French 1 initiates the student into speaking and understanding the language. From simple and convenient structures and expressions, the student is introduced to more complex and sophisticated words and phrases. He learns to use the present tense, the imperative, the future, the “passé récent,” and the simple past, as well as a number of common irregular verbs. His vocabulary is increased weekly until he is able to express many of the common daily experiences of his life in French. We strive to make the vocabulary and structural lessons as immediate and “relevant” as possible. To that end we use the audio-visual program D’Accord from Vista Higher Learning. This program gives the student the advantages of an immersion method by presenting native speakers in vivid situations, in real settings. At the same time, this course is structured so that the student can learn fundamental linguistic principles efficiently. We also use Premier Livre (an introductory grammar book published by Amsco) to supplement students’ understanding of grammar and syntax.

French 2 continues in the same manner as first-year French, gradually increasing the sophistication of the grammar and syntax until the student has mastered all common structural and grammatical usages from the subjunctive to the relative pronoun. His vocabulary is expanded to include typical French idioms and expressions and common vocabulary words in daily use in France. The student continues his initiation into French cultural and social life and he is given every opportunity to express himself in the language. In addition to the customary “dialogue”—an oral acting-out of a situation in French—the student is called upon to memorize French poems and songs, and he is required to present oral reports at several points in the year. He is still graded on both his oral and written work. We continue to use D’Accord, and supplement that material with a grammar review book, Deuxième Livre (Amsco). During the year we read selected stories from Les Aventures du Petit Nicolas and, in the spring, we read the wonderful novel, Le Petit Prince.

French 3 caps off the third year of French study, transforming students into proficient, confident communicators. The curriculum “spirals” foundational grammar from previous levels with new high-intermediate structures and vocabulary, prioritizing active learning reinforcement through encounters with film, essays, literature and graphic novels. Students explore themes of friendship, family, travel, and civics while honing their skills in the arts of debate, composition, and conversation. The year is anchored by two major projects: a first-semester performance of a chosen work of art (such as song, theater, or persuasive speech) and a capstone interview with a native Francophone at the end of the year. Grammar proficiency is supported by Contextual French Grammar, a reference which decodes the trickiest aspects of the target language specifically for English mother tongue learners. Students who successfully complete the course are invited to participate in the transformative month-long Immersion Program in Normandy, France.

Honors French 3 prepares eloquent and fluent advanced-intermediate masters of the French language in a full range of expressive modes. Selected historical, literary, and sociological touchstones initiate the boys’ exposure to the interdisciplinary complexities of cultural studies, and prepare their understanding of and overview of French history. Boys are expected to engage creatively and analytically across a range of expressive forms, from the arts of composition to oration, to conversation and debate. Composed of a rich corpus of film, literature, journalism, landscape, and the visual arts, the syllabus engages the expressive life of the social individual in the French context through five foundational themes: legacy and inheritance, friendship and personal relations, travel and discovery, art and performance, and government and rights. The year concludes with a capstone research project co-created with the students, requiring direct engagement with a Francophone community. The course is supported by the textbook Face-à-Face and the grammar reference, Une Fois pour toutes. Students who successfully complete the course are invited to participate in the transformative month-long Immersion Program in Normandy, France.

Open to boys in Classes II and I, Honors French 4 works to strengthen and expand the student’s ability to understand and communicate in the French language. Emphasis is placed on listening, speaking, reading, and writing at an advanced level. All classes are conducted in French. We focus on literary, cultural, and social aspects of French life and thought, and le monde francophone. The course addresses themes such as cinema, literary perspectives, women and men, modern politics, and social attitudes. Readings include works by Voltaire, Sartre, Ionesco, and Laye. The student necessarily deepens his understanding of the people as he learns the language; he is also forced to question his own notions and preconceptions as he considers the issues raised. Students are graded on both their oral and written work. Cours Supérieur (Amsco) serves as the grammar text.

Open to boys in Class I, Honors French 5 focuses on readings that span the four hundred years of French artistic and cultural ascendancy, ranging from Molière’s L’Ecole des Femmes to Camus’ L’Etranger. Other important writers that we study in this course are Ronsard, La Fontaine, Corneille, Rostand, Baudelaire, Maupassant, and Ndiaye. Classes are conducted in French, and there are frequent opportunities for grammar review and vocabulary building. This is a discussion-based course, so students are expected to express themselves orally and in writing at an advanced level. Although much of the course focuses on the formal investigation of literary trends and themes, students refine their language skills through class discussions, creative projects, oral presentations, and by writing textual analysis and comparative essays.

