Mater Dei's World Language Department

Spanish I is an introductory course designed to develop foundational language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will learn basic vocabulary, common phrases, and essential grammar structures to communicate effectively in everyday situations. The course emphasizes pronunciation, comprehension, and cultural awareness to build confidence and practical communication abilities. 

This is an accelerated introductory course seeking a deeper and more challenging exploration of the Spanish language. This course develops strong foundational skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing with an emphasis on accuracy and fluency. Students will participate in more sophisticated conversations, extended writing assignments, and critical thinking activities to build higher-level proficiency and cultural understanding. 

This course concentrates on reading and writing skills and is designed for students who speak Spanish in the home but have not had much formal instruction. It will assist the bilingual student to advance his or her reading, writing, and spelling skills. Students who earn a “B” in both semesters of this class move on to AP Spanish Language and Culture. This course is taught entirely in Spanish and it welcomes non-native speakers who want to prepare for the AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature courses. 

This course continues to develop in-depth language skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Also included are reading for comprehension and understanding correctly the materials covered. The main goal of the course is continued communication in Spanish. 

This course continues to develop deeper language skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Also included are reading for comprehension and understanding correctly the materials covered. The main goal of the course is continued communication in Spanish. This course is taught at an accelerated pace and covers a more extended curriculum than Spanish II. 

This course offers continued practice opportunities in which reading and writing are demonstrated to a greater extent than in Spanish II. At the same time, specific practice in speaking and listening continues to appear at a level of difficulty corresponding to the ever-accumulating content of the program.

This course offers continued practice opportunities in which reading and writing are demonstrated to a greater extent than in Spanish II. At the same time, specific practice in speaking and listening continues to appear at a level of difficulty corresponding to the ever-accumulating content of the program. This course is solely conducted in the target language at an accelerated pace and covers a more extended curriculum than Spanish III. 

This course provides specific reading practice using selections from the literature of Spanish and Spanish-American authors. The main goal of the course is continued communication in Spanish. It also provides a complete review of grammar covered in previous years. 

This course provides specific reading practice using selections from the literature of Spanish and Spanish-American authors. The main goal of the course is continued communication in Spanish. It also provides a complete review of grammar covered in previous years. This course is solely conducted in the target language at an accelerated pace and covers a more extended curriculum than Spanish IV.

This is a survey course that provides specific reading practice using selections from the literature of Spanish and Spanish-American authors. The main emphasis of the course is continued reading, writing, and listening activities in preparation for the AP Exam in May. The College Board Advanced Placement Test must be taken in May. An AP Test Fee applies. 

AP Spanish Language and Culture is an advanced-level course that develops students' proficiency in Spanish through the study of real-world contexts, authentic texts, and diverse media. Students will enhance their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while exploring the cultural, social, and historical aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. The course is designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam, emphasizing both communication skills and exam strategies. This course is taught fully in Spanish. An AP Test Fee applies. 

Honors Latin I is an introductory investigation of Latin grammar, Latin vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin, and Roman culture through listening, reading, writing, composition, and translation. The cultural setting is daily life in Rome in the 1st Century AD during the reign of Emperor Nero. Authentic readings and materials include Church Latin (common prayers), architecture, art, coins, inscriptions, and graffiti. Students also read, discuss, and reflect on Homer's epic, The Odyssey. 

Honors Latin II continues students' investigation of Latin grammar, Latin vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin, and Roman culture through listening, reading, writing, composition, and translation. The cultural setting is life in the provinces of the Roman Empire as well as entertainment, trade, philosophy, and the arts in the 1st Century AD. Authentic readings and materials include the poems of Martial, Church Latin, architecture, art, coins, inscriptions, graffiti, and St. Jerome's translation of the Bible into Latin. Students also read, discuss, and reflect on Homer's epic, The Iliad. 

