Information about the World Language Program

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

World Language

The World Language Department of the Laboratory Schools has the following philosophy of world language teaching:

To foster an attitude of openness and appreciation of language, culture and history;
To empower students to function effectively and appropriately in another language;
To instill a disciplined and serious attitude toward language learning while developing an awareness of the individual process of language acquisition.

University High School offers French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Every student is required to study at least one world language in a two-year consecutive sequence; however, the department encourages students to continue their study beyond this two-year requirement in order to develop true proficiency. Because we are a college preparatory school, most students continue their language study for a third and a fourth year. Students may, and many do, take more than one language. Students who are already fluent in a world language must select another language at University High School. We do not offer a program for bi-lingual students. Such students may take the Advanced Placement Exam in the language in which they are fluent, but may not take the Advanced Placement course in that language.

University High School students will gain proficiency in a world language and be exposed to the cultures of their chosen language in a number of ways. The instruction will include the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students who perform consistently well in the two-year sequence can expect to gain a sound foundation in grammar and the ability to function at an elementary level in speaking, understanding, reading and writing. Students may have the opportunity to travel to France, Germany, or Spain with the school-sponsored exchange programs and to use their language skills in these respective countries.

Students new to University High School must list a first and second world language choice. These students will be given a placement interview by an appropriate world language teacher in the department who will make a recommendation to the department chair regarding the best placement for the student.

Students must consult their current world language teacher for correct world language course registration for the next year. The current world language teacher's permission will be necessary at registration. Placement in any course other than the next course in a sequence requires prior written approval by the student's current teacher together with the consent of the department chair.

Students may not register for a world language class, or change to a different level world language class, after the fourth week of the Fall Quarter. Again, any changes must be done with consent of the department chair.

All world language courses are offered provided that there is sufficient enrollment or unless otherwise indicated below.

FRENCH

FRENCH 11301

Pre-requisite: None
Credit: 1

This course is intended for students with no previous experience in French. It focuses on the formation of good linguistic habits (understanding, speaking, reading, and writing) through communicative practice. Supplementary materials include: short readings, tape recordings and videos by native speakers, and an exercise book stressing writing and application of basic points of grammar.

FRENCH 21304

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 1 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course continues the development of the skills introduced in the first year course: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, but at a more advanced level. Conversation and accuracy in writing are emphasized. A reader with selections focusing on francophone culture, vocabulary building, and grammar may be used.

FRENCH 31307

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 2 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will progress from an emphasis on imitation, retention, and simple variation to a broader set of skills of aural and reading comprehension. Students will work on vocabulary from specific contexts and vocabulary-building skills. Accuracy in writing will be emphasized. The geography, customs, and daily life of France and francophone countries will be studied.

FRENCH 41310

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 3 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will continue to focus on all language skills at a more advanced level. It will include work on grammar and vocabulary and longer reading selections. Accuracy in writing will be emphasized. The culture and history of francophone countries will be studied.

FRENCH 51313

Prerequisite: World language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

The course will include a review of grammatical structures, emphasis on vocabulary accretion, and on working toward "freer" oral and written expression. Readings will be from a wide variety of sources (cultural, the press, literary). Life in France and francophone countries will be studied in further detail.

FRENCH 61314

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 5 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course continues to develop speaking fluency, aural comprehension, reading and writing skills. Grammatical concepts are reviewed and expanded. Literary and cultural texts are read and discussed.

FRENCH 71315

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 4 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

Grammar and vocabulary will be reviewed and expanded. Oral proficiency and reading skills will be emphasized. Much of the supplementary vocabulary, as well as the readings, conversation topics, and composition work will reflect the skills of the class members.

FRENCH 81316

Prerequisite: Successful completion of French 7 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will continue to review and expand the student's oral, aural and written skills and their knowledge of grammatical concepts and vocabulary. Students will continue reading and discussing literary and cultural texts.

FRENCH AP I1317

Prerequisite: Completion of French 6 with distinction and world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course is a two-year sequence with French AP II. This course will prepare students who wish to do so to take the French AP exam.

Students will do the following:

Readings: Various types which may include French literature, French popular literature, reference works and current French periodicals.
Grammar: An in-depth, two-year grammar review concentrating on difficult constructions (le subjonctif, les pronoms, le participe présent...)
French Culture and Civilization: These will be studied using a variety of sources.
Writing: Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions.
Oral Communication Skills: The ability to express ideas accurately and resourcefully both orally and in writing with reasonable fluency.
Aural/Oral Comprehension: The ability to comprehend long spoken passages in French and to answer questions based on them, both orally and in writing.

