Language

At CSW, students study French, Mandarin, or Spanish through an immersive curriculum that builds skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while also exploring the culture, history, and current events of the language's communities.

With engaging electives and off-campus programs in France, Latin America, and Taiwan, students move beyond textbooks to experience language as a living, global practice.

Language learning at CSW is about more than fluency—it’s about connection, perspective, and active engagement in the wider world.

French 1 - Fundamentals

In this introductory course, students will focus on the key areas of world language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as Francophone cultures. Students practice pronunciation, vocabulary, and structure, and learn three verb tenses: the present, past and immediate future. Classwork incorporates creative interactive activities, music, conversation, and games to reinforce vocabulary and grammar. This course serves as an introduction to the many aspects of a foreign culture, specifically the opportunity to analyze and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various French-speaking regions. Students are required to engage actively in their language learning. Homework is assigned for each evening, and students will take frequent written and oral quizzes.

Prerequisite: No prerequisite
French 2 - Transitions

In this course, students continue to expand their knowledge of essential grammatical concepts and vocabulary topics. Students will begin to comprehend listening and reading passages more fully. They will be able to express themselves more meaningfully in both speaking and writing. Therefore, classwork reinforces grammatical structures and pronunciation, as students engage in more complex conversation. Short stories, video segments in French, and cultural projects using the Internet and movies vary the course content and activities. This course also gives students the opportunity to analyze and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various French-speaking countries. Homework assignments are an integral part of the course. Students are required to engage in their language learning actively.

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in the previous level to continue on to the next level
French 3A - Intermediate

French 3A is an immersion course in which students will augment their proficiency in the French language. Students will delve deeply into the language through the study of Francophone culture and current events. This course synthesizes the grammar covered in French 1 and French 2 and introduces more advanced grammar, such as relative pronouns, the conditional tense, and many other concepts. Students will use authentic sources like podcasts, videos, newspaper articles, and songs to learn and interpret a variety of topics in French. This is a highly communicative course and the students will work both individually and collaboratively in class and on assessments such as projects and presentations.

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in the previous level to continue onto the next level
French 3B - Intermediate-Advanced

During this two-module course, we read the original version of Le Petit Prince written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and watch extracts of different film adaptations. French songs from the musical of Le Petit Prince by Richard Cocchante are used to reinforce the understanding of the text. For some chapters, where the little prince is visiting other planets, students work in teams to lead activities and act out a scene. In this famous novel, Saint-Exupéry makes observations about life and human nature. One example is when a fox that the young prince meets in the desert says "On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." ("One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye."). Students will reflect on their own lives and give examples to illustrate their thoughts. As a final project, students write an essay where they imagine that the little prince travels to a new planet, meets its inhabitants, and learns from them during his visit. During this course, we also review and develop different grammar points, learn songs, watch videos, and listen to podcasts. French 3B is the equivalent to the module abroad in France if the student decides to take that path. However, those who take the module abroad course are required to take at least one upper-level elective the following year.

This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
French Elective: À Table !: Francophone Food Culture

(Prerequisite: Completion of French 3 and department approval) Students will investigate Francophone gastronomy through films, short novels, and non-fiction texts that explore the diversity of food culture in the French-speaking world. Through these media, students will study culinary vocabulary, expressions, and notions present in French cuisine and around the world as it reflects the societies, languages, histories, customs, and attitudes where this cuisine is prepared. At the end of the course, students will have the opportunity to recreate a recipe of their choosing to have prepared and presented to the class.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement
French Elective: Literature and Arts

(Prerequisites: Completion of French 3 and departmental approval)

During this two-module course, we explore French art and literature. We study Calligrams by Guillaume Apollinaire and then write and draw our own. We discover literature through texts of Alphonse Allais, and we adapted them into modern skits. We read and study ‘La Parure’, a short novel by Maupassant and different poems by Jacques Prévert. We memorize the poem ‘Chanson d’Automne,’ which was used as a code on London Radio to start resistance events before D-Day landings. We explore French Art through the eyes of different artists such as Manet, Van Gogh, etc. We listen to songs and composers. We also cover advanced grammar, Tv News, podcasts and articles.

