In World Language at Randolph-Macon Academy, students embark on a rich linguistic and cultural exploration of German, French, and Spanish. In our vibrant learning environment, students grapple with profound questions that extend beyond language acquisition to encompass cultural understanding and global awareness. From contemplating the nuances of identity and belonging to examining the impact of language on society, students delve into inquiries such as: How does language shape our perceptions of the world? What role does cultural context play in communication? How do languages reflect and shape cultural values? Through immersive experiences in language acquisition, students not only develop proficiency in German, French, or Spanish but also gain invaluable insights into the diverse perspectives and traditions of other cultures. Learning world languages is crucial in fostering effective communication across borders, promoting global awareness, and nurturing critical thinking skills. By engaging with different languages and cultures, students broaden their horizons, deepen their empathy, and become empowered global citizens prepared to navigate an increasingly interconnected world with cultural sensitivity and linguistic fluency.

Spanish I:
This is the foundational course in Spanish. It introduces students to grammar essentials and basic vocabulary with conversation, oral composition, reading, and some writing. Emphasis is placed upon comprehension, pronunciation, and self-expression.

Spanish II:
This course is the continuation of the foundational course. It introduces students to complex grammatical structures and focuses on strengthening communication skills through writing, reading, and dialogues. Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish I.

Honors Spanish III:
This course involves an intensive overview of prior grammar and an introduction to the remaining tenses and compound structures. The communication skills are further refined through short essays, oral presentations, and readings of well-known Hispanic authors. The cultures of the Spanish-speaking world will also be explored. Prerequisites: A- or better in Spanish II or teacher recommendation.

Honors Spanish IV:
This course continues to develop cultural awareness, listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and introduces complex sentence structures. It will focus on the culture and civilization of Spain. History, politics, literature, art, and social structures will be explored to help understand the contemporary world in Spain. Students in this course will discover treasured works of Spanish prose, poetry, and drama. Students will be required to do research using the internet, write regular compositions, and give oral presentations. This course is taught entirely in Spanish. This course is dual enrolled with Laurel Ridge Community College as Spanish 201 (Semester 1) and Spanish 202 (Semester 2) and students earn a total of 6 credits upon successful completion of the course. Prerequisites: A- or better in Honors Spanish III or teacher recommendation.

German I:
German I is a beginning-level course aligned with the European A1 designation. The course is designed to enable students to acquire basic competency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a particular focus on communication skills gained from exposure to authentic real-world materials.

German II:
German II is an intermediary-level course aligned with the European A2 designation. The course is designed to enable students to build on their competency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a particular focus on communication skills gained from exposure to authentic real-world materials.

Honors German III – Advanced German:
Honors German III is an intermediary-level course aligned with the European B1 designation. The course is designed to enable students to build on their competency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a particular focus on communication skills gained from exposure to authentic real-world materials. Prerequisites: A- or better in German II or teacher recommendation.

Honors German IV/V/VI:
Advanced German Honors German IV/V/VI Advanced German is an advanced-level course aligned with the European B2 designation. The course is designed to enable students to build on their competency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a particular focus on communication skills gained from exposure to authentic real-world materials. Additionally, the course is designed to prepare students for college placement tests and advanced college courses. The course can be taken for up to 3 years as the contemporary material constantly changes. Students taking this course at level V/VI are expected to engage with the material at a higher level, but the class remains an integrated experience. Prerequisites: A- or better in Honors German III or teacher recommendation.

French I:
First-year French helps the student attain basic proficiency in the skills of listening, reading, writing, spelling, and speaking. Students learn the sounds, stress patterns, and intonation of the language. They study basic grammar and vocabulary. They take part in everyday conversations and learn to read and write simple questions and answers. They learn about the geography, customs, and culture of French-speaking countries and areas of the World.

French II:
French II continues to lay the foundation of interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication in French for students working in the high-novice to low-intermediate range as defined by the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Language as well as authentic language experiences. The emphasis of the course is on practical application; French II is project-based instruction with the goal of assessing both performance (mastery of knowledge of French) as well as proficiency (language ability independent of specific instruction or curriculum).

Honors French III:
Honors French III is an advanced course designed to guide students from intermediate-level competency to proficiency across the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. Through a holistic approach to language proficiency, “[students] learn language structures in context and use them to convey meaning… [this] course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use and not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. In order to best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught in the target language.” ~ Adapted from the College Board description for AP French Language and Culture. Prerequisites: A- or better in French II or teacher recommendation.

Advanced French IV/V:
Advanced French IV/V is a college-level course designed to guide students from intermediate-level competency to proficiency across the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. Through a holistic approach to language proficiency. Prerequisites: A- or better in Honors French II or teacher recommendation.