond survival needs. They will demonstrate understanding of the main idea and details in authentic texts. They are able to manipulate and articulate while using grammatical structures of the language. This course is conducted primarily in Mandarin.

Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese 2 or equivalent

Grade Level: 11-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

AP Chinese Language & Culture

At this level, students have a higher degree of competency in all four-language skills: speaking, reading, writing and

listening. Students engage in an exploration of both contemporary and historical Chinese culture through a wide array of authentic sources while they further refine and expand their knowledge of the Chinese language and culture. Students read in class and independently interpret selected literary works; discuss contemporary issues as presented through literature, magazines, newspapers, videos and online resources; have an understanding and appreciation of the history and culture of the people using the language; and interact comfortably with native speakers. This course is conducted in Mandarin/Chinese. Students who enroll will also prepare to take the Advanced Placement Chinese Literature Exam.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Mandarin Chinese 3 or equivalent

Grade Level: 12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Spanish 1

Spanish 1 students are introduced to basic structures and vocabulary dealing with everyday situations that enable them to communicate effectively in Spanish at a basic level. Students start developing all five-communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness.

Grade Level: 9-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Spanish 2

Spanish 2 students continue their study of the five communication skills: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness of Spanish. Students are able to understand simple questions related to personal interests and to initiate simple conversations. They develop the ability to read short texts and write short paragraphs dealing with everyday life.

Prerequisite: Spanish 1

Course Term: Yearlong

Grade Level: 10-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Spanish 3

Spanish 3 students expand upon and enrich the base of knowledge acquired in Spanish 1 and 2. As students enter into the intermediate level of language proficiency, they learn to discuss and write about personal experiences and their lives at home and school. They learn to communicate their needs using more complex verb grammatical structures. Students are also introduced to short literary texts and other authentic documents.

Prerequisite: Spanish 2

Grade Level: 11-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1

This course is designed to help native speakers improve their oral, listening, reading, and writing skills in Spanish. Native speakers learn about Latino culture and history through themes including identity, family, and community. They are encouraged to share their own traditions and experience. Students should have adequate knowledge of the language to complete this course.

*Successful completion of this course equates to two years of LOTE.

Grade Level: 9-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e)

Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2

This course is designed to further reinforce language skills through the reading and discussion of a wide range of literary works, cultural themes, and current events. Students read Spanish novels, poetry, short stories, plays, and essays, and write analytical compositions and essays. Students have the opportunity to prepare for the Advanced Placement Spanish Literature Exam.

Prerequisite: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 or adequate knowledge of the language.

*Successful completion of this course equates to three years of LOTE.

Grade Level: 9-12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Elective(g)

AP Spanish Language

The AP Spanish Language course should help prepare students to demonstrate their level of Spanish proficiency across three communicative modes: (Interpersonal [interactive communication], Interpretive [receptive communication], and Presentational [productive communication]), and the five goal areas outlined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century (communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities). The course is meant to be comparable to third year (fifth or sixth semester) college and university courses that focus on speaking and writing in the target language at an advanced level.

Prerequisite: Spanish 3 or Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2

Grade Level: 12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

School: Branham, Leigh, Prospect, Westmont

AP Spanish Literature

The AP Spanish Literature course is designed to provide students with a learning experience equivalent to that of a third-year college course in Peninsular and Latin American literature. The course is designed to introduce students to the formal study of a representative body of Peninsular and Latin American literary texts. The AP Spanish Literature course more closely approximates an introductory literature course typically taught at the college level, in 2003 the reading list was changed from five authors to a more comprehensive and inclusive list. The expanded reading list introduces students to the diverse literature written in Spanish and thus helps them reflect on the many voices and cultures included in this very rich literature.

Prerequisite: Spanish 3, Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2, or AP Spanish Language

Grade Level: 12

Graduation Credit: Languages other than English

CSU/UC: Language other than English (LOTE)(e), Electives(g)

Click here to view the AP Spanish Summer "Watch List" Grammar Review

Estimado/a estudiante de Westmont:

Esperamos que estés disfrutando el verano. Te mandamos unas recomendaciones para seguir estudiando y practicando el español antes de volver a las clases en agosto. Fíjate que son recomendaciones, no son exactamente asignaciones y no se calificarán. Pero, el curso de Español AP Lenguaje y Cultura es un curso avanzado, de nivel universitario. Todos los estudiantes del curso tienen varios años de estudiar el español y se espera que repases la gramática y el vocabulario aprendido en cursos previos. Las recomendaciones incluyen muchos sitios web para repasar los elementos gramaticales de español. También, toda la enseñanza y la conversación durante las clases serán 100% en español. Por eso es importante seguir practicando la comprensión auditiva. Las recomendaciones incluyen muchos programas y películas para ver en línea o en la televisión.

Esperamos, con mucha anticipación, verlos en las salas de clase el próximo agosto. Que sea un año escolar excelente. Si tienes alguna duda o pregunta, no dudes en contactarnos.

Atentamente,

Sr. Narva, Sr. Tavernakis, Sr. Palau

Dear Westmont Student,

We hope you are having a great summer. We are sending you some recommendations to study and review before returning to Spanish class in August. Notice that these are recommendations, not exactly assignments and they will not count towards your grade. However, AP Spanish Language and Culture is an advanced, college-level course. Every student in the course has taken several years of Spanish and the expectation is that you will review the grammar and vocabulary learned in previous courses. The attached document includes many websites to review the different grammatical elements of the Spanish language. Likewise, all teaching and all student conversations during class time will be conducted 100% in Spanish. That is why it is also important that you continue to practice listening comprehension. The recommendations include many shows and movies to watch online or on TV.

We are very excited to see you all back in the classroom in August. It’s going to be a great school year. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Regards,

Sr. Narva, Sr. Tavernakis, Sr. Palau