Chinese C

A continuation of Chinese B, in Chinese C students continue to develop their fluency in the language. This course exposes students to Chinese through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency, and students are encouraged to use their language skills holistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in more detail and elaborating on their ideas entirely in Chinese.

Arabic Advanced

Storytelling: This course will focus specifically on reading and writing in Arabic. Students will explore stories in Arabic across cultures and learn to write their own stories. They will develop new vocabulary as well as learning to develop their ideas and create interest in their tales. Arabic classes will meet twice a week during E-block throughout the school year. Prerequisite: Intermediate Arabic

Student Directed Project – SDP

A Student-Directed Project empowers students to do an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest throughout the term.

The student designs, plans, and leads their research project in collaboration and with the guidance and support of a coach (faculty advisor). It allows students to delve deeper into their passion and to be the designer of their own learning. There is a wide range of Student-Directed Projects; they are multi-disciplinary, non-linear, and most importantly, student-created and led.

That’s what makes them so interesting.

Here are some examples of past projects:

• Creating an architectural model using 3D architectural software
• Through their eyes: Photo and interview series of veterans
• Robosub electromagnetic linear accelerator
• Acoustic pinger for Robosub
• Virtual Reality game for visually-impaired persons
• Creating a concept album
• Dispute: Landlord-tenant board game
• Multimedia journalism: Producing a podcast series
• Perplex: English and Theater Study
• Sensors and fiber optics: Building a fiber optic dress
• Haptic technologies: Force-Feedback Virtual Reality
• Applications of integrals to analytical continuation of functions

Arabic Introduction to Conversation and Storytelling

In Intro to Arabic, students learn the alphabet as well as the following vocabulary: family, school, furniture, numbers, adjectives, prepositions, country and city vocab and colors. Students meet twice a week to learn how to speak and write Arabic. They work on collaborative projects which include videos, songs and skits. By the end of the year, students can describe themselves, their families, friends and home using written and spoken Arabic. Unlike our other languages, we do not have a full 3-year program in Arabic. This means that Intro to Arabic is open to any student, but only students who have fulfilled their language requirement may take Arabic as their only language class.

Chinese B

A continuation of Chinese A, in Chinese B students continue to develop their fluency in the language. This course exposes students to Chinese through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency and students are encouraged to use their language skills wholistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in more detail in Chinese.

Chinese A

This introductory course exposes students to Chinese through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency and students are encouraged to use their language skills wholistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in simple sentences in Chinese.

Chinese Advanced

In Advanced Chinese, students will continue to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. At this level, students have greater autonomy with the language and are encouraged to use it creatively and authentically. Grammar is studied incrementally through storytelling as functional chunks for meaningful communication. Vocabulary is practiced in a thematic and communicative way, and the topics that are discussed include: dining, shopping, asking for and giving directions, and expressing opinions. Students will study the culture and diversity of the Chinese-speaking world in the form of culturally rich images, videos, music, and some authentic texts. Audio and video materials, computer software, games, projects, skits and presentations foster student interaction and participation. Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Intermediate Chinese skills. Departmental RecommendationRequired. Course topics are briefly outlined below. Health & Environment: Students will explore topics including individuals’ well-being, exercise, nutrition, access to healthcare, and the interrelationships between human activity and the natural environment. They will put their learning into practice by doing a research and design project. Learning Chinese Through Media: Through various sources of Chinese media including authentic images and a movie, students will learn to compare and contrast their high school experience with high school life in China and create meaningful learning material for other Chinese learners at Beaver and beyond. Students will also gain more understanding of regional cultural differences in Chinese speaking areas.

Spanish Advanced

Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Intermediate Spanish skills and Departmental Recommendation Required.

Course topics are briefly outlined below.

Current Events: This course aims at improving your knowledge and understanding of Latin American cultures. The goal is to enhance your awareness and understanding of the cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. The course is organized by themes based on contemporary social, political and cultural issues of Spanish-speaking societies. Class activities will consist of discussions, oral and written reports, and debates, emphasizing problem-solving and respect for the opinions of others. This course uses a large selection of materials. We will use movies, the Internet, newspapers, readings, and radio programs that will be discussed during the semester and upon which class activities are based. 

Film and Representation: In this course, students will explore major themes in Latin American in Spanish history via the analysis of award-winning Spanish language films. Students will investigate the history and current trends influenced by the historical events presented in the films via the use of news articles, documentaries, and tv clips. Class activities will consist of discussions, oral and written responses, debates, and creative writing.

