MODERN LANGUAGES

The Modern Languages Department offers two programs: French and Spanish. The communicative approach is being used as the basic philosophy for language learning at all levels and the international standards of the levels of language proficiency of the European Common Framework of Languages are adopted into our teaching and assessment. We focus on five areas of language acquisition: Reading, Writing, Oral Production, Oral Interaction, and Listening. We encourage students to learn many languages to prosper in our global economy.

BONJOUR!
FRENCH 8: MFR- -08
FRENCH 9: MFR- -09
FRENCH 10: MFR- -10
What is AIM?
In the junior levels, French 8, French 9, and French 10 are taught using a new approach to learning. This new method is called THE AIM METHOD (Accelerated Integrative Method). Many Vancouver Schools have adopted this method and it is also taught in the USA, Australia and is growing around the world helping to teach French, English, Spanish and Mandarin. With AIM, authentic learning is achieved through scaffolding techniques which use storytelling, gestures, active collaboration, and repetition. The use of high-frequency vocabulary, introduced with gestures and contextualized in stories, drama, songs, and dance, allows students to rapidly achieve levels of oral and written proficiency rarely seen with conventional methods.
AIM is a sequential program designed to accelerate the acquisition of French as a second language for students with little or no fluency in the language.
✓ Successful at promoting fluency – a highly communicative program that meets all provincial ministry outcomes
✓ Modular and sequential, with emphasis on developmental learning
✓ A program that ensures an extensive vocabulary is taught, then subsequently reviewed, and consolidated from one unit to the next
✓ A program that builds on students’ past experiences
✓ Motivating
✓ Flexible and adaptable allowing teachers to customize activities to suit every situation and all students
✓ Based on a variety of proven successful techniques, strategies and methodologies
✓ A program that promotes the development of higher-level thinking skills
✓ A truly multidimensional approach

FRENCH 11
MFR—11
This intermediate course emphasizes both oral and written proficiency. Course work includes an intensive study of the formation and usage of basic verb tenses (present, passé composé, future, imperative, imperfect), and the use of pronouns (direct/indirect demonstrative).We will explore and respond to authentic cultural works from the Francophone world. In this course, students will also study countries of the French speaking world and identify the contributions of Francophones to Canada and the world. Students will study similarities and differences between Francophone cultures and their own.

FRENCH 12
MFR--12
Students continue to develop listening and speaking skills, to expand control of basic vocabulary and grammatical structures and to improve their general ability to read and write French. Course work includes an intensive study of the formation and usage of verb tenses (future, conditional, pluperfect, subjunctive), pronouns, expressions of quantity, prepositions, adverbs, negative expressions, "si" clauses and indirect speech.
We will explore and respond to authentic cultural works from the Francophone world. In this course, students will continue their study of countries of the French speaking world through literature, art, and film. They will discuss contemporary issues in the Francophone world.

HOLA!
SPANISH 10
MSP--10
Students will engage in conversations with each other and teacher, comprehend written and spoken language, recognize the relationships between Spanish letter patterns, pronunciation and meaning. They will develop strategies to increase understanding of vocabulary and grammar (present tense of verbs, numbers, stem-changing verbs, family structures, and the present progressive).

SPANISH 11
MSP--11
Students will engage in conversations with each other and teacher, comprehend written and spoken language, recognize the relationships between Spanish letter patterns, pronunciation, and meaning. They will develop strategies to increase understanding of vocabulary and grammar (verbs in the preterite, object pronouns, comparisons, reflexive verbs, travel, fashion, food).

SPANISH 12
MSP--12
Students will engage in conversations with each other and teacher, comprehend written and spoken language, recognize the relationships between Spanish letter patterns, pronunciation and meaning. They will develop strategies to increase understanding of vocabulary and grammar (regular and irregular verbs in the preterite review, imperfect tense, subjunctive, and imperative use; vocabulary around the health, technology, and the environment).