Departments & Faculty

The Marin Catholic curriculum is designed to provide a challenging, college prep experience for all of our students.

Department

World Language

Italian I (P)

This course introduces students to the basic skills of speaking, reading, listening, and writing Italian. By the end of the year, students are able to express simple ideas in the present and conversational past tense about family members, school, weather, food, shopping, personal traits, home, and telling time. The students are able to express likes and dislikes, describe simple topics, ask and answer questions related to studied topics. Supplemental readings, cultural notes and games are interspersed throughout the year to coordinate with the material being studied.

Prerequisite: A minimum grade of “C” in English. Freshmen and transfer students must have a minimum “C” grade in their prior school’s English class.
Italian II (P)

The course continues the work begun in Italian I. The second year reviews and expands the themes covered in the first year and adds topic areas in sports, personal habits, vacations, housing, driving, professions, animals, and health. Expression is expanded by the added use of the past descriptive tense and command forms. Supplemental readings, cultural notes, films and games accompany the course.

Prerequisite: Completion of Italian I with a second semester grade of “C” or higher. Students with a “C-” are strongly encouraged to do an independent summer review during the summer.
Italian III (P)

In this course materials are presented that consistently engage the student in conversation beyond the expression of basic needs. Students are expected to initiate conversation and offer opinions. Additional emphasis is placed on reading and writing in the language. With the exception of grammar presentations, most of the class is conducted in Italian and students are required to speak in the language. Simplified versions of authentic literature supplement the reading program. A detailed study of Italian geography is incorporated in the third year.

Prerequisite: A minimum grade of “B-” in Italian II or the approval of the instructor. Students with a “B-” or lower must list an alternate class.
Honors Italian III (HP)
Italian IV (P)

Students enrolled in this class are expected to demonstrate a willingness to work hard and become stronger students in the areas of speaking, reading, and writing, with emphasis on the spoken language. Students must be willing to participate fully in class discussions and learn the vocabulary necessary for strong communication. A review of advanced grammar is emphasized in the first semester. Contemporary topics for writing and discussion are presented through readings and film. An overview of Italian history and the arts is also included, as well as selected pieces of literature.

Prerequisite: A “B-” in Italian III or the approval of the instructor. Students with a “B-” or lower must list an alternate class.
Honors Italian IV (HP)
Spanish I (P)

This basic course is practical and proficiency-based. Culture, grammar, and vocabulary are interrelated and presented in a manner that will enable students to enjoy communicating and using authentic Spanish. Creative and communication oriented activities reflect typical situations students may encounter every day while using Spanish.

Prerequisite: A minimum grade of “C” in English. Freshmen and transfer students must have a minimum grade of “C” in previous school’s English class.
Spanish II (P)

In this class, students continue to build their skills and develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals of Spanish. More specifically, students will learn to use reflexive verbs, the preterite tense, direct and indirect object pronouns, the imperfect tense, and how to use the preterite vs. the imperfect tense. Students will improve their proficiency in listening comprehension, reading and writing and participate in extensive discussion with the goal of encouraging the growth of their speaking skills. Students will read their first reader, which is entirely in Spanish. The curriculum features a variety of cultural materials to encourage learning about Spanish and Latin American cultures. 9th grade students who have a “C” or lower as a Fall semester grade will be required to transfer to Spanish I at the semester.
Spanish III (P)

In this course, not only do students review concepts (present, preterite and imperfect tenses) learned in Spanish I and II, they take those concepts to an advanced level of study. Students also learn new concepts that will expand their vocabulary and grammar background. The present subjunctive mood, the present perfect tense, the future tense and the conditional tense will be taught in Spanish III. With the exception of grammar presentations, the class is conducted in Spanish, and students are required to speak in Spanish. Students will speak with partners or in groups. Cooperation and the ability to stay on task are two skills that are absolutely necessary in order to succeed in Spanish III. Students read longer passages in their texts that help prepare them for the challenges of Spanish IV and AP Spanish.

