Course Catalog
World Language
Did you know that most colleges want to see that you have taken at least 2-3 years of the same language? Foreign language study enhances listening skills and memory, which may be why knowledge of a foreign language improves your skills and grades in math and English and on the SAT. Nowadays, four out of five new jobs in the US are created as a result of foreign trade, which is why knowledge of a world language can provide a competitive edge in your career choices. You can participate more effectively and responsibly in a multicultural world if you know another language. Additionally, foreign language classes will introduce you to more than just a new language, you will also learn about new types of food, music and culture.
Portland Public Schools is also proud to offer recognition to students with proficiency in more than one language via the Seal of Biliteracy. Awarding the Seal of Biliteracy constitutes an official statement by the state or the school system that mastery of two or more languages is a significant and critical skill set in a global and complex age. The Seal encourages students to pursue biliteracy, whether they are students who learned a language in addition to English, or students who have attained literacy in their heritage language(s). It honors the language skills our students attain, and can be evidence of linguistic skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions officials. It is with goals such as this in mind that we approach our language classes. We believe that everyone can learn and benefit from knowing a language in addition to their own!
French
College Prep French 1
Course Number: 2310
Prerequisites: None
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
New to French? Bienvenue! This course serves students who have never studied French or who have only a rudimentary understanding of the language. We will build functional vocabulary via thematic units and by learning the grammatical differences and similarities between French and English. Expect to learn from French songs, films and poetry in addition to traditional texts.
Vous êtes débutants en français? Ce cours s’adresse aux élèves qui n’ont jamais étudié le français ou qui n’ont qu’une compréhension rudimentaire de la langue. Nous prendrons une approche fonctionnelle du vocabulaire et aussi des différences et des similarités grammaticales entre le français et l’anglais. L’apprentissage pourra se faire à partir de chansons françaises, de films ou encore de poésie, en plus des textes traditionnels.
College Prep French Intermediate
Course Number: 2311
Prerequisites: Novice Low or its equivalent or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
In this course we will solidify and build upon vocabulary and grammatical concepts learned in Novice Low. Students will listen to, speak, read and write French in increasingly fluid forms as the year progresses. Students will practice present-tense verbs and will learn to communicate using the futur proche (aller + infinitive) and passé composé as well.
Dans ce cours nous allons développer les notions lexicales et grammaticales apprises en niveau Novice Low. Les élèves vont écouter, parler, lire et écrire en français de plus en plus couramment au fil de l’année. Les élèves manipuleront le présent et le futur proche (aller + infinitif), ainsi que le passé composé.
College Prep French 2
Course Number: 2312
Prerequisites: Novice Low, Novice Mid or equivalent or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
In this course students put their foundational skills to use while attaining a higher ability to communicate. Emphasis is placed on strengthening grammatical concepts and enriching vocabulary via readings, online resources, drills and games, and music. We will learn, review and refine familiarity with the passé composé and imparfait verb tenses. The curriculum is interspersed with small projects based on various facets of Francophone culture.
Dans ce cours, les élèves emploieront activement leurs compétences de base, tout en atteignant un niveau plus élevé en termes de communication. On soulignera l’importance d’améliorer les notions grammaticales et d’enrichir le vocabulaire à travers les extraits de littérature, les ressources électroniques, la musique, les jeux et les exercices de répétition. Nous apprendrons, réviserons et approfondirons la pratique du passé composé et de l’imparfait. Le programme inclut une série de petits projets basés sur différents aspects de la culture francophone.
Honors French 3
Course Number: 2313
Prerequisites: Novice High or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 10, 11, 12
This course develops interpretive, interpersonal and presentational language skills for a wider variety of purposes and with more complex structures. Students are expected to write short compositions on familiar topics and perform both prepared and extemporaneous skits and presentations, showing flexibility and familiarity with changing verb tenses and audience. We will learn about Francophone cultures via units designed to highlight their defining characteristics and colloquialisms. While still centrally focused on strengthening and expanding grammatical knowledge, French 3 is the beginning of more independent learning in a broader scope.
