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Academics
Curriculum

World Languages

The World Languages Department is committed to providing a Christian education to our language students, with special attention to those most in need, so that all language students may achieve personal fulfillment in their study of the language.
To provide a challenging college preparatory language study, students have a choice of three languages: French, Latin, and Spanish. Each language offers a variety of courses that will prepare them for both college and life. Students have the opportunity to develop an appreciation of linguistic, cultural and racial pluralism through courses and experiences that will help them develop as persons of compassion, faith, and intellect.

Essential Outcomes

List of 5 items.

  • Communication

    Students will be able to communicate in the target language in a variety of situations and contexts. (Grad at Grad: Faith in the Presence of God, Concern for the Poor and Social Justice. Excellence in Education, Respect for All Persons, Participation within Inclusive Community) 
    Students will:
    1. Engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and opinions
    2. Understand and interpret spoken language on a variety of topics
    3. Present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners on a variety of topics
  • Cultures - Intercultural Communication

    Interact with cultural competence and understanding.
    Students will:
    1. Use the language to investigate, explain and reflect on the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied.
    2. Use the language to investigate, explain and reflect on the relationship between the products and perspectives of the cultures studied.
  • Connections

    Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations.
    Students will:
    1. Build, reinforce and expand their knowledge of other disciplines while using the language to develop critical thinking and to solve problems creatively.
    2. Access and evaluate information and diverse perspectives that are available through the language and its culture(s).
  • Comparisons

    Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence.
    Students will:
    1. Use the language to investigate, explain and reflect on the nature of language through comparisons of the target language and the student's own language.
    2. Use the language to investigate, explain and reflect on the concept of culture through comparisons of the culture(s) and the student's own culture.
  • Seal of Biliteracy

    The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by Mullen High School in recognition of students who have attained proficiency in two or more languages and/or maintained their heritage language by high school graduation. 
     
    Values and benefits of the Seal of Biliteracy: 
    • To encourage students to study languages 
    • To honor the diversity that exists within our community
    • To prepare students with the skills they need to excel and thrive in the labor market and in the global society
    • To enable students to showcase their language proficiency to colleges, universities and employers
    For additional information on requirements to apply please see the flyer below. Students in level four of a World Language are invited to apply. Please visit the Applications tile on MyMullen for more details. Application available here.

Faculty

List of 5 items.

  • Amanda Sherpe, Ph.D

    Department Chair
    amanda.sherpe@mullenhigh.com
    BA in Classics and History, University of Wisconsin
    MA in Classical Philology, University of Arizona 
    Ph.D. Classics, University of Colorado
    Bio
  • Mica Boh

    mica.boh@mullenhigh.com
    BA in Spanish, Metropolitan State University of Denver
    Bio
  • Amy Davis

    amy.davis@mullenhigh.com
    BA in Psychology & Spanish, Iowa State University
    MA in Education, University of Colorado in Denver

    Bio
  • Bryan Keiser

  • Florence Sutter

    Bio

Course Offerings

List of 24 items.

  • French I College Prep

    Students will learn basic skills in listening, writing, reading and speaking French. Topics will include greetings and goodbyes,
    expressions of courtesy, the French alphabet, numbers, description of people, classroom objects, academic life, everyday activities,
    asking questions and talking about families, friends and pets. Emphasis is on developing active communication skills as well as
    mastering verb conjugations and sentence structures. Cultural topics will include the Francophone world including the study of France,
    Quebec, French-speaking Northern Africa, French school life and French families.
    Reading, writing, and speaking French are required in class. Homework can be expected 2 to 3 times a week. Quizzes can be
    expected weekly.
    (NCAA Course)
  • French 1 Honors

    Students will continue learning basic skills in listening, writing, reading and speaking French. Topics will include greetings and
    goodbyes, expressions of courtesy, the French alphabet, numbers, description of people, classroom objects, academic life, everyday
    activities, and talking about families, friends and pets. Emphasis is on developing active communication skills as well as mastering verb
    conjugations and sentence structures. Cultural topics will include the Francophone world including the study of France, Quebec,
    French-speaking Northern Africa, French school life and French families. Honors classes are more rigorous in content, skill
    development and quality of performance.
    Reading, writing, and speaking French are required in class. Homework can be expected 2 to 3 times a week. Quizzes can be
    expected weekly.
    Prerequisite: Completion of placement test and department approval.
  • French II College Prep