This class is also suitable for heritage speakers.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
French Elective: Petit Pays (Small Country)

(Prerequisite: Completion of French 3 and department approval) Petit Pays by Gaël Faye chronicles the story of a boy growing up in Burundi whose innocence shatters at the outbreak of violence in neighboring Rwanda. Students will study the historical events leading up to the story and the novel’s author, whose own life experiences inform events in the story. We will interrogate childhood, identity, and nostalgia while gaining an appreciation for reading for pleasure in French. We will use a range of media to engage with the text, including videos, articles, and podcasts. Students will likewise engage with the material in three steps: writing a reading journal, presenting their work-in-progress in class, and presenting a final creative or analytical project.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement
Mandarin 1 - Fundamentals

(Prerequisite: No prerequisite)

This course is designed for students who are interested in learning Mandarin and Chinese culture. As an introductory level course, we start with locating China on the world map, taking a glimpse into Chinese culture, and the pinyin system (pronunciation) to open the door to the fascinating world of Mandarin, while also developing students’ listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills. The focus for Mandarin I will be on speaking and listening skills, as well as the building of a solid foundation for Chinese character writing. Through daily homework, in-class exercises, quizzes, and supplementary materials, students learn the aforementioned language skills to communicate in real-life situations, with greetings, family, dates and time, hobbies, visiting friends, etc. This course integrates the iPad and various educational technology, using internet services such as G Suite by Google, Quizlet, Kahoot, and Dropbox to create an interactive learning environment. Aside from developing basic language skills, this course also introduces various traditional and modern cultural customs and practices in literature, music, media, and performing arts to the classroom to enrich the students’ understanding of Chinese culture.
Mandarin 2 - Transitions

(Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in Mandarin 1)

This course is designed for students who have acquired basic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese through Mandarin I or an equivalent courses. Through daily homework, in-class exercises, quizzes, and supplementary materials, students advance the skills learned from the previous course and continue gaining language skills (vocabulary, grammar, writing, etc.) to communicate in real-life situations, such as asking directions, seeing a doctor, dating, sports and travel, and other related topics. Students will also begin to read Chinese texts with no (or minimal) aid of pinyin. This course further integrates educational technology into the classroom, drawing on tools such as Dropbox, G-Suite apps, Quizlet, Kahoot, and other services to create an interactive learning environment. In addition, complementary materials such as Chinese arts, traditional/modern performing arts, and popular culture (pop song, films, TV drama, etc.) will be incorporated in lessons to enhance the students’ comprehension of Chinese culture as a whole.
Mandarin 3A - Intermediate

(Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in Mandarin 2)

This two-module intermediate level course is designed for students who have already acquired knowledge of fundamental Mandarin Chinese through Mandarin 1 and 2 or equivalent courses. This course maintains the basic structure of the Mandarin 1 and 2 classes, which include daily homework, in-class exercises, quizzes, and supplementary materials. Students will be expected to expand their vocabulary substantially through lengthy dialogues and be able to engage in meaningful conversation on topics such as holidays, social changes in China, traveling, health, and so on. Students are also expected to read Chinese texts with no aid of pinyin. This course integrates current educational technology, such as Quizlet, Dropbox, Google G Suite apps, Kahoot, and other programs to create an interactive learning environment.
Mandarin 3B - Intermediate-Advanced

(Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in Mandarin 3A)

This two-module advanced level course is designed for students who have already acquired knowledge of intermediate Mandarin Chinese through Mandarin 3A or equivalent courses. Topics covered will expand to computer and internet communication, working as an intern, China’s educational system, and geography. Students will have the opportunity to zoom into the city culture of China through diverse visual materials via Yabla and other internet educational resources. In addition, complementary materials, such as Chinese art, traditional or contemporary performing arts (e.g. Peking opera and Chinese traditional music), and popular culture (pop song, films, TV drama, etc.) will also be incorporated in lessons to provide an immersive learning experience.
Mandarin Elective & 3B : Cross-Cultural Adventures

(Prerequisite: Mandarin 3A. This course rotates biyearly with Mandarin Elective&3B: Coming of Age)

This course is designed for students who have completed Mandarin 3A at minimum and satisfies the level 3B graduation requirement. Students who have completed level 3B or participated in the Taiwan trip may take this class as an Advanced Language Elective.