Honors Latin III completes students' investigation of major points of Latin grammar, Latin vocabulary, English derivatives from Latin, and Roman culture through listening, reading, writing, composition, and translation. Additionally, students begin to learn how to scan Latin poems for their meter and relate poetic meter to meaning. The cultural material includes Roman attitudes toward truth and learning, war and omens, love, nature, image and representation, and migration. Authentic readings and materials include the writings of Ovid, Cicero, Vergil, Seneca the Younger, Livy, etc., as well as continuing study of Church Latin, architecture, art, coins, inscriptions, and graffiti. Students also read, discuss, and reflect on Vergil's epic, The Aeneid. 

This course focuses on various themes in Roman culture and Latin literature, such as the use of Latin in the Church, the history of the early Christians and how they were received in the Empire, women in ancient Rome, the supernatural, poetry, provincial administration, the Roman calendar, and war. Students continue to learn how to scan Latin poems and identify the use of style and literary and rhetorical devices in Latin writing. In addition to reading prose authors such as Julius Caesar, Livy, Augustus, Lucan, Petronius, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Sueotnius, St. Jerome, and poets Vergil, Horace, Sulpicia, Ovid, Martial, students will develop their understanding of ancient Rome through continued analysis of architecture, art, coins, inscriptions, and graffiti. Students also read, discuss, and reflect on Ovid's epic, The Metamorphoses. 

This course develops the basic language communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French. 

This course continues the learning of French with equal stress on each of the four general language skills and includes reading for comprehension.

This course continues the learning skills in French with equal stress on each of the four general language skills and includes reading for comprehension. This course is taught at an accelerated pace and covers a more extensive curriculum than French II.

This course offers continued practice opportunities in which reading and writing are demonstrated to a greater extent than in French II. At the same time, specific practice in speaking and listening continues to appear at a level of difficulty corresponding to the ever-accumulating content of the program.

This course offers continued practice opportunities in which reading and writing are demonstrated to a greater extent than in French II.  At the same time, specific practice in speaking and listening continues to appear at a level of difficulty corresponding to the ever-accumulating content of the program. This course is taught at an accelerated pace and covers a more extensive curriculum than French III. 

This course provides specific reading practice using selections from literature of French authors. French history is highly emphasized.  The main goal of the course is continued communication in French. It also provides a complete review of grammar covered in previous years.

Honors French IV is a rigorous course which prepares students for AP French. It is an advanced course with emphasis on composition as well as vocabulary building and linguistic accuracy. Students will improve their proficiency through the exclusive use of French in the classroom, listening and reading comprehension activities, and grammar review. Cultural and literary reading selections provide the basis for discussion and original compositions.

The main goal of the course is to enhance communication skills in French with an emphasis on speaking, writing, listening and cultural awareness in preparation for the AP Exam in May. The College Board Advanced Placement Test must be taken in May. An AP Test Fee applies. 

This course offers an introduction to Chinese language and culture to students who have little or no background in Chinese.  Students will learn the basics of the spoken and written language using the Pinyin system.  Students will develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities in Mandarin Chinese.  Upon completion of the course, students will possess basic vocabulary, be able to comprehend and use basic conversational Chinese, write simple sentences, and be familiar with aspects of daily life and customs in China.

This is an intermediate level, integrated course which focuses on daily conversational and written Chinese language development. Students will continue to strengthen and expand their understanding of the written and spoken language. It is designed to improve language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing and building up vocabulary and sentence structures. Students will continue to gain knowledge of Chinese geography, history, and culture.

Honors Chinese II is a continuation of the Honors Chinese I course. This is an intermediate level, integrated course which focuses on daily conversational and written Chinese language development. It is designed to improve the four language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing and building up students’ vocabulary. Students will continue the development of their spoken and written language skills with the use the Pinyin System although the emphasis and use of simplified characters will continue to expand. The course will enhance student's ability to communicate about an increased variety of topics in a clear, culturally appropriate and well-organized manner. Students will be able to comprehend more complex authentic oral and written material and will be able to compose well-organized essays in response to prompts. This course will prepare students to succeed in Honors Chinese III.

