Program Information
The goals of RHS’s World Languages Program is to enable students to communicate effectively in another language, to understand the cultures that support the language, to see connections between language study and other disciplines, and to appreciate what it means to live in a global community. To this end, we offer the following courses:
Italian Culture and Resources
Duolingo
Babbel
Open Culture
Word Reference
Italian Pod Youtube Channel
Italki
Quizlet
ThisIsLanguage
SpanishDict
Italian I
In this course students will begin learning to speak, understand, read, and write Italian. Students will learn basic vocabulary and grammar while developing knowledge of Italian culture, including cities, the family, education, and food. Basic language learning materials will be supplemented by films, television, music, the Web, and field trips. Students will also pursue independent research projects and will participate in project based learning activities.
Italian II
In this course, students will continue to learn to speak, understand, read, and write in Italian. Students will learn more specialized vocabulary and grammar while developing knowledge of Italian culture including cities, the family, education, Roman history and food. Basic language materials will be supplemented by films, YouTube videos, Italian articles, and the Italian web. Students will also pursue independent research projects on the city and Italian products, just to name a couple. Small skits on real life situations from Italian contemporary life will complete the course. We will go on two field trips: Eataly in the Fall to research Italian products and a historical tour of Little Italy in the Spring.
Italian III
This course continues the foundation developed in Italian 1 and 2. This course is strongly recommended for students who have completed two terms of Italian. After beginning with a review of grammar and vocabulary, students will develop advanced proficiency in oral and written communication, and a more specialized knowledge of Italian culture through units on buying and renting a home, professional life, sports, opera, and Italian monuments. We will also engage in beginning units on Italian medieval and contemporary literature. We will go on two field trips: a backstage tour of the Lyric Opera House in the Fall and an opera matinee in the Spring.
Italian IV
This course will develop students’ fluency and literacy, promote an appreciation and understanding of great works of art and literature, improve communicative and interpretive skills, and prepare college-bound students for the further study of Italian language and literature. This class is designed to meet students’ academic, professional, and personal objectives in business, travel, culture, literature and history. Focus will be on incorporating interpretive, presentational, and interpretive skills. The course will require both independent and group projects; students choose their own final projects.
AP Italian Language and Culture
AP Italian Language and Culture will allow students the opportunity to pursue collegelevel Italian studies while still in high school. Upon successful completion of the course, students will take the AP exam, which could offer them the possibility of earning college credit. This course will focus on the three modes of communication, Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational. The AP Italian Language and Culture course develops students’ abilities in the skill areas targeted by the AP exam: comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. A $92 test fee will be collected with the other fees.
Spanish Culture and Resources
2020 National SPanish Exam Recognitions
Spanish I
The course is designed to give students the opportunity to develop the ability to understand and speak beginning Spanish. The course content will include expressions, vocabulary and grammar of the Spanish-speaking world. Cultural topics will be explored. The objective of this course is for the student to be able to communicate information and ideas through the development of good listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Spanish II
This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. The students in this course will continue to develop their four communication skills while broadening their cultural knowledge of the target countries.
Spanish III
This course is a continuation of Spanish 2. A greater emphasis is placed on reading in Spanish through the use of articles and short stories. Listening and speaking skills necessary for survival in a Spanish-speaking country are emphasized, along with themes related to students such as common celebrations and the environment. More advanced grammatical structures will be used throughout this course.
Spanish IV
This course focuses on reading and writing in Spanish while building vocabulary. Students will begin to synthesize the information learned in Spanish 1 – 3 more meaningfully. Focus will be on incorporating interpretive, presentational and interpersonal skills. Students read a variety of Spanish texts in the course, while focusing on the history and culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP Spanish Language and Culture allows students to pursue college-level Spanish studies while still in high school. Upon completion of the course, students take the AP exam, which could offer the possibility of earning college credit. The course prepares students to become proficient across three communication modes: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational. The course is meant to be comparable to third year college and university courses that focus on speaking and writing in Spanish at an advanced language and is taught exclusively in Spanish. A $92 test fee will be collected with the other fees.
