World Languages & Cultures

Featured Courses

AP Spanish Language & Culture

This course follows the guidelines of the College Board AP Spanish Language and Culture course and provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in the modes of communication from the Intermediate to the MidAdvanced range. The three modes of communication (Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational) are foundations to the AP Spanish Language and Culture course with the curriculum revolving around the themes of Families and Communities, Science and Technology, Beauty and Aesthetics, Contemporary Life, World Challenges, and Personal and Public Identities.

AP Latin

AP Latin is an advanced course equivalent to an intermediate college Latin sequence. Students read, understand, translate, and analyze authentic Latin poetry and prose, with required readings from Vergil’s Aeneid and Pliny the Younger’s Letters, along with additional teacher-selected texts. The course emphasizes careful reading, accurate comprehension, and interpretation of how Latin authors create meaning through language. Students develop proficiency through prepared translation, sight reading, discussion, and analytical writing grounded in textual evidence, while situating texts within their historical and cultural contexts.

AP French Language & Culture

AP French Language and Culture is a college-level course intended for students in their fourth year of study of French. The three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century are foundational to the AP French Language and Culture course. Course work provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in each of the three modes in the intermediate to pre-advanced range as described in the ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K-12 Learners. Students who enroll in this course should already have a good command of the grammar and considerable competence in listening, reading, speaking and writing. When communicating, students in the AP French Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the culture(s), incorporate interdisciplinary topics (connections), make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures (comparisons), and use the target language in real life settings (communities). Exclusive use of French by teacher and students for active communication is de rigueur in the classroom. Students use several primary textbooks and other authentic materials and resources that are in accordance with those suggested on the College Board website.

Advanced Topics in Chinese

Advanced Topics in Chinese is a post-AP, advanced-level course designed for students who have completed AP Chinese and wish to further refine their Chinese language proficiency and cultural literacy. The course emphasizes advanced listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through in-depth exploration of specialized topics such as contemporary Chinese society, literature, history, philosophy, media, global issues, and cross-cultural perspectives. Students engage with authentic, complex texts and multimedia sources, participate in extended discussions, and produce analytical and creative presentations and written work. The course encourages critical thinking, independent inquiry, and advanced communication while fostering a nuanced understanding of Chinese language and culture in both historical and modern contexts.

Full Course Catalog

At CSN, language communication, while definitely a central goal, is not the only focus of study in world language courses. Also important is culture, focusing on the history, literature, civilization, and contemporary mores of the world communities speaking these languages. Students gain an understanding of the global and personal perspectives of target language communities, enabling them to establish connections and make comparisons with their own community and culture, leading to greater international understanding. It is also our philosophy and a primary expectation that teachers use the target language 90% of the time in their instruction and that students be encouraged and required to communicate in the language while in class (except for Latin, a classical language), both in interactions with the teacher and with one another. Research indicates that effective language instruction must provide significant levels of meaningful communication and interactive feedback in the target language in order for students to develop linguistic and cultural proficiency.