Honors Chinese III is an intermediate-advanced, immersion course conducted in Mandarin designed for students who have successfully completed Honors Chinese II and who have a very strong interest in continuing their Chinese studies. The goal of this course is to refine students’ Chinese language proficiency in the four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and cultural competencies by building on the foundation developed in the first and second years of Mandarin Chinese studies.  Upon completion of the course, students will be able to understand Mandarin spoken by native speakers and fluently engage in conversations with routine tasks and some social situations with ease and confidence as well as continue to perfect their pronunciation and tones for accuracy. Students will continue to advance communicative functions, grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and structures with an increased emphasis on reading and writing. For each thematic unit, students will demonstrate their level of Mandarin Chinese proficiency through key assignments such as writing short stories and/or creating skits. Students will continue to study and master simplified characters. 

Honors Chinese IV is designed for students who have successfully completed Honors Chinese III. This advanced level integrated course offers a highly rigorous study of Chinese, focusing on daily conversational and written Chinese language development. Honors Chinese IV covers all aspects of the regular Chinese IV course, pre-AP Chinese material, and additional reading of advanced Chinese Readers Series. Students will be challenged to work at a faster pace, improve their Chinese writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills through more extensive communication practices, and be required to present additional projects that will enhance their ability to compare and contrast the Chinese language and culture with their own. This course will prepare students to succeed in college level Chinese courses.

The Chinese Teacher’s Aide (TA) will provide:

• An opportunity for international Chinese senior students to aid Mrs. Marsh in preparing for Chinese I/Honors Chinese I; Chinese II/Honors Chinese II, Chinese III/Honors Chinese III, and Chinese IV/Honors Chinese IV classes. 
• Brainstorm ideas for projects
• Research designated topics for teacher presentations
• Gain experience in one-to-one tutoring and teaching
• Grade classwork, homework practices, quizzes, and tests
• Mrs. Marsh will in turn provide help to the aide in his/her world language class.

The TA will learn the importance of reliability, patience, and precision when helping students learn. This course is not UC and CSU approved and is taken for credit only; no letter grade is given.

American Sign Language (ASL) I will introduce students to the vocabulary, grammar, Deaf culture, and history. Grammar will be introduced in context, with an emphasis on developing conversational skills. Expressive and receptive signing skills will be practiced through dialogues, projects, and presentations. Students are expected to practice and study outside the classroom and attend Deaf events in the community.

This course will expand on the concepts learned in American Sign Language I. Students will continue to learn communication skills, the structure/grammar of ASL, Deaf Culture, and history. In addition to homework and projects, students are expected to practice and study outside the classroom and attend Deaf events in the community. 

This course continues to develop deeper language skills through receptive, expressive, and translating activities. Specific practice in receptive and expressive skills continue to appear at a level of difficulty corresponding to the ever-accumulating content of the program. Students are introduced to interpreting, both English to ASL, and ASL to English. The main goal of the course is near-native fluency in ASL. There is a course fee of $20 to help cover the costs of transportation and events.

The major concepts of American Sign Language (ASL) 4 focus on linguistic and interpreting skills and cultural storytelling. The course, which is conducted exclusively in ASL, fully prepares students for real world ASL interactions through new and more challenging assignments. Students will increase their vocabulary and their knowledge of Deaf culture and history, while developing and improving their communication skills, both receptively and expressively. Students continue to learn how to interpret, both English to ASL, and ASL to English. The main goal of the course is near-native fluency in ASL.

Honors ASL 4 is a full immersion course conducted entirely in ASL designed for students to develop deeper language skills, both receptive and expressive. It is an advanced course with a focus on cultural storytelling and interpreting. Students continue their discussions from ASL 3 about issues that impact the Deaf Community. Students are expected to practice and study outside the classroom and attend Deaf events in the community. The main goal of the course is near-native fluency in ASL. There is a $20 course fee to help with the costs of field trip transportation (collected in class).