    Students will continue developing skills in listening, writing, reading and speaking French. Topics will include celebrations and stages
    of life, clothing and colors, travel and transportation, hotel and accommodations. Emphasis is on developing active communication
    skills. Students will learn the two forms of the past tense (passé composé and imparfait). Cultural topics will include celebrations in the Francophone world including carnavals, fashion in France, cultural attractions in Belgium, France and Switzerland.
    Reading, writing, and speaking French are required in class. Homework can be expected 2 to 3 times a week. Quizzes can be
    expected weekly.
  • French II Honors

    Students will continue developing skills in listening, writing, reading and speaking French. Topics will include celebrations and stages
    of life, clothing and colors, travel and transportation, hotel and accommodations. Emphasis is on developing active communication
    skills. Students will learn the two forms of the past tense (passé composé and imparfait). Cultural topics will include celebrations in the Francophone world including carnavals, fashion in France, cultural attractions in Belgium, France and Switzerland. Honors classes are
    more rigorous in content, skill development and quality of performance.
    Reading, writing, and speaking French are required in class. Homework can be expected 2 to 3 times a week. Quizzes can be
    expected weekly.
    Prerequisite: Completion of placement test or application and department approval.
  • French III College Prep

    This is a class in which students continue to develop competence in communication skills (listening, speaking, writing, reading, and
    culture) at a more advanced level. Emphasis is on active communication skills and advanced writing and comprehension skills. Topics will include technology and electronics, cars and driving, errands and places in town, giving and asking for directions. Students will learn the conditional and the future tense. Cultural topics will include technology and cars in France, the region of Ile-de-France in
    France, shops and markets in France, and Haiti.
    Reading, writing, and speaking French are required in class. Homework can be expected 2 to 3 times a week. Quizzes can be
    expected weekly.
  • French III Honors

    This is a class in which students continue to develop competence in communication skills (listening, speaking, writing, reading, and
    culture) at a more advanced level. Emphasis is on active communication skills and advanced writing and comprehension skills. Topics will include technology and electronics, cars and driving, errands and places in town, giving and asking for directions. Students will learn the conditional and the future tense. Cultural topics will include technology and cars in France, the region of Ile-de-France in
    France, shops and markets in France, and Haiti.
    Honors classes are more rigorous in content, skill development and quality of performance.
    Reading, writing, and speaking French are required in class. Homework can be expected 2 to 3 times a week. Quizzes can be
    expected weekly.
    Prerequisite: Completion of application and department approval.
  • French IV Honors

    Students will concentrate on solidifying their grammar skills to be put to use in reading, writing, as well as speaking activities. This
    course will introduce a variety of authentic sources in order to increase students' comprehension of listening, reading, and writing.
    Students will be expected to discuss in detail in French a variety of universal themes and conduct cross-cultural comparisons.
    Homework: Two to four hours per week. Prerequisite: Completion of application and department approval.
  • French IV AP®

    Students will be able to internalize and react to what is heard, indicating to the speaker comprehension of the language and civilization through appropriate and complete responses. Students will comprehend the deeper meaning of what they are reading. This course is designed to enable the student to take the College Board Advanced Placement Test in French..Text used is AP French: A Guide for the Language Course. All students enrolled in 446 French IV AP will be required to take the French Advanced Placement exam. AP
    Exam Fee required. Homework: Four hours per week. Prerequisite: French III H (preferred), French III CP considered, completion
    of application and department approval.
  • Latin I College Prep

    This course is an introduction to both the Latin language and Classical Roman culture. Grammar studies will include, but not be limited to declensions, conjugations, agreement, and case use. Vocabulary studies will include, but not be limited to basic vocabulary and translations, reading adapted Latin text and common English words derived from Latin. Cultural studies will include overviews of Roman history, culture, geography and mythology. (NCAA course).
  • Latin II College Prep

