World Languages

Prerequisites: None

Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement for the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma or counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for Core 40 diploma.

American Sign Language I is a course that introduces students to American Sign Language (ASL) and the deaf community. The course focuses on frequently used signs through a functional-notional approach, and discusses cultural features of the deaf community. Emphasis is placed on development of receptive and expressive language skills. Through this course, students are given the opportunity to develop visual acuity; follow brief verbal instructions; understand short statements, questions, and dialogues; develop short descriptions with guidance; begin to understand the current GLOSSING system used to write ASL; and examine other methods developed to write ASL, including Sign Writing. Students also learn to recognize the difference between the pathological and psychological definitions of deafness, recognize the widespread use of ASL throughout the United States, and develop an understanding of the relationship between languages and cultures as a whole. Opportunities will be given to learn religious signs, do religious signing of songs, prayers, Bible stories, and devoti ties in the Indianapolis community and beyond.

Prerequisite: ASL I

Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement for the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma or counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for Core 40 diploma

American Sign Language II is a course that continues the focus on frequently used signs through a functional-notional approach and the discussion of the cultural features of the deaf community. Emphasis is placed on further development of receptive and expressive communication skills in American Sign Language (ASL). Through this course, students are given the opportunity to watch and understand short stories, dialogues and poetry in ASL; continue to develop visual discrimination skills; begin to understand various dialects of ASL by interacting with ASL users within the deaf community; begin to use classifiers appropriately; continue the mastery of the current GLOSSING system used in texts to write ASL; and begin to write in GLOSS their own simple dialogues, poetry and translations. Students will also learn to examine some of the political issues associated with the deaf community, and will further develop an understanding of the relationship between languages and cultures as a whole. Opportunities will be given to learn religious signs, do religious signing of songs, prayers, Bible stories, and dev y opportunities in the Indianapolis community and beyond.

Prerequisites: ASL I, ASL II

Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement for the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma or counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for Core 40 diploma

American Sign Language III is a course that continues to focus on the students’ non- verbal communication skills at advanced levels of competency. American Sign Language is used exclusively in the class as students communicate using more complex structures of the language on a variety of topics, moving from concrete to more abstract concepts. This course provides opportunities for students to learn to express themselves in advanced situations, using more sophisticated vocabulary and structure; apply advanced grammatical features, such as descriptors, classifier use and various numbering systems; and develop the ability to discuss topics related to historical and contemporary events and issues within the hearing-impaired community. Students will also build on narrative skills and learn to relay information they’ve read or heard through explanation of more complex ideas. This course further emphasizes the development of spontaneous language responsive behaviors through activities designed for this purpose. Opportunities will be given to learn religious signs, do religious signing of songs, prayers, Bible stories, an earn about Deaf ministry opportunities in the Indianapolis community and beyond.

Prerequisite: ASL I, ASL II, and ASL III

Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement for the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma or counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for Core 40 diploma

American Sign Language IV is a course that continues to focus on the students’ non- verbal communication skills at advanced levels of competency. American Sign Language is used exclusively in the class as students communicate using more complex structures of the language on a variety of topics, moving from concrete to more abstract concepts. This course provides opportunities for students to learn to express themselves in advanced situations, using more sophisticated vocabulary and structure; apply advanced grammatical features, such as descriptors, classifier use and various numbering systems; and develop the ability to discuss topics related to historical and contemporary events and issues within the hearing-impaired community. Students will also build on narrative skills and learn to relay information they’ve read or heard through explanation of more complex ideas. This course further emphasizes the development of spontaneous language responsive behaviors through activities designed for this purpose. Some beginning interpreting activities will be done from English to ASL as well as ASL to English. Opportunities will be given to learn religious signs, do religious signing of songs, prayers, Bible stories, and devotions and learn about Deaf ministry opportunities in the Indianapolis community and beyond.

Prerequisite: None

Can-do statement: I CAN interpret what I HEAR in Spanish

Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement 

Spanish I, based on Indiana’s Academic Standards for World Languages, introduces students to foundational Spanish language skills and the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Students develop interpersonal communication through speaking and writing, making and responding to basic requests and questions, using appropriate greetings, and participating in brief guided conversations. With support, they also write short passages using learned vocabulary and structures.

