Course Catalog

Language

The CSW Language Department offers instruction in French, Mandarin, and Spanish, with coursework that addresses all four language areas: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The Language Department also offers off-campus study courses, during which students participate in immersive, intensive, and interdisciplinary experience learning in China and Taiwan, France, or Latin America.

  • Alternative Techniques for Learning Spanish

    (Prerequisite: No prerequisite)

    The focus of this course will be on aural comprehension and oral proficiency. There will be less emphasis on reading, writing, and grammar, although students will develop a basic understanding of the present, past and future tenses for communication purposes. The instructor will employ alternative pedagogical techniques designed to maximize the learning experience of all students. Students whose Accommodation Plans include a language waiver are encouraged to take this course.

  • Applied Language Workshop

    The applied language workshop will explore natural language acquisition techniques in a student-centered manner. The class will both investigate various methods and apply them. The specific language(s) learned and approaches will be collaboratively decided to reflect the interests of the participants. Accordingly, the class may focus on one or two languages or survey a variety of languages. Potential methods include Total Physical Response (TPR), TPR Storytelling (TPRS), computer-based tools and immersive activities in the target language(s). This is an exceptional opportunity to explore and experience alternative methods of language acquisition.

  • 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 1 - The Chips Are Down

    (Prerequisites: Completion of French 3 and departmental approval)

    During this two-module course, we read parts of the script     Les jeux sont faits, written by Jean-Paul Sartre in 1943, and watch the film adaptation made in 1947. The title translates to "the chips are down," an idiomatic French expression that means “the bets have been placed.” The story is set in Paris, suggestive of occupied France during World War 2. We will discuss existentialism, a philosophy illustrated by the author that drives the core values of the characters in the book. We will also cover advanced grammar, current events, songs, 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 2 - 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 3 - La culture Francophone

    (Prerequisites: Completion of French 3 and departmental approval)

    This course will help students expand their knowledge of French-speaking countries’ culture, history (colonial and post-colonial eras will be covered), and geography and lead them to learn about Francophone contributions to the dynamic and the impact of the social aspect of French in French-speaking countries and around the world. Furthermore, the instructional material in this course will enable students to use the conditional and subjunctive tenses and talk about the past with increasing ease, distinguishing which tense to use and when. Lastly, this course will help students hone their listening skills to enhance their understanding of native speech patterns on familiar and unfamiliar topics. 
    Books such as La Rue Cases-Nègres, articles, and other didactic supports will be available for this mission.
     
    This course is conducted 100% in French.

  • French Elective 4 - Aperçu du Monde Contemporain

    (Prerequisites: Completion of French 3 and departmental approval)

    This two-module course is an advanced language course that prepares students who aspire to expand their knowledge of the modern world and who desire to continue with French in college. The course uses as its foundation the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. The course is conducted exclusively in French in an 100% immersion setting. We will revisit the political, economic, social, and cultural hot topics around the world and see how they are viewed and dealt with in selected countries. We will cover the key points such as: gender identity, capital punishment, and the contemporary perception of social justice, among other concepts.  
     
    This course is also designed to teach language structures in context; it is focused on the development of fluency to convey meaning. Therefore, an intensive oral practice designed to further skills in listening comprehension, speaking, and reading through the use of videos, films, fiction, and articles will be applied.
     
    Course materials will include the books Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné and L’Aventure Ambigüe, as well as various articles and movies.

    This course is conducted 100% in French.

    This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation requirement. 

  • French Elective 5: Petit Pays (Small Country)

    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.

  • French Elective- La culture Fantastique!

    This course is conducted entirely in French in order to prepare students to communicate with proficiency in the 3 modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational. Students will communicate exclusively in French during class. When communicating in French, they will gain knowledge and understanding of Francophone cultures, make connections with other disciplines, compare their own language and culture with French language and Francophone culture, and participate in their French community at school and beyond the school setting.
    This one module course will evolve around seven themes which are namely: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, French and francophone cuisine, Francophone movie, French school system, and jobs. Students will be encouraged and expected to express different views on real world issues that relate to those themes.
    An emphasis will be put on oral/aural skills punctuated with a lot of group discussions, presentations. Students will participate in diverse oral activities to refine their speaking skills in all communication modes. Although a big chunk of this course time is communication, students will be exposed to a wide range of authentic documents designed for native French speakers. They will read texts from magazines and newspapers, and literary works from Francophone writers, either on paper or online. Students will short essay assignments and other writing activities to enhance their writing skills.
    A review of some grammatical concepts taught in previous years will be conducted, and some assignments will be completed at home. Students are responsible for correcting the grammar assignments prior to the weekly grammar quiz, using a different color pen and the answer key that will be provided after completion of each grammar chapter.
     