Proficiency Standards
Ridgewood High School junior and senior students have two capstone opportunities. First, to earn the State of Illinois SEAL of Biliteracy. Second, to be successful and earn a 3, 4, or 5 in one of our AP level classes. In order for students to achieve one or both of these goals, they must reach an INTERMEDIATE HIGH proficiency level in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking (according to ACTFL’s (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Scale. (*Please see the diagram below.)
In order to achieve the Intermediate High range by their senior year, successful WL students must meet the following proficiency goals by the end of each level of study:
Semester 1
| |
Speaking |
Writing |
Listening |
Reading |
| Level 1 |
Novice Low |
Novice Mid |
Novice Mid |
Novice Mid |
| Level 2 |
Novice High |
Novice High |
Novice High |
Novice High |
| Level 3 |
Intermediate Low |
Intermediate Low |
Intermediate Low |
Intermediate Low |
| Level 4 |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
| Level 5 (AP) |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate High |
Intermediate High |
Semester 2
| |
SPEAKING |
WRITING |
LISTENING |
READING |
| Level 1 |
Novice Mid |
Novice High |
Novice High |
Novice High |
| Level 2 |
Intermediate Low |
Intermediate Low |
Intermediate Low |
Intermediate Low |
| Level 3 |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
Intermediate Mid |
| Level 4 |
Intermediate High |
Intermediate High |
Intermediate High |
Intermediate High |
| Level 5 (AP) |
Intermediate High |
Intermediate High |
Advanced Low |
Advanced Low |
Each Level of WL study will work on the ACTFL Can-Do proficiency skills and be exposed to the AAPPL exam topics. In addition, at the end of each level of study, students will be assessed using the AAPPL exam to receive a proficiency rating. In order to receive Honors Credit in World Languages, students must be at level in all skills and achieve the next highest proficiency level in at least one category.
Students who are planning to attend college should enroll in at least a two level sequence of the same language in order to meet the minimum college entrance requirements. Many colleges require four years of the same language. Students should check the requirements of the college of their choice. A four level sequence is recommended for the student who desires to achieve a degree of mastery and fluency and have the opportunity to test out of the language requirement of a university or college. Students who wish to receive the Illinois State SEAL of Biliteracy and/or receive a 3, 4, or 5 in and AP WL class should plan for four years of WL study. It is also strongly recommended that language courses be taken in consecutive years. In order to achieve proficiency, all World Language classes are conducted in the target language. Students are expected to participate in the target language.
ACTFL Proficiency LEvel Descriptions
SENIOR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP CORPS (SILC) up to 1.0 Cr.
SILC (Student Instructional Leadership Corps) Open to students who have previously completed levels 4 or AP
** Students must have received a minimum of a B in the course in which they wish to SILC and mentor teacher permission. APPLICATION REQUIRED. • Evidence of Learning: o Student will be expected to turn in their weekly reflections. o Students will provide evidence of products for the classroom. (Examples include: entrance/exit slips, study guides, notes, or other teacher approved ideas. o Student will create a complete lesson plan.
Description: The Student Instructional Leadership Corps (SILC) is designed to offer qualified students the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities associated with classroom instruction. Students in SILC will engage in leadership development through multipurpose mentor relationships with teacher and students. Mentored by a cooperating teacher, the SILC student will serve as a mentor to younger students in the classroom, assist in appropriate curricular activities, and consult regularly with the cooperating teacher. The SILC student will keep a weekly written or online reflection of their experiences. SILC is the ideal program for seniors who are prepared to be inspirational models for their peers. SILC students are mature enough to take on the role of a teacher in the classroom and to mentor fellow students in a favorite subject.
Students will be assessed according to the descriptors for each proficiency level multiple times over the course of the year and graded appropriately. Students will track their progress. For further information about each level, please CLICK HERE.
Level 1 Can-Do Statements
Level 2 Can-Do Statements
Level 3 Can-Do Statements
Level 4/AP Can-Do Statements
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency
