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World Languages

  • Spanish for Heritage Speakers I

    Spanish for Heritage Speakers I – (RAI, NCAA)           
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Elective
    Prerequisite:  None

    This course is intended for interested students who have a Spanish language background but little or no formal training. Emphasis will be placed on writing skills, grammar, vocabulary enrichment, and critical/analytical thinking. This course will target primarily Hispanic bilingual students, born or educated in the US, who speak Spanish at home and want to improve their formal knowledge of the language. The course introduces students to the rich diversity of the Hispanic world and aims to stir pride in their heritage through the discussion of thought-provoking issues and topics related to the culture, heritage, and language of Latinos in the US.
  • AP Spanish Lit & Cult

    AP Spanish Literature & Culture – (RAI, NCAA)          
    Credit:  1.0                                                                                 
    Offered to grade:  12
    Category:  Must meet requirements                                                                     Prerequisite:  B or above in AP Spanish Lang & Culture

    This course is a survey course which covers the six AP Spanish Literature themes and the entire reading list outlined within the AP Spanish Literature Curriculum Framework. The course is conducted entirely in Spanish and covers the most relevant literary works from Spanish and Latin American authors departing from the Medieval era to the present day. This course and its activities are intended to teach and enhance a student’s ability to acquire, identify, understand, discuss, interpret, and analyze the form and content of literary works of prose, poetry, and drama along with the literary terms and conceptual aspects of art and history of the time. The lessons are designed to help students develop their analytical and interpretative skills. At the end of the year, students are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Exam.
  • Adv Spanish I (RAI)

    Advanced Spanish I – (RAI, NCAA)                               
    Credit:  1.0                                                                          
     Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Must meet requirements                                                     
    Prerequisite:  Recommendation for Adv English 9 or acceptable
    performance on the Spanish I proficiency exam

    This course is an accelerated course that offers an introduction to reading, listening, speaking, and writing in Spanish. Introductory material is taught using a variety of activities in a fast-paced setting. The various Hispanic cultures are also discussed.
  • Adv Spanish II (RAI)

    Advanced Spanish II – (RAI, NCAA)                              
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Must meet requirements              
    Prerequisite:  A- or above in Adv Spanish I, A in Spanish I, or acceptable performance
      on the Spanish I proficiency exam

    This course is an accelerated course for those wishing to develop their proficiency in the language in a fast-paced setting. Students enrolled in Advanced Spanish II will likely progress to Advanced Placement Spanish in their senior year.
  • Adv Spanish III (RAI)

    Advanced Spanish III – (RAI, NCAA, DMACC)             
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  10-12
    Category:  Must meet requirements                                                   
    Prerequisite:  A- or above in Adv Spanish II or A in Spanish II

    This course, which will be conducted in Spanish, is an accelerated course emphasizing proficiency in the four skill areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Students will be well prepared to continue to AP Spanish in their senior year.
  • Adv Spanish IV (RAI)

    Advanced Spanish IV – (RAI, NCAA, DMACC)             
    Credit:  1.0                                                                        
     Offered to grades:  11-12
    Category:  Must meet requirements                                                         
    Prerequisite:  A- or above in Adv Spanish III or A in Spanish III

    This course, which will be conducted in Spanish, is an accelerated course giving students the opportunity to further develop, improve, and refine their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Emphasis continues to be placed on communicative skills with additional emphasis on reading and writing in the target language. Aspects of Hispanic culture are emphasized through cultural readings, media, and class discussions. Assessment of student performance is identified through written tests and quizzes. In addition, students may also be assessed by means of oral tests, spoken dialogues, presentations, short compositions, and other displays.
  • AP Spanish Lang & Cult

    AP Spanish Language & Culture – (RAI, NCAA, SLU)  
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  11-12
    Category:  Must meet requirements                                                  
    Prerequisite:  A- or above in Adv Spanish III or IV or A in Spanish IV

    This course is a college level class and is intended for students who have chosen to develop proficiency in Spanish. Students must have good command of the grammar and considerable competence in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Objectives include the ability to understand spoken Spanish in a variety of conversational situations, development of an extensive Spanish vocabulary, and the ability to express oneself both in speech and writing. The class is conducted entirely in Spanish. At the end of the year, students are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Exam.
  • French I (RAI)

    French I – (RAI, NCAA)                                                   
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category: Elective 
    Prerequisite:  None

    This course is taught primarily on a simple speaking basis utilizing dialogues, supplementary material, and structure drills. Students will develop a cultural awareness of French-speaking countries using films, reports, and projects. The five areas stressed are speaking, listening, reading, writing, and culture.
  • French II (RAI)