    This course is a continuation of Latin I. It is designed for students to improve their skills in reading classical Latin. At that intermediate level, students read adapted prose, analyze grammatical constructions, and refine their vocabulary skills. There will be continued emphasis on reading and translating in order to prepare for exposure to authentic classical authors such as Caesar and Cicero. Students will review and expand basic vocabulary of Latin words used by major Roman authors. Students will review learned grammar and will demonstrate proficiency in new syntactical constructions. Vocabulary studies will continue to showcase English words derived from Latin words. Cultural studies will include Ancient Roman entertainment, architectural contributions, Heroes and Legends. (NCAA course).
  • Latin II Honors

    This course is a continuation of Latin I. It is designed for students to improve their skills in reading classical Latin. At that intermediate level, students read adapted prose, analyze grammatical constructions, and refine their vocabulary skills. There will be continued emphasis on reading and translating in order to prepare for exposure to authentic classical authors such as Caesar and Cicero. Students will review and expand basic vocabulary of Latin words used by major Roman authors. Students will review learned grammar and will demonstrate proficiency in new syntactical constructions. Vocabulary studies will continue to showcase English words derived from Latin words. Cultural studies will include Ancient Roman entertainment, architectural contributions, Heroes and Legends. (NCAA course).
  • Latin III College Prep

    This is an elective course designed to bring students from an intermediate level to an advanced level of comprehending Latin. This course involves an accelerated and rigorous review of all Latin grammar and emphasizes reading adapted and un-adapted Latin prose. Students will refine reading Latin at sight and analyze grammar and texts to develop greater competency and proficiency. Students will research Ancient Roman mythology, history and literature. Students will read from Caesar, Cicero and Pliny, to name a few of the great ancient writers of natural history, memoirs, philosophy and law. (NCAA Course)
  • Latin III Honors

    This is an elective course designed to bring students from a high intermediate level to an advanced level of comprehending Latin. This course involves an accelerated and rigorous review of all Latin grammar and emphasizes reading adapted and un-adapted Latin prose. Students will refine reading Latin at sight and analyze grammar and texts to develop greater competency and proficiency. Students will research Ancient Roman mythology, history and literature. Students will read from Caesar, Cicero and Pliny, to name a few of the great ancient writers of natural history, memoirs, philosophy and law. (NCAA Course)
  • Latin IV Honors

    This is an elective course designed to expose students to Latin prose and poetry. This course involves an accelerated and rigorous review of all Latin grammar and emphasizes reading un-adapted Latin prose and poetry. Students will refine reading Latin at sight and analyze grammar and texts to develop greater competency and proficiency. Students will master figures of speech, critical analysis of texts and essay-writing on literary issues. Students will read large portions of Vergil's Aeneid and Caesar's Gallic War in Latin and English, as well as other Latin authors of prose and poetry, such as Livy, Pliny, Ovid, Martial and Catullus. (NCAA course)
  • Latin IV AP®

    This is an elective course designed to expose students to Vergil's Aeneid and Caesar’s De Bello Gallico. This course involves an accelerated and rigorous review of all Latin grammar and emphasizes reading un-adapted Latin prose and poetry. Students will refine reading Latin at sight and analyze grammar and texts to develop greater competency and proficiency. Students will read large portions of Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic War in Latin and English. Students will also do sight reading of other Latin authors, such as Livy, Pliny, Ovid, Martial and Catullus. The course is rigorous and the demands are those students can anticipate in upper-division level college courses. All students must maintain a 70% average to maintain eligibility for this AP® course. This is a year long course and students will participate in both the National Latin Exam and the AP® exam in the Spring. (NCAA course)
  • Spanish I College Prep

    This course is designed for beginning students in Spanish. Its main objective is to enable students to develop a measurable degree of proficiency in the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The focus of the course is on communication rather than simply on grammatical knowledge. The basic structures of Spanish are presented as tools for communication and are practiced in a wide variety of situational activities. At the same time, the course aims to increase the students' knowledge and appreciation of the diverse cultures of the countries whose language they are studying. Reading, speaking, writing and projects required. Homework: Three hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish I Honors

