Languages

Other than the teacher being one of the coolest people I’ve ever met, there have been so many great things that came out of taking UPrep's Chinese language courses. We learned not only how to speak and sound authentic, but also how to understand the Chinese culture. Being able to put a smile on my grandparents’ faces as I converse with them in their native language is one of the greatest gifts UPrep has given me." –Joseph Yeung '21

The Upper School language program encourages understanding of our world’s many interrelated languages and cultures. Courses aim to equip students with functional and culturally appropriate interpersonal, interpretive and presentation skills for proficient communication.

Inside a Chinese Class

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Inside a Spanish Class

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Students may enroll in introductory language courses in any year in Upper School, or build upon foundations laid in Middle School by continuing into upper-level courses. In Chinese and French, students take all courses in their numerical order. In Spanish, students follow the numerical order through Spanish IV and then may take topically focused, advanced courses in any order.

Students continually exercise all four skills of language learning–reading, writing, speaking and listening–and progressively expand their grammatical and lexical knowledge. The curriculum includes opportunity for in-depth exploration of the culture(s), literature, and history associated with the language of study. Students are also encouraged to pursue cultural and linguistic experiences outside the classroom. Incoming skill level and learning needs are carefully considered during the placement process.

I love seeing our students challenge themselves. When you are learning any language and discovering any culture, you develop a better understanding of our humanity." –Isabelle Rio, Upper School French Teacher and Language Department Chair

Courses

CHINESE II/B

Middle & Upper School
Yearlong

This course builds upon the foundation established in Chinese I. Course content moves from topics relating to the individual to topics involving everyday life. Students learn to communicate about living functions, negotiate their way around places, interact with people, and express feelings. Print and video resources, as well as material available online, are used in this course. Chinese II is offered every year. However, the course only runs when sufficient enrollment interest exists.

CHINESE III/C

Middle & Upper School
Yearlong

This beginner-intermediate course contains an integrated suite of learning materials focused on communication and authentic language used in real-life contexts. Central among these materials is a 20-episode video series, filmed entirely on location throughout China, that includes a dramatic storyline, authentic model dialogues, and segments devoted to special aspects of Chinese culture and history. The course presents a carefully structured and cumulative approach to learning Mandarin Chinese. Students progress step-by-step from listening and speaking to the more challenging skills of reading and writing Chinese characters. The emphasis is on communicative skills; the primary goal of the program is to foster proficiency in everyday Chinese. Abundant exercises and learning activities are linked to the video episodes, while expanded learning opportunities are provided through self-paced interactive web activities, language games, an online learning community, and much more.

CHINESE IV

Upper School
Yearlong

This intermediate course continues to guide students in building communication skills to become proficient in everyday Chinese. In addition to the increased complexity of their speaking and listening tasks, students are given opportunities to develop their reading and writing skills by engaging in a variety of linguisticrelated activities. The curriculum reviews narration skills to describe past events and introduces the word order and some complex sentence structures in Chinese. Students read an assortment of short stories and articles to explore cultures and society. A strong emphasis is on improving their ability to recognize Chinese characters and become more proficient readers in Chinese. Reading strategies are taught and practiced during this course too. Students discuss and write about topics regularly to apply and practice complex grammar structures. This course equips students with Chinese learning strategies that enable them to engage in independent study of the language using online tools and other resources.

CHINESE V

Upper School
Yearlong

This intermediate course builds upon the foundation established in the previous course and continues to develop skills that enable learners to handle all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. The course develops students’ ability in all areas, especially preparing them to read and write in the target language. It contains a mix of ingredients to ensure that the students’ learning experience is continuously intertwined with the “Five C’s” of foreign language learning: communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. In addition to using the language to carry communicative tasks orally, students develop their skills in comprehending and producing written materials, such as trying to decode an advertisement, understand road signs, read a doctor’s prescription, or write an email to a teacher asking for a sick leave. The authenticity of all the resources, materials, and tools will prepare students for developing language proficiency and for real-life communication.

CHINESE VI/VII

Upper School
Yearlong

This intermediate-advanced course builds upon the foundation established in the previous course and continues to develop skills that enable learners to handle all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. The course develops students’ ability in all areas, especially preparing them to read and write in the target language. It contains a mix of ingredients to ensure that the students’ learning experience is continuously intertwined with the “Five Cs” of foreign language learning: communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. The course delves into many facets of Chinese culture and society, exposing students to a variety of topics, such as education system, political system, and people’s beliefs and point of view. With the help of many carefully crafted activities, students learn to understand different cultures through different lenses. In-depth discussion and writing about a topic will help students express their opinion while they listen to each other. This allows them full participation and commitment to expression in the target language.

