Foreign Language 2006

Philosophy:  We believe that learning a second language is an important life skill in the increasingly global marketplace.  In addition to its professional value to many workers, it adds insight into other cultures and enables a person to connect with people both beyond and within our borders in ways that one cannot always achieve in English.  In our view, all areas of skill are important, but probably the most important area is speaking and understanding.  We keep this idea in mind when constructing our lessons and units.  At all levels we encourage students to speak the target language through a variety of oral activities.  At the third and fourth year levels it is mandatory that they always speak in the target language. 

Offerings: At PTHS, we offer four years of Spanish and four years of French.  Advanced students who are interested in taking the Advanced Placement exam should contact the instructor.  Please see course descriptions for a more complete description of individual courses. 

Placement: We make every attempt to place all students in a course where they can be successful and learn.  Sometimes this means that students will not follow the traditional sequence, but may be moved ahead a level or repeat a course as needed.

We recognize that life experience can substitute for classroom learning with regard to foreign language study, and as such, we place students that have had experience in the language at whatever level we decide together is appropriate.  Additionally, some students with this type of experience are given individual assignments in place of the regular class assignments. 

Because foreign language study is a cumulative experience, it is impossible to succeed in a second year class unless a student has mastered enough of the material from the first year.  Therefore, students are required to achieve a 70% or better on a competency test in order to enroll in second year.  This test includes speaking, reading, writing, and grammar.  This ensures that students entering second year have sufficient language skills in order to be successful.