Modern Languages
Expanding cultural horizons
The Language Department serves to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to authentically communicate in a foreign language through development in reading, writing and oral communication in either French or Spanish. Through these exercises students develop their skills further with each year of study, eventually gaining the ability to communicate comfortably in their language of choice. Students entering in grade 8 must complete up to and including French 10.
- French 8-12
- Introductory Spanish 11 and Spanish 11:
for a grade 11 language credit,
both Introductory Spanish and Spanish 11
must be successfully completed
Field Trips
Optional field trips to locations around the world such as France, Monaco, and Switzerland are offered to students in grades 11 and 12, every other year when travel is permitted.
Department Members
Department Head
|
Ms. Stagnitta
|
|
French 8
|
Mrs. Domina
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|
French 9
|
Mr. Domina
Mr. Savage |
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French 10
|
Ms. Stagnitta
|
|
Core French 11-12
|
Mr. Savage
|
|
Beginner's Spanish 11
Spanish 11 |
Ms. Stagnitta
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Course Content
At St. Thomas Aquinas we offer French as a Second Language from grades 8-12. We also offer Beginner's Spanish and Spanish 11. The program that we are currently using for French from grades 8-10 is: Entre Amis 1-3. the program that we are currently using for French for grades 11-12 is: En Direct 1-2. The program that we are using for Beginner's Spanish and Spanish 11 are: Realidades 1-2. These programs are designed to teach language elements through thematic studies that are pertinent to the student's every-day lives. Students are evaluated in a variety of capacities and assignments are designed to encompass all learning styles, abilities and interests. In this way, students are ensured great success in some aspect of the course.
French 8 begins with basic vocabulary and language structures to enable students to begin expressing themselves in a second language. Some of the themes studied are: school, food, sports, activities in the different seasons, health and healthy eating. Students are evaluated in the following capacities: Reading Comprehension, Oral Output, Written Output and Listening skills. This holds true for all students from French 8-12.
French 9 expands on the basic vocabulary and language structures and enables students to formulate simple dialogues and discussions in a second language. The major themes covered are: movies (different types and opinions) music, feast days and organization of parties, qualities of good friends and relationships.
French 10 builds on the basic skills and begins to develop into a more complex expression in a second language. Some of the themes covered are: fashion, advertisement, family, travel, employment opportunities and resume writing.
French 11 enables the students to express themselves and give their opinions on various topics using more advanced language structures and elements. Some of the themes covered are: health, fitness and physical activities, relationships between friends, family members, and dating, and comparisons of school structures within Canada and abroad.
French 12 encompasses all the skilled learned in previous years and enables the students to produce oral and written assignments of high linguistic quality. Students are able to express their opinions and formulate discussions both orally and in written form that include complex language elements and structures.
Beginner's Spanish is the first of a two-year program designed to give students the opportunity to acquire a grade 11 language credit if French has not been an option throughout their high school education. The course begins with elementary and fundamental language structures and vocabulary and then quickly progresses to slightly more complex structures as the year progresses. The concepts and materials taught advance rapidly as the curriculum to cover is extensive and the internalization is critical if students wish to continue and be successful in Spanish 11. Upon completing this course, students will be able to understand the written languge and express themselves both in oral and in written forms at a beginner to an intermediate level. Students are evaluated in the following capacities: Reading Comprehension, Oral Output, Written Output and Listening skills. This holds true for all students for Beginner's Spanish and Spanish 11.
Spanish 11 is the second of a two-year program that offers students an alternate grade 11 language credit besides French 11. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to express themselves both orally and in written form using advanced and complex vocabulary, language elements and sentence structures. Some of the themes covered in the two-year program are: school (building and subjects), daily routines, activities, passtimes, sports, family, fashion, food, shopping, travel, employment and environmental care (recycling, saving energy etc...)
Why Study French?
10 Reasons to Learn French
1: In many European countries, a second language is introduced in elementary school and a third language in middle school. Job applicants who are proficient in at least two languages will be at a distinct advantage in the global marketplace. When you know French, you can communicate in transactions occurring daily in French on every continent.
2: In many scientific fields at the graduate level, many Canadian institutions require reading knowledge of French or German in order for scholars to be able to conduct research. France continues to be a leader and innovator in science and technology. Civil engineering (the "Chunnel" between England and France, the TGV - the world's fastest train, the Viaduct of Millau - the world's highest bridge), aeronautics (the Airbus 350 and the Ariane Rocket - a Franco-European initiative), medical technologies (the isolation of the HIV virus), and telecommunications (fiber optics, the smart card) are just a few areas in which the French are leaders. Knowing French can open the doors to graduate school and to important research.
3: French is the first or second language in more than 55 countries and is spoken by 250 million people around the world, on every continent. Because French is a foreign language of choice for so many people in the world, knowing French will also increase your chances of communicating in a non-English speaking country. You can use French to develop international friendships as well as to communicate via the Internet.
4: Knowledge of a second language is essential in over 60 occupations. Canada is officially bilingual and requires labeling in English and French on all products. More than 2,400 French companies have subsidiaries in the U.S., and France is one of the largest recipients of Canadian Foreign investments. France is also a world leader in the development of modern telecommunications, a market with explosive growth potential.
The European Union, the second largest trading block in the world, recognizes French as an official language. Job opportunities abound with airlines, import-export companies, and other international businesses. French is also useful if you are thinking of working at the United Nations (where French is the second most widely used language, after English) or for the Canadian Government. Here in Canada, when you know French, you could become a French teacher, an interpreter, a translator and so much more.
5: Some 40 to 50% of English vocabulary comes from French. The study of French will also enhance your grammar skills. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
6: French is always an official language used to announce events, winners, and medals at the Olympic Games, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. In Canada, you can also follow hockey and baseball games in French. Automobile races (Le Mans and Monte Carlo), horse racing (Long champs), tennis tournaments (French Open), and the Tour de France (long-distance bicycle race) engage fans around the globe. When you know French, the international world of sports is open to you.
7: France is the most visited tourist destination in the world. Paris has been named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top ten "global cities". When you speak French, you can be an educated tourist, ask for directions, get your own hotel room or tell a French friend about your own country.
8: Learning French will also increase your problem-solving skills and improve your memory, self-discipline, and self-esteem. Because progress is very easy to measure, you can quickly take pride in your new abilities. Learning French can help you acquire a number of important skills.
9: As you quickly realize when you look at the foreign film section of your local video store, France is one of the most prolific producers of international films. The Cannes International Film Festival annually attracts the attention of the world when the best films, directors and actors are named. When you understand French, you don't need to rely on subtitles to enjoy a French film.
10: People around the world are familiar with Les Misérables, The Three Musketeers, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, The Little Prince, and The Stranger. In fact, France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country. The French are also admired for their great philosophers, such as Descartes and Pascal, Rousseau,Voltaire, Camus and Sartre. When you read French, you can enjoy these works and authors in the original.
And then there's reason 11: Why learn French?
Because you can!