Ce cours développe les compétences de langage interprétatif, interpersonnel, et de discours pour atteindre des objectifs variés à l’aide de structures plus complexes. Les élèves écrivent de courtes compositions sur des sujets familiers, et font des sketches et des présentations à la fois préparés et improvisés, tout en démontrant leur capacité à communiquer. Nous découvrirons les cultures francophones par le biais d’unités conçues pour mettre en lumière leurs spécificités distinctives et leurs expressions familières. En gardant le but de renforcer et développer les compétences grammaticales, Français 3 marque le début d’un apprentissage plus indépendant dans un cadre plus étendu.
Honors French 4
Course Number: 2314
Prerequisites: Intermediate Low or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective credits, full year
Grades 11,12
In French 4 students will hone practical communicative skills using more sophisticated grammatical structures and breadth of vocabulary; students will gain familiarity with idiomatic and colloquial expressions. This class is also a study of cultures of various Francophone populations via representative literature, poetry, film, music and other media. While success in all French courses is dependent upon class participation, interaction in French, and intrinsic motivation, at this level student input is more independent in nature and is therefore more critical.
Dans le cours de Français 4, nous améliorons les compétences pratiques de communication en utilisant des structures grammaticales plus sophistiquées et un contenu lexical plus compréhensif. Les élèves se familiarisent à l’emploi des expressions idiomatiques et familières. De plus, ce cours examine les cultures d’une variété de populations francophones à travers la littérature, la poésie, le film, la musique et d’autres médias. Tandis que le succès dans tous les niveaux de français dépend de la participation en classe, de l’interaction orale, et de la motivation intrinsèque, à ce niveau la contribution de l’élève est de nature plus indépendante et donc nécessaire.
Honors French 5
Course Number: 2315
Prerequisites: Intermediate Mid or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective credits, full year
Grades 11,12
This course will engage and challenge capable students who enjoy their study of French and wish to develop a greater degree of proficiency and knowledge. Students will examine the Francophone world of today and yesterday through film, poetry, electronic media, art and great works of literature such as Petit Pays by Gaël Faye, L’Étranger by Albert Camus, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Lettres de Mon Moulin by Alphonse Daudet. Some themes mimic those of the Advanced Placement curriculum and provide exposure to employing higher-level French in several contexts. Independent research, presentations, book groups and an oral history project help develop confidence. Lectures and discussions are in French.
Ce cours vise à attirer et stimuler les élèves compétents, qui montrent un intérêt marqué pour leur apprentissage de la langue française et qui souhaitent d’approfondir leur maîtrise. Les élèves examinent le monde francophone d’aujourd’hui et d’hier à travers d’autres médias variés comme le film, la poésie, l’art, et les grands romans tels que Petit Pays de Gaël Faye, L’Étranger d’Albert Camus, Persepolis de Marjane Satrapi et Lettres de Mon Moulin d’Alphonse Daudet. Quelques thèmes imitent ceux du programme Advanced Placement (AP) et offrent une exposition à l’emploi d’un français de niveau supérieur dans plusieurs contextes. Des recherches indépendantes, les exposés, les ateliers lecture, et un projet basé sur des entretiens enregistrés aident à développer la confiance. Les conférences et les discussions se font en français.
French History and Culture (Capstone Class)
Course Number: 2319
Prerequisites: French 4 or 5; Heritage speakers, teacher recommendation
Credit: 1 Credit Semester class
Grades 10 - 12
This course will cover the significant people and events of France from the Gallic Empire to the Napoleonic era. It is taught in French with some supplementary material in English. Students interpret lectures delivered in French, synthesize and communicate their own thoughts and understanding of the topics for an audience (teacher, small group, whole group, partner) and make connections to their current knowledge of world history, how events have influence and impact in a larger scope. There is concurrent focus on grammatical practice. Some units of study include: Prehistory, Gaul, Romans, Franks, Charlemagne, the Middle Ages, the Crusades, the Renaissance; the beginning of French colonization; art, music, literature, and architecture.
Ce cours s’adresse aux personnages et aux événements marquants en France de l’Empire gaulois à l’époque napoléonienne. Il est enseigné en français avec quelques compléments en anglais. Les élèves interprètent les présentations en français, synthétisent et communiquent leurs propres réflexions et compréhensions des thèmes à une audience (professeur, petit groupe, toute la classe, et partenaire) et font des liens à leurs connaissances de l’histoire du monde, en quoi les événements ont influencé et impacté dans une portée plus large. On traite en même temps la pratique grammaticale. Quelques unités incluent la préhistoire, la Gaule, les Romains, les Francs, Charlemagne, le Moyen Âge, les Croisades, la Renaissance; le début de la colonisation française; l’art, la musique, la littérature, et l’architecture.
