Advanced and Honors Courses | Academics | Episcopal High School

Chinese 4/Honors Chinese 4 continues to build and advance skills learned in Chinese 3. Students will work to achieve Intermediate-Mid level proficiency (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines) by the end of the academic year. The Integrated Chinese series remains the primary textbook for this course. Students recommended for Honors Chinese 4 will be required to do additional work to build proficiency and deepen their knowledge in Chinese language and culture.

This course builds on the fundamental communicative and grammar skills acquired in French 1, incorporating study of vocabulary and verb tenses, emphasis on the present, passé composé, and imperfect tenses. The curriculum integrates print and digital strategies that meet the needs of all language learners. Thematically based and engaging activities are carefully scaffolded. Students continue to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills based on contextual vocabulary themes.

This course builds on the fundamental communicative and grammar skills acquired in French 1, incorporating study of vocabulary and verb tenses, emphasis on the present, passé composé, and imperfect tenses. The curriculum integrates print and digital strategies that meet the needs of all language learners. Thematically based and engaging activities are carefully scaffolded. Students continue to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills based on contextual vocabulary themes. Students read and write passages of increasing length and difficulty.

French 3 is an intermediate course which builds upon the foundation of vocabulary and grammatical structures learned in the previous two levels. The curriculum integrates opportunities to improve interpersonal and presentational communication through conversations, role-playing and project-based learning. Activities are thematically based and scaffolded to complement a range of learning styles. This course refines students' skills in listening and reading comprehension as well as develops proficiency in written and spoken communication. In addition to the study of vocabulary and structures, students will continue to learn about the Francophone world and its cultures.

This course is designed to provide a conclusion to a four-year course of study of French, or to prepare students to move on to French 5. Students are carefully scaffolded material which integrates authentic print and digital resources. The course emphasizes an immersive environment with the use of the target language and the incorporation of authentic sources. There is a thorough review of French grammar and an emphasis on mastering a broader vocabulary through the literary and historical passages read and through the grammar exercises.

This course continues to build upon and refine lessons learned in the previous levels of study with emphasis on increasing proficiency in interpersonal and presentational skills. Students use carefully scaffolded material which integrates authentic print and digital resources. The course emphasizes an immersive environment with exclusive use of the target language and the incorporation of a large number of authentic sources. There is a complete review of French grammar with an emphasis on mastering a broader vocabulary through the literary and historical passages read and through the grammar exercises. Building confidence in written and oral expression is an integral part of the course.

French 5 serves as a bridge between French 4/Honors and Advanced Language for juniors, as well as a final course for seniors. The course seeks to review all verb tenses and grammar points and to polish the students' skill in using them in compositions and presentations. Through literary texts, film, current event readings and reports, and other authentic materials, students explore themes that interest them and that offer a window into experiencing Fracophone cultures.

This course is designed to help students achieve mastery of oral and written expression and of reading and listening comprehension in preparation for the AP French Language and Culture Exam. Students cultivate their understanding of French language and Francophone cultures by applying interpersonal, intepretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and community, personal and public identity, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges. Oral presentations, conversations, revision of expository compositions, readings of literary selections as well as journalistic pieces from current newspapers and magazines, and recordings and videos of interviews, conversations, and other presentations offer students the opportunity to improve their proficiency in the language.

This course explores topics related to the Francophone world through literature, film, current events, music, and art. All subjects within the context of the French language, social and political history, cinematic and art history, linguistic and cultural history, are open for investigation and study. In this immersive course, students will be expected to read, write, and communicate in French.

German 2/Honors 2 continues the work begun on the fundamentals of the language in German 1. Grammar is again integrated into instruction according to the vocabulary and structures needed to communicate in real-life situations. Topics include family, shopping, and eating in restaurants, with a continued focus on the culture of Germany and Austria. New grammar concepts include modal verbs, command form, and the four cases. Emphasis continues to be placed on the development of listening and speaking skills, but with greater integration of reading and writing skills. Students are expected to use German in the classroom as exclusively as possible. Honors level will have additional projects every semester, including independent reading, and will be graded using higher-level rubrics.

German 3 continues the use of real-life situations to build students' vocabulary and grammar. Topics include holidays and party planning, clothing, interior design, and housework. Additionally, students will explore new grammar, describing past experiences in two separate tenses. Emphasis continues to be placed on the development of listening and speaking skills, but with a special focus on reading and writing skills. Students are expected to use German in the classroom as exclusively as possible. Students must have completed German 2 (or its equivalent) before entering this class. Honors level will have additional projects every semester, including independent reading, and will be graded using higher-level rubrics.