    French II – (RAI, NCAA)                                                  
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                      
    Prerequisite:  French I

    This course seeks to accomplish comparable objectives in communication as the French I course, but on a higher level. There is continued use of materials to supplement text. Special units include a detailed study of Paris and exploration of various Francophone cultures to expand cultural awareness. Communication skills focus on everyday situations and travel themes.
  • French III (RAI)

    French III – (RAI, NCAA)                                                 
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  10-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                        
    Prerequisite:  French II

    This course provides an intense grammatical review from levels I & II. Spoken French, enhanced through vocabulary building, is emphasized daily along with listening, reading, and writing skills. Students will also look in depth at French physical and cultural geography with special emphasis placed on the regions of France. Several authentic projects will be presented. Contemporary issues will be discussed in a variety of conversational situations.
  • French IV (RAI)

    French IV – (RAI, NCAA)                                                
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  11-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                  Prerequisite:  French III

    This course is a continuation of communication skills with emphasis on oral proficiency. Students should have considerable competence in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. A unit in “Business French” will also be incorporated as a mini course. This class is conducted entirely in French and students are expected to converse in the target language. History, art, and literature segments are incorporated throughout the year.
  • German I (RAI)

    German I – (RAI, NCAA)                                                 
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                                                Prerequisite:  None

    This course is designed to teach basic vocabulary and correct sentence structure to communicate in everyday situations. Emphasis will be placed on pronunciation and intonation. The contemporary values and behavior patterns of the German culture will be explored. Video segments, tapes, and films will supplement the textbook materials.
  • German II (RAI)

    German II – (RAI, NCAA)                                               
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                  Prerequisite:  German I

    This course broadens the base learned in the German I course. Grammar skills are increased, and German conversation is emphasized. Cultures of Switzerland and Austria are also discussed.
  • German III (RAI)

    German III – (RAI, NCAA)                                              
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  10-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                       Prerequisite:  German II

    This course includes an introduction to German Literature through reading short stories and two books. Cultural units discuss the geography of Germany and investigate the individual states. German is spoken in the class and conversational German is emphasized. Students will also look at events shaping Germany’s history from 1918 to 1945.
  • German IV (RAI)

    German IV – (RAI, NCAA)                                              
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  11-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                   Prerequisite:  German III

    Great emphasis is placed on the oral and written use of the language in this course. Students will continue to read excerpts from literature. The structure of the German government and current economic developments are discussed. The history of Germany from 1945 to the present is emphasized.
  • Spanish I (RAI)

    Spanish I – (RAI, NCAA)                                                 
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                               Prerequisite:  None

    This course is an introduction to reading, listening, speaking, and writing in Spanish. Introductory material is taught using a variety of activities. The various Hispanic cultures are also discussed.
  • Spanish II (RAI)

    S
    Spanish II – (RAI, NCAA)                                                
    Credit:  1.0                                                                           
    Offered to grades:  9-12
    Category:  Elective                                             
    Prerequisite:  Spanish I or acceptable performance on the Spanish I proficiency exam

    In this course, students will continue to study essential grammatical structures and further verbal and written communication skills as a solid foundation for future study. Cultural awareness is expanded through textbook and supplementary materials. 
  • Spanish III (RAI)

    Spanish III – (RAI, NCAA)                                               
    Credit:  1.0                                                                         
    Offered to grades:  10-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                      
    Prerequisite:  Spanish II

    In this course, students develop a greater degree of facility in the four basic language skills. This course creates deeper appreciation of Latin American culture and history. Most of the class is conducted in Spanish.
  • Spanish IV (RAI)

    Spanish IV – (RAI, NCAA)                                               
    Credit:  1.0                                                                        
     Offered to grades:  11-12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                      Prerequisite:  Spanish III

    This class is conducted in Spanish and will assist upper-level students in developing a progressive, functional proficiency of the target language in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This course strives to develop language skills that can be applied in a variety of contexts.
  • Spanish V (RAI)

    Spanish V – (RAI, NCAA)                                                
    Credit:  1.0                                                                                  
    Offered to grade:  12
    Category:  Elective                                                                                                    Prerequisite:  Spanish IV or AP Spanish

    This class is conducted in Spanish and is intended for students who would like to continue their progression in Spanish and prepare to take Spanish at the college level. This class will focus on conversational Spanish and will also strive to help students develop more proficiency in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Department Faculty

Dowling Catholic High School

Dowling Catholic High School is committed to serving the Greater Des Moines Catholic community and embracing learners of all faiths. In an environment that is faithful, caring and dedicated, Dowling Catholic forms each student to become a Christ-centered leader.