Spanish
College Prep Spanish 1
Course Number: 2320
Prerequisites: None
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Would you like to communicate with more people and to explore other cultures? This introductory course is for beginning students with no prior knowledge of the language. There will be an emphasis on using the three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) to build cultural understanding and to make cultural comparisons with people from the many places in the world where Spanish is spoken. Authentic resources such as brochures, advertisements and video blogs with hispanic teens will help you practice your new language skills and to address units of study such as: cultural identity, family life in Spain and the U.S. and exploring food as a step to experiencing another culture. The targeted proficiency level in this course will be a range between Novice-Low to Novice High. Students at this level are beginning to communicate using memorized phrases, lists and short sentences.
Español es uno de los idiomas más populares en el mundo. ¿No te gustaría comunicarte con más gente y explorar otras culturas? Este curso introductorio es para estudiantes sin conocimiento previo del lenguaje. Vamos a tener una énfasis en tres maneras de comunicación (interpersonal, interpretativo, y de presentación) para construir un conocimiento cultural y crear comparaciones culturales con gente de varias partes del mundo donde se habla español. Recursos auténticos como folletos, anuncios, y video blogs con adolescentes hispanos te ayudarán a practicar tus nuevas habilidades lingüisticas y para abordar áreas de estudio como: identidad cultural, vida familiar en España y en los Estado Unidos y explorando comida como un paso de experimentar otra cultura. El nivel de español necesario en este curso sería entre Novice Low - Novice High. Los estudiantes en este nivel comunican con frases memorizadas, con listas o con frases cortas.
College Prep Intermediate Spanish
Course Number: 2321
Prerequisites: Novice Low or its equivalent or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
If you have already started studying Spanish but would like to continue developing your basic language skills, this course will expand the communication skills you developed in Novice Low while continuing to develop your skills of interculturality. Some of the essential questions addressed in this course will include: What places and activities bring us together as a family? How do popular celebrations reflect history and culture? How do culture, climate and people around us affect how we live, work and play? The targeted proficiency level in this course will be a range between Novice Mid-Novice-High. Students at this level can communicate about familiar topics using vocabulary presented in class and can ask and answer simple questions.
Si ya has comenzado tus estudios del idioma español pero te gustaría continuar desarrollando tus habilidades básicas de lenguaje, este curso aumentará las habilidades de comunicación que aprendiste en el primer nivel mientras vas desarrollando tus habilidades de interculturalidad. Algunas de las preguntas esenciales abordadas en este curso incluirán: ¿Qué lugares y actividades nos unen como familia? ¿Cómo reflejan las celebraciones populares la historia y la cultura? ¿Cómo nos afectan la cultura, el clima y las personas que nos rodean en cómo vivimos, trabajamos y jugamos? El nivel de español necesario en este curso sería entre Novice Mid-Novice-High. Los estudiantes de este nivel pueden comunicarse sobre temas familiares mediante el vocabulario presentado en clase y pueden formular y responder preguntas sencillas.
College Prep Spanish 2
Course Number: 2322
Prerequisites: Novice Low, Novice Mid or equivalent or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This course offers continued practice with interpersonal and interpretive communication skills. This course will help you hone in on your ability to communicate and connect across cultures. You will be supplied with information to understand the products, practices and perspectives of people living within or originating from Spanish speaking regions and countries. Some of the essential questions addressed in this course will include: How has family culture changed over the generations? What is food like in different Spanish speaking countries? What can you learn about yourself and another culture by traveling? The targeted proficiency level in this course will be a range between Novice-High to Intermediate-Low. Students at this level can speak in complete sentences and hold simple conversations on everyday topics.
