Orono High School

Orono High School  World Languages Department

Le Département de langues étrangères 

El Departamento de idiomas extranjeros

Languages open your world! ¡Los idiomas abren el mundo! Les langues vous ouvrent le monde!

MAINE LEARNING RESULTS 

Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience whether communication occurs face-to-face, in writing, or through the arts and media. Graduates of Maine’s publicly supported schools must have the linguistic and cultural skills to communicate successfully in a  pluralistic society at home and abroad. The need to understand and communicate with other peoples of the world is more urgent today because of the forces of globalization. To succeed, all students must study  language and culture in an integrated fashion. 
Course Offerings 
-FRENCH  French I Grades 9 - 12 This course is offered to students with little or no experience in  world languages. Communication is stressed through the  development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and  writing skills. Language structure and contemporary life in  French-speaking countries are highlighted. Successful completion  of this course will qualify students to enroll in French II the  following year.  French II Grades 9 - 12 The objectives of Level I are continued and reinforced through  development of the four basic language skills with an emphasis on  oral and written self-expression. Successful completion of this  course will qualify students to enroll in French III the following  year.  French III Grades 10 - 12 The objectives of Level II are reinforced, with stress on more  perfect use of oral, written, listening and reading skills and an  added emphasis on vocabulary and idioms. Induction into the  national French honor society is possible from this level.  HONORS French IV Grades 11 - 12 In addition to reinforcing skills acquired in the first three years of  study, this course is an in-depth exploration of culture through  visual and audio media, geography, history and literature. The  class is conducted primarily in French. Students in this level and beyond take the AAPPL exam, which may qualify them for the  State Seal of Biliteracy.  HONORS French V Grade 12 Language skills will be further developed in relation to individual  progress. The curriculum will vary based on the experience and  interests of the students. The class is an immersion experience.  Students at this level may take the AP French Language & Culture Exam.  HONORS French VI Grade 12 Students whose skills and experience significantly exceed the level  expected for enrollment in French V are offered in-class or  independent opportunities to continue their language development. 

-SPANISH Spanish I-b (Introductory) Grades 9 - 12  This course is offered to students with no experience in Spanish.  Students are introduced to concepts and techniques of learning a  foreign language. Communication is stressed through the  development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and  writing skills. There is a concentration on language structure and  contemporary lifestyles in Spanish-speaking countries.  Successful completion of this course will qualify students to  enroll in either Spanish II-a or Spanish II-b the following year.  Spanish I-a Grade 9  This class is designed for students who have completed the  entire Spanish 1 curriculum in Middle School, but feel they  need to review the material before moving on. This is a fast-paced  class in which the same text and material will be used and all  elements of Spanish 1 are covered in greater depth. Successful  completion of this course will qualify students to enroll in either  Spanish II-a or Spanish II-b the following year.  Spanish II-a Grades 9 - 12 The objectives of Level I are continued and reinforced through  development of the four basic language skills with an emphasis  on oral and written self-expression. Successful completion of this  course will qualify students to enroll in Honors Spanish III the  following year.  Spanish II-b Grades 10 - 12 A conversation-based alternative to the Spanish II-a course. This  class focuses on speaking and listening comprehension. Units include food, clothing, travel, time and weather, as well as the  exploration of Spanish-speaking countries. Successful completion of this course meets the language requirement for most university  admissions but does not qualify students to enroll in Honors Spanish III.  HONORS Spanish III Grades 10 - 12 The objectives of Level II are reinforced, with stress on more  perfect use of oral, written, listening and reading skills, and an added emphasis on vocabulary and idioms. Induction into the  national Spanish honor society is possible from this level.  HONORS Spanish IV Grades 11 - 12 In addition to reinforcing skills acquired in the first three years of  study, this course is an in-depth exploration of culture through  visual and audio media, geography, history and literature. The  class is conducted primarily in Spanish. Students in this level and  beyond take the AAPPL exam, which may qualify them for the  State Seal of Biliteracy.  HONORS Spanish V Grade 12 Language skills will be further developed in relation to individual  progress. The curriculum will vary based on the experience and  interests of the students. The class is conducted in the target  language. Students at this level may take the AP Spanish  Language & Culture Exam. 
So, okay, you know that studying a world language is cool. You know it’s fun, that it’s good for your brain, that it’s important for understanding the world beyond your neighborhood,  and that colleges want you to have two or three consecutive years of a language if they’re to admit you to their hallowed halls. Aside from all that, what does OHS’s World Language Department have to offer?

Membership in national language societies
Société Honoraire de Français 
Avoir une autre langue, c’est posséder une deuxième âme ! 
Orono High School boasts a nationally recognized chapter of the Société Honoraire de Français. The aim of this organization is “to stimulate interest in the study of French, to promote high standards of scholarship, to reward scholastic achievements, to create enthusiasm for and an understanding of Francophone cultures, and to promote international friendship.”

Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica

Orono High School is home to the Benito Pérez Galdós  chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, whose purpose is “to recognize high achievement in Spanish  and Portuguese by students of secondary schools and to promote continuity of interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies. The Society is classified as a national and international academic honor society in the study of high school Spanish and Portuguese.

Participation in national contests
Orono students have the opportunity to win medals and  cash and travel awards by participating in the Grand Concours and the National Spanish Exam. We also offer,  at no cost to the student, three AP exams and the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in  Languages (AAPPL).
Highly Qualified Faculty
SRA CHRISTINE CROCKER has been teaching at Orono for over twenty-five years. She is of native Spanish descent and travels frequently throughout Spain, Morocco, and South America.  
MME JAE HUBBARD has been teaching at Orono for over twenty-five years. She has lived and worked in France, summered in Italy, and played the classic tourist in many other western European countries. There is little she loves more than studying languages and sharing her passion for them with students. 
SRA Angela Slate is the “newest” member of our department, having joined us ten years ago. She loves  being able to help shape people's lives while also sharingher love of culture and language. An avid traveler, she brings a wealth of experience in South and Central American culture to our program. 

Travel and immersion opportunities
Each year, students enrolled in world language are offered the opportunity to travel abroad, one year to Spain or South America, the next to France, in the company of one or more of our dedicated faculty. In addition, through the  honor societies, national  language contests, the  Penobscot School, AFS, and other programs, students have opportunities to live abroad, stay in families in other countries, and engage in complete language and cultural immersion for anywhere from a weekend to a full year.

French & Spanish Clubs
These Clubs offer students opportunities to explore the cultural side of world languages in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Activities range from watching movies in the target language to cooking traditional foods to playing games. Past field trips have taken us to museums  throughout the state to study artists, to French and  Spanish plays presented bilingually, even to weekends in Montreal and Quebec City where we experience the culture first-hand. The clubs meet generally once a week after school and are open to any students interested in learning more about French or Spanish culture, whether or not they are currently enrolled in a language course.
flag photos used with permission from https://www.needpix.com/ maps used with permission from https://mapswire.com/countries/france/