Modern Languages Archives - Beaver Country Day School

Dialects of the Arab World

Each term, students will explore the various dialects that exist in the Arab World. Students will look at all the different dialects, but will focus on learning Egyptian and Levantine, which are the two popular dialects. We will look into authentic resources online as well as in our own local community. The students will use their knowledge to connect with speakers of those dialects both locally and beyond.

Prerequisite: Foundations Arabic

8th

Modern Languages

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.

10th

11th

12th

BVR-X

English

Global History & Social Sciences

Mathematics

Modern Languages

Performing Arts

Science

Student-Directed Projects

Visual Arts

Student Directed Project – SDP

Interests: Architecture, Business, Design, Engineering, Film, Hands On, Health, Law, Literature, Politics, Psychology, Research, Social Justice, Social Sciences, Sports

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

7th

8th

Modern Languages

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.

6th

7th

Modern Languages

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.

10th

11th

12th

Modern Languages

Advanced Chinese

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. Cuisine and Culture: Students will learn vocabulary related to groceries, ingredients, dining out and the kitchen. They will learn different expressions as well as units of measurement used in Chinese-speaking countries. They will also learn about the typical dining etiquette. This course will include a travel experience. Travel and Transportation: Students will learn practical topical vocabulary around travel, asking for and giving directions while developing their skills of reading authentic Chinese signs, understanding Mandarin of various accents and expanding their vocabulary. This course will include a travel experience.

10th

11th

12th

Modern Languages

Advanced Spanish

Interests: Literature, Social Justice

Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Intermediate Spanish skills and Departmental Recommendation Required. Course topics are briefly outlined below. Environments in Crisis: This course focuses on current environmental challenges. Students will be encouraged to analyze the connections between the social contexts and contemporary environmental crises. Through case studies, students will explore the interrelationships between human activity and environmental change. The topics to be studied will include the destruction of the rainforest, water pollution, exploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, and endangered species. Students will examine how social media, community engagement, and advocacy initiatives have played key roles in the positive outcomes of environmental problems. Social Justice in Latin America: In this course, students will investigate the key social justice issues facing the Spanish-speaking populations of the Americas. We will examine struggles for equity among various groups, including indigenous populations, political dissidents, and the poor and disenfranchised. Using a variety of authentic sources from the media, such as news articles, documentaries, music, literature and poetry, we will compare and contrast the multiple perspectives of people of Latin American descent. Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding and express their opinions in discussions, essays and projects. One of the goals of this course is for students to understand the societal forces that shape the beliefs and attitudes of diverse groups of people. Spanish Literature: In this course, students will explore literary works of The Latin American Boom, a modern literary period known for blending fantasy, magic, and journalistic stories with everyday life. This class will discuss the movement as a product of the political, historical, and social context in Latin America in the 20th century. Through fragments of novels, short stories, film, art, and history, students will explore the importance of the movement in the culture of the region and its global impact. Class activities will include discussions, written and oral reflections, presentations, 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.

10th

11th

12th

Modern Languages

Advanced French

Interests: Social Justice

Prerequisites: Demonstration of mastery of Intermediate French skills and Departmental Recommendation Required. Course topics are briefly outlined below. Environments in Crisis: This course focuses on current environmental challenges around the world. Students will be encouraged to analyze the connections between the social contexts and contemporary environmental crises. Students will examine how social media, community engagement, and advocacy initiatives have played key roles in the positive outcomes of environmental problems. French Lit: Students in this class will have the chance to read two novels from the Francophone world. They will explore issues of family, culture, the effects of colonization, and identity. Students will develop their literary comprehension as well as their ability to make deep cultural comparisons. Québec of Today and Yesterday: In this class, students will explore Quebec’s rich history and culture. Students will use literature, current events, film, music and other resources to learn about the region of Quebec. This course will explore themes including La Révolution Tranquille, Quebecois identity today, Quebec’s indigenous population, Quebec’s relation to France today and yesterday. The course will also look at Quebec today as well as explore Quebec’s future. Students will read excerpts by Quebecois writers including Michel Tremblay, Wajdi Mouawad. This class will be taught entirely in French. This course will include a travel experience.

10th

11th

12th

9th

Modern Languages

Intermediate Chinese

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. Home, School and Work: Students will learn to talk about their life at home, school and their plans for their future education and careers. They will learn the necessary vocabulary to express their likes and dislikes concerning their present life, education and future goals. The World and Me: In this course, students will explore diverse lives and stories around the world, in particular the Chinese speaking communities. These stories will serve as windows and mirrors to students’ experiences and understandings of their identities as global citizens and Chinese language learners.

10th

11th

12th

9th

Modern Languages

Intermediate Arabic

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. Foundations and Intermediate Arabic are 5-credit classes.

10th

11th

12th

9th

Modern Languages

Foundations of Arabic

In Foundations Arabic, students learn the present and past tense as well as vocabulary through stories. They work on reading, writing, speaking and listening activities.Unlike our other languages, we do not offer a full 3-year program in Arabic. This means that Foundations 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. Once students progress satisfactorily through Foundations Arabic, ( they may enroll in Intermediate Arabic. Arabic classes will meet twice a week during E-block throughout the school year. Foundations and Intermediate Arabic are 5-credit classes.

10th

11th

12th

9th

Modern Languages

Foundations of Chinese

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. Everyday Life: Students will get a chance to compare their life to that of teens in China and around the world today. By the end of the term, students should be comfortable describing their daily lives, from routines and schedules, to hobbies and habits. Family and Home: Students will discuss the elements that comprise a home, as well as one’s circle of care. Additionally, students will learn about Chinese familial structures and compare and contrast their lives to those of Chinese teens.