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World Languages

The World Languages Department maintains that competency in more than one language enriches the life of the individual and fosters understanding in a global society. Students are provided authentic opportunities to use language with differentiated instruction/MI and Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). Teachers nurture a love of language learning by supporting individuals as they gain confidence in communicating. Students also gain an appreciation of diverse cultures through exposure to music, literature, film, art, and cuisine connected to the language they are studying.

  • Spanish I

    Spanish I teaches basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This course introduces and reinforces vocabulary and diction through classroom play and a wide range of activities, and by encouraging students to practice their Spanish outside of the classroom.  Students learn greetings and expressions that enable them to initially communicate with others. As the year unfolds, students in Spanish I study such topics as family and friends, the calendar, weather, time and numbers, and school vocabulary. Over the duration of the course they learn to describe themselves and others, physically and with regards to internal traits, likes and dislikes.  By the end of the year, students can expect to communicate and understand basic Spanish in the context of familiar situations and to have begun to gain an appreciation and understanding of culture in the Spanish-speaking world.

  • Spanish II

    Spanish II begins by reviewing and learning useful classroom expressions in order to equip students to communicate entirely in Spanish as much as possible. The course is conducted almost entirely in level-appropriate Spanish to create a comprehensible classroom that encourages communication. Students continue to develop the four areas of language learning- reading, writing, listening and speaking, employing verbs in the present tense and the present progressive tense. The emphasis is on using the target language to complete more authentic tasks such as asking for directions, writing invitations to a party, and watching video clips and expressing opinions. Students also read novellas that feature American teenagers visiting Spanish-speaking countries; in the process they learn about new cultures in Latin America, strengthen their vocabulary, and continue grammar acquisition. Spanish II classes rely on the video camera and iPad to enhance their study of grammar and culture and to foster the four principle skills of language acquisition as students connect with Spanish speakers and other language learners around the world.

  • Spanish III

    Spanish III continues to develop proficiency in reading, writing, aural comprehension and oral abilities in a wide variety of contexts. Students will go further in depth on material they have previously studied and add to their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.  By reading some novellas for learners students will advance their reading comprehension skills, and will acquire some cultural facts as well, as the course also aims to expand their awareness of the diverse cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. Pupils can enroll as honors students in this course at the recommendation of their previous Spanish teacher.  Such students complete additional work, get a more in-depth look at some of the material, and are expected to demonstrate a great dedication to language acquisition.

  • French I

    French I introduces students to greetings and expressions that enable them to initially communicate with French speakers. The course begins work on communicative skills and “essential words,” vocabulary and expressions of common usage, enabling students to express a range of everyday topics. In class, students learn grammar, vocabulary, and culture through songs, films, and interactive websites; and they engage in hands-on activities, such as games, skits, group storytelling, and fashion shows and puppet shows, often taking advantage of kinesthetic activities to acquire or reinforce meaning. French I students also begin to read and write shorter pieces of writing with repetition, structure.  The class aims to provide comprehensible input in French for students to maximize language acquisition.

  • French II

    French II further develops the four language skills — speaking, listening, reading, and writing — as it offers students new opportunities to appreciate the culture of France and Francophone regions, such as Switzerland or Belgium. The class may make or taste treats of the culture, experience music from the region, and explore differences from continental French culture and French-speaking regions. Students read “easy readers,” novellas designed to expand their grasp of culture and geography, while reinforcing essential grammar and vocabulary. French II uses the readings to provide structure for students’ writing and enable them to expand their vocabulary and facility with grammar so that they work towards independence in their own writing. French II students utilize the iPad as a tool to hone the four principle skills of language acquisition. The class aims to provide comprehensible input in French for students to maximize language acquisition.