Prerequisite: Students must have an average grade of 80% in both semesters* of Spanish 2 (if not, you must appeal) and teacher approval.
Honors Spanish III (HP)

Spanish III Honors is designed for the most motivated and skilled Spanish students who wish to become fluent in Spanish and prepare themselves for the challenges of AP Spanish. Students will refine the main grammar structures previously studied, as well as more complex grammar concepts. Considerable emphasis will be on enriching the students’ active vocabulary and increasing their ability to comprehend and express themselves in spoken and written Spanish. Students will be required to speak in Spanish in a variety of situations ranging from class discussion to oral presentations and situations. Students will read selected short stories and newspaper and magazine articles. This class also differs from regular Spanish III in that more vocabulary and grammar concepts are covered, the reading and writing components are more substantial, and speaking and writing and listening assessments are more frequent and more challenging. With the exception of certain grammar presentations, the class will be conducted entirely in Spanish, and students are required to

speak in Spanish at all times during the class.

Prerequisite: Students must have an average grade of 90% in both semesters* of Spanish 2 (if not, you must appeal) and teacher approval.
Spanish IV (P)
In this course, students will read two short chapter books and a number of short stories from a level AP textbook. The most important part of the class is to review previously learned grammar concepts, learn new vocabulary and converse in Spanish. Students will be expected to speak Spanish with partners and in groups every day. Cooperation is an absolute requirement for this class. Small groups will be performing skits and dialogs in front of the class. Writing and vocabulary are done within the context of the reading assignments. With the exception of grammar presentations, the class is conducted in Spanish and students are required to speak in Spanish. Students are expected to manipulate all the tenses in their writing and speaking assignments.

Prerequisite:
- For students in Spanish 3:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 80% in both semesters* of Spanish 3 (if not, you must appeal) and teacher approval.
- For students in Spanish 3 Honors:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 75% in both semesters* of Spanish 3 Honors (if not, you must appeal) and teacher approval
AP Spanish (HP)
The AP Spanish Language and Culture course is designed as a college level course for high school students in their fourth year of study of Spanish. It is designed to prepare students to communicate efficiently in Spanish using the three modes of communication: Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational. Students will have the opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in each of these three modes. The AP Spanish Language and Culture course is conducted mostly in Spanish and students are expected to use Spanish in the classroom. A variety of authentic audio, visual, written and print resources will further the students’ abilities to enhance their understanding of the Hispanic cultures studied, make connections between topics, compare their native languages and cultures with the Spanish language and cultures, and use it in real-life settings. This AP Spanish Language and culture course is structured around six themes: global challenges, science and technology, contemporary life, personal and public identities, beauty and aesthetics, families and communities. In treating the six themes, students will engage in both spoken and written interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication. This includes discussions, oral presentations of cultural comparisons, analysis of reports and charts, simulated speaking activities, authentic listening activities, persuasive essay writing, and formal and informal emails.

Prerequisite:
- For students in Spanish 3:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 95% in both semesters* of Spanish 3 (if not, you must appeal) and teacher approval
- For students in Spanish 3 Honors:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 85% in both semesters* of Spanish 3 Honors (if not, you must appeal)and teacher approval
- For students in Spanish 4:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 80% in both semesters* of Spanish 4 (if not, you must appeal) and teacher approval
It is recommended that Freshmen enrolled in Spanish 3 or Spanish 3 Honors take Spanish 4 before enrolling in Spanish AP.
Requirements for advancement into AP Spanish:
- For students in Spanish 3:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 95% in both semesters* of Spanish 3 (if not, you must appeal)
  
  Teacher approval
- For students in Spanish 3 Honors:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 85% in both semesters* of Spanish 3 Honors (if not, you must appeal)
  
  Teacher approval
- For students in Spanish 4:
  
  Students must have an average grade of 80% in both semesters* of Spanish 4 (if not, you must appeal)
  
  Teacher approval
*Average grade is determined based on the student’s first semester final grade averaged with the second semester grade in progress at the time of placement.
Spanish II (P)

In this class, students continue to build their skills and develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals of Spanish. More specifically, students will learn to use reflexive verbs, the preterite tense, direct and indirect object pronouns, the imperfect tense, and how to use the preterite vs. the imperfect tense. Students will improve their proficiency in listening comprehension, reading and writing and participate in extensive discussion with the goal of encouraging the growth of their speaking skills. Students will read their first reader, which is entirely in Spanish. The curriculum features a variety of cultural materials to encourage learning about Spanish and Latin American cultures. 9th grade students who have a “C” or lower as a Fall semester grade will be required to transfer to Spanish I at the semester.

Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish I with a second semester grade of “C” or higher. Students with a “C-” are strongly encouraged to do an independent summer review during the summer.