Bonjour! When you think about French, you probably think about Paris, France…but that’s just the start! French is also spoken in many countries around the world, countries like Belgium and Andorra in Europe; Morocco, Tunisia and Togo in Africa; Vietnam and Laos in Asia; and of course in Canada and the United States (in New Orleans and New England for example). So, learning French is much more than learning French words, and the mysteries of French grammar. You’ll also learn about the people who speak those words and about the countries in which those people live. The study of French will be worth the time and effort you put into it.

501/502/503 FRENCH I A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: None

Step right into French and start to develop skills in speaking, reading, listening and writing. At the same time, you will learn something about the cultures of French-speaking people in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. You will listen to traditional French music and do an individual project about a famous French-speaking person.

504/505/506 FRENCH II A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite French I A, B & C

You will continue to see progress in your speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills as you expand your vocabulary. You will create your own dialogues, listen to popular French music and learn about Paris, the City of Light.

507/508/509 FRENCH III A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: French II A, B & C

French III broadens your vocabulary base and introduces new verb tenses. Using your French to express yourself is emphasized – you’ll create your own dialogues and write short compositions. You’ll have a unit on art, read French poetry, begin a journal project, and watch a Truffaut film, Argent de Poche.

510/511/512 FRENCH IV A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: French III A, B & C

Your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills continue to improve as you study and master more complicated grammar. You will read Le Petit Prince, the classic story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery and continue your journal project. You will research and write a research paper about a French painter, sculptor, musician, architect or monarch.

513/514/515 FRENCH V A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: French IV A, B & C

Your knowledge of French and confidence in your skills continue to grow with a greater emphasis on literature and real life conversation. You will continue your journal project and read Le Silence de la Mer, a story written by a member of the French Resistance during World War II. You will research and write a research paper about a French painter, sculptor, musician, architect or monarch. A short unit on French poetry and a video project will round out your French experience at North High. But let’s hope that you will continue to add to your knowledge of French language and cultures…wherever life leads you.

NOTE: Level V language classes can lead to the AP test.

GERMAN

521/522/523 GERMAN I A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: None

One hundred million Europeans speak German -- the Germans themselves, the Swiss, and the Austrians. Twenty million more Europeans learn German as a second language. Here in Minnesota, German is a popular foreign language choice because so many of our forbearers were German speaking.
Speaking and understanding beginning level German is stressed in German I. You learn how to use the telephone and how to write a letter in German. You also learn about German schools, music and German teenagers' habits. Speaking, listening, reading and writing are stressed.

524/525/526 GERMAN II A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: German I A, B & C

A variety of activities help improve your skills in German II. Reading of short stories and cartoons, skits and conversations, and pen pal letters all add interest to the course. A review of German I grammar is included in the course. By the end of German II you will have covered many of the important points of the German grammar.

527/5278/529 GERMAN III A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: German II A, B & C

You will have an opportunity to develop your own thoughts and ideas in German by such means as letter writing, keeping a diary, or rewriting stories you already know. You should be able to describe your own activities and one or two specialized subjects in simple but correctly written German.

Listening and understanding are the central part of this course. You will learn to understand spoken German better by listening to the taped voices of a variety of German speakers. Recordings of plays, poetry and conversation, including films and video tapes, as they are available, will supplement your text.

530/531/532 GERMAN IV A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: German III A, B & C or Recommendation of Teacher

In this course, you will build vocabulary and understanding by reading German short stories and plays. You will also do some outside reading. You will increase your understanding of written German and have plenty of opportunity to speak in German.

533/534/535 GERMAN V A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: German IVA and B

These classes are a continuation of the previous 4 levels with greater emphasis on literature and conversation.

NOTE: Level V language classes can lead to the AP test and possible college credit.

SPANISH

To be successful in today’s global world, it is imperative that students have skills in a second language. Spanish is the 3rd most spoken language in the world and the official language of 21 countries!

541/542/543 SPANISH I A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: None

In Spanish I, you will learn the basic skills necessary to communicate in Spanish. You will begin to develop skills in conversation, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Culturally authentic activities and projects will provide the basics for you to express your ideas and to talk about your interest, family, friends, school, likes, dislikes, etc.

544/545/546 SPANISH II A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish I C or permission of instructor

You will build upon the basics you learned in Spanish I to expand your communicative abilities. Continued study of the variety of Hispanic cultures accompanies your development of Spanish vocabulary and grammar study. There is an emphasis on group communication activities, both oral and written.

547/548/549 SPANISH III A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: Spanish II A, B & C or permission of instructor

In Spanish III, you will begin to see true growth in your ability to communicate a greater variety of ideas within the language as your proficiency increases. Vocabulary and grammar expansion will continue, providing you with the tools to solidify what you have learned in previous levels as you explore new aspects of your speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

550/551/552 SPANISH IV-CONVERSATION AND CULTURE A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: Spanish III A, B & C or permission of instructor

This is a conversation, literature and advanced grammar course in which you will have the opportunity to encounter some of the greatest writers and artists of the Spanish-speaking world. This is an intensive course. We will use newspapers, magazines and video to reach a breakthrough point in your speaking skills.

Conversations and writing assignments will be based on modern social issues, both as represented in the works of Spanish-speaking writers and artists, as well as in the personal opinions and experiences of the students in the class. Students will present a project on an influential leader or cultural event about one of the cultures studied in class.

You will leave this class as a better Spanish speaker and reader, more aware of the Spanish-speaking world. . This course will help prepare you for college placement exams and could lead to the Advanced Placement test.

553/554/555 SPANISH V-CONVERSATION AND CULTURE A, B & C

Open to: All grades 1 Credit/term
Prerequisite: Spanish IV A, B & C or permission of instructor

This course is an expansion and continuation of Spanish IV. Level IV topics and themes will be covered with assignments and expectations expanded to meet the skills of a level V student. You will leave this class as a better Spanish speaker and reader, more aware of the Spanish-speaking world. This course will help prepare you for college placement exams and could lead to the Advanced Placement test.