World Language
The World Language Department offers full four-year sequential programs in Chinese, French, Italian, Latin and Spanish. We strongly recommend that students consider their high school study of languages as part of a long-term commitment to becoming proficient in at least one world language other than English.
Proficiency: Newton North measures proficiency according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scale, which ranges from Novice to Distinguished and embraces the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The proficiency target for a student who completes four years of high school study at the ACP level in addition to middle school study is Intermediate High.
The two-year or three-year college entrance requirement: To fulfill this requirement, students should continue their language study through sophomore year regardless of whether they began in grade 6 or grade 9. Students should also be aware that many colleges require three years of study of the same language at the high school level.
A second language: If a student wishes to study two world languages, the study of that second language can begin at any time. Students find that knowledge of their first language facilitates and accelerates the learning of the second. In fact, juniors and seniors who have successfully completed their third year of French, Spanish, or Italian, and who wish to begin a second Romance language, are allowed to study the first year on an independent basis during the summer and begin their formal study of that language in a second year course. This option requires the approval of the World Language Department Chair.
Search by Grade
World Language Opportunities
- No Prerequisite or Recommendation
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 211/221
This course, designed for students who have never studied French, engages the learner to develop basic communication skills around topics of daily life including family and home life, school, daily activities, and likes and dislikes.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 202/222
This course is appropriate for students who begin the study of French in a single-year course at the high school level as well as middle school students who have studied French for less than the typical three-year sequence and/or whose proficiency level is at novice mid.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 212
In this course, students will explore everyday themes such as meals and shopping, house and home, weekend hobbies and entertainment, sports and health, clothing and fashion, and travel and vacation.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 223
In this course, students will explore everyday themes such as meals and shopping, house and home, weekend hobbies and entertainment, sports and health, clothing and fashion, and travel and vacation.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 213
In this intermediate course, students will continue to advance their proficiency in French through a thematic approach.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 224
In this intermediate course, students will continue to advance their proficiency in French through a thematic approach.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 203
This course marks the beginning of the honors sequence in French and focuses on issues of social justice & resistance during World War II in France and, in more recent history, in French-speaking nations and regions around the world.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 214
In this course, students will continue to advance their proficiency by building their vocabulary and refining their communicative skills within the contexts of universally compelling issues.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 204
In this course, students will explore in depth various universal themes such as personal relationships, differences between generations, nature and the environment, and media and technology.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 215
Liberté, fraterité, égalité: Myths or realities? Devenez de déctectives! Come investigate the ideals surrounding Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality.
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 205
This advanced course is designed for students who want to pursue a rigorous and comprehensive program of study that emphasizes use of the French language as a tool for reading, discussing, and thinking critically about a variety of cultural topics, literary works, and current events.
- 11
- 12
- No Prerequisite or Recommendation
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 241/251
This course, designed for students who have never studied Spanish, engages the learner to develop basic communication skills around topics of daily life including family and home life, school, daily activities, and likes and dislikes.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 232/252
This course is appropriate for students who begin the study of Spanish in a single-year course at the high school level as well as middle school students who have studied Spanish for less than the typical three-year sequence and/or whose proficiency level is at novice mid.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 242
In this course, students will explore everyday themes such as school, daily routines, fashion, shopping, pastimes, places around town, and sports.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H, ACP
Course Number: 2501/250
Spanish for Heritage Learners is designed for students who have grown up in Spanish-speaking households and already possess varying degrees of oral proficiency in Spanish.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 253
In this course, students will continue to develop and improve their listening, writing, reading and speaking skills in Spanish.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 243
This course offers students the opportunity to expand upon, synthesize, and apply previously learned concepts in more complicated communicative contexts.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 246
This course marks the beginning of the honors sequence. It provides a fast-paced, rigorous curriculum for highly motivated students who desire a challenging course of study.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 244
In this course, students will continue to advance their proficiency by expanding their vocabulary and refining their communicative skills within the thematic contexts of universally compelling issues.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 247
In this course, students will read, analyze, discuss, and write about texts from various literary periods and genres in Spain: from Cervantes in the Golden Age to Lorca and the Generation of 1927.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 254
This course, with alternating year curricula, utilizes a thematic approach to encourage the advancement of students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 255
This course, with alternating year curricula, utilizes a thematic approach to encourage the advancement of students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish.
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 245
What does it mean to be a global citizen in our contemporary world? How does culture influence the way we view the world? In this culminating course in Spanish, we will focus on answering these questions.
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 248
This advanced course is designed for students who want to pursue a rigorous and comprehensive program of study that emphasizes use of the Spanish language as a tool for reading, discussing, and thinking critically about a variety of cultural topics, current events, and literary works by various authors from different Spanish-speaking countries.
