Modern Languages
The philosophy of the Languages Department embraces a
communicative and experiential approach to language teaching,
including a dynamic student exchange through the International
Student Exchange Foundation and Summer Immersion programs in
Spain, Germany and Latin America. Students can acquire a high
degree of language proficiency since each additional language
builds more rapidly on the common base established by previous
language study.
FACULTY
Ms Brigitte Amiot, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed. / French
Ms. Carole Bernicchia-Freeman, B.A, B.Ed., M.A. / French
Mr. Eugene DiSante, B.A. (Hons), B.Ed., M.A. / Latin
Ms. Claude Guillemot, B.A., M.A. / French (Subject
Coordinator)
Dr. Maria Niño-Soto, B.Ed., M.Sc., Ph.D., D.V.M. / Spanish
Mme Ana Pereira-Castillo, B.A., B.Ed. / Spanish
Ms Kate Tiley, B.A., B.Ed. / French
Mr. Mark Timmins, B.A., B.Ed., M.A. / Latin
Ms Nicola Townend, B.A. (Hons), B.Ed. / German and French
Areas of Study : French,
German, Latin,
Spanish
FRENCH
The goal of the French program is to give students the opportunity to
become functionally bilingual. Students will be given the opportunity to
achieve a degree of proficiency in formal and semantic mastery and be able
to acquire a good level of communicative competence as well as some degree
of creativity using the French language. Throughout the program, students
have the opportunity to develop an in-depth awareness and understanding of
the Francophone world. This approach aims to develop natural, native-like
communication, which entails grammar, sociolinguistics, discourse, and
strategic competence. This degree of competence can only be achieved through
an appropriate methodology which encourages student-centered activities.
Class time will be spent working with a partner or in small groups. The
student is the initiator and active participant. As prescribed by the
Ministry of Education guidelines, learning cooperatively is an essential
part of this program.
The Languages Department offers a two-tier French program: Core and
Special. Both of these programs are offered at the advanced level leading to
the granting of the same credit; however, students enrolled in the Special
Program earn the grade 12 credit (FSF 4US) in SV. The Special French Program
offers a curriculum tailored to the needs of students who have had lengthier
exposure to French and who have acquired greater fluency in it. High
proficiency levels in the Core Program will also enable students to transfer
from Core into Special French. Placement is made at the discretion of the
Languages Department. Enrichment activities in the Languages program may
include field trips to view films and plays in the language of instruction.
The cost of these outings will depend on the price of admission; however,
most will be in the range of $ 10.00 to $15.00. Fees for these outings are
collected prior to the field trip.
CORE FRENCH
Foundation I
FSF F1 - Core French
The first year course aims to develop basic communication skills. The
emphasis is on oral communication, vocabulary expansion and correct
pronunciation. Reading skills are developed through the use of simple
readers with cultural content. Oral and written skills are developed through
a variety of individual and group activities (e.g. interviews,
dramatizations, skits, creative writing) and other exercises dealing with a
variety of topics based on readers and films. Grammar is reviewed and taught
in context. Learning cooperatively is an essential part of this course.
Course Fee: $10
Foundation II
FSF F2 - Core French
Emphasis will continue to fall on an oral approach, stressing correct
pronunciation and communicative skill development. Grammar is a fundamental
part of the course and is integrated in oral and written activities.
Development of vocabulary and discourse skills will be achieved through a
variety of selected readings and films with cultural content. A project
including information technology will take place during the course of the
year. The project will include several skill areas: linguistic, (reading,
writing, and oral expression), thinking and application skills.
Course Fee: $10
Middle III
FSF 1DE - Core French
Pre-requisite: FSF F2
This course emphasizes the further development of oral communication,
reading, and writing skills. Students will build on and apply their
knowledge of French while exploring a variety of themes. Thematic readings
and films will serve as stepping stones to oral and written activities.
Course Fee: $10
Middle IV
FSF 2DE – Core French
Pre-requisite: FSF 1DE
This course enables students to increase their knowledge of the French
language, further develop their language skills, and deepen their
understanding and appreciation of francophone culture. Exploring a variety
of themes, students will develop and apply critical thinking in discussion,
in their analysis and interpretation of texts, and in their own writing.
Evaluation methods include oral presentations, creation of dialogues,
written essays, oral comprehension tests, and written tests and quizzes.
Students will work on the movie “Le Grand Chemin”, and on a simplified
version of “Les Misérables”, part of which will be done as an independent
reading assignment, and part of which will form the basis of the summative
activities.