By discussing movies centered on cultural clash and cross-cultural understandings, this 2-module theme-based course not only improves language skills but cultivates students’ intercultural competency. To examine cultural differences through cross-cultural lens, movies produced by both Chinese American directors and Chinese directors are included, for instance, “Father Knows Best” trilogy by Ang Lee, an Oscar Best Director award winner and “The Gua Sha Treatment” by Xiaolong Zheng. Students are expected to achieve intermediate-mid level proficiency, develop critical cultural awareness, and enhance cross-cultural communication abilities after the course.

This course counts as completion of Mandarin 3B. Completion of level 3B is a graduation requirement.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement
Mandarin Elective & 3B: Coming of Age

(Prerequisite: Mandarin 3A. This course rotates bi-yearly with Cross-Cultural Adventures) This two-module, theme-based course focuses on one film: You Are the Apple of My Eye, which depicts the coming-of-age experiences of youth in Taiwan. While immersing themselves in film in the target language, students will learn to discuss topics of interest related to the movie. Students may choose to complete one of the following final projects for the course: a poster and presentation showcasing their understanding of the film; a presentation on a topic that intrigues them after analyzing and discussing the movie; a short film of their own about the coming-of-age experience. This course provides students with the opportunity to use intermediate to advanced grammar and vocabulary to discuss Taiwan/Chinese culture or culture in general.
Neotropics of Latin America (Off Campus)

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3A and permission of the department. This course can be equivalent to Spanish 3B. If students take this course instead of 3B, an elective course will be required to take upon return of the course.)

Offered every other year, this trip is a cooperative effort between the Language and Science departments. Students travel to the neotropics of Latin America for a program of immersion in tropical ecosystems and in Spanish language and culture. In the science component, students travel to various tropical ecosystems and conduct field experiments and projects. The challenges of economic development, conservation and sustainable agriculture are examined in an interdisciplinary manner. The language program consists of homestays with local families, organized field trips, and everyday conversational Spanish. Students maintain both science and Spanish journals as they travel. The program starts with an intensive pre‑orientation week at CSW prior to departure. There is an extra charge for this course, which grants two science credits, one history, one foreign language credit, and one athletic D-Block credit.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice requirement.
Neotropics of Latin America (Off campus)

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3A and permission of the department. This course can be equivalent to Spanish 3B. If students take this course instead of 3B, an elective course will be required to take upon return of the course.)

Offered every other year, this trip is a cooperative effort between the Language and Science departments. Students travel to the neotropics of Latin America for a program of immersion in tropical ecosystems and in Spanish language and culture. In the science component, students travel to various tropical ecosystems and conduct field experiments and projects. The challenges of economic development, conservation and sustainable agriculture are examined in an interdisciplinary manner. The language program consists of homestays with local families, organized field trips, and everyday conversational Spanish. Students maintain both science and Spanish journals as they travel. The program starts with an intensive pre‑orientation week at CSW prior to departure. There is an extra charge for this course, which grants two lab science credits, one foreign language credit, one athletic credit, and one D-block credit.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice requirement.
Off Campus to China and Taiwan

(Prerequisites: Completion of Mandarin 3A or permission of the department. This course can satisfy the level 3B graduation requirement. If a student completes this course instead of Mandarin 3B as a 10th or 11th grader, it is expected that they will continue in the Mandarin program's upper level electives in the subsequent year(s) )

In this course, students travel to China and Taiwan to strengthen their Mandarin Chinese as well as learn about the history, geography, culture, life, arts, and people in the two different Chinese societies. Students will learn to better understand and appreciate American perspective and culture through the discovery of China's and Taiwan’s. Students will attend classes and stay in homestays in China and Taiwan. Students will keep personal journals, contribute to a group a blog, and complete a personally designed research project.

Enrollment is with department permission only.

There is an additional charge for the course, which offers two blocks of language credit, one block of history credit, and one D‑block credit.

This course awards credit toward the social justice requirement.
Off Campus to France

(Prerequisites: Completion of French 3A and permission of the department. It can be equivalent to French 3B. If students take this course instead of 3B, an elective course will be required to take upon return of the course.)

