Introduction to Foreign Language
Grade: 7 & 8 grade students new to Cooper
18 weeks
Students are introduced to two or more foreign languages and cultures, which are, in turn, contrasted with English. The languages most often studied are French, German, Latin, and Spanish – Chinese, Japanese and Russian may also be included. Students learn the most basic structures, vocabulary, and expressions in each language and study the culture of the people who speak them. They are also exposed to the basic steps and study habits necessary to learn a foreign language. Students are made aware of how knowledge of a foreign language enriches a person’s life and expands the option in terms of career goals. The 18-week course can include at least four languages. This course does not count as a foreign language credit.

Japanese Immersion 1
Credit:  1 High School
Grade 7
This course serves as a transition from elementary partial-immersion to the sequential foreign language high school program. Students expand their knowledge of the language to include communicating about themselves and their immediate environment. This communication is evidenced in all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with an emphasis on the ability to communicate orally and in writing. The content of this course is aligned with the Level 1 POS. Students are able to explore art, music, drama, and literature in addition to the themes and topics of the POS. Students will study the customs and culture of the countries where Japanese is spoken. Credit becomes a part of the high school transcript, is included in the determination of the high school grade point average (GPA), and counts towards fulfilling the foreign language requirements of the high school Advanced Studies diploma. It also counts towards the number of credits required for high school graduation.

Japanese Immersion 2
Credit:  1 High School
Grade: 8
36 Weeks
This course is designed to meet the needs of the immersion students in regard to their second language development. Students continue their development of language proficiency in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. They read material on familiar topics and produce short writing samples while studying the themes and topics of Home Life, Student Life, Leisure Time, and Vacation and Travel. The content of this course is aligned with the Level 2 POS. Credit becomes part of the high school transcript, is included in the determination of the high school grade point average (GPA), and counts towards fulfilling the foreign language requirements of the Advanced Studies diploma. This course counts toward the number of credits required for graduation.

French 1
German 1
Spanish 1
Credit:  1 High School
Open to 8th grade students only
36 Weeks
Students develop the ability to communicate about themselves and their immediate environment using simple sentences containing basic language structures. This communication is evidenced in all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - with emphasis on the ability to communicate orally and in writing. Students begin to explore and study the POS themes of Personal and Family Life, School Life, Social Life, and Community Life. For middle school students, this credit becomes a part of the high school transcript, is included in the determination of the high school grade point average (GPA), and counts toward fulfilling the foreign language requirements of the high school diploma. It also counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation.

French Textbook:
Allez, viens!, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2000.

Spanish Textbook:
¡En Español! Uno, McDougall Littell, 2000.