Course Fee: $10
Senior V
FSF 3UE – Core French
Pre-requisite: FSF 2DE
The emphasis will continue to be on the further development of
communicative skills. Grammar will be reviewed, taught and expanded in
context. Evaluation methods include oral presentations, creation of
dialogues, written essays, process writing, written tests and quizzes, drama
presentations and a research project. Oral and written skills will be
developed through the study of various texts, articles, short stories, films
and some Internet sources. Students will work on “Au revoir, les enfants”,
by Louis Malle, on which they will be required to do an oral presentation
and write a “critique”. There will be one oral Spring examination based on a
novel which students will read independently. The students will also be
involved in a major dramatic presentation of “Contes Africains” as well as
in cultural “workshops” dealing with African culture in Francophone Africa.
Course Fee: $10
Senior VI
FSF 4UE – Core French
Pre-requisite: FSF 3UE
Communicative competence is expected in both oral and written work.
Grammar will be reviewed and refined. Language skills will be developed
through the study of literary texts “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” and “L’étranger”,
fi lms, news broadcasts, newspapers, tapes and Internet sources. The
students will participate in discussions, dialogues, debates, interviews and
dramatizations. There will be one written examination in the spring term
based on a novel which students will read independently. In May, the
students will also be involved in the preparation and oral presentation of a
major independent project dealing with a contemporary issue.
Course Fee: $10
SPECIAL FRENCH
Foundation I
FSF F1S – Special French
This course provides an introduction to fundamental grammar terminology
and concepts to help the students understand the construction of the
language for the purpose of improving the accuracy of their written and oral
skills. Some basic grammatical concepts will be reviewed and new tenses and
structures will be introduced. Oral and written skills will be developed
through the study of various texts (mainly poems, short stories and novels)
and films. Learning cooperatively is an essential part of this course. The
course not only emphasizes linguistic skills but develops thinking and
creative skills as well.
Course Fee: $10
Foundation II
FSF 1DS – Special French
Pre-requisite: FSF F1S
Communication skills will be developed through exercises, group work,
discussion, reading, creative writing, and dramatization. While the oral
component is emphasized at this level, particular attention is given to
writing skills. Accuracy in both oral and written work is a goal. Reading
skills, vocabulary and knowledge of French culture will be further developed
through the study of short stories, novels, and films. In addition, each
student will be involved in the preparation and presentation of a cultural
project dealing with the Francophone presence in North America. Grammar will
be reviewed and expanded in context.
Course Fee: $10
Middle III
FSF 2DS – Special French
Pre-requisite: FSF 1DS
Writing skills and style will be developed through compositions, poetry,
essays and creative writing. Various forms of media will become one of the
sources for vocabulary expansion and discussions as well as debating.
Students will read a selection of short stories and novels from France and
North America. In addition, each student will be involved in the preparation
and presentation of a cultural project dealing with France and Europe.
Grammar will be reviewed and expanded in context.
Course Fee: $10
Middle IV
FSF 3US – Special French
Pre-requisite: FSF 2DS
Oral and written skills will be further developed through the study of
short texts, articles, news programs, and films, as well as through the
study of Le Malade Imaginaire, by Molière and La Cantatrice Chauve and La
leçon, by Eugene Ionesco. Two distinct periods in French History and
Literature will be explored through these two dramatic works, the fi rst
being a classic from the 17th century, the second, in the genre of the
theatre of the absurd. In addition, students will select a novel to be read
independently. Cultural presentations this year will focus on the
Francophone presence in Africa and the legacy of French colonialism. The
students will develop their writing skills and style through formal essays,
book reports and critiques. Grammar will be reviewed and expanded in
context.
Course Fee: $10
Senior V
FSF 4US – Special French
Pre-requisite: FSF 3US
This course continues to develop all major skills: knowledge,
thinking/creative, communication and application skills in all strands: oral
communication, reading and writing. This course allows the students to
deepen and broaden their understanding of the many aspects of Francophone
culture through the study of a wide choice of materials and activities
(study of Cyrano de Bergerac, Jean de Florette et Manon des Sources, and a
novel are part of the programme). The use of correct grammar and appropriate
language conventions in both spoken and written French will be emphasized
throughout the course. Performance based assessment is used extensively in
this university preparation course. The major summative evaluations will be
a speech, a creative dramatization, a couple of major written tests and an
oral exam based on an independent reading. Students will have the
opportunity to participate in two contests which offer substantial rewards:
Le concours oratoire sponsored by the organization Canadian Parents for
French and the OMLTA French Contest. The content of FSF 4US is consistent
with the Advanced Placement French program and provides students with the
knowledge and skills required to write the externally set AP French exam in
May, for which first-year university credit may later be granted.
