Languages Department

 

Introduction

The Languages Department offers courses in Spanish, French, Chinese, Latin, and Ancient Greek languages and literatures.  While only two years of a foreign language are required for graduation, the majority of language students continue their studies for years three and four. The reason: the department strives to make foreign languages more than subjects to be mastered in the classroom.  In line with our Jesuit college preparatory and liberal arts mission, teachers strive to provide an experience that prepares students both for university-level studies and to lead interesting, productive lives in a multi-cultural world.

In addition to traditional course work, the department offers a wide range of cocurricular activities, including clubs, international travel-study programs, exchange-student programs, and competitive Latin teams.

Reflecting the department’s commitment to providing a learning environment at once engaging and effective, students are taught using top-caliber textbooks and cutting-edge classroom technology, including Loyola Academy's unique Global Communications Center (GCC), one of the most-advanced and best-equipped language-learning facilities in Illinois.

Curricula

 Chinese  

Chinese

The Chinese program focuses on the acquisition of the simplified Mandarin Chinese language, as well as on Chinese culture and history. Three courses are being offered in the 2009-2010 school year; advanced courses will be offered as the program progresses.
 Chinese 1 (tracks 6 and 9): Introduction to Chinese language and culture, focused on Pinyin, introductory reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
 Chinese 2 (tracks 6 and 9): Intermediate Chinese, designed to help students build on the language skills developed in Chinese 1, with emphasis on listening and speaking skills in real-world situations.
 Chinese 3 (tracks 6 and 9):Intermediate Chinese, helping students toward the advanced level with emphasis on increased core vocabulary, expanded reading, including poetry and short stories, and study of the visual and performing arts to deepen awareness of spoken and written cultural expressions.

 

French

The French program focuses on the acquisition of the French language, as well Francophone culture, civilization, and history. Courses include:

French 1 (tracks 1, 6, and 9): Introduction to French language and culture, focused on introductory reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

French 2 (tracks 1, 6, and 9): Intermediate French, designed to help students build on the language skills developed in French 1, while expanding their knowledge of the Francophone world.

French 3 (tracks 6 and 9): Intermediate-Advanced French, in which students read a variety of literary excerpts and develop their writing skills.

French 4 (tracks 6 and 9): Advanced French, focusing on written expression, listening acuity, and high-level reading skills.

AP French: Designed to prepare students for the College Board’s AP French Language Examination, this course stresses all language skills in French and is taught at the college level.

German

The German program places special emphasis on the acquisition of the German language, German culture, German history, and the impact and difference German immigrants have made in the United States. Courses include:

German 2 (combined 6 and 9 track): Intermediate German, designed to help students build on the language skills developed in German 1, with emphasis on mastery of listening and speaking skills.

German 3 (combined 6 and 9 track): Intermediate/Advanced German, focused on the further development of conversational, reading, and writing skills.

German 4 (combined 6 and 9 track): Advanced German, integrating instruction in the German language and culture at an advanced level.

Greek

The Greek program emphasizes learning the classical Greek language, mainly in its Attic and Homeric forms, as well as on Greek history, literature, philosophy, and religion. Courses include:

Greek 1 (9 track): Introduction to ancient Greek, focused on grammar and translation, culture and history, and mythology.

Greek 2 (9 track): Intermediate Greek, extending the skills developed in Greek 1 to include passages of ancient Greek taken directly from Ancient authors, notably the historian Herodotus.

Greek 3 (9 track): Intermediate/Advanced Greek, focused on the Homeric World and the epic tradition through the reading and analysis of the Iliad.

Greek 4 (AP): Advanced Greek, focused on Greek tragedy and its continuing influence on culture and the arts; this course is taught at the college level.

Latin

The Latin program emphasizes learning the classical Latin language, as well as on the history, literature, philosophy, and religion of Rome and its empire. Courses include:

Latin 1 (1, 6, and 9 tracks): Introductory Latin, focused on mastery of the basics of Latin grammar, as well as Roman civilization and mythology.

Latin 2 (1, 6, and 9 tracks): Intermediate Latin, extending the skills developed in Latin 1 to included complex syntactic structures and, as appropriate, passages drawn directly from ancient authors (notably Caesar).

Latin 3 (6 and 9 tracks): Intermediate/Advanced Latin, focusing on continuous reading from either Petronius’s Satyricon (6 track) or Cicero and Sallust (9 track).

Latin 4 (6 and 9 tracks): Advanced Latin, focusing on Latin poetry.

AP Latin: Designed to prepare students for the College Board’s AP Latin Language Examination, this course stresses all language skills in Latin and is taught at the college level, focusing on Vergil’s Aeneid.

Spanish

The Spanish program focuses on the acquisition of the Spanish language, as well as the history and literatures of various Spanish-speaking cultures and the impact Spanish-speaking immigrants have made on the United States. Courses include:

Spanish 1 (1, 6 and 9 tracks): Introduction to the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking cultures, focused on introductory reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

Spanish 2 (1, 6 and 9 tracks): Intermediate Spanish, designed to help students build on the language skills developed in Spanish 1, while expanding their knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures and civilizations.

