World Languages

Introduction 

Students at Hanover High School can broaden their horizons and become more aware citizens of the United States and the world through regular contact with a language and culture markedly different from their own. If the understanding among citizens from different countries of the world depends upon the quality and genuineness of communication between individuals of different nations, then it stands to reason that language learning by young people will serve to strengthen the bonds between countries and enrich the lives of the learners.

The continuing objective of the high school’s World Languages Department is to provide the best possible preparation for all students as individuals. Their personal goals, abilities and aspirations, and the expectations of their parents and the entire community, guide the nature of the language offerings. To this end, the department offers five years of French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Our teachers endeavor to create a sense of enthusiasm for the language, to instill in our students a feeling of joy at their accomplishments, and to provide the basis for a rich sharing of aesthetic and intellectual experience with other people throughout their lives.

German, French, and Spanish classes emphasize language as a means of verbal communication through practice in speaking and listening, and also offer extensive development in reading and writing. Latin classes emphasize language as a means of exploring the ancient world and of investigating its abundant connections to the modern one. In addition, students of both the modern and the classical languages also become acquainted with the geography, history, literature and art of a particular people. Periodic cultural trips are offered to France, Quebec, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and other sites around the Mediterranean, Spain, and Latin American countries.

Notes on Honors Courses and Advanced Placement Opportunities

When we think about how challenging a course may be, we are often considering three aspects: pace, volume, and rigor. Pace refers to how quickly students are expected to complete their work and learn new content; volume refers to how much work they are expected to accomplish; and rigor refers to how difficult individual tasks and the course work overall may be.

All language students will be held to high standards with regard to preparing for each class, participating in lessons, completing homework, working independently, and studying for quizzes and tests. It is a hope and goal of our department that all language students continue to study and use their language skills beyond high school in their personal and professional lives.

For our honors students, those expectations of pace, volume, and rigor will be even higher, anticipating advanced language study at the college level.