World Languages

The World Languages Department offers a variety of courses in French, Latin, and Spanish. Although nine blocks of language are required, the Department strongly encourages students to take a language all four years and supports students who want to take more than one world language. Moreover, the Department nominates students each year to the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored Governor’s Foreign Language Academies and offers several language immersion and exchange programs on campus and abroad. You may find details under the Global Travel and Exchange Programs page. Summer courses and programs may be used for enrichment only. New student placement includes completion of a placement test and is done by the Academic Dean and the Chair of the Language Department. 

Available Courses

• Bridge to French I

  1-block course; Open to grades 9 and 10

  This course is designed for students who have not studied French previously. The course introduces them to the language in a welcoming environment and at a pace appropriate to a first exposure of the language. Students are introduced to greetings and salutations, classroom expressions, nouns and articles, simple adjectives, numbers, colors, time and days of the week. The course begins to familiarize the student with conjugations of regular verbs and formation of simple sentences. Prerequisite: By placement test. 

• French I

  3-block course

  This course is for students with limited knowledge of French. It reinforces the acquisition of basic grammatical structures and vocabulary in culturally authentic contexts through speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension. The students are introduced to cultural aspects of France and the Francophone world.  Additionally, at the end of this course, students will be able to describe people and things, talk about past times, weekend activities and sports, to express possession, to narrate in the present and to make plans.  Prerequisite: Some French exposure, students who have finished Bridge to French I with a B or better, or by placement test.

• Bridge to French II

  1-block course

  This course is designed for the new student who has taken French at her previous school and who needs to review the material from level I prior to enrolling in the rigorous Madeira French II course or for the returning Madeira student who will benefit from a review. Students will review grammar using four main communicative functions: describing, talking about likes and dislikes, comparing, talking about the past and the future. Cultural understanding will also be reinforced throughout the class.  Mandatory for any student who completed French I at Madeira with a B- or below or for the student who would benefit from a thorough review. Prerequisite: Returning students - French I with a B- or below. New Students - by placement test.

• French II

  3-block course

  Students continue to build vocabulary and grammar skills started in level I. Most verb tenses and moods are covered such as: passé composé, imperfect, present conditional, future simple, subjunctive. The course is taught in French through a series of thematic units such as getting by at the doctor’s office and hospital, running errands, using technology, and protecting the environment. Students are expected to participate fully in class discussions and projects. By the end of the course, the student should be able to talk about the environment, to express their beliefs and opinions about the use of technology, to describe medical conditions, to narrate past experiences and to consider future plans. A proficiency-based approach, reinforced by group projects, will be used in this class.  Prerequisite: Returning students - French I with a B or better. New students - by placement test.

• French III

  3-block course; Open to grades 10, 11, 12

  This course reviews all of the grammar of the first two years, supplements it and provides ample writing, reading, listening and speaking opportunities. Students read a variety of short stories that explore the lives and culture of people in different Francophone countries. By the end of her course, the student is able to engage in a conversation about daily life and current events, to narrate events in the past, present and future, express feelings, opinions and doubts with the subjunctive mood, and be understood by a native speaker. This course creates a path for students to continue to French IV or AP French. Prerequisite: Returning students - French II with a C+ or better. New students - by placement test.

• French IV

  3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12

  This course introduces students to classic and contemporary French and Francophone theatre. Selected classic and contemporary texts will be used in the class to help students gain a basic understanding of the historical evolution of French and Francophone theatre. Throughout the course, students will create a glossary of both technical and literary terms to utilize when analyzing the works of great playwrights. They will then apply basic techniques of pronunciation and diction to transform these written texts into a theatrical performance. Prerequisites: Returning students – French III with a B or better. New students - by placement test.

• AP French Language & Culture

  4-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12

  The AP French Language and Culture course takes an interdisciplinary approach to language proficiency. The course engages students in an exploration of culture, socio-economy, and politics, in both contemporary and historical contexts.  When communicating, students in the AP French Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the cultures, make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures, and use the target language in real-life settings.  Prerequisites: Returning students - French III with an A- average or better and department approval. New students - by placement test and departmental approval. 

  Modules:

  Identity and Contemporary Life - Students study the social customs, values, lifestyle, and education of French-speaking countries. They explore their connection with personal and public identities inherited or developed in these countries. 

