World Language
In an ever-changing and interconnected world, students need to develop cross-cultural understanding and communication skills in order to enhance their ability to compete in a global economy. The primary goal of the World Languages Department is to provide students the opportunity to develop proficiency in a language other than English. World Language courses are aligned to the California Content Standards for World Languages and to the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards.
- Staff Directory
- Courses
- High School Graduation & College Entrance Requirements
- Placement Test Information
Staff Directory
Department Lead
Schaetzke, Jessica | (408) 366-7388 ex.4839 | Spanish Teacher/Terra Nova/Department Lead |
Aggoun, Imene | (408) 366-7388 ex.3881 | French Teacher |
Aguilar, Liza | (408) 366-7388 ex.4822 | Spanish Teacher |
Bai, Jie | (408) 366-7388 ex.5901 | Chinese Teacher |
Fan, Stefanie | (408) 366-7388 ex.4931 | Japanese Teacher |
Hernandez Salazar, Dulce | (408) 366-7388 | Spanish Teacher |
Jacob, Stacey | (408) 366-7388 ex.4862 | Spanish Teacher |
Lucatero, Laurie | (408) 366-7388 ex.4315 | Spanish Teacher |
Jin, Ying | (408) 366-7388 ex.3913 | Chinese Teacher |
Martinez, Carlos | (408) 366-7388 ex.4825 | Spanish Teacher |
Courses
- CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 1
- CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 2
- CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 3
- CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 4 HONORS
- CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 5 AP LANGUAGE & CULTURE
CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 1
World Languages - Level 1 (10 credits)
Grade level: 9-12
Recommended background: none
College eligibility: UC and CSU approved as a Language other than English, subject E
Students will learn to address elements of daily life in both oral and written form, gain a new perspective on the world as they are introduced to other cultures and traditions, and learn the fundamental grammatical structures of the language to convey meaning. Class activities will allow students to become proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking the target language for real-world language use.
CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 2
World Languages - Level 2 (10 credits)
Grade level: 9-12
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 1 (same language)
College eligibility: UC and CSU approved as a Language other than English, subject E
The primary goal continues to be the development of communicative competence. Students will use the target language to reinforce and expand their knowledge and to acquire new information about the target language and culture. They continue to build their language skills through more advanced reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities.
CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 3
World Languages - Level 3 (10 credits)
Grade level: 9-12
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 2 (same language)
College eligibility: UC and CSU approved as a Language other than English, subject E
Students will learn more advanced vocabulary and grammar, and will improve communicative competence in the target language. More formal writing skills begin to be developed. Cultural study promotes a deeper understanding of the people who speak the language. They will begin to develop the ability to understand the language spoken at the pace of a native speaker. The course will be conducted primarily in the target language.
CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 4 HONORS
World Languages - Level 4 Honors (10 credits)
Grade level: 10-12
Recommended background: C or better in level 3 (same language)
College eligibility: UC and CSU approved as a Language other than English, subject E
The course includes advanced grammar and vocabulary. The goal will continue to be communicative competence, with an emphasis on understanding and using more complex and precise language. The students read and respond to a variety of texts in the target language to reinforce and expand their language skills. There is a focus on writing well-structured responses to a variety of prompts. The study of culture continues to be an integral part of the course. Level 4 Honors is conducted entirely in the target language.
CHINESE, FRENCH, JAPANESE & SPANISH LEVEL 5 AP LANGUAGE & CULTURE
World Languages - Level 5 Advanced Placement (10 credits)
Grade level: 10-12
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 4 Honors (same language)
College eligibility: UC and CSU approved as a Language other than English, subject E
The Advanced Placement course aims to develop overall fluency in the language. Students will continue to expand and refine their skills with college level coursework. The course prepares students to demonstrate their advanced level of proficiency across three communicative modes: interpersonal (interactive communication), interpretive (receptive communication) and presentational (productive communication). Students will hone their ability to respond to written material, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as a variety of multimedia. One of the goals of the course is to prepare students for the AP Language Exam. A student may receive college credit by earning a passing grade on this national exam.
High School Graduation & College Entrance Requirements
High School Graduation Requirements
World Language is one of the “selective electives”, along with Fine Arts and Applied Arts. A student must earn 10 credits in two of the three areas. If a student earns 10 credits from World Language they would still need 10 credits from Fine Arts or Applied Arts for graduation.
