Department Philosophy

  • The study of one or more foreign languages is an essential part of the background of the individual who wishes to function effectively in the Global Community. Both proficiency in Spanish or French and cultural insights gained through language study are essential skills for the world traveler and professional of the 21st Century.

Department Objectives

      Students who study French or Spanish will become sensitive to the existence of alternate ways of viewing and interpreting the world. Students who study Latin will gain insight into the impact that Latin has on English vocabulary, and also will gain an appreciation of Rome's impact on the Ancient World and subsequent Western thought.

     Students who complete the full five-year sequence in either French or Spanish will acquire measurable communicative proficiency in the language, plus an appreciation of the importance of the speakers of these languages in the modern world. These students will be more than able to survive in a Spanish or French speaking country and most likely will choose to make complete fluency and travel an important part of their future.

     It is the goal of the Foreign Language Department to encourage completion of the full five-year sequence (available in both French and Spanish) by all students who have the interest and motivation to undertake the study of a modern foreign language. Foreign language students at Medfield High School have the opportunity to acquire the life long skill of knowing a second language that will in turn enrich both their professional and personal lives.

Modern Languages

     Medfield's foreign language program aims to develop communicative competence in the following skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The foreign language faculty subscribes to a "proficiency-based" approach to instruction. This means that material to be presented is chosen by its need to support skill development required to carry out specific communication tasks in the foreign language. The study of grammar and literature is an important part of the program, but is designed to support skill development at all levels. Cultural insights are the logical outcomes of the communicative skills taught at Levels I through III and the literary selections read in Levels IV and V.

     Colleges and Universities are giving increasing importance to the foreign language proficiency offered by prospective applicants. Demonstrated ability to use and understand the modern languages, rather than number of years spent in class, is increasingly the norm used to determine placement in, or exemption from, college-level language courses. It should also be noted that development of even an intermediate level of communicative competence in French or Spanish is a process involving several years of intensive study and/or residence in a country where these languages are spoken. Medfield requires that all students complete two years of study of the same language in order to graduate. It is recommended that students complete more than the two years of a foreign language required for graduation from Medfield High School so as to fulfill individual college's expectations and ultimately to gain fluency. Medfield students may study Latin for one or two years, and this may be applied towards the two year graduation requirement. Students in advanced levels of French and Spanish are also encouraged to begin the study of a third language as these students often meet with great success in these beginner level courses.

Department Program Summary
Grade 9 Possible Courses Grade 10 Possible Courses
French I French I
French II French II
Spanish I French III
Spanish II Spanish I
Latin I Spanish II
  Spanish III
  Latin I
  Latin II
   
Grade 11 Possible Courses Grade 12 Possible Courses
French I All courses are available depending on previous study
French II Spanish V-AP 
French III  
Adv. French I (French IV)  
Spanish I  
Spanish II  
Spanish III  
Spanish IV  
Latin I  
Latin II  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FOREIGN LANGUAGE BY PARENTS OF 8TH GRADERS

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FOREIGN LANGUAGE BY PARENTS OF 9TH- 11TH GRADERS

Faculty of the Foreign Language Department
2008-2009 Academic Year


Ellen Toubman - Content Specialist and Spanish Teacher www.quia.com/pages/etespanol.html

Monique Goodrow-Trach - French and Spanish Teacher

Sarah Rodenhi - Spanish Teacher www.quia.com/pages/rodenhiespanol.html

Paul Bruemmer - French Teacher

Stefanie Mercadante - Spanish Teacher

Leora Seri - Spanish Teacher

Donna Morin - Latin Teacher

Tracy Winslow - Spanish Teacher

Maura Batts - Spanish and Chinese Mandarin Teacher

Tracy Tasi - Spanish and Latin Teacher


Email addresses are staff members first letter of their first name followed by the full last name followed by @medfield.mec.edu
Example: Joe Smith = jsmith@medfield.mec.edu

Foreign Language Files


1. Adobe Acrobat Format(.pdf) / Ms Word.doc - Purchasing workbooks
2. Adobe Acrobat Format(.pdf) / Ms Word.doc - Language Lab Acceptable Use Policy

Popular Foreign Language Links!


1. http://es.yahoo.com - The popular Yahoo search engine en español!
2. http://cnnenespanol.com - CNN news site en español
3. http://yupimsn.com/index.asp - MSN's website en español
4. http://www.radioes.net - a site to connect to live Spanish radio
5. http://www.france2.fr - Site for one of France's TV stations - everything French including live TV broadcasts!
6. http://www.frenchculture.org - the name says it all…
7. http://fr.yahoo.com - The popular Yahoo search engine in French!
8. http://www.louvre.fr - musée du Louvre website (see the Mona Lisa!)
9. http://museoprado.mcu.es - Madrid's Prado Museum website - check out El Greco, Goya and Velázquez!
10. http://www.elpais.es - Madrid's most prominent newspaper
11. http://www.okspain.org - official site that provides comprehensive info. on travel to Spain. Includes passport/visa info and a section on traveling within the country
12. http://www.argentinaturistica.com/2basiresenia.htm - a great site to learn more about travel to Argentina
13. http://www.diegorivera.com - Mexican muralist Diego Rivera's web museum
14. www.franceguide.com - The Official Site of the French Government Tourist Office
15. http://www.paris.org - all you need to know about Paris!
16. http://www.go.hrw.com - The French and Spanish I and II textbooks have online support at this site. Enter in the keyword from the first page of each chapter to access cultural info and grammar/vocab practice exercises.