FRENCH I—MON EXPLORATION (MY EXPLORATION)

Middle & Upper School
Yearlong

In French I, students learn vocabulary and grammar points throughout their course of study. Students practice conversations, allowing them to describe their daily routine and their preferences on a variety of subjects. Additionally, students get the opportunity to work on their interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills. They study vocabulary related to numbers, expressions of time, food, hobbies, and sports. Students learn songs, write and perform short skits, play games, cook traditional dishes, and complete a variety of cultural and linguistic projects.

FRENCH II—MA COMMUNAUTÉ (MY COMMUNITY)

Middle & Upper School
Yearlong

In French II, students learn more complex grammatical structures in the present and past tenses, while also maintaining an immersion-style classroom speaking environment. The class is highly interactive and will incorporate a variety of digital tools and hands-on learning experiences. Under the umbrella theme “my community,” students use their French vocabulary for games, sports, travel, and more to communicate in written and oral situations. Students will explore the iconic sites of the Paris region in depth and use this vibrant city as a backdrop for transactional conversations with peers to express their plans, likes, and dislikes. Cultural studies will include Francophone music and artists, foods, and films.

FRENCH III—MON MONDE (MY WORLD)

Upper School
Yearlong

This intermediate course emphasizes themes of everyday life to reinforce and broaden students’ communication skills, expand vocabulary, teach grammar concepts, and heighten cultural awareness. The curriculum reviews narration skills to describe past and future events and introduces complex sentence structures with passé composé and imparfait. Students are increasingly able to demonstrate language acquisition in both formal and informal situations. Students read and discuss short stories and articles to explore contemporary life and Francophone cultures. They make comparisons and connections between the language, current events as seen through film and the media, cultures studied, and their own culture. In the second semester, students read and analyze numerous chapters of Maryse Condé’s novel Hugo le terrible.

FRENCH IV—MON COEUR (MY HEART)

Upper School
Yearlong

This advanced course delves into the many cultures of the Francophone world while building upon the students’ grammar foundation. The cultural element of this course focuses on ecological awareness and the impacts of global warming on Francophone countries. The curriculum expands upon the grammatical structures from French III and introduces the subjunctive and literary tenses. Students are frequently exposed to authentic audio and video material; they discuss and write about topics in depth to practice complex structures. In the spring, students read and analyze their first unabridged novel in French, Le petit prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).

FRENCH V—MA VOIX (MY VOICE)

Upper School
Yearlong

Upper School students raise their own voices on social justice, from local to global issues, such as equity, the notion of privilege and the Maslow pyramid, immigration, gender equality, LGBTQ+, and Black heritage focusing on members of the Négritude movement in the 1930s (Aimé Césaire, Léopold Senghor, and Léon Damas) against French colonial rule and the policy of assimilation. To address these compelling issues in French, the class progresses thematically and includes historical and current events, reading and listening comprehension (songs, poetry, articles, films, interviews, etc.), discussions, and personal reflections. Social justice vocabulary is introduced, and grammar and rhetorical structures are reviewed to make formal arguments in the target language. Students develop skills in self-awareness, introspective reflection, analytical writing, and advanced language skills. In-depth class discussions require students’ full participation and commitment to a safe, mindful, and supportive collaboration. Last, after each thematic unit, students create presentations, infographics, and digital stories to demonstrate their own understanding, depth of reflection, and empathy.

FRENCH VI AND VII—LE FRANÇAIS DES AFFAIRES (BUSINESS FRENCH)

Upper School
Yearlong

Le Français des Affaires is a French immersion course available to upper-level students who, having taken French V, wish to pursue French in a professional context and acquire valuable oral and written communication skills. Students listen to the news via television, radio, or internet to be able to give a concise and accurate account of the information, discuss global issues, and interact with their peers as colleagues. They practice public speaking while delivering a speech, making a presentation, or bringing up convincing arguments in a meeting. They learn how to introduce themselves in person and on the phone in a formal setting, prepare and practice going through an interview with the proper protocol and etiquette, and build their own portfolio, including a resume and an original start-up plan and web page. In written communication, they explore the Francophone enterprise and practice writing reports, press releases, formal letters, and emails, while sharpening acquired French syntax and grammar. At the end of this course, students will demonstrate their ability to conduct themselves in a Francophone professional context complementing their existing English competencies.