Este curso ofrece práctica más avanzada con las habilidades de comunicación interpretativa, interpersonal y de presentación. Este curso te ayudará a perfeccionar tu habilidad de comunicar y conectar con gente de otras culturas. Se le proporcionará información para comprender los productos, las prácticas y las perspectivas de las personas que viven dentro o que provienen de las regiones y los países hispanohablantes. Algunas de las preguntas esenciales abordadas en este curso incluirán: ¿Cómo ha cambiado la cultura de la familia a lo largo de las generaciones? ¿Cómo es la comida en los diferentes países hispanohablantes? ¿Qué se puede aprender acerca de ti mismo y otra cultura al viajar? El nivel de español necesario en este curso sería entre Novice High-Intermediate Low. Los estudiantes de este nivel pueden hablar usando oraciones completas y mantener conversaciones sencillas sobre temas cotidianos.
Honors Spanish 3
Course Number: 2323
Prerequisites: Novice High or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This intermediate level course introduces students to more advanced structures such as the subjunctive mood to communicate more effectively on a variety of topics. Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) are used to provide students feedback on their proficiency level with interpersonal, interpretive and presentational tasks as well as to help students target areas for growth with each mode of communication. Some of the essential questions addressed in this course, which are a continuation of the culturally focused curriculum from the novice levels, will include: How am I similar to a teenager in Spain? What is digital citizenship? What responsibility do I have to ensure that underrepresented groups are not discriminated against in my country and in the world? The targeted proficiency level in this course will be a range between Intermediate-Low to Intermediate-Mid. Students at this level can create with language using familiar vocabulary and can handle simple situations and transactions in Spanish.
Este curso de nivel intermedio presenta a los estudiantes estructuras más avanzadas, como el modo subjuntivo para comunicarse de manera más efectiva en una variedad de temas. Las Evaluaciones Integradas de Desempeño (IPA) se utilizan para proporcionar a los estudiantes información sobre su nivel de competencia con las tareas interpersonales, interpretativas y de presentación, así como para ayudar a los estudiantes a enfocarse en las áreas de crecimiento con cada modo de comunicación. Algunas de las preguntas esenciales abordadas en este curso, que son una continuación del plan de estudios centrado en la cultura desde los niveles de principiante, incluirán: ¿Cómo me parezco a un adolescente en España? ¿Cómo se define la ciudadanía digital? ¿Qué responsabilidad tengo yo para asegurar que los grupos subrepresentados no sean discriminados en mi país y en el mundo? El nivel de español necesario en este curso sería entre Intermediate-Low to Intermediate-Mid. Los estudiantes en este nivel pueden crear con el lenguaje utilizando el vocabulario familiar y pueden manejar situaciones e interacciones sencillas en español.
Honors Spanish 4
Course Number: 2324
Prerequisites: Intermediate Low or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 10, 11, 12
This course offers upper level Spanish students an exploration of modern Hispanic literature. It is designed around themes such as “Dreams versus Reality”,” Identity and Destiny” and “Experiences that Define Us” and exposes students to a wide variety of genres and representative Hispanic authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Isabel Allende and Gabriél García Márquez. Assignments will focus on reactions to literature, self-expression and discussion in Spanish, while also providing the opportunity for students to refine grammar skills through interpersonal communication and written assignments. Both individual and group projects will be required and these will be based on the course themes. The targeted proficiency level in this course will be a range between Intermediate-Mid-Advanced Low. Students at this level can tell a story in the past, present or future tense with some errors and can present a point of view with reasons to support it.
Este curso brinda una exploración de la literatura hispana para los alumnos un poco más avanzados. La literatura se orienta alrededor de temas como los sueños y la realidad, la identidad y el destino, y las experiencias que nos definen. Presenta a los alumnos una variedad amplia de géneros y autores importantes del mundo hispanohablante, tales como Jorge Luis Borges, Isabel Allende y Gabriel Garcia Márquez. Las tareas se enfocarán en la comprensión de textos también como en la auto-expresión a través de discusiones en clases así como los trabajos prácticos. Realizarán proyectos en grupos y solos, y estos proyectos estarán basados en los temas del curso. El nivel de español necesario en este curso sería entre Intermediate-Mid y Advanced Low. Los alumnos deberían poder contar una historia en el pasado, presente y futuro y poder expresar su punto de vista con argumentos que apoyan sus ideas.
