The Modern Languages and Classics Departments teach speaking, comprehension, writing, and reading skills in French, Spanish, Chinese, Latin, and Ancient Greek. Through exploration of literary texts, students cultivate an appreciation of ideas as they develop their analytical reading skills. It is hoped that students will be inspired to make language study a lifelong process and that they will travel to other countries, becoming citizens of the global community.

Chinese – 9

This course aims to consolidate basic communication skills in Chinese.  Hanyu Pinyin romanization, tones, common radicals, and elementary use of Chinese word processing skills will be reinforced throughout the year.  Major themes are: personal background, school life, leisure activities, shopping, health, weather, and travel.  Textbook: Chinese Link Level 1 Part 2 with audio CD & Workbook by Pearson & Prentice Hall, supplemented by themed readers.

Chinese – 10

The course reinforces previously learned material and further develops the command of daily expressions, grammatical structures, and effective communication skills.  There will be an increasing emphasis on vocabulary building and character acquisition.  The major themes for this course are: directions, celebrations and customs, the arts, money and banking, body parts and medicine, and Chinese society.  Textbook:  Chinese Link Level 2 Part 1 with audio CD & Workbook by Pearson & Prentice Hall, with supplemental readings on related topics.

Chinese – 11

Chinese 11 continues the development of effective communication through intensive training of oral-aural abilities, reading, and writing.  Major themes for this course of study include: polite expressions, accidents, college life, employment, and Chinese history.  Students learn to read and understand information from authentic materials, such as song lyrics, edited versions of classic Chinese stories, and movie script excerpts.  Textbook:  Chinese Link Level 2 Part 2 with audio CD & Workbook by Pearson & Prentice Hall, together with edited readings on related topics.

Chinese – 12

This course emphasizes the development of students’ critical thinking and effective communication skills. More authentic materials will be integrated and introduced throughout the class, such as advertisements, traditional proverbs and sayings, and newspaper and magazine stories.  Excerpts from literary genres and different styles of writing will be introduced, and will serve as topics of written assignments and oral discussions.  The major themes are: Chinese culture, international relations, and social issues.  Textbook: All Things Considered: Advanced Reader of Modern Chinese from Princeton University Press, in combination with both edited and unedited authentic materials.

French – 9

This course focuses on expanding students’ oral and written expression as well as on enhancing their listening and reading comprehension skills. By performing sketches, presenting group projects and conducting debates, students develop their communicative skills on topics related to daily life. They explore cultural differences between the United States and French-speaking regions and acquire a wider vocabulary range using a host of authentic materials (informational articles, infographics, newscasts, songs and films). Emphasis is also placed on the study of grammar formally, using the D’Accord 2 textbook, workbook and supersite, and in context. The work of the year encompasses the reading of fictional texts such as Chris Donner’s Les Lettres de mon petit frère and St. Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince.

Advanced French – 9

This course focuses on expanding students’ oral and written expression as well as on enhancing their listening and reading comprehension skills. The class year is organized around the study of thematic units, with applied grammar study and topics drawn from the D’Accord 2 textbook and authentic materials, including literature, film, newscasts, infographics, and music. Students develop their intercultural competence by exploring cultural differences between the United States and French-speaking regions around the world, and hone their communicative skills through presentations, compositions and in-class discussions and debates. Literary works studied include such texts as Amadou Hampâté Bâ’s Sur les traces d’Amkoullel L’Enfant Peul and St. Exupery’s Le Petit Prince.

French – 10

This course is designed to expand speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, and to provide deeper insight into French-speaking cultures. While using the Imaginez textbook, workbook and supersite, students also work with authentic materials at a more sophisticated level. They are responsible for frequent oral interventions, and study guides. In the course of the year, students enhance their skills for expression and interpretation of current events and develop comparisons between French-speaking communities and their own. They are also introduced to contemporary works of literature such as Yasmina Reza’s Le Dieu du carnage. The work of the year culminates with the reading of Albert Camus’ L’Etranger.

