Foreign Language @ OA

The Orinda Academy Language Department works toward the goal of creating students who are comfortable with and capable of communicating in another language so that they may enjoy all the benefits of multilingualism. During high school, those benefits may include increased SAT / ACT scores, improved reading ability, and improved critical thinking.  During and after high school, those benefits include increased social and economic opportunities.  The globalization of business, science, education, and medicine has created a greater appreciation and demand for the ability to communicate in more than one language.

     Orinda Academy is proud to offer four levels of French and five levels of Spanish instruction.  The first two years of each language are devoted to vocabulary acquisition and grammar along with an appreciation for the history and culture of various countries.  Lessons are taught with a functional, topical approach that focuses on giving students skills that are practical for travel and basic conversation.  To foster student proficiency, lessons include materials originally created in the target language such as menus, travel documents, advertisements, songs, movies, YouTube videos, and more.  The upper division classes continue the study of grammar, vocabulary, and culture while incorporating classic and modern literature in the target language.  Students write longer, more grammatically sophisticated compositions and give longer presentations.

     Orinda Academy instructors use the Glencoe McGraw Hill series of textbooks as well as other resources (including technology) for the first three years.  The fourth year is comprised of materials from different sources including novels. The fifth year Spanish class is an AP class and uses AP materials.  

Irene Brates is the Spanish instructor at Orinda Academy.

Katherine Saxby is the French instructor at Orinda Academy.

French

French 1-2 (first year)

The first year of French focuses on the study of vocabulary and grammar necessary for basic conversations and questions about such everyday topics as home, school, family, shopping, travel, food, sports, and leisure activities. Students will read, write, and speak French everyday.  Students are also exposed to history and culture from various francophone countries as we sing, dance, eat quiche and couscous.

French 3-4 (second year)

The second year of French continues the study of vocabulary and grammar, adding many more verb tenses and more specific words that allow students to communicate in greater detail about practical, everyday subjects such as train travel and school activities as well as to express their opinions on a variety of topics including art, cars, and careers.  French 3-4 continues the study of francophone history and culture.

French 5-6 (third year)

Students continue to develop and strengthen their French language speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The class reviews vocabulary and grammar that was presented in previous years and adds more sophisticated grammar and vocabulary in order to enable students to express concepts like probability, possibility, and necessity, as well as to give more precise descriptions of actions and time. Students will use more pronouns and idiomatic expressions in their writing and speaking. Students will be able to communicate about a variety of topics including leisure activities, vacations, music and dance, geography, and the daily news with detail and emotion. We will continue to explore Francophone culture through literature, music, and film.

French 7-8 (fourth year)

Using a variety of French literature and an AP test book, students will continue the development of speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills in the French language. Students will develop a greater knowledge and appreciation of Francophone literature, music, theater, and film. Students will communicate with more depth and fewer mistakes on a variety of topics.

Spanish

Spanish 1-2 (first year)  

This class is designed to help students learn the basics of the language and then gradually move to more conversation and grammar. The students will build their vocabulary and learn rules for the correct usage of the language. The class will start with a combination of English and Spanish until we gradually move to a Spanish only class. The students will have enough confidence to understand instructions, and then they will be able to communicate in different situations with basic Spanish.  This class meets the California State Standards.
 
Spanish 3-4 (second year)   

This class is designed to increase vocabulary, grammar and communication skills of the students. The class will reinforce the basics of the previous year, and it will gradually move to more complicated grammar.  The class will be conducted entirely in Spanish; English will be used only for explanation of grammar and in case of emergency. Students will have enough confidence to understand instructions, and then they will be able to communicate in different situations with more advanced communication skills.

Spanish 5-6 (third year)    

This class is designed to enable students to expand their vocabulary and acquire more sophisticated grammar. Students will be able to read and comprehend advanced literature, and they will be able to maintain a conversation in Spanish in more difficult scenarios.  Students will apply their writing skills more frequently using more complicated grammar rules. This class will be entirely in Spanish.

Spanish 7-8 (fourth year)   

This class is designed to help students expand their vocabulary and practice their reading, writing and communication skills. Students will be able to read and comprehend advanced literature like newspapers, magazines and short stories. They will be introduced to different styles of writing, and they will be also introduced to well-known Latin American and Spanish writers. This class will be entirely in Spanish.

AP Spanish

This class is designed for students to be able to read and comprehend advanced literature and to be able to maintain a conversation in Spanish in more difficult scenarios. The students will practice their listening comprehension skills in various situations.  They will be introduced to more Spanish and Latin American literature, but the emphasis will be on their understanding and their correct grammar usage with the goal preparing for the AP Spanish test. This class meets the state standards and has been approved by the AP College Board.