Students will travel to France for four weeks for a program of total immersion in French language, history, and culture. During the first week prior to departure, the group will have an intensive orientation on the culture, art, history, and architecture of France, during which they will spend time working on their project presentations. They will finish the first week with presentations of their findings. The following four weeks will be spent in Montpellier, France. The students will take a French course and explore the area and the important sites surrounding them. During the last three days of the trip, they will tour Paris and Versailles During their stay in France, they will live with host families carefully selected in order to accommodate them accordingly. While traveling, students will keep a journal and fulfill other requirements adapted to their language and/or art background. Upon their return, students will prepare mandatory projects, including a research paper on their on-site findings, to earn full credit. This course, offered in module 5, is open to twelve students of advanced French. Enrollment is with department permission only. There is an extra charge for the course, which offers 2 blocks of language credit, 1 block of history credit, and 1 D-block credit.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement
Off Campus to Taiwan

(Prerequisite: Permission of the department)

In this course, students travel to Taiwan to strengthen their Mandarin Chinese as well as learn about the history, geography, culture, life, arts, and people of Taiwan. Students will attend classes and stay in homestays while in Taiwan. Students will keep personal journals, contribute to a group blog, and complete a research project. There is an additional charge for the course. Participating students earn 2 Language, 1 History, and 1 D-Block credit.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish 1 - Fundamentals

(Prerequisite: No prerequisite)

In this class, students will begin their acquaintance with the Spanish language. They will start to develop their listening comprehension and oral expression in the language. Students will learn how to talk about themselves and others and how to communicate their likes and dislikes. Some of the grammar covered includes: regular and irregular verbs in the present tense, numbers, days of the week, expressions of weather, time, daily routines, descriptive adjectives, possessive adjectives, direct and indirect object pronouns, and the present progressive and preterite tenses. The students will also learn about Hispanic traditions and culture. They will engage in listening, speaking and writing and will be expected to use Spanish to the best of their ability.
Spanish 2 - Transitions

(Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in Spanish 1)

In this class, students will enhance their proficiency in the Spanish language through interpersonal communication and the study of grammar and culture. Students will work both individually and in small groups to complete projects and other assignments geared toward expanding their listening comprehension, oral proficiency and written expression in Spanish.They will be able to communicate about topics such as: doctor’s visits, travel, nutrition and topics of personal interest. By the end of the course the students will be able to use: the present indicative, the preterite and imperfect tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns, double object pronouns, comparatives, relative pronouns, stressed possessive adjectives, por, para and formal and familiar commands. The students are expected to use Spanish to the best of their ability, as this course is conducted primarily in Spanish.
Spanish 3A - Intermediate

(Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in Spanish 2)

Spanish 3A is an immersion course in which students will expand their proficiency in the Spanish language. Students will delve deeply into the language through the study of Hispanic culture and current events. This course synthesizes the grammar covered in Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 and introduces the present perfect, the pluperfect, the present subjunctive, and the conditional and future tenses. Students will use authentic sources like podcasts, videos, newspaper articles, and songs to learn and communicate about a variety of topics in Spanish. This is a highly communicative course and students will work individually and collaboratively in class and on assessments such as projects and presentations.
Spanish 3B - Intermediate-Advanced

(Prerequisite: A grade of C or higher in Spanish 3A)

Spanish 3B is an immersion course in which all communication takes place in Spanish. This course is designed to augment the students’ oral/aural proficiency, reading comprehension, and written expression. Students will explore themes related to the environment, human rights, and Latin American history in depth. Students will be tasked with creating projects and presentations utilizing authentic resources. They will conduct their research and present in Spanish. In this course, which is collaborative and highly communicative, students can expect to work both individually and in small groups.
Spanish Elective: Current Events in the Spanish-Speaking World

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 and departmental approval)

In this course, students will examine current events in the Spanish-speaking world along with their historical roots. Each week will be dedicated to a different region of the Spanish-speaking world. Sources will include articles from Spanish-language newspapers and magazines, podcasts, news clips, and blogs.

