Languages

Welcome to the Modern Languages Department at École Alpha Secondary.

FRENCH LANGUAGE

The Core French curriculum provides students an opportunity to engage in learning experiences through which they can become proficient users of French, gain new perspectives, and engage with Francophone communities. All levels of French will incorporate the four essential skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing at steadily increasing levels of complexity.

Some of the goals of this area of learning are that students will:

  • communicate with purpose and confidence in French
  • appreciate the interconnectedness of language and culture
  • understand the educational, travel, and career opportunities that learning an additional language offers

FRENCH 8

This course reviews basic vocabulary and grammar structures as a basis for communication in situations drawn from real-life.  Students are taught to use language learning strategies to help them understand spoken and written French. Language is taught within the context of age appropriate themes, with a large emphasis on listening and speaking.  Students will engage in comprehending and narrating simple stories, exchanging ideas on topics of interest, exploring aspects of Francophone culture while making connections between Indigenous communities and the French language. Students will begin to appreciate the interconnectedness of language and culture, and understand the educational, travel, and career opportunities that learning an additional language offers.

FRENCH 9

This course builds upon the knowledge, skills and language learning strategies acquired in French 8.  There is an increased emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and writing.  In this course, students will use French to participate in short conversations, ask for and share information about activities and interests.  Students will engage in the discovery of Francophone creative works.  They will explore the connection between the French language and Indigenous communities. Students will discover aspects of Francophone culture around the world as well as make connections with their own personal and social identity. Students will develop an appreciation for the interconnectedness of language and culture, and understand the educational, travel, and career opportunities that learning an additional language offers.

FRENCH 10

This course reviews and builds upon the French 9 program.  By the end of this course, students will express themselves more fluently both orally and in writing.  Students will narrate stories and engage in conversations about familiar topics.  They will explore the connection between the French language and Indigenous communities. Students will also explore Francophone culture around the world. Students will have a greater appreciation of the interconnectedness of language and culture, and understand the educational, travel, and career opportunities that learning an additional language offers.

INTRODUCTORY FRENCH 11

Introductory French 11 offers an opportunity for students who did not begin Core French in the elementary grades to enter Core French at the secondary level. Core French Introductory 11 is an intensive course, designed to cover essential curricular competencies from Grades 5 to 10 in an accelerated time frame in order to prepare students for Core French 11. It is assumed that students would have limited to no background in Core French prior to enrolment. Enrolment in Core French Introductory 11 is not limited to Grade 11 students.

FRENCH 11

This course reviews and builds upon the French 10 program, with an emphasis on written communication and reading comprehension.  Students will interact and engage with a wide variety of texts.  They will participate in meaningful conversations and express themselves with greater fluency. They will have awareness towards recognizing that language and culture have been influenced by the interactions of First Peoples and Francophone communities in Canada.  Students will continue to explore Francophone culture around the world.  This course satisfies university entrance requirements.

FRENCH 12

This course will provide increased opportunity to develop all four skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Students will explore and interpret a wide variety of texts. Students will be able to engage in meaningful conversations on a variety of topics of interest, both orally and in writing to express themselves effectively, with increasing fluency and accuracy. Students will narrate stories, both orally and in writing.  Instruction will often be in French, and students will be encouraged to use French as the routine language of communication.  Students will examine Francophone culture around the world and recognize that language and culture have been influenced by the interactions of First Peoples and Francophone communities in Canada.

SPANISH LANGUAGE

SPANISH 9

Spanish 9 is an introductory language course.  This course allows students to engage in learning experiences through which they can become proficient users of Spanish, gain new perspectives, and engage with Spanish-speaking communities. All Spanish courses use an integrated approach to language learning and focus on the four essential skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking and interacting. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in short conversations, ask for and share information about activities and interests, listen to authentic audio scripts, watch films, learn dance and music, read various texts and express themselves in the written language.

Students in Spanish 9 will explore:

  • Spanish-speaking areas in the world
  • Spanish-speaking populations and culture
  • School life in Spanish-speaking regions
  • Spanish language songs and films
  • Formal and informal forms of address in different social situations

SPANISH 10

Spanish 10 builds on the basis language skills acquired in Spanish 9.  In this course students explore a variety of Spanish-language texts and continue to expand their understanding of Hispanic cultures.  All Spanish courses focus on the four essential skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Some of the big ideas include:

  • Cultural expression can take many different forms.
  • Expressing ourselves and engaging in conversation in a new language require courage, risk-taking and perseverance.
  • Listening and viewing with intent supports our acquisition and understanding of a new language.

