STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

SECOND LANGUAGES :: 2004 :: ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

Advanced Placement French, German and Spanish Language courses (Italian available in 2005 and Chinese, Japanese and Russian available in 2006) emphasize the use of language for active communication. Students develop language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) that can be used in various activities and disciplines rather than focusing on any specific subject matter. Emphasis is placed on comprehension of the spoken and written target language in various contexts; coherent and resourceful communication; and the organization and writing of compositions.

Strands: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing
COMPETENCY GOAL 1:	INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION - The learner will engage in conversation and exchange information and opinions orally and in writing in the target language.
	Objectives 1.01 Communicate facts, ideas, and feelings successfully in a form of speech readily understandable to native speakers. 1.02 Have a ready recall of a broad range of vocabulary in order to facilitate speaking and writing fluently and accurately. 1.03 Demonstrate a proficient command of grammatical forms and syntactic patterns. 1.04 Discuss topics of current interest and express personal opinions including hypotheses and conjectures, using the subjunctive correctly and appropriately. 1.05 Speak with an accent that does not inhibit comprehension. 1.06 Use culturally appropriate vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and gestures.
COMPETENCY GOAL 2:	INTERPRETIVE COMMUNICATION - The learner will understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics in the target language.
	Objectives 2.01 Follow the essentials of conversations between educated native speakers that may include idiomatic and colloquial expressions. 2.02 Understand the target language transmitted clearly by means of recordings (radio, tv, film, telephone and video). 2.03 Comprehend and retain the main points and details of longer narratives and dialogues. 2.04 Identify cues that affect meaning in communication, both verbal cues (inflections, point of view) and non-verbal cues (facial expressions, body language). 2.05 Recognize the purpose and motivation of speakers. 2.06 Demonstrate good overall comprehension of expository and narrative prose from a variety of sources: magazines , newspapers, advertisements, letters, and literary passages from texts. 2.07 Distinguish main ideas from subordinate ideas whether stated or implied, and recognize hypotheses, supported opinions and documented facts. 2.08 Draw inferences from both print and non-print sources and make generalizations. 2.09 Integrate contextual clues and structural analysis to gain meanings of unknown words and idioms.
COMPETENCY GOAL 3:	PRESENTATIONAL COMMUNICATION -The learner will present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics in the target language.
	Objectives 3.01 Narrate, describe and explain accurately in past, present and future using a variety of tenses and moods. 3.02 Express oneself orally and/or in writing in a variety of modes/styles for a variety of purposes, including informative, descriptive, narrative (personal experience), expository (essay, paper, biographical incidents), persuasive (editorial) or imaginative (story). 3.03 Analyze, summarize, interpret, and modify information from authentic materials or literary samples orally and in writing. 3.04 Use appropriate transitional devices and varied syntax in essay writing and oral presentations. 3.05 Use language appropriate to the purpose of the text, the topic and the intended audience.
COMPETENCY GOAL 4:	CULTURES - The learner will gain knowledge and demonstrate understanding of the relationship among practices, products, and perspectives, of cultures other than his/her own.
	Objectives 4.01 Discriminate between different registers of language (formal/informal, literary/colloquial, written/conversational), and explain their cultural implications. 4.02 Analyze and discuss written or oral texts on major historical events from the perspective of the peoples of the target culture. 4.03 Analyze and critique variations of patterns of behavior or interaction within target cultures. 4.04 Analyze and discuss historical and contemporary literature and the arts in order to describe the cultural practices and to explain the perspectives of the people of the target cultures. 4.05 Explain the geographical features of the target countries and evaluate their impact on the practices, products and perspectives of the peoples and their cultures. 4.06 Evaluate the contributions of influential people and the impact of significant events on the global community. 4.07 Form and support opinions about contemporary life in the target cultures through examination of media, cultural artifacts, and through interaction with people of the target culture.
COMPETENCY GOAL 5:	COMPARISONS - The learner will develop insight into the nature of language and culture by comparing his/her own language(s) and culture(s) to others.
	Objectives 5.01 Recognize and examine regional and national dialects within the target language and his/her own language(s). 5.02 Compare and contrast structural patterns in the target language and his/her own language(s). 5.03 Utilize appropriately words, phrases, and idioms that do not translate directly from one language to another and analyze their impact and influence on communication. 5.04 Compare the perspectives of contemporary life in the target cultures with contemporary life in the United States through examination of media, cultural artifacts, and through interaction with people of the target culture. 5.05 Analyze the relationship of historical and contemporary attitudes, behaviors, and products in the target culture and compare to his/her own culture. 5.06 Compare the native and target cultures in terms of various institutions (e.g., educational, legal, economic, and governmental).
COMPETENCY GOAL 6:	CONNECTIONS - The learner will acquire, reinforce, and further his/her knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.
	Objectives 6.01 Acquire and discuss information from a variety of authentic sources in the target language about topics that are common to other disciplines. 6.02 Synthesize information from authentic sources relating to other disciplines. 6.03 Present formally information from authentic sources relating to other disciplines. 6.04 Transfer information acquired in the foreign language class for use in other disciplines. 6.05 Recognize and apply learning strategies, processes, and skills from other disciplines. 6.06 Develop learning strategies in the target language, which can be used in other disciplines.
COMPETENCY GOAL 7:	COMMUNITIES - The learner will use language and/or demonstrate cultural knowledge and understanding within and beyond the school setting for personal, educational, and professional growth and enrichment.
	Objectives 7.01 Perform and /or participate in a school or community celebration or competition. 7.02 Explore ways to share knowledge of the target language and cultures with others. 7.03 Interact with people of other cultures in the target language about familiar and unfamiliar topics. 7.04 Visit places in person or via technology, which provide opportunities to use the target language and/or experience the target cultures. 7.05 Identify occupations and companies within the community and beyond that require proficiency in the target language. 7.06 View, listen to, and read various forms of media that utilize the target language and reflect the target cultures.

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