Department Leader
World Languages
The Divine Child High School World Language academic department provides rigorous and engaging instruction in German, Spanish, Latin and Greek that prepares all students to be responsible global citizens. The goal of the program is for each student to develop proficiency in reading, writing and speaking in a modern (German or Spanish) or classical (Latin or Greek) language. We are committed to educating the students of Divine Child High School so that they not only speak, read, write and comprehend a language other than English, but also appreciate the culture of and our connectedness with the children of God in efforts to serve throughout the world.
World Languages Curriculum
- German 1
- German 1 | Honors
- Latin 1
- Latin 1 | Honors
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 1 | Honors
- German 2
- German 2 | Honors
- Latin 2
- Latin 2 | Honors
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 2 | Honors
- German 3 | Honors
- Latin 3 | Honors
- Spanish 3
- Spanish 3 | Honors
- German 4 | Honors
- Latin | Advanced Placement
- Spanish 4
- Spanish 4 | Honors
- Greek 1 | Honors
- Greek 2 | Honors
- Greek 3 | Honors
German 1
This course provides a basis for learning modern German as it is spoken and written today. It aims to lead the student to a better understanding of German-speaking peoples and lands and recognizes that the best way to achieve that understanding is through communication in the language. Any student who fails either semester of German 1 is required to repeat German 1 the following year.
German 1 | Honors
This course is designed to give the advanced student an accelerated introduction to German language and culture. The four basic skills of language acquisition will be presented (reading, writing, listening and speaking) at a faster pace than in German 1. There will be more supplementary activities to challenge the students to attain a higher level of proficiency, including short stories. The expectation is that during this course students will master the equivalent to one semester of German at the university level, which will be demonstrated through assessments.
Latin 1
This course provides an introduction to the grammar, syntax and construction of the Latin Language as it was used during the Golden Age of Latin Literature (100 B.C. – 100 A. D.). The focus of this course is for the students to acquire an elementary reading proficiency in Latin, gained through various activities, such as reading, listening and writing activities. Through the study of Roman culture, history and literature the students will be introduced to how the Romans (and Greeks) have influenced various cultures and societies, including our own.
Latin 1 | Honors
This course provides an accelerated introduction to the grammar, syntax and construction of the Latin Language as it was used during the Golden Age of Latin Literature (100 B.C. – 100 A.D.). The focus of this course is for the students to acquire an elementary reading proficiency in Latin, gained through various activities, such as reading, listening and writing activities. The expectation is that during this year long course the students will master the equivalent to one semester of Latin at the university level, which will be shown through their assessments.
Spanish 1
This course is designed to give the student an introductory command of the Spanish language. It stresses the listening and speaking of the language, and it adds the visual reinforcement of reading and writing Spanish. The course aims to introduce the student to the Spanish-speaking world through glimpses of life as it is lived in the Spanish-speaking world. Any student who fails either semester of Spanish 1 is required to repeat Spanish 1 the following year.
Spanish 1 | Honors
This course is designed to give the advanced student an accelerated introduction to the Spanish language and culture. The four basic skills of language acquisition will be presented (reading, writing, listening and speaking) at a faster pace than in Spanish 1. There will be more supplementary activities to challenge the students to attain a higher level of proficiency. Class is primarily conducted in Spanish.
German 2
German 2 | Honors
This course gives the advanced student an accelerated introduction to German language and culture. The four basic skills of language acquisition (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are at a faster pace than in German 2. There will be more supplementary activities to challenge the students to attain a higher level of proficiency, including short stories. The expectation is that during this course students will master the equivalent to one semester of German at the university level, as demonstrated through assessments.
Latin 2
This course provides a continuation of the grammar, syntax and construction of the Latin Language as it was used during the Golden Age of Latin Literature (100 B.C.-100 A.D.). The focus of this course is for the students to acquire an elementary reading proficiency in Latin, gained through various activities, such as reading, listening, speaking and writing activities. Through the study of Roman culture, history and literature the students will also continue their study of how the Roman (and Greeks) has influenced various cultures and societies, including our own. Any student who fails either semester of Latin 2 is required to repeat Latin 2 the following year.
Latin 2 | Honors
This course provides a continuation our accelerated study of the grammar, syntax and construction of the Latin Language as it was used during the Golden Age of Latin Literature (100 B.C. – 100 A.D.). The focus of this course is for the students to acquire an elementary reading proficiency in Latin, gained through various activities, such as reading, listening, speaking and writing activities. The expectation is that during this year long course the students will master the equivalent to one semester of Latin at the university level, which will be shown through their assessments.
Spanish 2
Spanish 2 | Honors
This course is designed to continue Honors Spanish 1 at an accelerated pace. The four skills of language acquisition will be honed at a higher level than Spanish 2. Advanced supplementary activities will continue. Students will be exposed to additional reading selections. Additional cultural themes will be covered. The class will be conducted primarily in Spanish.
German 3 | Honors
This course provides the advanced student an accelerated approach to learning German language and culture. The four basic skills of language acquisition (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are at a faster pace than in German 3. There will be more supplementary activities to challenge the students to attain a higher level of proficiency, including short stories and longer reading passages. The expectation is that during this course students will master the equivalent to one semester of German at the university level, as demonstrated through assessments.