  Science, Technology, and the Arts - Students focus on technology and scientific innovations as well as in the arts to explore themes related to STEAM. 

  Global Challenges - Students focus on social, economic, environmental, and political issues in Francophone countries in order to discuss human rights principles and reflect upon our responsibility as global citizens. 

  AP French Exam Preparation - This last block familiarizes the students with the AP examination and reviews all previous topics.

• Latin I

  3-block course

  Latin I introduces students to the fundamentals of Latin grammar and vocabulary through the reading-based approach of the Cambridge Latin Course. Students learn to translate Latin through stories that follow a Roman family from Pompeii to Roman Britain and Alexandria and illustrate important aspects of Roman history, culture and daily life. Students further explore the language and culture of the Roman Empire through projects and examine the relationship between Latin and English including English words derived from Latin and Latin phrases and abbreviations that we use to this day. Prerequisite: None

• Latin II

  3-block course

  Latin II builds on the vocabulary and grammar of Latin I and introduces more complicated grammatical constructions including participles, subjunctives, indirect statement, and the passive voice. Students improve their proficiency in the language as they work toward reading authentic texts. Readings and projects expand students’ knowledge of Roman culture and history with a focus on the Roman military, Roman philosophy and the ins and outs of life in Rome. Prerequisite: Returning students - Latin I with a C or better. New students - by placement test.

• Latin III

  3-block course

  Latin III provides an overview of Latin grammar as students learn to translate and interpret authentic Latin texts. Students become familiar with a variety of styles and genres as they read and analyze representative selections of some of the most famous Latin authors and their work. Students will read excerpts from Pliny's Letters, the epigrams of Martial, the poems of Horace and Catullus, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Vergil's Aeneid, and Livy's Ab: Urbe Condita (history of Rome). Prerequisite: Returning students - Latin II with a C or better. New students - by placement test.

• Latin IV / AP Latin

  3 or 4-block course

  This course introduces students to two of the best-known works of Latin literature, Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico and Vergil's Aeneid, and two of the most famous periods in Roman history, the Late Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. It is designed to prepare students for the AP exam with an emphasis not only on translating Latin prose and poetry but also on building arguments based on evidence taken from the Latin text. The class includes an accelerated review of grammar and an introduction to essential aspects of the interpretation of Caesar and Vergil (or any piece of history or literature), including genre, style, themes, and characterization. Prerequisite: Returning students: For Latin IV - Latin III with a C+ or better; For AP Latin - Latin III with an A- average or better and department approval. New students: by placement test and departmental approval.

  Special Note: Students who want to earn AP credit must register for the four modules and take the AP exam

• Classical Mythology and Etymology

  1-block course

  This course explores the influence that Greek and Roman myths and the Greek and Latin language have exerted upon the English language and the stories we tell. Students learn to recognize the Greek and Latin roots of the English language and to break down English words for meaning. Students gain familiarity with the most famous myths of the ancient world and trace their ongoing influence over millennia in literature, film and the visual arts. Topics include Greek and Roman gods, constellations, the Greek alphabet, basic story structure and genre, the history of the English language, and an introduction to important concepts in historical linguistics, such as homonyms, assimilation, and cognates. Prerequisite: None.  

• Bridge to Spanish I

  1-block course; Open to grades 9 and 10

  This course is designed for students who have not studied Spanish previously. The course introduces them to the language in a welcoming environment and at a pace appropriate to a first exposure to the language. Students are introduced to classroom expressions, nouns and articles, simple adjectives, numbers, colors, time and days of the week. At the end of this class, students will be able to introduce themselves, talk about their school life and everyday activities, describe location of people and things, and ask questions. Prerequisite: By placement test.

• Spanish I

  3-block course

  This course introduces students to some basic communicative functions, vocabulary and structures of the Spanish language in culturally authentic contexts through speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension exercises. Using authentic materials students will also begin to explore Spanish traditions and culture. At the end of this course, students will be able to describe people and things, talk about past times, weekend activities and sports, to express possession, to narrate in the present and to make plans. Prerequisite: Some Spanish exposure, students who have finished Bridge to Spanish I with a B or better, or by placement test.

