Learning a modern language and gaining insight into its culture(s) are important for increased self-awareness, and for increased international understanding. It is an integral part of a Putney education. Putney offers students three modern languages, Chinese, French, and Spanish. Students immerse themselves in speaking, listening, reading, writing and culture to become proficient. Authentic materials, visiting speakers, and trips are central to this process. Classes are offered at six levels. More advanced independent study can be arranged.
Chinese 1
1.0 credit
Students begin to develop proficiency with Chinese language and culture, the phonetic system (pinyin), Chinese characters, vocabulary and structure. By the end of the class, students can introduce themselves, greet people, extend or respond to invitations, discuss family and friends, schedules, dates, weather, and numbers, ask questions, and speak about food, using phrases and creating simple sentences. Students also explore Chinese arts, culture, calligraphy, tongue twisters, songs, feature films, documentaries, and tai chi. Students demonstrate their proficiency through written and oral assignments and ongoing classroom participation.
Chinese 2
1.0 credit
Students participate in extended dialogues and daily discussions. Their writing tasks are increasingly complex and include letters of request and introduction, descriptions of daily life, and basic emails on several topics. Students explore Chinese arts and culture, Tang Dynasty poetry, calligraphy, songs, feature films and documentaries, and t'ai chi. Students demonstrate their proficiency through written and oral assignments and ongoing practice.
Chinese 3
1.0 credit
Students communicate about a variety of day-to-day experiences. They sharpen grammar skills in speaking, listening, writing, and reading by completing tasks with increasing complexity. They write letters, narrative descriptions, and emails, including inquiries and explanations. By the end of the course, students are able to write a variety of sentences up to and including a paragraph, and conduct conversations about themselves, families, schools and studies. Study also include Chinese arts, Tang Dynasty poetry, calligraphy, songs, feature films and documentaries, and tai chi. Students demonstrate their proficiency through written and oral assignments and ongoing practice.
Chinese 4
1.0 credit
In this class students move from controlled speaking situations to spontaneous speaking on a variety of topics. Students learn to use more complex structures, allowing them to speak and write on broader range of topics. By the end of the course, students are able to write in paragraphs and produce an essay. Students use authentic materials to enhance all their language skills. This class is taught online.
Chinese 5
1.0 credit
Students continue to expand their ability to communicate independently and speak on a variety of topics by practicing further complex structures and idioms. Students use many authentic materials to enhance all their language skills. This class is taught online.
Chinese 6
1.0 credit
Students continue to expand their ability to communicate independently and speak on a variety of topics by practicing further complex structures and idioms. Students use many authentic materials to enhance all their language skills. In addition, students explore topics in Chinese culture and arts; the meaning, context and folklore behind idiomatic expressions; Tang Dynasty poetry; and tai chi. Students make presentations on Chinese culture and write stories, persuasive essays, reading summaries and journal entries. Students speak entirely in Chinese throughout the course. Students will be expected to work independently on the reading material that is provided.
French 1
1.0 credit
In beginning level French, student goals are twofold: to use basic French in speaking, listening, writing, and reading, and to acquire study skills necessary to learn a new language. Students develop their basic interpersonal communication skills around themes like school, family and weekend events. By the end of the course, students understand French spoken at a measured pace and learn strategies to cope with the gaps in their comprehension.
French 2
1.0 credit
In level two, students expand their ability to communicate about daily routines and habits, food, friends, and family, in the present, future, and past. They continue to use memorized phrases while they also increase their ability to communicate spontaneously and naturally in both predictable and unpredictable situations. Students demonstrate their proficiency through written and oral work through interviews, dialogues, tests, homework, and class participation.
French 3
1.0 credit
In level three, students expand their ability to describe topics of personal interest and current events in the past, present, future. They develop their writing and speaking skills to communicate spontaneously in indicative, conditional, and subjunctive moods. Students communicate in French at all times and demonstrate proficiency through written and oral work, interviews, dialogues, tests, homework, readings, and class participation.
French 4
1.0 credit
In this class students improve their reading, writing, and discussion skills by researching, writing, and discussing current topics in French and world culture. Students analyze current events, literature selections, videos and movies. Students develop their use of the indicative and subjunctive moods. Students demonstrate proficiency through class participation, written and oral exams, oral presentations, essays and interviews.
French 5
1.0 credit
In Advanced Topics in French, students select themes to study and design the units; they lead discussions and presentations after researching authentic French language materials for reading, watching, and listening. They focus on specialized content areas such as “The heritage of French colonization in Africa,” “French cinema” or “French for science and medicine.” Grammar and vocabulary are reviewed or introduced as needed for comprehension and expansion of prior skills. Students also produce translations and written responses to the material studied, which provide formal opportunities for them to hone accuracy and language mechanics.
French 6
1.0 credit
In Advanced Topics in French students select themes to study and design the units; they lead discussions and presentations after researching authentic French language materials for reading, watching, and listening. They focus on specialized content areas such as “The heritage of French colonization in Africa,” “French cinema” or “French for science and medicine.” Grammar and vocabulary are reviewed or introduced as needed for comprehension and expansion of prior skills. Students also produce translations and written responses to the themes studied, which provide formal opportunities for them to hone accuracy and language mechanics.
Spanish 1
1.0 credit
In beginning level Spanish, student goals are twofold: to use basic Spanish in speaking, listening, writing, and reading, and to acquire study skills necessary to learn a new language. Students develop their basic interpersonal communication skills around themes like school, family and introductory/self-descriptions. By the end of the course, students understand basic Spanish spoken at a measured pace and can speak in basic sentences about the topics covered.
Spanish 2
1.0 credit
This course builds on students’ skills in speaking, listening, writing, and reading basic Spanish. Continuing with the commitment to speak as much Spanish as possible, students study the vocabulary, grammar, and idiomatic expressions used in talking about oneself, past events and situations. Small group and pair work create opportunities to practice speaking. Student progress is evaluated through written and oral work, including tests, homework, and class participation.
Spanish 3
1.0 credit
Students and teachers communicate only in Spanish throughout the course. Students respond to a range of material for native and non-native speakers and augment their cultural exposure to improve comprehension. They demonstrate their speaking proficiency with in-class conversations, audio and video journals, and improvised monologues. By the end of this level, students will be able to listen and speak spontaneously in the present, past, and future tenses.
Spanish 4
1.0 credit
Students will understand the language as spoken and written by and for native speakers. Students will be able to participate in spontaneous spoken, written, or listening to conversations on familiar topics, creating sentences and series of sentences to ask and answer a variety of questions. Students will be able to explain preferences, opinions, and emotions, as well as providing advice on a variety of familiar and some concrete topics that they will have researched, using connected sentences that may combine to form paragraphs and asking a variety of questions, often across various time frames. Students will demonstrate their proficiency with in-class conversations, audio and video journals, monologues, and socratic seminars.
Spanish 5
1.0 credit
Students will study selected topics about Migration, Power, Privilege, and Race entirely in Spanish. They will have the ability to research authentic Spanish language materials for reading and listening. Translation and writing assignments, as well as video blogs and journals will provide students with opportunities for focusing on accuracy, creativity, and the mechanics of the language.
Spanish 6
1.0 credit
Students will study selected topics of Education, Pedagogy, and becoming more aware of what it means to be a teacher and a student these days entirely in Spanish. They will have the ability to research authentic Spanish language materials for reading and listening. Translation and writing assignments will provide students with opportunities for focusing on accuracy, creativity, and the mechanics of the language.