INTRODUCTORY SPANISH 11

Beginner Spanish 11 is an intensive introductory course, covering two years in one (Spanish 9 and Spanish 10). The focus of this course is communication through listening, speaking, reading and writing activities, in order to develop the necessary language structures and vocabulary. The cultures, customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries will also be explored enriching the authentic language-learning experience.  Please consult with chosen post-secondary institutions to see if this course satisfies the language pre-requisite for program admission.

SPANISH 11/12

Spanish 11 and 12 are higher-level courses concentrating on developing students’ language proficiency through listening, speaking, reading and writing.  By the end of these courses, students will be able to use Spanish to complete a variety of written and performance-based tasks.  Grammar and vocabulary are taught more extensively, in order to clarify and enhance communication skills.  Students will examine Spanish-speaking culture around the world. This course satisfies university entrance requirements and therefore as an academic class it requires daily study and practice in order to succeed.

Students will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn about Spanish culture through music, film and dance
  • Practice conversational language
  • Learn and practice grammatical structures
  • Learn and put into practice new grammatical structures and verb tenses

Use a variety of verb tenses together both in written and oral contexts

MANDARIN CHINESE LANGUAGE

The Mandarin Chinese courses offer students an opportunity to learn the Chinese language system, to strengthen their Mandarin language skills and to gain new perspectives on the Chinese Canadian history and the global Chinese community.

 

MANDARIN 9

This is the first of a four-level curriculum and it is designed for students beginning to learn Mandarin Chinese as an additional language. This course focuses on hanyu pinyin (the Mandarin phonetic system), basic structure of Chinese characters, vocabulary based on both the textbook and the new BC curriculum, basic sentence structures, etc.

MANDARIN 10

This is the second of a four-level curriculum and it is designed for students who are continuing to learn Mandarin Chinese as an additional language. Students will strengthen and expand the communication skills they have acquired in Mandarin 9. The course focuses on developing students’ abilities in speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing.

INTRODUCTORY MANDARIN 11

Introduction to Mandarin 11 will cover both Mandarin 9 and 10 content and leads to Mandarin 11.

MANDARIN 11

This is the third of a four-level curriculum for student learning Mandarin Chinese as an additional language. Expanding on the basic skills acquired in Mandarin 10 or Intro 11, students will practice on dialogues, writing notes, letters and small paragraphs. Students will be introduced to about 560 Chinese characters and expressions.

MANDARIN 12

This is the fourth of a four-level curriculum for students who have prerequisite of Mandarin 11 or equivalent. Students in this course are learning Mandarin Chinese as an additional language and will continue learning Chinese expressions, idioms, sentences and practicing computer input with pinyin. Students will work on more advanced reading and writing exercises that include dialogues, notes, letters, and paragraphs.

FRENCH IMMERSION

École Alpha is one of three schools in Burnaby that offer Secondary French Immersion. This program is a continuation of either early immersion or late immersion (grades 6 and 7).

Teachers in this program collaborate to make the curriculum of each subject exciting and challenging for students. Classroom activities promote cultural knowledge and understanding, communication, and the use of authentic materials. Students are also offered a variety of extracurricular activities enabling them to develop leadership skills and enhance learning, such as contests, field trips, participation in clubs, school-wide events and the many student exchange programs.

In grade 8, 9 and 10, students take 50 % of their courses (4 courses) in French. They receive instruction in the French language in four of the following courses:

  • Français langue (French Language)
  • Sciences humaines (Social Studies)
  • Mathématiques (Mathematics)
  • Sciences naturelles (Science)

In grades 11 and 12, students must take one Français langue (French Language) course each year for a total of two courses, and one Sciences humaines (Socials studies) class. Students are welcome to take additional courses in French during grade 11 or 12 for extra credits, in Français langue or Sciences humaines. Additionally, in May of their grade 12 year, the students have the option of completing the AP French Language and Culture exam on request.