College Entrance Requirements
e. Language Other than English – 2 years required, 3-4 years recommended
A minimum of two years of a world language is required. Many schools require a third year and we encourage students who want to be competitive to take three or four years of the same language. Our courses emphasize communication in the target language and help students to broaden their worldview by learning about diverse cultures and perspectives. Our program offers Spanish, French, Chinese and Japanese levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and AP. World language classes taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if your high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses (Quoted from the University of California).
See our World Language Brochure and Video for more information about our program and the languages that we offer.
Placement Test Information
Updated 1/24/24
SPANISH AND FRENCH
No Placement Test is needed for Level 1 or Level 2 signups from feeder middle schools for students who completed the program.
Hyde, Miller, or Kennedy Students -If you took 1 year of French or Spanish, then choose level 1. -If you took two years of French or Spanish, and earned a C or higher in the second year, then choose level 2. |
Lawson Students -If you took 1 year of French or Spanish, and earned a C or higher, then choose level 2. |
Students Outside of our Feeder Middle Schools
Students who have taken Spanish or French at a school other than Hyde, Miller, Kennedy or Lawson should have their teacher email the World Language Department Lead, Jessica Schaetzke, at: jessica_schaetzke@fuhsd.org with their placement recommendation. Or these students are welcome to sign up for the placement test and have our Tino teachers make a recommendation for them.
Placement Test Details
This test is a diagnostic to place you in the correct level. You will be tested on your use of level-appropriate vocabulary and grammar in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the language. Individual test results will not be mailed or emailed out. The level you test into will be represented on your course verification form, which will be emailed out in April via Informed K-12. All tests will be done in person. Please bring a pencil to the test.
Students with Other Prior Language Experience
FRENCH
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024, 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM IN ROOM 6111
Students with any other prior experience with French must register for the placement test by using this French Placement Test Sign-up. This includes heritage and native speakers of the language. The deadline to sign up is Friday, March 1st. All of these students must have selected the language during the course selection process. French register for level 2, 4120.
SPANISH
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024, 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM IN ROOM 409
Students with any other prior experience with Spanish must register for the placement test by using this Spanish Placement Test Sign-up. This includes heritage and native speakers of the language. The deadline to sign up is Friday, March 1st. All of these students must have selected the language during the course selection process. Spanish register for level 2, 4320
JAPANESE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024, 3:30 PM- 5:30 IN PM ROOM 6115
Students with any prior experience with Japanese must register for the placement test by using this Japanese Placement Test Sign-up. The deadline to sign up is Friday, March 1st. All of these students must have selected the language during the course selection process, and register for Japanese 2, 4020.
CHINESE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024, 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM IN ROOM 307
Students with previous experience in Chinese in any setting are expected to sign up for Chinese course number 4420 and take the placement exam. These students must register using the Chinese Diagnostic Placement Test Sign-up. The deadline to sign up is Friday, February 23rd. All of these students must have selected the language during the course selection process.
CHINESE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INFORMATION
The Chinese placement test has two parts and is given to all students with prior knowledge of Chinese across the Fremont Union High School District. Part 1 will be the AAPPL (National Standard Proficiency Test) on computer, with a section for listening and one section for reading. This test is not based on any test book. Students will have about 1 hour to work on this test. When they log into this computer test, they have a chance to choose either to read simplified characters or traditional characters. The 2nd part of the test is writing. Students will hand write a short essay on an assigned prompt. It takes about 30 minutes for this section. Students can choose to write either simplified characters or traditional characters.
This is a diagnostic test designed specifically to assess students where they are currently at in order to place them in the correct level next year where they will be most successful. Therefore, it is not recommended to study or review. A team of district-wide Chinese teachers meet to analyze the assessments and give their recommendations.
Individual test results will not be mailed or emailed out. The level you test into will be represented on your course verification form, which will be emailed out in April via Informed K-12. All tests will be done in person.
Questions about placement?
If you have any questions regarding the placement tests, please contact Ms. Jessica Schaetzke (jessica_schaetzke@fuhsd.org), CHS World Language Department Lead.