  • Introduction to Spanish 2

    (DISCONTINUED) This course is intended to be a bridge for students from Spanish 1 to Spanish 2. Topics to be reviewed and covered are adjectives, pronouns, and the present, near future and preterite verb tenses. A variety of activities and assignments provide practice in all four language skills—speaking, listening, reading and writing. A grade of C or better is required in order to move on to Spanish 2.

  • 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 - Chinese Society and Culture through the Looking Glass

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

    This two-module advanced Mandarin course explores Chinese society and culture through literature, media, and performing arts. It covers a wide range of topics including Chinese cultural tradition, literary trends in history, contemporary social issues, various forms of linguistic arts and visual arts, and more. Students will read classic and contemporary literature, compose and perform a “spoken drama” of their chosen topic, appreciate different musical pieces, and watch Chinese movies or TV shows and discuss the issues involved. This course will put students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to the test and further explore their potential to fluently communicate in Mandarin and exhibit a sophisticated understanding of Chinese society and culture.     
     
    All electives are conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

    This course awards credit toward the social justice graduation 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 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 toward the social justice requirement.

  • Off-Campus Trip 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 and Latin-American Current Events and Cinema through Conversation

    Prerequisite: A grade of B or better in Spanish IV or with departmental permission. This course is not eligible for the language department graduation requirement. It is available for upper-level Spanish students and heritage and native speakers of Spanish.

    During this one-module course we will watch contemporary films, documentaries and the news in Spanish as a way of better understanding the culture of, and current events in, Spanish-speaking countries. The course will feature a total immersion in the Spanish language. The key topics we will focus on will be social justice, politics, art, and immigration. Nightly readings will be intended to complement the themes we discuss in class.

    This course awards credit toward the social justice requirement.

  • Spanish Elective 1 - Music from Latin America and Spain

    (Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 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 10- 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. 

  • Spanish Elective 2 - Labor, Benefits, and Rights

    (Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 and departmental approval)

    The students will learn vocabulary used to discuss work, job benefits, and other expressions related to the working world. They will also learn about workers’ rights around the Spanish-speaking world and contrast them with what they see in their own home country/ies. The class will finish with a job-interview project in which students vie for jobs created by their peers.
     
    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 3 - 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.
     

  • Spanish Elective 4 - Spanish Caribbean

    (Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 3 plus at least one other elective 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 5 - 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 6- 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 7 - Selected Stories of Cortázar

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

    This course will examine selected writings of Argentine writer Julio Cortázar. Through these readings, students will engage with the literary predecessors, history, and culture reflected in these stories, while learning the vocabulary of the surreal and understanding Cortázar’s and Latin America’s place in the sphere of modern literature.
     
    This class is also suitable for heritage speakers
    This class is conducted in a 100% immersion setting.

  • Spanish Elective 8 - 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. 

Department Faculty

  • Photo of Patricio Hernandez
    Patricio Hernandez
    Language Department Chair
    781-642-8674
    Stony Brook University - Ph.D.
    Stony Brook University - B.A.
    2015
    Bio
  • Photo of Diana Baruni
    Diana Baruni
    Academic Dean
    781-642-8626
    Trinity College - B.A.
    Middlebury College - M.A.
    2010
    Bio
  • Photo of Anne Dykiel
    Anne Dykiel
    Language Faculty
    781-398-8395
    University of Paris - B.A.
    2009
    Bio
  • Photo of Ben Ibbetson
    Ben Ibbetson
    Language Faculty and College Counselor
    781-642-8675
    Macalester College - B.A.
    University of Connecticut - M.A.
    2000
    Bio
  • Photo of Lei Jiang
    Lei Jiang
    Language Faculty
    Brandeis University - M.A., Teaching Chinese
    Gannan Normal University, China - M.A., English Education
    2022
  • Photo of Doralis Perez-Soto
    Doralis Perez-Soto
    Language Faculty and Residential Faculty
    781-642-8673
    The University of Puerto Rico - Bachelor's degree
    The School of Communications at the University of Puerto Rico - Master's Degree
    2016
    Bio
  • Photo of Adriel Roncal
    Adriel Roncal
    Language Faculty
    781-398-8331
    Amherst College - BA
    2021
    Bio
  • Photo of Xiaoling Shi
    Xiaoling Shi
    2023
  • Photo of Jason Smith
    Jason Smith
    Language Faculty
    Auburn University - BSBA
    Auburn University - BA
    Auburn University - MHS
    Texas A&M University - Ed.D.
    2022
    Bio
45 Georgian Road | Weston, MA 02493 | 781-642-8600

The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.