Course Fee: $10
GERMAN
The German program provides students with opportunities to develop
thinking, analytical and communication skills in every-day and literary
German. The importance of German continues to grow with the political and
economic importance of the European Union. German skills will be valuable
assets in an evolving global market and will prepare students for a wide
range of careers. Students starting the study of German will be eligible to
earn three (3) credits in three (3) years. They will start with the B credit
and may proceed to take the C and D credits in the following two years.
Students will acquire a high degree of language proficiency since each
additional language builds more rapidly on the common base established
during previous language study. In addition to classroom, computer lab and
library research activities, additional language immersion experiences are
offered.
Middle III
LWG BDE – German
This is an introductory course designed to enable students to begin to
communicate with native speakers of German around the world. From the
beginning, classroom methodology encourages students to work in pairs or in
small groups which enables them to develop the ability to understand spoken
German and be able to communicate at a reasonable pace on everyday topics.
Students will develop a better understanding of the German speaking
countries and regions, their culture and their role in the world through
videos, music and various internet projects and resources. Students may
apply for the three month exchange with Germany in their M III year, and
take part in the exchange in MIV.
Course Fee: $5
Middle IV
LWG CUE - German
Pre-requisite: LWG BDE
This intermediate level course provides students with the language
learning experiences that will enable them to communicate on further
everyday topics in German. Students will continue to develop and apply their
speaking skills in a variety of contexts, and will participate in activities
that will improve their reading comprehension and writing skills. They will
also continue to explore aspects of the culture of countries where German is
spoken by taking part in community-sponsored events and activities involving
both print and technological resources. Although students will continue to
expand their vocabulary and repertoire of language structures, the language
they will use at this level will still be relatively simple. Students may
opt to take part in a four-week summer immersion program in Germany.
Course Fee: $5
Senior V
LWG DUE - German
Pre-requisite: LWG CUE
The materials for this advanced course are taken from German sources and
cover everyday topics of conversation as well as offering some insight into
German literature and poetry. This course strives to achieve a very high
degree of fluency and to develop more sophisticated expression, both in
speaking and in writing. Students may request to study a topic of special
interest to them and do research at the Toronto Goethe Institut. Projects on
culture are part of the course.
Course Fee: $10
LATIN
The Latin program offers students the opportunity to study this rich
foundation language and culture. This enables students to develop skills in
thinking, analysis and communication which may be applied to the study of
many modern languages and cultures. With these skills students will gain a
distinct advantage in their approach to many professional careers in the
competitive global marketplace. By the end of this program, students will
have an enriched level of understanding and powers of expression in Latin
and English. They will also have an informed appreciation for the riches of
the western cultural heritage, having studied and linked the achievements of
Rome with our contemporary world. The Latin Department embraces a
communicative approach to language teaching. Oral and written exercises
serve to complement the students’ progress through a series of Latin texts
wherein the students are introduced to grammar and Roman culture. Extensive
work in etymology and linguistic comparison direct the students to
application of their understanding of Latin to English and other modern
languages. A wide variety of student-centered activities such as
presentations, role-play, skits, model construction and inter-school
competitions are aimed at developing co-operative skills as well as powers
of inquiry and creativity.
Foundation II
LVL F2 - Latin
This course provides an introduction to Latin, the fundamental language
of western society. The grammar introduced includes the forms and basic uses
of nominative, vocative, accusative, ablative and genitive cases of nouns
and adjectives of the first three declensions, and the personal and
demonstrative pronouns; the present tense; the complementary infinitive; the
imperative (including exhortations) of the four regular conjugations; and
the irregular verbs sum, eo, fero and volo. This course offers an
introduction to linguistics through the examination of the basis of language
structure in Latin, English, and other European languages. It involves a
study of the contribution of Latin to English vocabulary, including legal
and scientific terms. It offers an examination of the lives and thoughts of
the ancient Romans in the time of the Emperor Hadrian. There will be stress
on the oral reading of Latin in this and all subsequent courses.
Course Fee: $15
Middle III
LVL ADE - Latin
UTS preparation: LVL F2
This course is a continuation of LVL F2. After a brief review of noun,
adjective, and pronoun forms, the student will meet the aorist, present
perfect, and past imperfect active tenses of all regular verbs and the
irregular verbs sum, possum, eo, fero, volo, nolo, and malo. The passive
will be introduced. The course will include analysis of Roman poetry, the
study of early Roman legends and the history of the Roman monarchy. By the
end of the year the student will be familiar with all the forms of nouns and
adjectives of the first three declensions, and the personal, emphatic,
demonstrative and relative pronouns. All forms of the indicative, active,
and passive will be introduced. The course includes a study of the legends
and history of the Roman Republic until the first war with Carthage.