Honors Spanish 5
Course Number: 2325
Prerequisites: Intermediate Mid or by teacher recommendation
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 10,11,12
Students will read and react to literary masterpieces of Spain’s Golden Age, or Siglo De Oro, the period of Spanish literature generally considered to be the high point in Spain's literary history, extending from the early 16th century to the late 17th century. Among the classics students will study in this course are Lazarillo de Tormes (anonymous), Don Quijote de la Mancha (Miguel de Cervantes) and La Celestina (Fernando de Rojas). Students will take part in class discussions, give oral presentations and write essays in addition to other interpretive tasks as they develop valuable cultural knowledge and insights through literature. The targeted proficiency level in this course will be a range between Advanced Low-Advanced-Mid. Students at this level can convey intended messages without confusion and can narrate and describe in paragraph length writing.
En este curso los alumnos conocerán la literatura del siglo de oro de España, lo cual se considera el momento más importante de la historia literaria española y se extiende desde los principios del siglo dieciseis hasta los últimos años del siglo diecisiete. Las obras clásicas que los alumnos van a estudiar en este curso son Lazarillo de Tormes (autor anónimo), Don Quijote de la Mancha (Miguel de Cervantes) y la Celestina (por Fernando de Rojas). Los alumnos participarán en charlas, dar presentaciones orales y escribir ensayos ademas de hacer otras tareas de interpretación mientras desarrollan su conocimiento y comprensión cultural a través de la literatura. El nivel de español necesario en este curso sería entre Advanced Low y Advanced-Mid. Los alumnos en este nivel pueden expresarse sin confusión y relatar ideas y mensajes usando formatos como ensayos y trabajos prácticos.
Spanish Heritage Language
Course Number: 2330S
Prerequisites: Native speaker or near native proficiency
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is a course for native Spanish speakers and/or students with near native proficiency to continue building on their Spanish skills and abilities in an academic setting.
Latin
College Prep Latin 1
Course Number: 2341
Prerequisites: None
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
Are you fascinated by Roman history? Can you not get enough of Roman and Greek mythology? Have you ever wondered about the origins of the arch,modern military strategy, or the derivation of over 600,000 English words? If so, Latin is the language for you. In Latin, students learn about all these things and more! In addition to Roman history and culture, the Latin language and vocabulary are studied in depth in this student-centered introductory course.
College Prep Latin 2
Course Number: 2342
Prerequisites: Latin 1 or equivalent
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 10, 11, 12
Ready to travel to the far reaches of the Roman Empire? This course continues the travels and travails of the Caecilii family from Egypt to Britain, Students will continue to explore Roman culture and the Latin language with our Cambridge Latin Course ebooks. If you love mythology this course will give you the opportunity to study mythology everyday as you prepare for the National Mythology Exam.
Honors Latin Poetry (Offered 2023-2024 only) (Capstone Class)
Course Number: 2343
Prerequisites: Latin 2 or Honors Latin Prose
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 11, 12
How did the Romans feel about love and loss, about family and friends? How did the Romans react to the turbulent political scene in late Republican Rome? Have you ever wanted to read authentic Latin literature? If so, this course is for you. This course focuses on the literature of the best Roman poets, notably Martial, Ovid, Vergil, and Catullus. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy daily interaction with mythology as you prepare for the National Mythology Exam. Come join your own Latin cohort and experience Latin literature in a relaxed and intellectual atmosphere.
Honors Latin Prose (Offered 2024-2025 only) (Capstone Class)
Course Number: 2344
Prerequisites: Latin 2
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 11,12
The Romans were very interested in the history of the Roman race, just as we Americans are today. If you are interested in historic events like the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Gallic wars, and the downfall of the Roman Republic, this course is for you. For all you ghost hunters, there are readings focusing on the Roman’s beliefs in the paranormal. You will also have the opportunity to read a selection of Neo-Latin, Peter Martyr’s De Orbe Novo, which chronicles Columbus’ voyage to the “new world.” Grammar and vocabulary will be taught as needed.
College Prep Greek 1
Course Number: 2371
Prerequisites: One year of Latin or two years of World Language strongly recommended
Credit: 2 Elective Credits, full year
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
Do you enjoy mythology? Are you interested in adding to your background in Classical Languages? Greek might be an interesting course for you. This is an introductory course to the Greek alphabet, sounds, grammar and syntax for Attic Greek (circa 400 B.C.E.), and an introduction to Greek literature and culture. In addition, students will explore Greek culture through art projects, mythology, and readings from select authors (in translation).