    This course is designed for students continuing in Spanish. It is an intensified version of Spanish I B CP. Concepts will be covered more quickly and with more depth. Its main objective is to enable students to continue building communicative competency,building on skills acquired in 411 Spanish I A H. The students will be introduced to more complex grammatical forms including the past tense, followed by a variety of activities that promote increased proficiency in many new situations. Again, culture will be interwoven with language learning. Reading, speaking, writing and projects required. Homework: Three hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish II College Prep

    This course is a continuation of the verb tenses and vocabulary of 411/412 Spanish I A/B CP. The focus of this course will be on verbal communication. The student will be presented with simple verb tenses to allow them to speak in the past and present. Their conversational skills will be applied to situations with computer technology, vacations, health, the home, shopping, and amusement parks. The topics of culture include the environment, the Hispanic speaking world, the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador. Written essays and individual oral projects will enhance their skills with the language. Homework: Three hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish II Honors

    This course is an intensified version of Spanish II CP. Materials will be covered more quickly and with more depth. The course is designed to develop proficiency in a meaningful and functional manner, and will reinforce the skills learned in Spanish I and will expand the students’ ability to comprehend, speak, write, and read Spanish. The class will concentrate on conversation, reading, and writing, with an emphasis on decreasing dependence on English by limiting the use of English in class. The successful student will, by the end of the course, be able to demonstrate a spontaneous use of the Spanish language. Homework: three to four hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish III College Prep

    This is an elective course designed to bring students from the novice level to the intermediate level in the four language skills. Grammar and structures learned in 1st and 2nd year are reviewed and broadened with emphasis on the preterit, the imperfect and the present subjunctive. Opportunities are provided for the student to communicate in a wide variety of situations. Students are introduced to samples of the great literatures of the Spanish-speaking world. Reading, speaking, writing and projects required. Homework: Three hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish III Honors

    The main objective is to enable students to develop greater competency and proficiency in the target language. Students, by means of keeping journals and doing projects, will be able to express themselves in Spanish with greater ease. Multiple selections by the following authors will read: Jose Marti, Juan Rulfo, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, and Julia de Burgos y Jorge Luis Burgos. Grammar reviewed will be commands, the preterite, imperfect, future and subjunctive tenses, por vs. para, ser vs. estar, pronouns, prepositions, and verbs such as gustar. Students will be evaluated on listening comprehension, oral participation, reading comprehension, and grammatical accuracy in both speaking and writing. Homework: Two to four hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish IV College Prep

    This course begins by introducing the students to the artists and authors of the Spanish-speaking world. This is an anthology from Colonial period to the present. The course takes into account that the students must be provided with the necessary background information in order to study, analyze and evaluate the paintings and literary works. Some of the featured artists are El Greco, Picasso, and Kahlo. In addition to the arts, the readings represent both traditional and modern authors. Included in these readings are selections representing the endeavors and challenges the Spanish and Latin American people have faced. The students’ progress in the development of the four language skills continues while deepening insight into the culture of Spain and Latin America
  • Spanish IV Honors

    This course is an Honors Level Spanish IV. The object of this course is to teach students to utilize word comprehension strategies as a means of improving their reading and speaking skills and by means of selected samples of Hispanic literature, to react to universal themes and to be able to discuss them orally in the target language. Principles of grammar will be reinforced as needed. Instruction will be in Spanish. Evaluation is based on the student's oral participation and grammatical accuracy in formal writing and speaking. Reading, writing and projects required. Homework: Two to four hours per week. (NCAA Course)
  • Spanish IV AP®

    This is a full-year course in which students will receive AP credit and will be expected to take the AP® Spanish Language Examination. The object of this course is to prepare the student to take the exam by providing exercises in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Evaluation is based on the student's oral participation, auditory comprehension and grammatical accuracy in formal writing and speaking. Practice tests will be given throughout the year to increase test-taking skills. Homework: two to four hours per week. (NCAA Course)