GRADE 8 to 10 COURSES

FRANÇAIS LANGUE SECONDE 8 

In Français langue 8, Students will develop language skills while reading, writing, listening and speaking French. French is the only accepted language in class, and it is crucial that students express themselves in French as often as possible while in the classroom. Learning activities include discussion, role-play, presentations, singing, watching movies and reading various literary genres.

SCIENCES HUMAINES 8 

Students will also explore the rise and fall of several major civilizations while developing their understanding of the diverse world of cultures that surround us. Students develop their skills at assessing documents (writing, drawings and recordings) for bias in order to understand history as more than a collection of fact.

MATHEMATIQUES 8 

This is the first course in secondary school mathematics and builds upon the skills developed in previous grades. The units studied include number concepts and operations, patterns and relations, shape and space, variables and equations, statistics and probability and financial literacy. This course aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be numerate. Mathématiques 8 focuses on curricular competencies that include Reasoning and Analyzing, Understanding and Solving, Communicating and Representing, and Connecting and Reflecting. Enrichment opportunities will be provided through the preparation and writing of math contests. The Mathématiques 8 Honours course has the same learning standards as Mathématiques 8.

SCIENCES NATURELLES 8 

The course will utilize a variety of learning strategies including lab work, projects, and individual and small group work. The Science topics will include cells and systems, optics, fluids and dynamics, and water systems on Earth.

FRANÇAIS LANGUE SECONDE 9 

Students will continue to build language skills with a focus on precision in their written and verbal communication. As their grammar skills advance, students will be able to use verb tenses and complex grammar elements to explain themselves with greater clarity and efficiency. Students will put these skills to use in class debates, discussions, presentations and speeches, as well as creative writing. Various essay-writing techniques will be explored, and students will focus on synthesizing (comparing and contrasting) ideas found in various works of literature, as well as songs and films. Readings will include tales, a novel and an assortment of poetry from around the world.

SCIENCES HUMAINES 9 

Sciences humaines 9 takes students out of the Renaissance and throws them into a world of turbulent ideas; the result is a series of revolutions that changed the Western World forever. Students will examine these and weigh the pros and cons of radical change and its effect on society. In doing so, students will compare and contrast the different elements that led to these changes and discuss whether or not revolution is necessary. As they explore these events, students will also explore the geography, of the regions affected, as well as the movement of people and the ways colonization has affected First Nations people. The focus will be mainly on the Canadian perspective and how Canada has become a nation of diversity. Throughout the course, students will discuss the weekly news; current events not only help us imagine our future but also prove that the history we study often repeats itself.

MATHÉMATIQUES 9 

This course is designed to extend on topics from Mathematics 8. Topics include operations with rational numbers, exponents, polynomials and algebra, linear relations, shape and space, statistics and financial literacy. At the end of this course, students will be prepared for Foundations and Pre-Calculus 10 OR Workplace 10. Enrichment opportunities will be provided through the preparation and writing of math contests.

SCIENCES NATURELLES 9 

The course will utilize a variety of learning strategies including laboratory work, projects, and individual and small group work. The Science topics will include cells and systems, optics, fluids and dynamics, and water systems on Earth.

FRANÇAIS LANGUE SECONDE 10 

This is the first of two pre-AP years of French language and literature study. Students who wish in their Grade 12 year (Français langue 12) to challenge the AP French exam will be able to do so. In order to prepare students, we will continue to build grammar skills and vocabulary, and put these to use in written work, oral presentations and debates. Students will read a variety of short fiction, poetry, novels and plays, including at least one period piece. Students will learn to synthesize various sources of information, both written and audio, and offer opinions that integrate all sources of information.

SCIENCES HUMAINES 10 

This course follows the Grade 10 Socials curriculum, examining how Canada formed and grew as a nation in the 20th century. Students will examine the participation of Canada in the two World Wars, they will study different communities who helped build our country, including First Nations, various immigrant groups, and their conflicts and struggles as Canada became a cultural mosaic. Students will also explore the Canadian political system, including elections, ideologies, role of provincial and federal government and the importance of active and responsible citizenship duties. Sciences humaines 10 will be followed by Sciences humaines 11.