FRENCH AP II1318

Prerequisite: Completion with distinction of French AP I or World Language Department recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will continue the work of French AP I. Increasing emphasis will be placed on preparation for the AP French language exam, with exercises and activities based upon it.

GERMAN

GERMAN 1 1320

Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1

In this beginning course, the student is trained in

aural comprehension: understanding simple spoken German
oral facility: speaking simple German with proper pronunciation and sentence structure
grammar: writing simple translations from English into German, and
reading: students explore a wide range of simple German texts including short stories by well-known German authors, excerpts from novels and novellas, poetry, cartoons, advertisement and numerous realia, all of which serve to enhance the student's reading skills while deepening his/her understanding of German culture.

A grammar text is used throughout the year providing the student with a solid foundation of German language structure. An important aspect of this course is the development of a personalized language learning method.

GERMAN 2 (Offered only in sequence with German 1 the previous year.) 1322

Prerequisite: German 1
Credit: 1

This course completes the basic world language requirement for German students and allows them to continue their German studies in higher level elective courses.

GERMAN 31324

Prerequisite: World language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course is a continuation of The Laboratory Schools World Language Program from the Middle School. Students will work with original German texts, edited for language teaching. While reading and understanding continue to be important goals in this course, speaking and writing skills will be extensively trained. Increasingly, German will become the language spoken in the classroom. Grammar will be reviewed and practiced in written and oral exercises. Audio-visual materials are used to learn about German life and culture.

GERMAN 41326

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 3 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course is the continuation of German 3. More advanced graded and ungraded reading materials will serve as the basis for class discussion to improve aural comprehension and conversational skills. Students will learn to ask and answer questions about original German literature, and to understand and analyze short stories and poetry. Grammar is reviewed and practiced in writing and in conversation. The main focus of this course will be the strengthening of communication skills. Students will do small individual research projects and will present information about German life and culture to the class. German will be used in class as much as possible.

GERMAN 51328

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 4 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

Reading selections from modern German literature will serve as a basis for aural comprehension and conversation. Time permitting, we may see and discuss a popular German TV series. Grammar and problems of structure will be reviewed. The class objective is to help students express themselves orally and in writing. Students will use German library materials for occasional short reports on German civilization and culture. German will be the language of instruction.

GERMAN AP1329

Prerequisite: Successful completion of German 5 or World Language Department recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will prepare students, who wish to do so, to take the German AP exam. The course emphasizes the reading and writing of German. Students will read works of prose, a play, and a novel. Some reading selections will be jointly chosen by the teacher and students. The class will write compositions, listen to original German recordings, and discuss selected issues of German history and civilization.

SPANISH

SPANISH 11335

Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1

This course is intended for students with no previous experience in Spanish. Emphasis is on understanding spoken Spanish and speaking with correct pronunciation and structure. The students read passages and complete exercises in Spanish. To develop their aural comprehension, they also listen to recordings and view videos by native speakers. The textbook contains grammar, vocabulary, cultural readings and dialogues which form the basis for reading and conversation. A workbook is used to enhance comprehension of grammatical points and to develop writing skills.

SPANISH 21338

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 1 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: l

This course continues the development of the skills introduced in the first year including understanding, speaking, reading and writing, but at a more advanced level. A reader with more complex grammar, vocabulary, and cultural readings may be introduced. Conversation and a greater awareness of Hispanic culture is emphasized.

SPANISH 31341

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 2 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will continue work on: grammar study and structure; vocabulary skills; dictionary skills; composition writing and organization and oral comprehension and proficiency. The geography, customs, and daily life of the Spanish-speaking world will be an integral part of the course.

SPANISH 41344

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 3 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will continue to work on the development of all language skills at a more advanced level than that of the previous course. It will include a review of grammatical structures, continued work on vocabulary accretion, and readings of short stories. Students will write compositions and work on personal oral expression. Geography, customs, and daily life in the Spanish-speaking world will continue to be studied.

SPANISH 51347

Prerequisite: World language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

In this course, there will be a more intense, accelerated grammar study, more emphasis on composition skills and vocabulary acquisition. Oral comprehension and proficiency will be stressed. Readings will be from varied sources of the Spanish-speaking world with emphasis on active and passive vocabulary development. Spanish will become the language of instruction.

SPANISH 61348

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 5 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will stress proficiency in all language skills with a strong emphasis on grammar. The culture of the Spanish-speaking world will be examined as well as reading from a variety of sources. Literary excerpts will also be studied. Spanish will be the language of instruction.

