World Languages Department
Prospect High School offers three different Languages Other Than English (LOTE) as well as pathways for native speakers in Mandarin and Spanish. Please make sure to read through the descriptions, especially the pre-requisites to advance in the pathway.
World Language Sequence
Course Descriptions
French
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.
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- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e) ; College Prep Elective (g)
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.
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- Prerequisite: French 1
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
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.
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- Prerequisite: French 2
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
French 4
Increases the student‘s proficiency in French. Students review all verb tenses and complex grammatical structures. They study in more depth the geography, history, and literature of France. Continued emphasis on the skills of speaking, reading, writing, and listening enables communication in complex situations.
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- Prerequisite: French 3
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
AP French
The AP French Language and Culture course takes a holistic approach to language proficiency and recognizes the complex interrelatedness of comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use and not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. In order to best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught in the target language. The course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops student awareness and appreciation of products, both tangible (e.g., tools, books, music) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions that underlie both practices and products).
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- Prerequisite: French 3
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
- UC/CSU: Weighted
Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese 1
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.
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- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
Mandarin Chinese 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.
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- Prerequisite: Mandarin 1
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e; College Prep Elective (g)
Mandarin Chinese 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.
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- Prerequisite: Mandarin 2
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
AP Chinese Language and 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 primarily in Mandarin/Chinese. Students who enroll will also prepare to take the Advanced Placement Chinese Literature Exam.
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- Prerequisite: Recommended C+ or better in Mandarin 3 or equivalent.
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
- UC/CSU: Weighted
Spanish
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.
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- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
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.
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- Prerequisite: Spanish 1
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
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 tenses and grammatical structures. Students are also introduced to short literary texts and other authentic documents.
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- Prerequisite: Spanish 2
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
Spanish 4
Spanish 4 increases the student’s proficiency in Spanish. Students review all verb tenses and complex grammatical structures. They learn in more depth the geography, history, and literature of Spain and listening enables communication in complex situations.
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- Prerequisite: Spanish 3 or equivalent
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
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.
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- Successful completion of this course equates to two years of LOTE.
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
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.
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- Successful completion of this course equates to three years of LOTE.
- Prerequisite: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 or adequate knowledge of the language.
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
AP Spanish Language & Culture
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 Century1 (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.
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- Prerequisite: Spanish 3 or Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2
- Graduation Credit: Language Other than English (LOTE)
- UC/CSU: Language Other than English (e); College Prep Elective (g)
- UC/CSU: Weighted
Staff
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.