This class is appropriate for heritage speakers.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish Elective: Entre lo Posible y lo Imposible: Mujeres Escritoras de América Latina Contemporáne

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 and departmental approval)

This course delves into the works of groundbreaking Latin American women writers, including Mónica Ojeda, Valeria Luiselli, Samanta Schweblin, Mariana Enríquez, Pilar Quintana, and Rita Indiana. Through their imaginative and thought-provoking narratives, these authors blur the lines between reality and the extraordinary, challenging readers to define what is possible and what is not. Widely celebrated for their contributions over the past decade, they are popular and pivotal in shaping contemporary Latin American literature. Students will explore the richness of their works, engaging with themes of identity, societal norms, and the interplay between the ordinary and the extraordinary.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish Elective: History of the Spanish Language

(Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish 3 and department approval)

In this two-module survey course, students will gain an understanding of the history of Spain and the Spanish-speaking Americas as it pertains to the development and evolution of the Spanish language. Students will be immersed in Spanish as they discover the field of linguistics and sociolinguistic change. Throughout the course students will engage in continuous theoretical as well as practical conversations and projects. Sources will include primary sources, analytical texts, and modern interpretations (through film, television, and music) of both historical and contemporary linguistic phenomena and observations.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement
Spanish Elective: Latinx Films

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 and departmental approval)

In this course, students will explore the representation of the Latinx community in film. They will discuss issues of language, race, immigration, gender, social class and the outcome of such representations in the wider community. We will examine films produced and distributed by mainstream film industries, as well as independent productions directed, written and distributed by Latinx filmmakers.

This class is also suitable for heritage speakers

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish Elective: Music from Latin America and Spain

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3B and departmental approval)

This course is a musical exploration of Latin American and Spanish history and culture. We will focus on protest songs, music from the diaspora, contemporary music, and folkloric music. The artists and songs selected will allow for the exploration of topics such as: national independence, human rights, and Hispanic identity. This is an immersion course and is conducted entirely in Spanish.

This course is also suitable for heritage speakers.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish Elective: Passion of Multitude: Understanding Latin American Soccer through Galeano’s Eyes

(Prerequisites: Copletion of Spanish 3 and at least one more elective and departmental approval.)

Using Eduardo Galeano’s text titled Soccer in Sun and Shadow, students will explore the game of soccer as a cultural practice in Latin America in order to understand how and why it has become the most popular sport in this region. Students will study the biographies of celebrated players, and all members of the class will discuss legendary World Cup games stretching from the 1930s until the 21st century. The students will read texts and watch documentaries and clips of classic games. All members of the class will be assessed on their performance across the three modes of communication: interpersonal, presentational and interpretive. The evaluation will be proficiency based on the following skills: interpersonal speaking and listening, presentational writing, interpretive reading, and interpretive listening.

This class is also suitable for heritage speakers.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish Elective: Spanish Caribbean

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3B and departmental approval)

This course will explore Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic through the lens of history, culture, and literature. We will examine colonial identities in the region and explore the relationship of the Spanish Caribbean with the United States. This is an immersion course and is conducted entirely in Spanish. This course develops different language proficiencies including: listening, reading, speaking and writing. There will be a slight emphasis on reading, writin,g and speaking as we study different resources on the Spanish Caribbean.

This class is also suitable for heritage speakers.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

*This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement.
Spanish Elective: The Evolution of Art in the Spanish-Speaking World

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 and/or departmental approval)

In this course, students will learn about popular culture, social justice, historical, and artistic movements like Cubism and Surrealism by viewing, discussing, and analyzing works by artists ranging from El Greco to more contemporary artists. There will be field trips to art museums and murals in communities in the Boston area. Towards the end of the module, each student will choose one artist and will present, describe, and analyze two of the artist’s works. This course develops the core language proficiencies of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. There will be an emphasis on speaking and listening when the students present, describe, and analyze works of art in Spanish.

This class is appropriate for heritage speakers and native speakers.

This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement
Spanish Elective: The Three Greats of Mexican Muralism

(Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 and/or departmental approval)
This course is designed to introduce students to the three most important muralists of Mexico and how they impacted the rest of Latin America. We will study the art work, politics and contemporary relevance of the following three artists: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco y David Alfaro Siqueiros. Through the art produced by these three muralists, students will understand that Mexico, and the rest of Latin America, is a region full of contrasts, and with a population that is both racially and culturally diverse. The structure of the course will primarily follow a chronological path based on the artists and their artistic productions: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco y David Alfaro Siqueiros. We will pay particular attention to enduring legacies, and challenges that Mexico, and the rest of Latin America, has confronted such as racism, classism, and patriarchy.

* This course awards credit towards the Social Justice graduation requirement