World Languages

Philosophy

The purpose of studying a foreign language, whether modern or classical, is to enrich one’s education both in the classroom and in the community. The study of language is not merely the study of grammar and vocabulary but also involves the study of culture, religion, society, history, and geography. To learn another language is to learn about other people and to compare one’s own society with that of others. Foreign language broadens the learner’s perspective and helps one to place himself or herself within the larger context of the world. Foreign language studies open windows into other global communities that might not otherwise be accessible.

Graduation requirements: Two credits in the same foreign language. Students are highly encouraged to continue on to the fourth level of a foreign language.

A Sampling of Classes Offered at SMCA

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  • AP Spanish Literature and Culture

    Credit Earned: 1.0
    This course seeks to enhance students' proficiency in Spanish. This course will continue to fine-tune students’ skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing while exploring Spain and Latin America. This course also enables students to
    use previously mastered material on a daily basis as they read and speak about a variety of topics and literature. Students will be assessed using a variety of methods including: oral/aural assignments, presentations, dialogues, short compositions, and other displays. Students are expected to participate using the target language.

    Prerequisite: AP Spanish Language

  • Intro to American Sign Language (ASL)

    Credit Earned: 1.0
    This course is designed to introduce students to ASL through instruction in fingerspelling, numbers, vocabulary, ASL grammar,  and  facial  expressions. The class  will  offer  guided  opportunities  to  communicate  using  sign  language without voice or verbal communication. In addition, cultural aspects and the history of the deaf community will be discussed, with the possibility of guest speakers to share their experiences.

  • Latin II

    Credit Earned: 1.0
    Armed with the fundamentals of the language, in Latin II we will complete our acquisition of the grammar.  We will continue to write, read, and speak the language, and we will be emboldened in our exploration of the people and literature of the ancient world. We will begin considering issues of rhetorical style and poetic figures of speech, honing our abilities to discuss literature of all stripes and languages to a razor’s edge.
     
    Prerequisites: Latin I & Department Placement

  • Mandarin III

    Mandarin III is designed for students who successfully complete Mandarin I and II courses. As an intermediate course, students will continue to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the language. Students will also learn more complex grammatical structures and sentence patterns to communicate on familiar topics through interactions and description. They will participate in conversations and presentations, sing Chinese songs, art projects,  dialogues, create and  perform skits, design print publications related to daily life. Upon completion of this course, students will have gained knowledge in learning strategies, communicative strategies, and resource strategies to understand more complex information in Chinese. Students will also gain Chinese cultural knowledge and acquire cross-cultural awareness and international perspectives.

    Prerequisite: Mandarin II

World Languages Department Faculty

List of 3 members.

  • Aitor Arrondo 

    Upper School Spanish Instructor

  • Sarah Bannon 

    Upper School ASL Instructor

  • Meishing Chen 

    Mandarin Instructor

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  • We are a

    Family of Families
3000 Barton Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78735  (512) 328-2323

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Associations

Nondiscrimination Policy

St. Gabriel’s Catholic School and St. Michael’s Catholic Academy do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, gender, national or ethnic origin in : (i) the admission of students; (ii) the offerings of rights, privileges, programs, or activities generally made available to their students; or (iii) the administration of educational policies, financial grant programs, athletic programs, employment practices or policies, or other school-administered programs.