The course builds interpretive skills in reading and listening, helping students understand words and phrases in context and follow simple written and spoken directions. Students also explore the practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures, recognize appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication, and make connections beyond the classroom. 

As part of a Lutheran educational environment, Spanish I integrates faith through daily prayer, Scripture in Spanish, worship music, and the celebration of Christian traditions. Instruction reflects a confessional Lutheran worldview, emphasizing God’s grace and the centrality of Christ. Rooted in this understanding of grace, students are encouraged to take risks in communication, recognizing that mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the learning process in a classroom shaped by patience, forgiveness, and continual growth.
 

Prerequisite: C or better in Spanish I. Department Approval

Can-do statement: I CAN interpret what I READ in Spanish

Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement 

Spanish II, based on Indiana’s Academic Standards for World Languages, builds on foundational skills and encourages more independent use of Spanish for communication and cultural understanding. Students strengthen interpersonal communication through speaking and writing, engaging in expanded conversations, making and responding to questions, and writing more cohesive passages. 

The course develops interpretive skills in reading and listening, as students use context clues to understand meaning and follow longer written and spoken directions. Students also engage in presentational communication by preparing and delivering short presentations and practicing pronunciation and fluency. 

Students explore the practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures, describe cultural traditions and contributions, and make connections beyond the classroom.

As part of a Lutheran educational environment, Spanish II integrates faith through prayer, Scripture in Spanish, and the celebration of Christian traditions. Instruction reflects a confessional Lutheran worldview, emphasizing God’s grace and the centrality of Christ. Rooted in this understanding of grace, students are encouraged to take risks in communication, recognizing that mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the learning process in a classroom shaped by patience, forgiveness, and continual growth.
 

Prerequisite: C or better in Spanish II. Department Approval.

Can-do statement: I CAN PRESENT information in Spanish
Credits: 2

Fulfills a World Language requirement for the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma or counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for Core 40 diploma

Spanish III, based on Indiana’s Academic Standards for World Languages, builds proficiency through more independent and extended use of Spanish for communication and cultural understanding. Students engage in more detailed conversations, express and support ideas, and write organized passages with increasing accuracy and independence. Interpretive skills continue to develop through authentic resources, including the introduction of a Spanish-language novel, as students comprehend more complex written and spoken language using context and prior knowledge. 

Presentational communication becomes more central in this course, as students create and deliver more structured presentations on a variety of topics, demonstrating improved fluency, pronunciation, and organization. Students also explore the practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures in greater depth and make connections to real-world themes beyond the classroom.

As part of a Lutheran educational environment, Spanish III integrates faith through prayer, Scripture in Spanish, and Christian traditions. Instruction reflects a confessional Lutheran worldview, emphasizing God’s grace and the centrality of Christ. Rooted in this understanding of grace, students are encouraged to take risks in communication, recognizing that mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the learning process in a classroom shaped by patience, forgiveness, and continual growth.

Prerequisite: C or better in Spanish III + Department Approval

Can-do statement: I CAN EXCHANGE information in Spanish

Credits: 2

Spanish IV, based on Indiana’s Academic Standards for World Languages, serves as a capstone course emphasizing advanced, sustained use of Spanish for real-world communication and global understanding. Students engage in extended interpersonal communication through discussions, debates, and collaborative activities, expressing and supporting ideas on a wide range of contemporary and real-world topics with increasing fluency and accuracy.

Interpretive skills continue to develop through authentic resources, as students analyze complex written and spoken language related to global issues and diverse cultural perspectives. Presentational communication is emphasized through in-depth presentations and an individual project that demonstrates language proficiency, cultural understanding, and the ability to connect Spanish to real-world contexts.

Students explore the practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures in greater depth while making connections to global themes and viewpoints beyond the classroom. As part of a Lutheran educational environment, Spanish IV integrates faith through prayer, Scripture in Spanish, and Christian traditions. Instruction reflects a confessional Lutheran worldview, emphasizing God’s grace and the centrality of Christ. Rooted in this understanding of grace, students are encouraged to take risks in communication, recognizing that mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the learning process in a classroom shaped by patience, forgiveness, and continual growth.