- 11
- 12
- No Prerequisite or Recommendation
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 271/276
This course, designed for students who have never studied Italian, engages the learner to develop basic communication skills around topics of daily life including family and home life, school, daily activities, and likes and dislikes.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 262/277
This course is appropriate for students who begin the study of Italian in a single-year course at the high school level as well as middle school students who have studied Italian for less than the typical three-year sequence and/or whose proficiency level is at novice mid.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 272
In this course, students will explore every day themes such as daily routines, school, meals, fashion, the home, entertainment, sports, health, travel, and vacation.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 278
In this course, students will explore every day themes such as daily routines, school, meals, fashion, the home, entertainment, sports, health, travel, and vacation.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 273
In Italian 3, students will continue on the road to mastery of the Italian language in a dynamic course where they will maintain their complete immersion in the target language.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: CP
Course Number: 279
In Italian 3, students will continue on the road to mastery of the Italian language in a dynamic course where they will maintain their complete immersion in the target language.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 263
This course marks the beginning of the honors sequence. It provides a fast-paced, rigorous curriculum for highly motivated students who desire a challenging course of study.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 274
This course offers students the opportunity to advance their mastery of Italian, particularly their oral and written communication skills.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 264
In this course, students will explore in depth various universal themes such as family, school, personal relationships, differences between generations, nature and the environment, and media and technology.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 275
Buon viaggio! Take a deep dive into the many facets of Italian culture in this culminating course! Immerse yourself as we explore film, a selection of Italian literature, online articles, songs, and advertisements.
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 265
This advanced course is designed for students who want to pursue a rigorous and comprehensive program of study that emphasizes use of the Italian language as a tool for reading, discussing, and thinking critically about a variety of cultural topics, literary works, and current events.
- 11
- 12
- No Prerequisite or Recommendation
- World Language
Semester, 6 Credits
Level: N/A
Course Number: 280
In the classroom - through film, literature and other media - students will discover the achievements and expressions of the Italian American experience. Guest speakers will bring their expertise and experience into the classroom.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- No Prerequisite or Recommendation
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 281/2812
Come devote your mind to studying the Romans and the Mediterranean world in which they lived.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP, CP
Course Number: 282/2822
In this course, students will continue to expand their Latin vocabulary and develop a deeper understanding of Latin syntax.
- 10
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H, ACP
Course Number: 283/287
The goal of this course is to advance students’ proficiency in reading Latin by building their vocabulary and capacity to comprehend more complex Latin sentences that contain advanced grammatical structures.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 286
In this course, students will read selections from Pliny's Letters (including letters about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, ghost stories, and his correspondence with the emperor Trajan) and Virgil's Aeneid (selections from Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, and 12, covering Aeneas's; relationship with Dido, journey to the Underworld, and settlement in Italy).
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 288
In this course, students will read selections from Pliny's Letters (including letters about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, ghost stories, and his correspondence with the emperor Trajan) and Virgil's Aeneid (selections from Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, and 12, covering Aeneas's; relationship with Dido, journey to the Underworld, and settlement in Italy).
- 11
- 12
- No Prerequisite or Recommendation
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 291
This course lays the foundation for the development of proficiency of the four linguistic skills in Mandarin.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 292
In this course, students will continue to advance their proficiency in the language and will be able to speak and ask questions about themselves as well as activities, events, and people in their lives.
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 297
In this course, students will increase their vocabulary and ability to express themselves both orally and in writing around themes related to their school and community.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 293
This first course in the honors sequence has a fast-paced, rigorous curriculum for highly motivated students who want a challenging course of study.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 298
Traditional and Modern China: With alternating year curricula, this course will take students on an exciting ride through Chinese culture, ancient, modern, and contemporary.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: ACP
Course Number: 299
Traditional and Modern China: With alternating year curricula, this course will take students on an exciting ride through Chinese culture, ancient, modern, and contemporary.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 294
In this course, students will engage with an increased number of authentic Chinese resources created by native speakers to develop a higher level of proficiency in oral and written communication skills.
- 10
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 295
This pre-AP course integrates a thematic approach with authentic resources to engage students in discussion and written analysis of issues in the global community.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Full Year, 12 Credits
Level: H
Course Number: 296
This advanced course is designed for students to reach a high level proficiency linguistically and culturally.
- 11
- 12
- World Language
Times Vary, Credits Vary
Level: N/A
Course Number: 285
Students assist a teacher in a World Language classroom. Arrangements must be made between the teacher and student in the fall once both students and teachers know their schedules.
- 11
- 12