Spanish I

Middle & Upper School
Yearlong

This course introduces students to language learning in general, focusing on various verb structures and other grammar points and idiomatic structures while making natural comparisons to their own language. Spanish I students develop study skills and memorization techniques that will enable them to learn vocabulary and grammar points throughout their course of study. Students practice conversations related to making acquaintances, talking about personal preferences, getting around town, and family relations. Additionally, students get the opportunity to improve their interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills through reading two short novels. They study vocabulary related to numbers, expressions of time, food, hobbies, and sports. Students learn songs, write and perform short skits, play games, cook traditional dishes, complete a variety of cultural and linguistic projects, and celebrate holidays and customs of the Hispanic world.

Spanish II

Middle & Upper School
Yearlong

Spanish II builds on the writing, speaking, listening, and reading skills established in Spanish I. This course focuses on the use of the preterit and imperfect tenses, as well as on object and reflexive pronouns. Students practice conversation skills by talking about such topics as travel, daily routines, professions, making plans for the future, comparing past and present events, and narrating past actions. Furthermore, students get the opportunity to improve their interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills through reading two short novels. The course provides a broad overview of the variety of cultures and linguistic differences across the Spanish-speaking world, with numerous short readings. In addition, the students work with a variety of media (stories, commercials, music videos, telenovelas, shorts, etc.) to help provide additional opportunities to hear native speakers use vocabulary and grammar in context and to infer meaning from context.

SPANISH III

Upper School
Yearlong

Spanish III builds on the writing, speaking, listening, and reading skills established in Spanish II. This course focuses on the use of the present perfect, preterit, imperfect, and future tenses, and the subjunctive mood. Students practice conversational skills by talking about such topics such as family, interests and hobbies, childhood memories, and future plans. The first semester introduces Latin American history and Spanish’s connection to Indigenous languages, while the second semester delves into the Chicano movement. Students have the opportunity to read short stories and articles in Spanish, as well as watch several films. In addition, the students work with a variety of media (stories, commercials, music videos, telenovelas, shorts, etc.) to help provide additional opportunities to hear native speakers use vocabulary and grammar in context and to infer meaning from context.

SPANISH IV

Upper School
Yearlong

In this advanced course, students get equal exposure to cultural, communicative, and linguistic topics. They view and discuss several films that highlight particular aspects of Hispanic society and history. Students work with authentic sources, such as news articles, poems, and short stories, to conduct research about a variety of topics. The grammar portion of the course focuses on pronouns, mood, and tense sequencing, as well as a review of selected topics from previous years. By the end of this course, students have acquired a more advanced level of communication in all three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. This course is a stepping stone to the Upper School Spanish elective offerings.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE SPANISH-SPEAKING WORLD

Upper School
Yearlong

The course explores the topic of social justice throughout the Spanish-speaking world, alternating between units that highlight themes of Spanish, Latin American, and Latino history and current social realities through art and literature, and units with a focus on individual and group struggles for social justice. This advanced course continues to challenge students to communicate with more accuracy, at a more refined level, in a wider variety of contexts, and with a greater lexical repertoire. Students work with a variety of primary sources (letters, newspaper articles, testimonies) and view and analyze a variety of films in order to discuss and interpret different historical contexts and realities. In the second semester, students also work on descriptive, narrative, and expository writing styles.

LATINX EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS

Upper School
Yearlong

Students study a variety of themes, such as Latinx history, language, education, and immigration. They will explore how these topics relate to the development of identity and community, and practice the art of sharing stories through written, visual, and verbal mediums. Students will learn about the local and current history of the Latinx communities in Seattle and in Washington state through field trips and guest speakers and have regular opportunities to practice written and verbal Spanish.

LITERATURA Y CINE

Upper School
Yearlong

In this advanced Spanish course on literature and film, students are critical readers and writers as well as active viewers. They write cross-cultural comparisons of literary texts and film, and compare these with their own experiences; use the works to determine how people identify with specific locations, language, and culture; discuss and interpret the historical context in which the work is set; write and apply literary analysis to a variety of genres within the context of Spanish and Latin American literary traditions; and develop, communicate, and defend a thesis with evidence based on literary texts and film.