Spanish 1 initiates students into understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish through a variety of communicative activities that encourage students to use Spanish in an authentic and effective way. To this end we use Vista Higher Learning’s Descubre program. Through its engaging texts, exercises and videos, this program nicely integrates the learning of Spanish grammar and vocabulary with relevant Spanish and Spanish-American social and cultural themes. As the year progresses, students are gradually exposed to more complex and sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structures, and are introduced to the following Spanish-speaking countries: Spain, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, Guatemala, and Chile. By the end of the year they have learned how to use the present, the preterit and the imperfect of regular, irregular and stem-changing verbs, and are able to express many of their common daily experiences in areas such as school and family life, foreign travel, shopping and dining. All class work is conducted in Spanish.

Spanish 2 builds on students’ knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax until they have mastered all common structures and verb tenses. We continue to use the Descubre program supplemented by increasingly sophisticated poems, short plays and short narratives. The students continue their initiation into Spanish and Spanish-American cultural and social life, and are introduced to the following Spanish-speaking countries: Costa Rica, Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, and Uruguay. By the end of the year they have learned how to use familiar and formal commands and all the tenses of the indicative and subjunctive moods. They are also able to share many of their common experiences and perceptions about topics such as the workplace, health, technology, urban life, arts, and current events. Classroom activities include oral presentations, debates, and short plays. All class work is conducted in Spanish.

Spanish 3 builds upon previous years to strengthen students’ command of grammar and vocabulary through a vibrant exploration of contemporary Spain. The course begins by completing the Descubre series, focusing on practical topics such as the arts, the economy, and current events. Students will explore Spain’s history and its modern identity as a global cultural hub, investigating what makes it one of the most visited countries in the world. Special emphasis is placed on developing communicative confidence. Students will engage with a variety of authentic materials—including music, podcasts, short stories, and film—to improve their listening and reading comprehension. Classroom activities are designed to be interactive and collaborative, featuring creative projects, cultural presentations, and role-playing scenarios that mirror real-world interactions.

Honors Spanish 3 deepens students’ knowledge of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary through a panoramic view of Spain’s history and culture. We will give special attention to Medieval Spain, the Spanish Empire, the Spanish Civil War, the Franco regime, and the subsequent transition to democracy. Special emphasis is placed upon the acquisition of the linguistic skills necessary to understand, analyze, and critique a variety of textual, visual, and audiovisual expressions (poems, short fiction, plays, essays, newspaper articles, films, documentaries, media advertisements, architecture, painting, and sculpture). Classroom activities include formal oral presentations, creative projects, dramatic performances, social and political debates, and creative and expository writing. Readings include Cantar de Mio Cid, El Lazarillo de Tormes, Don Quijote (select chapters), Las bicicletas son para el verano.

Honors Spanish 4 develops advanced skills in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish through the study of Latin American history and culture. The course adopts a thematic and chronological approach, beginning with colonialism and independence, then tracing the region’s development through liberalism, neocolonialism, nationalism, revolution, and neoliberalism. Students engage with a range of materials—such as historical texts, political discourse, films, art, and literature—to examine how power, inequality, and identity have been shaped and challenged across different countries. The course also includes economic analysis, emphasizing the importance of understanding each country’s development within its historical context, rather than viewing Latin America as a single, uniform story. Throughout the year, students improve their skills in analyzing complex sources, participating in structured discussions and debates, and writing analytical and argumentative essays. In the final marking period, students complete a detailed research project on a specific Latin American country and deliver a seminar-style presentation to teach their peers about its unique history. By the end of the course, students can articulate nuanced perspectives on Latin American history and communicate their ideas clearly, precisely, and confidently in Spanish.

Honors Spanish 5, an elective offered to Class I, focuses on readings by some of the greatest Spanish and Latin-American writers, including Cervantes, Sor Juana, Neruda, García Márquez, Rulfo, Borges, and Isabel Allende. We survey the major literary and artistic movements, their association with history, and their importance in the shaping and understanding of modern Spanish and Latin American culture. Students refine their language skills through class discussions, creative projects, oral presentations, and by writing textual analysis and comparative essays.