Advanced French – 10

Students use two methods called Imaginez and Thèmes, communicative approaches to French language and francophone cultures that include an internet supersite with many aural and visual activities. They will complete their study of verbal tenses, expand their vocabulary and improve their ability to speak and write about issues facing the modern world. They will also practice their spoken French by doing voice recordings online in which they respond to a culture question as well as participate in simulated conversations. They read Yasmina Reza’s Dieu du Carnage, Camus’s L'Etranger, and Ionesco's Rhinocéros, writing compositions about the novel and acting out scenes from the plays. Films are integrated into the curriculum and discussed in the context of global problems.

French – 11

This is a year-long course in which students continue to build their proficiency and refine their written and spoken expression. The D’Accord 3 textbook, workbook and supersite remain a reference for the class, and students will engage regularly with authentic materials that correspond to the themes presented. They continue to enhance their skills for interpretation and discussion of current events through guided activities and lively in-class conversations. Over the year, they will read three texts including Ionesco’s La Cantatrice Chauve, Ben Jelloun’s Racisme expliqué à ma fille, and Raymond Queneau’s Exercices de Style. In addition, a selection of films will be used to further explore the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the francophone world.

Advanced French – 11

This course is a continuation of Advanced French 10. Students use the Thèmes textbook and read a series of canonical texts in poetry and in prose as well as Faïza Guène’s novel Kiffe kiffe demain. The curriculum is articulated around six major themes – families and communities, personal and public identities, global challenges, beauty and esthetics, science and technology, contemporary life – which invite an interdisciplinary approach to the Francophone world and opportunities for comparison with Anglophone culture. In their work with authentic materials (articles, broadcasts, infographics, films) students strengthen their competence in listening, reading, speaking and writing; they also acquire ease in discerning and using formal and informal registers of language. This class also offers a review of major grammatical points meant to foster precision and range of expression. In May, students take the Advanced Placement Examination in French Language and Culture.

French – 12

The objective of this class is to expand students’ understanding of French and francophone cultures and their ability to discuss selected topics from the news, literary texts and movies. The choice of texts is in part determined by student interest: authors include Charles Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, Jean-Paul Sartre, Assia Djebar, Dany Laferrière, Riad Sattouf, and Edouard Louis, among others. Strong emphasis is placed on oral communication so that students acquire ease in their expression: conversations on the above works are complemented by lively in-class discussions of current events. Students will be asked to write both analytical and creative assignments and prepare oral presentations on selected topics. The class will culminate with a unit on French New Wave Cinema, in which we will study directors such as Luis Buñuel, Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Eric Rohmer.

Ancient Greek I 

This 3-credit course provides an introduction to the Attic dialect of Ancient Greek, which was spoken and written in and around Athens in the 4th and 5th centuries b.c.e.  Students master the alphabet, accents, and pronunciation and begin learning basic vocabulary, morphology, and syntax.  Selections from ancient authors are read as soon as possible.  Classes are scheduled in the early morning (7:40-8:20) and/or during a common lunch period.

Ancient Greek II 

In the second year of Greek, students continue to learn the forms, vocabulary, and syntax of the Attic dialect. The remaining forms of the Greek verb (including the subjunctive, optative, and imperative) are introduced. Students are able to read increasingly long and complex selections from Greek prose (Plato and Xenophon in particular) and poetry (the Greek tragedians and samples of lyric).

Ancient Greek III

In the third year of Greek, students complete their study of the basic morphology and syntax of the Attic dialect.  While expanding their knowledge of the uses of the Greek subjunctive and optative, students read unabridged selections from many authors of ancient Greek prose and poetry, including passages from Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, and Xenophon.  Classes are scheduled in the early morning (7:40-8:20) and/or during a common lunch period.

