The Foreign Language Department at
Beverly High School offers instruction in the modern languages
French, German, Russian, and Spanish, as well as the classical
language, Latin. Students who started a modern language
in the middle school are recommended to continue this language
for a minimum of three years in high school and, preferably,
four. Students typically take one course in their foreign
language sequence per year, but they can speed up their
progress by taking language courses both semesters on the
block system. Any student can choose to study a new language
and start that sequence of study any time during their high
school careers. Many interested students study two languages
at the same time.
The primary goal of modern language
courses is to help the student develop active communication
skills: facility in listening to and understanding, reading,
writing and speaking the language in a culturally appropriate
manner. Students receive extensive daily practice in these
skills in class, but they have to expect to study and practice
the language at home and complete homework assignments as
a regular aspect of the class. A student who obtains a grade
of D in the first year of a language may repeat the course
in order to obtain a grade of C or better for continuation
at the next level.
In the attempt to bring the reality
of the target language to the classroom, teachers in the
department take advantage of the full range of modern media
used in language learning: textbooks, listening materials,
traditional literature and non-literary readings, video,
film, music, and the Internet. Students also have the many
study abroad opportunities through Beverly High School’s
exchange programs in Albertville, France, Bargteheide and
Nürnberg, Germany, and Moscow, Russia, as well as study
tours in Spain and other Hispanic countries. |