Course Fee: $15
Middle IV
LVL BUE - Latin
Pre-requisite: LVL ADE
This course aims to bring students to a higher degree of proficiency in
Latin. After a brief review of all verb tenses, active and passive voice and
all declensional usage, students will learn more sophisticated grammatical
forms and constructions. Among these are the formation and use of all
participial forms, indirect discourse and the subjunctive mood. Students
will study and apply many Latin roots and grammatical structures to English.
They will also learn about a variety of Roman cultural features, such as
daily social practices, trade, republican institutions, and the history of
Rome from the time of the Punic Wars to Julius Caesar and Augustus. Various
enrichment activities, including leadership roles in the inter-school
Ontario Student Classics Conference and participation in national
competitions, will complement the in-class learning.
Course Fee: $15
Senior V
LVL CUE - Latin
Pre-requisite: LVL BUE
This course provides students with opportunities to further develop their
knowledge of the achievements of the ancient world through the study of
Latin. Students will read and translate a broad selection of classical prose
and poetry and will learn the vocabulary and grammar essential for these
activities. English is the language of instruction. Through a variety of
enrichment activities, such as contests, seminars, and re-enactments,
students will explore elements of the civilization of the ancient world,
such as engineering, architecture, politics, and literature.
Course Fee: $15
SPANISH
The Spanish program provides students with opportunities to develop
thinking, analytical and communication skills. These skills will be valuable
assets in an evolving global market and will prepare students for university
and a wide range of careers. Students who have chosen to pursue Spanish will
be building on the common base established during previous language study
and gain not only new language knowledge but also acquire all four language
skills with a high degree of proficiency. They will research, discuss and
analyze socio-economic and political issues affecting all Spanish speaking
countries, read about authentic current issues written by and intended for
natives and be exposed to at least three genres of literature. In addition
to classroom activities, e-mail exchanges, and cultural and media projects,
additional language immersion experiences are available abroad during the
school year and in the summer.
Middle III
LWS ADE - Spanish
This is an introductory course designed to enable students to begin to
communicate in Spanish. From the beginning, students work in task oriented
pair or small groups which enable them to develop the ability to understand
spoken Spanish and be able to communicate at a reasonable pace within
limited vocabulary in the present, one of the past tenses, and immediate
future. They will explore aspects of the culture of countries where Spanish
is spoken, including social customs, music and the arts, by participating in
cultural events and activities involving both print and technological
resources. This year, students may apply for the three-month exchange with
Spain.
Course Fee: $10
Middle IV
LWS BDE - Spanish
Pre-requisite: LWS ADE
This course provides students with the language learning experience that
will enable them to communicate in addition to the present and future, in
both past tenses with a native in Spanish. They will continue to develop and
apply their speaking skills in a variety of contexts, and will participate
in activities that will improve their reading comprehension and skills.
Students will also continue to explore aspects of the culture of countries
where Spanish is spoken through a variety of print and technological
resources and start analyzing current problematic issues.
Course Fee: $1
Senior V
LWS CUE - Spanish
Pre-requisite: LWS BDE
This course offers students opportunities to further develop their
knowledge of Spanish and to enhance their communication skills using the
remainder indicative tenses including the conditional as well as start the
study of the subjunctive. Students will use increasingly more sophisticated
language in a variety of activities that will enable them to speak, read and
write with clarity and greater accuracy. Students will also enhance their
critical thinking skills through the analysis of issues encountered in their
article search for a Media Folder, which they will create and develop based
on authentic materials intended for native speakers, and published in Spain
and Latin America; thus, continuing to explore aspects of the culture of
countries where Spanish is spoken through a variety of print and
technological resources. In addition, they will study and analyze some
poetry and short stories.
Course Fee: $10
Senior VI
LWS DUE – Spanish
Pre-requisite: LWS CUE
This is an advanced language course which provides students with the
opportunity to develop a deeper awareness of style and greater command of
the spoken and written language. In addition to concluding the study and use
of the Subjunctive, students will also analyze thematically a twentieth
century play and novel in an attempt to understand the role played by the
Spanish language and Hispanic culture in our contemporary world. Cultural
units emphasize an overview of the formation of Spain, its past and present
history, music, art and literature and the effect it had in the New World.
Students interested in writing the Advanced Placement examination in Spanish
Language should speak to the instructor by the end of September. They will
receive supplementary material and guidance to help prepare for this exam.
Course Fee: $10