German 4/Honors German 4 continues to build and advance skills learned in German 3. Students will learn to discuss the weather, travel plans, energy use and our changing planet, transportation, and new technologies. New emphasis will be placed on presentational speaking, in addition to the reading, writing, and conversation skills built in the previous levels. Students are expected to communicate exclusively in German in the classroom. Students must have completed German 3 (or its equivalent) before entering this class. Students recommended to take Honors German 4 will have additional projects every semester, including independent reading, and will be graded using higher-level rubrics.

In this course, students will focus their energy almost entirely on the fundamentals of the Greek language, using the Athenaze series as a primary resource. Using the storyline of this text, we will consolidate our grasp of the history and culture of 5th century BCE in Greece. This course does not fulfill the language requirement at EHS, but it does meet the senior theology requirement.

This course is a continuation of Greek 2. Advanced Greek goes into further depth on study of the language and covers a broader swath of cultural and historical material. Students will get to read authentic texts in ancient Greek such as Aesop's Fables, passages adapted from Euipides, and the New Testament. This course does not fulfill the language requirement at EHS, but it does meet the senior theology requirement.

As a continuation of Latin 1, students continue to develop their skills in the language. Students expand their knowledge of the Latin verb system beyond the present indicative, learning to recognize and produce the remaining indicative tenses in all active and passive forms. Students also encounter more sophisticated syntax, including subordinate clauses. We continue to read and translate passages adapted from classical history and mythology. Quintus' story allows students to explore various aspects of Roman life and culture, from the large-scale historical events of his lifetime to the daily lives of ordinary Romans. 

Honors Latin 2, while similar to Latin 2 in many regards, incorporates additional work drawn from authentic ancient sources, such as inscriptions, papyri, and graffiti. The class often moves at a faster pace through the material covered in Latin 2. On finishing the second book of the OLC, the class focuses its energy on reading more challenging examples of classical Latin from a variety of ancient authors.

Students expand their knowledge of the Latin verb system to encompass the subjunctive mood. Alongside the subjunctive, they review and consolidate other subordinate clause types and the last common uses of the major cases. Students read excerpts from text of intermediate difficulty drawn from Classical and Late Antiquity and potentially including Medieval, Renaissance, and Neo-Latin authors and the Vulgate Bible to prepare them for the more challenging authors of the Advanced Topics in Latin courses.

While similar to Latin 3, the Honors section covers the material in greater depth and detail in preparation for the following year in Advanced Topics. In addition to reading Classical Latin, we examine Medieval and Renaissance texts, and exercise language skills through English to Latin composition. 

In this class, students exclusively read authentic Latin poetry and prose literature by Classical and post-Classical authors, including Cicero, Caesar, Ovid, and Vergil, among others. They will also examine rare books and manuscripts culminating with a paper or oral presentation of their work. In addition, there will be readings from Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern Latin, as well as work in English to Latin composition.

Spanish 1 is an introductory course designed for students who are beginning a formal study of Spanish for the first time. At its completion, students should be able to read, write and converse in a variety of situational contexts using basic vocabulary and grammatical structures. They should also be able to manipulate a variety of regular and irregular present tense verbs, in both written and spoken Spanish.

Spanish 2 is a continuation of Spanish 1. The first semester focuses on review, assimilation and expansion of foundational verbs, vocabulary and grammar structures in all areas of expression in the present tense. The second semester is centered on the introduction and study of the preterit tense, then followed by an introduction to the imperfect tense, including how the two tenses work together. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to read, write and converse in a variety of situational contexts, in both the present and past tenses (indicative mood only).

Spanish 2 Honors covers the same material as Spanish 2 and uses the same text, but it goes further into more complex grammar structures and uses the vocabulary in relevant and real-life situations in a more fast-paced manner. There is a stronger emphasis on conversation, as the class is conducted in full immersion and the students are expected to speak only Spanish in class. The students will continue to learn about the Spanish-speaking world with a more in-depth view of cultural and historical understanding.

Spanish 3 is an intermediate course designed for students who have completed Spanish 2 and are ready to further develop their language skills. Instruction is conducted primarily in Spanish and focuses on strengthening listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities. Students expand their understanding of grammar, including more complex verb tenses, while building vocabulary to communicate more clearly. The course also incorporates cultural exploration of Spanish-speaking countries and emphasizes real-world communication through interactive activities and assessments such as writing, speaking, and comprehension tasks.