SPANISH 71349

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 4 or world language teacher recommendation
Credit: l

This course will continue to review and expand the students' oral, aural, and written skills, and more complex grammatical concepts. New vocabulary will be introduced. Students will continue reading and discussing literary and cultural texts. Outside resources, such as newspapers and magazines, may also be used to highlight discussions of political, social, and cultural issues.

SPANISH 81350

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 7 or world language teacher approval
Credit: 1

This course will continue to review and to expand the students' oral, aural, and written skills and their knowledge of more complex grammatical concepts. Students will continue reading and discussing Spanish texts that are arranged thematically. Such texts will solicit student reactions and will enable them to discuss contemporary cultural issues of the Hispanic world. The class will be conducted in Spanish.

INTENSIVE SPANISH1351

Prerequisite: Previous experience in a world language other than Spanish, junior/senior standing AND completion of world language requirement<
> Credit: 1

This course is limited to juniors and seniors with previous world language experience who have already completed their language requirement. It is designed to give these upperclassmen an opportunity to complete two years of work in Spanish in one year, thus enabling them to be better prepared for college language courses and/or to go into Spanish 3 the following year. The course will concentrate on all four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The emphasis will be on an active use of the language by the teacher and the student. Spanish will gradually become the language of instruction.

SPANISH AP I1352

Prerequisite: Completion with distinction of Spanish 6 and world language teacher recommendation
Credit: 1

This course is taken in a two-year sequence with Spanish AP II. The goal is to prepare the students for the standardized Spanish Language AP examination taken during their senior year. Taking the Spanish AP exam is optional.

The course will consist of the following:

Readings: A variety of readings from Spanish and Latin American literature and periodicals from the Spanish-speaking world.
Grammar: A comprehensive review of complex grammatical structures.
Hispanic Culture: A study of Hispanic culture through a variety of readings and other sources.
Writing: Preparation and study of written expression in Spanish integrating new grammatical structures and vocabulary.
Oral Communication Skills: The ability to express ideas accurately and resourcefully both orally and in writing with reasonable fluency.
Aural/Oral Comprehension: The ability to comprehend long spoken passages in Spanish and to answer questions based on them, both orally and in writing.

SPANISH AP II1353

Prerequisite: Completion with distinction of Spanish AP I, or World Language Department recommendation
Credit: 1

This course will continue the work of Spanish AP I. Increasing emphasis will be placed on preparation for the AP Spanish language exam, with exercises and activities based upon it.

LATIN

The major objectives of the introductory sequence (Latin 1 and 2) are:

to teach comprehension of the Latin language through practice in reading;
to develop, through these readings, the student's understanding of the social and political history of the Romans, particularly during the first century A.D;
to heighten the student's awareness of how language functions, utilizing a basically inductive approach to grammar and a contrastive analysis of the grammatical structures of English and Latin; and
to help students increase their English (and Romance language) vocabularies through attention to principles of word formation, derivation, etc.

LATIN 11360

Prerequisite: None
Credit: l

This course begins to familiarize students with the basic structural features of the language. Students learn to focus upon individual structural signals indicating the function of words in the sentence. The first, second, and third declensions of nouns and the present, imperfect, and perfect tenses of verbs are covered. The carefully graded Latin narrative (the primary vehicle through which the grammatical points are introduced and practiced) gives the students a sense of the truly cosmopolitan nature of the Roman world, being set first in Pompeii, moving next to rural Britain, and then on to Alexandria, Egypt. In addition, well-known myths of the Greek and Roman world are read and discussed.

LATIN 21365

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Latin 1 or its equivalent
Credit: 1

This course furthers the work begun in Latin 1, with the gradual introduction of more complex structures, including participles, the passive voice, and the forms and uses of the subjunctive. The emphasis of the course is increasingly on reading and interpreting long passages in Latin. Some selections from Latin authors are read, and the cultural background material highlights the Roman Empire in the first century A.D.

LATIN 3/41370

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Latin 2 or its equivalent
Credit: 1

The primary goals of this course are to complete the study of Latin grammar and to bring students into closer touch with the history, culture, and everyday life of the Roman world. The particular focus of the course, whether upon specific authors, literary genres, themes, historical periods, etc., will be determined by the instructor each year. In general, authors of prose, such as Pliny, Cicero, and Tacitus, and of poetry, such as Virgil, Ovid, and Catullus will be read in the original Latin. Since the course will vary each year, students may take it to fulfill both third and fourth years of their language credits.