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Foreign Language
| Faculty |
Amanda Catherman, Chair |
Philosophy:
The World Language Department strives to expand student knowledge of diverse cultures and peoples and promote world peace and a greater understanding of others and ourselves through the study of language. By reading, writing, speaking, and listening students become immersed in the language. While integrating technology into the classes the well traveled and enthusiastic teachers make the language learning more authentic and connected to real life situations.
Requirements:
The state of South Carolina requires one unit of a Foreign Language (or Occupational Education) to receive a diploma
Most colleges and universities require a minimum of two years of the same language but recommend three. Often times colleges require foreign language study as part of the curriculum but offer a placement exam where students can exempt out of language study. By continuing foreign language study at the high school level this increases the likelihood of testing out of the foreign language requirement at the college level!
Current Offerings:
To see Foreign Language courses offered click on the following links:
While students get credit for receiving a 70 or above, advancement to the next level is only recommended with a C or better as language learning is a cumulative process. If students attempt to continue from one level to the next without the proper understanding, they tend to not do as well in the next level.
To be placed into the Honors classes at the upper levels, students must have an A or B in all the previous levels.
Basic Classroom Materials:
Students will receive a workbook that accompanies their text. Students are required to keep this workbook with them throughout the school year.
Other Materials:
- 3 ring binder
- Loose-leaf Notebook Paper
- Writing Utensils
- Target Language Dictionary - (Spanish-English or French-Spanish) - helpful; but not required
Foreign Language Lab:
Greenville High now has a state-of-the-art Foreign Language Lab. In this lab, students are able to take advantage of differentiated instruction, audio and record capabilities, student e-mail and chat capabilities, E-pals, interactive software, and access to the Internet and DVD/VCR. This lab promotes collaboration among students, and it engages and motivates them in the target language.
Exchange programs:
FRANCE: For a number of years we have had a successful exchange program with the Lycée Pasteur in Besançon, France. A group of 25 GHS students and 4 chaperones were able to spend two weeks in France, thanks in part by strong financial support by Michelin and student fund raising.
Most years, Greenville High School is fortunate enough to host one or more individual exchange students from other countries.
On an on-going basis, Greenville High School seeks additional opportunities for our students and faculty to participate in foreign exchange experiences.
Rotary International:
The Rotary Exchange program through the Greenville Rotary brings annually 5-10 international students to the Greenville area. If you are interested in hosting a student from France or another country, please contact Pam Evans for more information.
Competitions and Contests:
Many of Ms. Goodlett's Latin students have won awards on the state and national level. At the Nationals in Norman, Oklahoma, two students won two first places. Greenville High has won as high as second in the state at the State Latin competitions and has ranked in the top 5 schools in that competition for many years.
Additionally Ms. Goodlett's students won gold and silver medals in the National Medusa Mythology Exam and they have won medals in the National Latin Exam.
The National French Contest "Le Grand Concours" is sponsored by the American Associations of Teachers of French. GHS students participated in this voluntary activity which tests grammar, listening, and cultural knowledge from level 1 to level 5 and serves to identify and then reward achievement. In both levels 1 and 5 GHS students ranked number 1 in the state! Additionally, in levels 1,2,3,4, and 5 several students ranked 2nd through 10th for the state of S.C.