Electives

Spanish 1: 1 credit

This course provides a basic level of competence in the four language skills-listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  An overview of Hispanic culture, including Spain, Latin America, and Hispanics in the U.S., is presented.  A broad base of vocabulary is covered and the present tense is mastered.  Classroom activities include questions and answers, presentation of original dialogues, listening to tapes of native speakers and use of computers. We use the textbook VOCES Y VISTAS and its accompanying workbooks and tapes.
Homework required: 1-2 hours per week

Spanish 2: 1 credit    

This course builds on the skills learned in Spanish 1, strengthening listening and speaking skills during the first semester and doing more extensive reading and writing in the second semester.  The grammatical focus is on mastery of the two simple past tenses.  Each student does research over the year on a Spanish-speaking country, culminating in a presentation to the class at the end of the year.  Two texts, VOCES Y VISTAS and PASOS Y PUENTES are used, as well as workbooks, a reader, tapes, and computer programs. Prerequisite-Spanish 1 or permission of the teacher.
Homework required: 1-2 hours per week

Spanish 3: 1 credit

This course continues to work on all the language skills.  All the tenses as well as the subjunctive and commands are introduced.  Most of the class is conducted in Spanish.  In addition to the text, PASOS Y PUENTES,  and its workbooks and tapes, we also use a video series called LA CATRINA and its workbooks.  A short story and/or play is read, as well.   Students do original writing and oral presentations throughout the year. Prerequisite-Spanish 2 or permission of the teacher.
Homework required: 1-2 hours per week

Spanish 4: 1 credit    

This course refines the language skills taught in Spanish 3.  The course is conducted almost entirely in Spanish.  Grammar units from various sources are used.  A play by Casona is read and the video series DESTINOS  and its workbook are used.   We do units on Hispanic music and art and the students do research and presentations on a Spanish artist. Prerequisite-Spanish 3 or permission of the teacher.
Homework required: 1-2 hours per week.

Seminar in Jewish Thought: .5 Credits

The Seminar in Jewish Thought empowers students to engage classical and contemporary primary sources that shape the values of our Torah community, with the goals of sparking personal growth, instilling a deeply rooted sense of Jewish identity in students' lives, passionate love of the Jewish people, and dedication to the State of Israel, through thoughtful Torah study and group discussion.  Students will learn to take ownership of their development as thinking religious Jews and to thrive as b'nei and b'not Torah in the modern world.
Homework requirement:  1-2 hours/week