Latin 3 | Honors
This course provides an intensive continuation of the grammar, syntax and construction of the Latin Language as it was used during the Golden Age of Latin Literature (100 B.C. – 100 A.D.). In order to improve our reading proficiency, we will be reading and analyzing both modified and original Latin prose and poetry texts. Some of the authors we will be reading are Cicero, Caesar, Livy, Ovid, Catullus and Vergil. By the end of the year, students will have gained an understanding of the Late Roman Republic and Rise of the Roman Empire as seen through the writings of these authors. Through the study of Roman culture, history and literature the students will also continue their study of how the Romans (and Greeks) have influenced various cultures and societies, including our own. The expectation is that during this year long course the students will master the equivalent to one semester of Latin at the university level, which will be shown through their assessments.
Spanish 3
Spanish 3 | Honors
German 4 | Honors
This course provides the advanced student an accelerated approach to developing German language and culture skills. The four basic skills of language acquisition (reading, writing, listening and speaking) are at a faster pace than in German 4. There are more supplementary activities to challenge the students to attain a higher level of proficiency, including short stories, fairy tales, and letters. The expectation is that during this course students will master the equivalent to one semester of German at the university level, as demonstrated through assessments.
Latin | Advanced Placement
In this FULL YEAR course we will be reading and analyzing the Advance Placement Vergil Latin syllabus, which consists of Vergil’s Aeneid in preparation for the Advanced Placement Latin Exam. Along with gaining the ability to read and analyze Latin poetry, the students will gain a deeper appreciation for the influence the Romans and Greeks have had on our Western Civilization. Writing assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature, including expository, analytical and argumentative essays. A summer reading list for this course will be provided prior to the beginning of the class. Students must take the Advanced Placement Exam to receive the A.P. designation on the transcript and have the additional honor point calculated into the grade point average.
Spanish 4
This class will provide the student with the goal to continue his/her skills toward fluency in the areas of listening, speaking, reading comprehension, writing, and the understanding of the Spanish culture. Reading modern Hispanic literature will be introduced along with an emphasis on creating meaningful conversations through relevant and stimulating themes.
Spanish 4 | Honors
This course is a continuation of Honors Spanish 3. Students will continue to acquire proficiency at an accelerated pace. The class will be conducted completely in Spanish. Emphasis will be placed on interpersonal communication, interpretive communication and presentational communication. Students will be required to take either the Advanced Placement Language and Culture exam or the CLEP exam at the end of the course.
Greek 1 | Honors
In order to register for this course, students will have needed to have completed at least 1 year of another world language, earning at least an A, (and)/or have a recommendation from a language teacher. You are also expected to continue with your first language, adding Greek as your second language.
This course provides an intense introduction to the grammar, syntax and construction of the Ancient Greek Language as it was used during the Homeric and Classical Periods (750 B.C.-400ish B.C.), with some exposure to Koine Greek (Biblical Greek – 1st-2nd century A.D.). Major readings will be from Homer, Euripides, Sophocles, Herodotus, Xenophon, Thucydides, Plato and several others. The focus of this course is for the students to acquire an elementary reading proficiency in Ancient Greek, gained through various activities, such as reading, listening and writing activities. Through the study of Greek culture, history and literature the students will also be introduced to how the Greeks have influenced various cultures and societies, including our own. Major culture topics will consist of the Homeric Hero, Greek Tragedies, the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, the development of democracy, and the development of Christianity and several other pertinent topics. The expectation is that during this year long course the students will master the equivalent to one semester of Ancient Greek at the university level, which will be shown through their assessments. --Offering of this class is contigent upon demand. Typically, it is taken in a 0-hour format, prior to the school day, and in addition to a full schedule.
Greek 2 | Honors
In order to register for this course, students will have to have completed Honors Ancient Greek 1 at a B level or higher, and to have completed at least 2 years of another world language, earning at least a B, (and)/or have a recommendation from a language teacher. You are also expected to continue with your first language, continuing with Ancient Greek as your second language.
This course is a continuation of Honors Greek 1 in which we will continue to explore grammar, syntax and the constructions of the Ancient Greek Language as it was used during the Homeric and Classical Periods (750 B.C.-400ish B.C.), with some exposure to Koine Greek (Biblical Greek – 1st-2nd century A.D.). By the end of the year, students will be reading original texts from ancient authors, such as Homer, Euripides, Sophocles, Herodotus, Xenophon, Thucydides, Plato and several others. The focus of this course is for the students to increase their reading proficiency in Ancient Greek, gained through various activities, such as reading, listening and writing. Through the study of Greek culture, history and literature the students will also be introduced to how the Greeks have influenced various cultures and societies, including our own. Major culture topics will consist of the Homeric Hero, Greek Tragedies, Greek Philosophy, the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, the development of democracy, and the development of Christianity and several other pertinent topics. The expectation is that during this year long course the students will master the equivalent to one semester of Ancient Greek at the university level, which will be shown through their assessments. --Offering of this class is contigent upon demand. Typically, it is taken in a 0-hour format, prior to the school day, and in addition to a full schedule.
Greek 3 | Honors
In this course, we will continue to explore the Ancient Greek Literary tradition, Culture and History through the reading of original texts. These texts will included, but are not limited to excerpts from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey,Plato’s Ion, Republic, Apology, selected tragedies from Euripides, and history readings from Xenophon, Thucydides and Herodotus. The aim of this course will be student driven, as the instructor and students will decide on texts and topics that speak to the students’ interests. Through our readings, the students will solidify their command of Greek syntax, morphology, grammar and vocabulary, along with deepening their understanding of the Greek world and how it continues to influence modernity. --Offering of this class is contigent upon demand. Typically, it is taken in a 0-hour format, prior to the school day, and in addition to a full schedule.