Spanish 3 (tracks 6 and 9): Intermediate-advanced Spanish, in which students read a variety of literary excerpts and develop their writing skills.

Spanish 4 (tracks 6 and 9): Advanced Spanish, focusing on written expression, listening acuity, and high-level reading skills.

AP Spanish (fourth and fifth years): Designed to prepare students for the College Board’s AP Spanish Language Examination (year 4) and the AP Spanish Literature Examination (year 5), these courses stress all language skills in Spanish and are taught at the college level. The AP Literature course stresses analysis and discussion of Spanish-language texts from medieval to contemporary times.

Spanish 5 Conversation (tracks 6 and 9):  Advanced Spanish, focusing on oral proficiency using authentic sources (newspapers, magazine, television programs, cinema, and Internet sites).  Students learn how to speak in authentic conversations with students at Colegio Loyola, a Jesuit secondary school in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Historical and cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking peoples (art, music, literature politics, and sports) also are emphasized.  May be taken concurrently with AP Spanish.

Heritage Speaker program (two years): Taught in Spanish only and designed for students who speak Spanish at home, these courses stress higher-level reading, grammar, and composition skills through literature by Latin American, Hispanic Americans and Spanish writers.

 

Tracking and Placement

Incoming Freshmen

Loyola Academy requires that all students complete at least 2 credits of the same world language for graduation; four years of language study are recommended. Incoming freshmen are placed in a track using the results of HPTS tests and grade-school records. Focused attention is given to the verbal ability, reading, and mathematics subscores, as well as to the composite score. Incoming freshmen with previous language experience are placed at levels within a track based on the results of a placement test.

Qualifying Exams for Language

Contact Language Dept.Chair, Acacia Komelasky at 847/920-2583 or aKomelasky@loy.org.

Bridge Programs

While students normally stay in their assigned track as they progress through subsequent levels of the language program, at the end of each school year the performance of each student is reviewed for possible track changes.  Students with high levels of proficiency and interest may advance from track 6 to track 9 (honors) level classes, provided they complete a language bridging program, the length and content of which varies by language. 

For more information, contact Mrs. Acacia Komelasky (aKomelasky@loy.org).

Global Communications Center

There are fewer than two dozen multimedia high-school language labs in the state of Illinois, and Loyola Academy’s Global Communications Center is one of the best, rivaling the resources available at many of the nation’s top colleges and universities.  

The GCC’s equipment is impressive, including more than 60 computers, a color laser printer and two black-and-white laser printers, two scanners, CD-R/DVD players, VHS recorders, and overhead presentation capabilities. Beyond up-to-date standard software, all of the GCC’s computers are equipped a wide range of language learning programs, including:

  • Sanako (a speaking and recording program), from Teleste Educational

  • APCD Spanish 

  • Hauppage WinTV

  • Holt World Languages

  • Latin Flash Drills

  • Latin Vocabulary Drills

  • Perseus Project

But even more impressive is what students and teachers can do with this technology. In the GCC, students can record their own voices as they learn to speak a foreign language …. listen to digital audio files … watch streaming video … pair up to speak with partners on a different computer or in simulated telephone conversations ... send text messages in a target language … do research on the web … practice vocabulary and  forms … and review for tests and quizzes.  In short, the GCC opens a world of possibilities that make language learning genuinely exciting.

All of Loyola’s language classes – French, Spanish, Latin, and Ancient Greek –  meet regularly in the GCC, but students can drop in almost any time, before and after school, during free periods and during lunch hours.

For more information, contact GCC coordinator Ms. Jan Stoner (jstoner@loy.org).

Trips and Programs

China Trip Program

Chinese Language program sponsors a trip to China every two years during the summer. Students will participate in various cultural, educational programs while visiting major Chinese cities and historical and scenic places such as Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an. This year, the trip will be combined with the JSEA China Exchange Program with the 1st and 6thHigh School of Xiamen city. Here,students will have the opportunity to stay with Chinese host families for a weekend. Loyola students will also host Chinese students from Xiamen for several days. This trip is open to all interested students with priority given to students in Chinese classes.

For more information, please contact Ms. Marlene Ren (mren@loy.org)

Classics Tour

Every other year, Loyola’s Classics department sponsors a three-week, honors-level study program, during which students visit major classical sites in Greece and Italy, from Athens and Rome to Mycenae and Delphi to Venice and Northern Italy/Milan. Students are accepted into the program based on academic achievement and teacher recommendations. While preference is given to students who have studied Latin and/or Greek at Loyola, students with a demonstrated interest in classical literature, history, art or architecture may be considered, depending on availability.

For more information, contact Mr. David Mathers (dmathers@loy.org).

French Program

The French department sponsors an exchange program with a private, Catholic school in Le Havre, Normandy, France. For nine days over Spring Break, students attend school and live with a local family, visiting the historical and cultural landmarks in Normandy, and spending three full days exploring the wonders of Paris and its surroundings. In return, Loyola students host French students in their homes for two weeks.

For more information, contact Mrs. Inna McNally (imcnally@loy.org).

Financial aid is available for qualified students.

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