Honors Spanish 3 is an intermediate course that is designed for students who are passionate about the Spanish language and culture. Students will learn to communicate in the present, past and future using simple tenses in the indicative and subjunctive mode, as well as the imperative mood. Students will also gain familiarity with the compound tenses of both the subjunctive and indicative moods. By the end of the year, students should be able to discuss all aspects of their daily life as it is, as well as hypothetical and future alternatives. The course uses the physical campus, the city of Alexandria, Washington, D.C., songs, short stories, newspaper articles, audio recordings and conversations with native speakers to support student learning with an emphasis on community.

Spanish 4 is a comprehensive language course designed for those students who are interested in continuing their study of Spanish language and literature. Classes are conducted in the language, and the students are expected to speak, write, and engage as accurately and confidently as possible as they participate in a rigorous study of grammar, composition, and literature. It is a conversation-based class that uses Spanish and all of its elements to approach concrete and real-world themes.

This course is designed for advanced language students who want to improve their ability to communicate in Spanish and learn about the diversity of cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. The course includes a formal introduction to literary analysis, a review of advanced grammar, and conversation about students' own lives and identities as global citizens.

Culture and Conversation, as the title implies, relies heavily on student contribution to discussions. The class on becoming better acquainted with our neighbors in Central and South America by studying their culture, including historical-social themes as well as current topics of mutual interest. Students will listen to authentic video, read articles and literature, write extensively and speak daily. Grammar and vocabulary will be reviewed but is not a heavy concentration of this level.

This is a full-year course open to juniors and seniors who have successfully completed Spanish 2. We will review basic Spanish language and grammar while studying a selection of topics and their connections to the Spanish-speaking world. Topics will vary and may include the story of the Spanish language, borders and migration, indigenous rights, magical realism, climate justice and others. This course will count as the third year of Spanish for our graduation requirement, and juniors who wish to continue with Spanish after successful completion of this course will move on to Spanish 3. The primary goal of this course is to develop empathy and appreciation for different cultures while improving foundational Spanish language skills.

This is an advanced-level course which uses the AP framework, based on the 6 curricular units of study: Families and Communities, Personal and Public Identities, Beauty & Aesthetics, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, and Global Challenges. Students cultivate and expand their knowledge of Spanish language and culture by continual exploration of a wide variety of topics. The curriculum is sourced from authentic print material, films, and audio visual recordings aimed at native speakers, with emphasis on the three modes of communication; interpretive, presentational and interpersonal, in preparation for the AP exam. By the end of the year, students should demonstrate increased mastery in all areas of proficiency.

This upper-level course is designed for advanced Spansh students ready to engage with complex literary texts from Spain and Latin America. Taught primarily in Spanish, it develops advanced reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills through the study of poetry, short stories, novels, and essays. Students explore major literary movements, including Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism, while analyzing themes, symbolism, and narrative techniques. Emphasizing literary analysis and argumentation, the course requires essays, presentations, and comparative work, while also deepening students' understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of the Spanish-speaking world in preparation for college-level study.

In addition to bringing Arabic popular culture to life, this course introduces students to the Arabic writing system to communicate in spontaneous spoken conversations on everyday topics. This year-long course focuses on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and some of the spoken dialects of the Levant, Egypt and North Africa. With an emphasis on Arabic culture, students will learn commonly used expressions and phrases to develop their skills in listening, reading, writing, and most importantly, conversation. This will be accomplished through synchronous and asynchronous assignments, conversation sessions with the instructor and a group of peers, instructional videos, discussions about culture, and collaborations on group projects with students from around the globe. Since Arabic is becoming one of the most functional languages in the world, especially in the areas of commerce, business, and trade, students participating in this course can avail themselves of the opportunity to learn the language in a highly stimulating and rich cultural context.

This full-year course is a unique combination of Japanese culture and language, weaving cultural comparison with the study of basic Japanese language and grammar. While examining various cultural topics such as literature art, lifestyle and economy, students will learn the basics of the Japanese writing system (Hiragana and Katakana), grammar and vocabulary. Through varied synchronous and asynchronous assignments, including hands-on projects and face-to-face communications, students will develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The cultural study and discussion are conducted in English, with topics alternating every two to three weeks. The ultimate goal of this course is to raise awareness and appreciation of different cultures through learning the basics of the Japanese language. The focus of this course is 60 percent on language and 40 percent on culture. This course is appropriate for beginner-level students.