Ancient Greek IV

This is an elective reading course, in which students may choose to read complete works of prose or poetry.  Review of syntax and techniques for translating are emphasized.  Possible texts include the Euthyphro, Apology, or Symposium of Plato; books 1,6,9 of Homer’s Iliad; the Medea of Euripides; and any other works that may be of interest to individual students enrolled.  Classes may meet 4 times per week, but must meet a minimum of 3 times. 

Latin – 9

In this course students continue to master basic Latin vocabulary, morphology, and syntax. Emphasis is placed on techniques for reading and translating. Samples of real Latin prose (Caesar, Cicero, Livy) and poetry (Catullus, Propertius) are presented. Topics include the subjunctive, infinitives and indirect statement, participles, and the meter of Latin poetry.

Latin – 10

Students complete their study of Latin forms and syntax and read selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.  In the spring term students study rhetoric and prose style while reading an entire speech of Cicero (In Catilinam I) and substantial selections from the historian Sallust’s Bellum Catilinae.  Acquisition of vocabulary and techniques for translating are emphasized.

Latin – 11

In this course students will make a close study of Vergil’s great Roman epic poem, the Aeneid.  All of books 1 and 2 will be read, as well as substantial portions of books 4, 6, 10, and 12.  Students will identify the special features of the Vergilian hexameter and will memorize and recite lines aloud.  Matters of Roman history, especially events in the reign of Augustus, will be considered.  We shall examine the poem’s artful structure and its literary roots in Greek epic, while mastering an array of poetic and rhetorical devices that create varied effects and enhance meaning.

Advanced Latin – 12

Readings for this elective course are determined by students’ interests.  Works of Roman history that may be studied include Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita and Tacitus’s Annales.  Students may also read selections from the lyric poetry of Catullus and Horace.  Advanced syntax, historiography, literary criticism, and the art of close reading will be important elements in this class.

Spanish -9 

In this course students will follow the multi-media program Enfoques which will develop skills under the framework of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. Short readings and oral presentations will supplement drills and group work.  In the spring, students will read El Lazarillo de Tormes, an anonymous fictional story that recounts the misfortunes of a young boy in Spain.

Advanced Spanish – 9

This course offers a comprehensive foundation in Spanish studies through a review of basic vocabulary and grammar, and through an in-depth study of advanced topics. Within a strong cultural framework, the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are equally stressed. Students will develop the ability to communicate in a variety of contexts as well as enhance their cultural competence.  Readings include the anthology Los mejores relatos fantásticos de habla hispana, by J. Estruch i Tobella; El Lazarillo de Tormes (anonymous); El desorden de tu nombre, by Juan José Millás, short stories and selected poems by a variety of Spanish and Latin American authors, excerpts from Sin Noticias de Gurb, by Eduardo Mendoza, and El Espejo Enterrado, by Carlos Fuentes.  A wide selection of movies will complement the topics covered. We will use the Enfoques program.

Spanish – 10

This course is a continuation of the basic structures and vocabulary learned during the previous year. In addition, students practice their writing by means of guided compositions.  Speaking and listening comprehension are reinforced by the use of the multimedia program Descubre 3. This method enables the students to learn about the various cultures of the Hispanic world.  They will be exposed to the different ways of speaking Spanish, and they will study the abridged novels, El oro de los sueños, by José María Merino and Sangre y Arena, by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.  We will also use the book ¡De película! to study films that deal with relevant topics to our studies.

Advanced Spanish – 10

This course offers students the opportunity to enhance their language skills through a selection of authentic materials, ranging from Hispanic newspaper articles to novels, plays, short stories, and poetry by contemporary writers.  We will read texts by Antonio Skármeta (Chile), Isabel Allende (Chile), Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia), Celestino Gorostiza (Mexico), Federico García Lorca (Spain), and others.  Students will complete the study of verbal tenses and will comprehend the intricacies of syntax as well as practice conversation and write compositions on a regular basis.  Learning and appreciating the different cultures of the Hispanic world will continue to be emphasized.