• Bridge to Spanish II

  1-block course

  This course is designed for the new student who has taken Spanish at her previous school and needs to review the material from level 1 prior to enrolling in the rigorous Madeira Spanish II course or for the returning Madeira student who would benefit from review. Students will review grammar using four main communicative functions: describing, talking about likes and dislikes, comparing, talking about the past and the future. Cultural understanding will also be reinforced throughout the class. Mandatory for any student who completed Spanish I at Madeira with a B- average or below. Prerequisite: Returning students - Spanish I with a B- or below. New students - by placement test.

• Spanish II

  3-block course

  This course reinforces and expands the student’s knowledge of the basic communicative functions, vocabulary and structures learned in Spanish I. Students continue to develop their linguistic skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) using authentic materials and discuss cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries. Some of the topics include health and medical conditions, city and work lives, the environment and the use of technology.  At the end of this course, students will be able to talk about the environment, to express their beliefs and opinions about the use of technology, to describe medical conditions, to narrate past experiences and to consider future plans. A proficiency-based approach, reinforced by group projects, will be used in this class. Prerequisite: Returning students – Spanish I with a B or better. New students - by placement test.

• Spanish III

  3-block course

  This course further develops the communication and literacy skills introduced in the first two years of our Spanish program. Through a variety of authentic texts (articles, interviews, literary texts and video) students enhance their language proficiency while improving their cultural competency. With an emphasis on communication, students develop their ability to communicate their personal background, interests and activities; to narrate and describe events in the past, present and future; and to participate in conversations about topics of general interest, in which they offer opinions, reactions and recommendations. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students learn about the life, people and history of different Spanish-speaking countries to strengthen their awareness of other cultures and to think more critically about their own.  Emphasis will also be placed on Hispanic culture in the United States. Classes are conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Returning students – Spanish II with a C+ or better. New students - by placement test.

• Spanish IV

  3-block course

  This course gives a fresh approach to advanced Spanish language through films and authentic material of different literary genres. It offers an integration of literature, culture and film while also focusing students in critical thinking, interpretation, speaking and writing skills.  Classes are conducted in Spanish. At the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of certain moments of history in Latin America, its social structure, its struggle for democracy, its culture and traditions and will be able to assess the role and influence of the United States in the development of some of the countries. Students will engage in these topics by reading short stories written by Uruguayan, Argentine, Colombian, and Peruvian authors, by reading two plays, and by watching a variety of films including “Like water for Chocolate” directed by Alfonso Arau, “Pan’s Labyrinth”, directed by Guillermo del Toro, “Captive” by Gastón Biraben, “Clandestine Childhood” by Benjamín Ávila, “The Son of the Bride” directed by José Campanella, and “Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown” by Pedro Almodovar.  Prerequisite: Returning students – Spanish III with a B or better. New students - by placement test and departmental approval.

• AP Spanish Language and Culture

  4-block course

  This course follows the guidelines of the College Board AP Spanish Language and Culture course and provides opportunities for students to build their proficiency in the modes of communication from the Intermediate to the Advanced range according to ACTFL standards. The three modes of communication (Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century are foundational to the AP Spanish Language and Culture course. 

  The AP Spanish Language and Culture course is conducted exclusively in Spanish. Central to the course is the overarching goal stated in the Curriculum Framework: When communicating, students in the AP Spanish Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the cultures, incorporate interdisciplinary topics, make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures, and use the target language in real-life settings. Prerequisites: Returning students – Spanish III with a A- average or better and department approval. New students - by placement test and departmental approval. 

  Modules:

  Identity and Contemporary Life - Students study the social customs, values, lifestyle, and education of Spanish-speaking countries. They explore their connection with personal and public identities inherited or developed in these countries. 

  Global Challenges - Students focus on social, economic, environmental, and political issues in Spanish-speaking countries in order to discuss human rights principles and reflect upon our responsibility as global citizens. 

  Science, Technology, and the Arts – Students focus on technology and scientific innovation as well as in the arts to explore themes related to STEAM. 

  AP Spanish Exam Preparation - This last block familiarizes the students with the AP examination and reviews all previous topics.

Requirements

9 blocks of a Madeira language

Language Placement

New students take placement tests to determine enrollment in the appropriate language course. The Chair of the Language Department and the Academic Dean make all course placements. 

Faculty