Intercultural Dynamics: In this course, students will investigate the products of intercultural exchanges that have occurred throughout different periods in history and in different locations throughout the Spanish-speaking world. We will examine the interactions between different groups, cultural and intellectual contributions, and societal structures and/or inequities that lead to conflict. In addition, students will make comparisons to current events in other parts of the world. This class will use a variety of sources, including images, news and opinion pieces (clips and articles), fiction, and poetry. Class activities will consist of discussions, oral and written responses, debates, and creative writing. 

Research Seminar (H): This course will offer students the opportunity to explore a topic of their choosing related to their Spanish studies. This course will represent an automatic Honors credit and a culmination of students’ language studies at Beaver. Students will work with the teacher in the class environment to craft a final research project on their topic, while sharing their discoveries with other students in the classroom setting.

French Advanced

Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Intermediate French skills and Departmental Recommendation Required. Course topics are briefly outlined below. French Theater: In this class, students will explore plays from various centuries and compare and contrast how French theater has evolved. What brought about these differences in both themes and in style? Students will delve into works by Marcel Pagnol, Molière and other Francophone playwrights. Students will analyze what themes came up in these plays which represented the reality in France and the world in those centuries. Through close readings of  plays, performances, videos and other sources, students will explore ways French theater has evolved. Revolutions: This course will look at Revolutions across the Francophone world and their effects on national identity. We will begin with the enlightenment philosophy that fueled the French Revolution and other revolutions since. We will look at significant moments in and the causes and aftermaths of the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution and other revolts and revolutions across the Francophone world. We will look at these revolutions through different lenses using a variety of primary and secondary sources, from official documents to novels, plays, movies and more. The class will also address current conflicts happening in the Francophone world such as in Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Research Seminar (H): This course will offer students the opportunity to explore a topic of their choosing related to their French studies. This course will represent an automatic Honors credit and a culmination of students’ language studies at Beaver. Students will work with the teacher in the class environment to craft a final research project on their topic, while sharing their discoveries with other students in the classroom setting. This cannot be a student’s first course at the Advanced level.

Chinese Intermediate

In Intermediate Chinese, students continue to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. At this level, students have greater autonomy with the language and are encouraged to use it creatively and authentically. Grammar is studied incrementally through storytelling as functional chunks for meaningful communication. Vocabulary is practiced in a thematic and communicative way, and the topics that are discussed include: making recommendations, giving directions, expressing doubt and certainty, and expressing opinions. Students will study the culture and diversity of the Chinese-speaking world in the form of culturally rich images, videos, music, and some authentic texts. Audio and video materials, computer software, games, projects, skits and presentations foster student interaction and participation. Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Foundations of Chinese skills and Departmental Recommendation Required.  Course topics are briefly outlined below. Meeting Our Needs: Students will expand their vocabulary related to people’s feelings, physical and mental states, and various day-to-day needs, such as technology and social interactions. They will also learn about people’s cultural practices, needs, and customs in China and other Chinese-speaking regions. Human Interactions: Students will learn how to express themselves and get to know people better through more in-depth conversations about their backgrounds, hobbies and interests. They will practice the necessary skills and vocabulary to express opinions,  plan outings, pay visits, and learn more about cultural practices when interacting with people with Chinese cultural backgrounds.

Arabic Intermediate

In Intermediate Arabic, students learn the future tense and continue to use the present and past tense with food and home vocabulary. Students continue to challenge themselves with Arabic stories, and they create their own plot twists and presentations based on readings. Unlike our other languages, we do not offer a full 3-year program in Arabic. This means that Intermediate Arabic is open to any student, but only students who have fulfilled their language requirement may take Arabic as their only language class. Other students must also be enrolled in Spanish, French or Chinese in order to fulfill their graduation requirements. Arabic classes will meet twice a week during E-block throughout the school year.

Chinese Foundations

Foundations of Chinese builds on students’ basic proficiency established in Chinese I. Students may enroll in this course having demonstrated proficiency equivalent to completion of a full-year high school course. This course will continue to develop students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Grammar is studied incrementally through storytelling as functional chunks for meaningful communication. Vocabulary is practiced in a thematic and communicative way, and the topics that are discussed include: hobbies, weather, dining, celebrations, shopping and asking for directions. Students will continue to study the culture of the Chinese-speaking world in the form of language use, traditions and current events. Audio and video materials along with computer software, games, projects, and presentations will be used to foster student interaction and participation.  Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Chinese I skills and Departmental Recommendation Required. Course topics are briefly outlined below. Make a Good First Impression: Students will learn to introduce themselves in culturally appropriate ways and learn about formal and informal speech. Through storytelling, students will learn how to make a good first impression by talking about a variety of topics and making compliments in culturally appropriate ways. Friends from the Start: Students will learn how to communicate ideas related to background information, hobbies, leisure time and celebrations. They will keep expanding their repertoire of talking about friendships and stories that happen when hanging out with friends.