  • French III

    French III consolidates and expands upon complex grammatical structures and vocabulary while continuing to develop oral and aural communicative abilities through a variety of games, informal dialogues and skits, storytelling, interviews ,and authentic readings. The course places greater demand on students in developing skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and cultural competency. French  III aims to provide comprehensible input to optimize students’ language acquisition. The class expects students to reading short novels and write longer pieces. An honors level section of this course is available at the recommendation of the World Language Department. Such students complete additional work, get a more in-depth look at some of the material, and are expected to demonstrate a great dedication to language acquisition.

  • Advanced French Studies

    Advanced French students can expect to delve into French literature and philosophy while refining their grasp of more complex topics in grammar and building upon their increasingly sophisticated lexicon. At this level students read and analyze literature of greater length and complexity. Their readings may include works such as Huis Clos (No Exit) by Jean-Paul Sartre or L’étranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus, which intend to spark lively philosophical discussions and enrich students’ vocabulary in French and in English. Advanced French students also enjoy watching and examining both classic and modern films in detail. A final grade of B or higher in French III and a teacher recommendation remain prerequisites for Advanced French.
     

  • Advanced Spanish Studies

    This is an advanced language course that focuses on the development of higher-level Spanish linguistic skills, with strong emphasis on oral language proficiency through the study of films and documentaries. The majority of the course is dedicated to studying social justice and human rights issues in the Spanish-speaking communities including immigration experiences, the water crisis in Bolivia, and social and economic inequalities among the indigenous population. Students learn about the instances of social injustice through a variety of authentic resources and respond to the implications of human rights issues by engaging in debates, creating informative posters, and researching ways to raise awareness. The course also includes review of grammar topics studied in previous Spanish courses and focuses on the use of the language in more authentic settings.
    (A final grade of B or higher in French III and a teacher recommendation are pre-requisites for Advanced Spanish.)
     

  • Honors French III

    French III/IV involves the consolidation and expansion of more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary while continuing to develop reading, writing and oral communicative abilities through a variety of games, informal dialogues and skits, storytelling, interviews and authentic readings. An Honors level section of this course is available at the recommendation of the World Language Department. The Honors section will have a rapid pace with an increased focus on advanced vocabulary expansion and grammatical structure acquisition.

  • Honors Spanish III

    Spanish III continues to develop proficiency in reading, writing, aural comprehension and oral abilities in a wide variety of contexts. Students will go further in depth on material they have previously studied and add to their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.  By reading some novellas for learners students will advance their reading comprehension skills, and will acquire some cultural facts as well, as the course also aims to expand their awareness of the diverse cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. Pupils can enroll as honors students in this course at the recommendation of their previous Spanish teacher.  Such students complete additional work, get a more in-depth look at some of the material, and are expected to demonstrate a great dedication to language acquisition.

Department Faculty

  • Photo of Kristine O'Brien
    Kristine O'Brien
    World Languages Department Chair
    Brandeis University - B.A., Hispanic Studies and Economics
    Boston University - M.A., Teaching in Modern Foreign Language
    Bio
  • Photo of Marilou Agbi
    Marilou Agbi
    French Teacher
    University of Abidjan, Ivory Coast - B.A., Modern French Literature
    University of Abidjan, Ivory Coast - M.A., Modern French Literature
    Bio
  • Photo of Samantha Cruz
    Samantha Cruz
    Spanish Teaching Fellow
    Framingham State University - B.A.
    Bio
  • Photo of Ana Ibave
    Ana Ibave
    11th Grade Dean; Spanish Teacher
    The Autonomous University of Chihuahua - B.A., Spanish Linguistics and Literature
    University of Rhode Island - M.A., Spanish Linguistics and Literature
    Bio

Chapel Hill - Chauncy Hall

785 Beaver Street
Waltham, MA 02452
781-314-0800
admissions@chch.org
Located 10 miles from Boston, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall (CH-CH) is a private, college preparatory day and boarding school for grades 7-12/PG. CH-CH cultivates intellectual courage, creative ambition, and unwavering empathy that drives students to achieve their best.
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