DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

The study of world languages provides an important experience in international education. Through this study the students can gain greater understanding of people in other parts of the world as they learn about the culture, history, literature, everyday life, and language of another people. The global society dictates the need to cultivate international understanding, knowledge and respect through effective communication. Second language learners also gain valuable insight into their own languages and culture through studying other cultures. Through the study of world languages students can explore exciting opportunities in areas such as international business, higher education, travel and missions.


While many colleges and universities encourage or require students to have two levels/credits of a foreign language, foreign language is not a graduation requirement at Concordia. In semester courses, a student must
pass the first quarter of the class in order to take the second quarter.)

CONCEPT LEVEL LEARNER OUTCOMES:
The students will be able to:

1. 1. develop a clearer understanding of the English language and greater sensitivity to structure, vocabulary and syntax.
2. apply higher order thinking skills when solving problems, reasoning, analyzing, conceptualizing, and
3. value, understand and respect other people and cultures.
4. realize their responsibility as Christian citizens of a multicultural world.
5. interact with persons of other cultures through listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language.
6. be able to share the gospel and their own faith to people using the target language and participate in basic
7. recognize the increased personal development and career potential that accompanies learning a second language

COURSES OFFERED

• French 1
• French 2
• German 1
• German 2
• Spanish 1
• Spanish 2
• Spanish 3
• Spanish 4

French 1. (Grades 9-12) French I is a course designed to teach the student with little or no experience with French the conversational, listening, and grammatical concepts he or she would need for basic communication with a native French speaker. The vocabulary is geared toward conversations a typical French teenager would use in daily routine, reflecting teenage interests, both secular and religious. Cultural similarities and differences between the lives of French teenagers and American teenagers will be explored. Although oral and aural experiences are emphasized, basic reading and writing are included in the course. (One semester, 1 credit.)

French 2. (Grades 9-12) Emphasis is on the continuation of basic grammar structures, building of vocabulary and realistic, more complex conversation. Reading and writing skills are developed through topics of everyday experiences. Cultural knowledge is expanded in the reading, Internet activities, and assigned topical projects. (Prerequisite: French 1 or equivalent. One semester, 1 credit.)

German 1. (Grades 9-12) German 1 is a course designed to teach the student with little or no experience with German the conversational and grammatical concepts he or she would need for basic communication with a native German speaker. The vocabulary is geared toward conversations a typical German teenager would use in daily routine reflecting teenage interests, both secular and religious. Cultural similarities and differences between the lives of German teenagers and American teenagers will be explored. Although oral experience is emphasized, basic reading and writing are included in the course. (One semester, 1 credit.)

German 2. (Grades 9-12) Emphasis is on the continuation of basic grammar structures, building of vocabulary and realistic, more complex conversation. Reading and writing skills are developed through topics of everyday experiences. Cultural knowledge is expanded in the reading, Internet activities, and assigned topical projects. (Prerequisite: German 1 or equivalent. One semester, 1 credit.)

Spanish 1. (Grades 9-12) Spanish 1 provides a solid foundation of vocabulary and grammar which will serve as a base for further study in high school and college and as a starting point for mission work and cross cultural ministry using the Spanish language. Students will learn to have simple conversations with one another and to understand, write, and converse in the present, preterite (past), and simple future tenses. They will work
on both quantity of language output and accuracy in form and pronunciation with the goal of being able to
converse in a similar manner with native speakers. (One semester, 1 credit.)

Spanish 2. (Grades 9-12) Spanish 2 provides a thorough study of the past, present and future tenses crucial for communicating in the target language. Students will be able to participate in casual conversations, express facts, give instructions, and describe, report and narrate current, past and future events. Vocabulary, including verbs, will be an integral component in order to expand the opportunities for the student to communicate more precisely and effectively. The comparisons and contrasts between U.S. culture and that of the target culture will be discussed in order to develop a greater cultural sensitivity, especially important for cross-cultural ministry. (Prerequisite: Spanish 1 or equivalent. One semester, 1 credit.)

Spanish 3. (Grades 10-12) Along with Spanish 4, this course prepares students for college and for mission work using the Spanish language. This course seeks to give students the confidence to have meaningful conversations in the language about a variety of topics, to improve their communicative abilities through increased vocabulary and grammatical skills, and to foster a love of the people through the study of their culture. Speaking and writing are especially stressed. Spanish Three is conducted entirely in Spanish in order to help students discover what they truly do and do not know in the language. The course seeks to teach students how to speak spontaneously in the language without a great deal of pausing or mental translating. (Prerequisite: Spanish 2 or equivalent. One semester, 1 credit.)

Spanish 4. (Grades 10-12) Spanish 4, conducted in the target language, provides a thorough review of the grammatical structures of the language intended to prepare students for college and for cross-cultural ministry.

The course also offers opportunities to learn more about the intricacies of different cultures which enable students to better understand the world from a multicultural, global and Christian perspective. (Prerequisite: Spanish 3 or equivalent. One semester, 1 credit.)