Spanish – 11

This course focuses on further development of oral, listening and writing skills with an emphasis on the different cultures of the countries where Spanish is spoken. The textbook, Enfoques, teaches grammar within the context of short films, cultural readings, and literary excerpts on current affairs. Students will learn Spanish from a variety of authentic sources: films, TV series, and documentaries. In addition, students will read short stories by Quim Monzó, Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar, Ana María Matute, and Isabel Allende.  Reading and listening comprehension exercises followed by oral discussions and presentations are a key component of this course.

Advanced Spanish – 11

This course focuses on the sustained development of the students’ language skills with an emphasis on oral communication and listening skills.  Students will study the culture of the Spanish-speaking world. They will also write essays on a regular basis.  Our readings will be from a selection of newspapers in Spanish.  In addition, we will read the novel Crónica de una Muerte Anunciada, by Gabriel García Márquez or a play by Federico García Lorca.  We will see the production of a theatrical work in Spanish at the Repertorio Español.  In the second semester, we will prepare for the Advanced Placement exam.  It is expected that all the students will take the test in May.

Spanish – 12

There are two options when taking Spanish 12:

 

Contemporary Hispanic Cinema

The objective of this class is to study contemporary issues in different Spanish speaking countries by studying movies that depict them. We will analyze movies and excerpts. If possible, we will study screenplays. Activities and drills to learn slang and idiomatic expressions will be provided.  In some cases, we will compare the original piece of literature with the cinematographic work.  The movies will be chosen for quality, cultural and historical content, and their appeal to students. We will study directors such as Pedro Almodóvar (Spain), Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (Cuba), Luis Buñuel (Spain-Mexico), Alfonso Arau (Mexico) Fernando Trueba (Spain), Luis Puenzo (Argentina), among others. Academic assessments for this full-year course will include essays, exams, presentations and research projects. Textbook: Cinema for Spanish Conversation, by Mary McVey Gill, Deana Smalley, and Maria Paz Haro.

OR

Las Noticias en Español

This is a year-long elective course designed for motivated students who want to continue Spanish in their senior year. The focus is on oral communication. Students will be exposed to the news in the target language through Hispanic television channels, radio stations, newspapers, and the Internet. Electronic journals and blogs will be kept by students to record their views, their daily routines, and a variety of topics of interest for discussion. Grammar and vocabulary skills will be reinforced as needed.  Contemporary Hispanic writers and movies will be used to study the array of cultures typical of the Spanish-speaking world.

Independent Study 

All students interested in signing up for an independent study must approach the appropriate teacher and, in consultation with that teacher and his advisor, submit a request form to the Upper School office. 

1. Rising 11th and 12th graders who have taken a modern language and/or Latin and Greek may elect to continue one of these languages as an independent study in the senior year while enrolling in the other as a regular course.

2. Rising 11th and 12th graders who have a strong interest in trying a year of another language other than the one they have already studied at IVY Road, may make a special request for an independent study. Each request will be considered on a case by case basis. Approval will be subject to the availability of foreign language teachers. Independent study classes meet once a week.    

Chinese – 10

The course reinforces previously learned material and further develops the command of daily expressions, grammatical structures, and effective communication skills.  There will be an increasing emphasis on vocabulary building and character acquisition.  The major themes for this course are: directions, celebrations and customs, the arts, money and banking, body parts and medicine, and Chinese society.  Textbook:  Chinese Link Level 2 Part 1 with audio CD & Workbook by Pearson & Prentice Hall, with supplemental readings on related topics.

The library is a central part of student life at IVY Road. The IVY Road library actively supports the academic areas of the school in both the quality and quantity of its collection and its programs. The library’s mission is to help all students develop information literacy and a love of literature, languages, and ideas.
 

The library program integrates the use of technology in multiple ways, which include instruction to support familiarity with reference tools through the use of library web pages and online databases. The school librarians teach in each division to promote the development of a cohesive library program from kindergarten through twelfth grade. students in all grades are encouraged to use the library at any time to browse, to borrow books and to develop their research skills.