MATHÉMATIQUES: FONDEMENTS ET PRÉ-CALCUL 10 

This course is designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical thinking skills identified for post-secondary studies in the fields of Science, Engineering, Business, Language Arts, Fine Arts and other courses offered at post-secondary degree and diploma granting institutions. Topics include applying trigonometric ratios to right triangles, prime factorization, operations with powers, functions and relations, systems of linear equations, arithmetic sequences, operations with polynomial expressions, and financial literacy. Students who have successfully completed the course may register for Foundations of Mathematics 11, Pre-Calculus 11, or Workplace 11.

SCIENCES NATURELLES 10 

The course will utilize a variety of learning strategies including laboratory work, projects, and individual and small group work. Science topics will include genetics and heredity, chemical reactions, transformation of energy and the formation of the universe.

ÉDUCATION À LA VIE PROFESSIONELLE 10  

The Career Learning Education course gives students the opportunity to follow an enriching path that will permit them to attain their goals.  It is the French Immersion version of CLE 10 and must be completed in order to meet the Ministry’s provincial graduation requirements.    This program encourages students to explore their own identities, their goals and their well-being in different learning contexts. Students will recognize the value of learning by experience and the connections with their communities. They will reflect upon their own development in their lives and careers.  Students will predict and plan their continuing progression in developing their skills in order to support their own learning.  The course is structured in a way that facilitates the integration of multiple learning domains. In addition, the students will have an opportunity to continue to develop and use their French language skills in meaningful real-life situations as well as explore ways in which their French skills can be used to further their post-secondary education and career.

GRADE 11 & 12 COURSES

For the French Immersion Dual Dogwood, two French Immersion courses are required in Grade 11 and one French Immersion course is required in Grade 12.

ÉTUDES AUTOCHTONES CONTEMPORAINES 12  

This course focuses on the diversity, depth, and integrity of Indigenous cultures worldwide. Students will learn how Indigenous people’s identities, worldviews, and languages are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land. We will examine the processes of colonization and their impacts on our world today. Students will consider multiple perspectives regarding community development and make connections to the present realities of Indigenous people and the movement toward reconciliation, decolonization, and self-determination. This course meets the Indigenous-focused AND the French coursework requirement.

 

LANGUE ET CULTURE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 11 

Language and Culture of the French-Speaking World 11 offer the students the opportunity to reflect on how language and culture shape their personal perceptions, values and self-identification as bilingual learners. Students become aware of the realities of their own culture, the French-speaking world and strengthen their Canadian identity. Through a variety of literary texts and works from different eras, cultures, styles and genre, students will develop an understanding and an appreciation of the French-speaking world. They will continue developing their ability to analyze, interpret, and reflect.

FRANÇAIS LANGUE SECONDE 12 

French Immersion 12 is required to receive a bilingual diploma. Students will complete Français langue 12 and write the mandatory French literacy assessment at the end of their Français langue 12 semester. All students will also have the option of writing the AP French Language and Culture exam in May for an Advanced Placement credit. Students explore different types and genres of texts, from various sources, that reflect la Francophonie and the Indigenous perspectives. The course encourages students to use critical and creative thinking to analyze various communication situations and refine their communication skills in diverse contexts in order to achieve their personal and career objectives. The graduation program requires students to take the Évaluation de littératie de la 12ᵉ année – Français langue seconde – immersion. There are two components to this exam, written and oral.

ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES – FOR ADDITIONAL GRADUATION CREDITS

ÉTUDES DU CINÉMA ET DE LA LITTÉRATURE FRANCOPHONE 12  

French-Language Film and Literary Studies 12 is designed to encourage students to discover, explore, analyze, and interpret cinematographic and literary works of the French-speaking world. By studying a variety of texts, students will acquire knowledge of Francophone culture, which will contribute to the development of their identity. The following are possible focus areas in French-Language Film and Literary Studies 12:  film genres: drama, comedy, action, history, biography, cloak-and-dagger, crime, adventure, science fiction, horror, silent films, documentaries, short films, propaganda, animations, trailers, television series, film adaptations of literary works, film reviews , National Film Board of Canada, Radio-Canada, TV5, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN),  literary genres: storytelling, poetry, plays, essays, comics, short stories, novels, albums, graphic novels, French-language literary and cinematographic works by era and geographic location, First Peoples stories and documentaries in French.