Mt. Blue High School's World Language department prepares students to communicate in a second language and to develop an understanding of other cultures. The World Language department offers classes in American Sign Language (ASL), French, and Spanish--novice through advanced--based on proficiency levels assigned by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the Maine Department of Education.
Students have an opportunity to achieve the ASL Honor Society and obtain the State of Maine Seal of Biliteracy on their transcripts. The requirements include:
ASL Honor Society: Students receiving Red, White, and Blue Honor cords have studied ASL for at least 2 years with a Grade Point Average of at least a 3.5 (B+) in all ASL classes and a GPA of at least 3.2 (B) in all other courses, and accomplished 5 hours of community service benefiting the Deaf community. Maine Seal of Biliteracy: is a recognized achievement in language learning with a proficiency requirement in English and an additional language.
course offerings
French
FRENCH NOVICE A
This introductory course in French will provide students with the resources to be able to communicate using familiar words and phrases. This course stresses good pronunciation habits as well as the development of interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. In addition, basic language structures and cultural aspects will also be covered.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1
FRENCH NOVICE B
Students will further develop interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. Students will be able to communicate using phrases and simple sentences. Exposure to French culture and basic language structures is also a component of this course.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French Novice A
Credit: 1
FRENCH NOVICE HONORS
Students will further develop interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. Students will be able to communicate using phrases and simple sentences. Exposure to French culture and basic language structures is also a component of this course. French Novice Honors is an advanced and challenging course for motivated and talented students interested in working at a faster pace.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French Novice A or teacher referral
Credit: 1
FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Would you like to feel confident and savvy speaking French for travel or other everyday situations? Students in this course will develop proficiency beyond the novice level, learning how to communicate comfortably with native French speakers through the study of proper pronunciation and the use of French words. Students will also learn important cultural tips, including appropriate gestures and body language, making communication more comfortable and natural. Allons-y!
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French Novice B, French Novice H, or teacher referral
Credit: .5
FRENCH INTERMEDIATE HONORS
The goal of this course is to go into more depth with respect to developing the students’ interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. Students will be able to communicate using connective sentences, handle short social interactions, and be able to understand the main topics/ideas of what is being said/read on a wide variety of familiar topics and personal interests or studies. Continued exposure to French culture and language structure is also a component of this course. French Intermediate Honors is an advanced and challenging course for motivated and talented students interested in working at a faster pace.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French Novice Honors, Intermediate, or teacher referral
Credit: 1
FRENCH PRE-ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
This course will provide an increased emphasis on improving all proficiency skills using authentic sources, along with the continued study of the structures in various time frames of the French language. There is an emphasis on advanced structures and grammar through the use of primary source materials: novels and plays, newspapers, blogs, podcasts, and radio and TV streaming. The growth of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions are a major component of the course. This is an advanced course for the motivated and talented student interested in working at a faster pace for the AP French course and/or for the Seal of Biliteracy. This course is taught with the AP class.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: French Intermediate Honors or teacher referral
Credit: 1
FRENCH ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
This course is an advanced study of the French Language with an emphasis on preparation for the Advanced Placement (AP) French exam in the Spring and the Seal of Biliteracy. There will be a strong emphasis on the three modes of communication: interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal along with an in-depth practice of language structure in context to convey meaning. Students who remain enrolled in an AP class after the first quarter are expected, but not required, to take the AP exam in May and take the proficiency exam for the Seal of Biliteracy. This course is taught with the Pre-AP class.
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite: French Pre-AP or teacher referral
Credit: 1
SPANISH
SPANISH NOVICE A
This introductory course in Spanish will provide students with the resources to communicate using familiar words and phrases. This course stresses good pronunciation habits and the development of interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. In addition, basic language structures and cultural aspects will also be covered.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1
SPANISH NOVICE B
Students will further develop interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. Students will be able to communicate using phrases and simple sentences. This course also includes exposure to Spanish culture and basic language structures.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish Novice A
Credit: 1
SPANISH NOVICE HONORS
Students will further develop interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. Students will be able to communicate using phrases and simple sentences. This course also includes exposure to Spanish culture and basic language structures. Spanish Novice Honors is an advanced and challenging course for motivated and talented students interested in working at a faster pace.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish Novice A or teacher referral
Credit: 1
SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Would you like to feel confident and savvy speaking Spanish for travel or other everyday situations? Students in this course will develop proficiency beyond the novice level, learning how to communicate comfortably with native Spanish speakers through studying the proper pronunciation and use of Spanish words. Students will also learn important cultural tips, including appropriate gestures and body language, making communication more comfortable and natural. Vámonos!
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish Novice B, Spanish Novice H, or teacher referral
Credit: .5
SPANISH INTERMEDIATE HONORS
The goal of this course is to go into more depth with respect to developing the students’ interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills. Students will be able to communicate using connective sentences, handle short social interactions, and be able to understand the main topics/ideas of what is being said/read on a wide variety of familiar topics and personal interests or studies. Continued exposure to Spanish culture and language structure is also a component of this course. Spanish Intermediate Honors is an advanced and challenging course for motivated and talented students interested in working at a faster pace.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish Novice H or teacher referral
Credit: 1
SPANISH PRE-ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
This course will provide an increased emphasis on improving all proficiency skills using authentic sources, along with the continued study of the structures in various time frames of the Spanish language. There is an emphasis on advanced structures and grammar through the use of primary source materials: novels and plays, newspapers, blogs, podcasts, and radio and TV streaming. The growth of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions are a major component of the course. This is an advanced course for the motivated and talented student interested in working at a faster pace for the AP Spanish course and/or for the Seal of Biliteracy. This course is taught with the AP class.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate Honors or teacher referral
Credit: 1
SPANISH ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
This course is an advanced study of the Spanish Language with an emphasis on preparation for the Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish exam in the Spring. There will be a strong emphasis on the three modes of communication: interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal along with an in-depth practice of language structure in context to convey meaning. This is an advanced course for the motivated and talented student interested in working at a faster pace for the AP Spanish course and/or for the Seal of Biliteracy. This course is taught with the Pre-AP class.
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Pre-AP Spanish or teacher referral
Credit: 1
WORLD LANGUAGE ELECTIVES (TAUGHT IN ENGLISH)
EAST ASIAN STUDIES
This course is geared toward students interested in East Asian cultures. Students will explore their interests in social, cultural, and political aspects of contemporary China, Japan, and Korea such as fashion, food, martial arts, film, music, video games, and architecture. We will examine and interpret some key social movements, multiculturalism, and popular culture.
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: .5
EUROPEAN POP CULTURE
This course asks the question, “What is popular culture, and how has it affected European lifestyles in the 20th century”? Most of us experience popular culture in our everyday life, often in the form of television, films, comics, fashion, and food. In this course, we examine popular culture as a valid form of cultural expression closely linked to our contemporary view of the world.
