3253 Waialae Avenue
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Sacred Hearts Academy
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
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808-734-5058
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Fax 737-7867
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www.sacredhearts.org
WORLD LANGUAGES
Two consecutive years of one world language are required for high school graduation from
Sacred Hearts Academy. The study of a foreign language is begun in the eighth grade or
the freshman year.
Courses offered:
n AP Chinese
n AP Japanese
n AP Spanish
n Chinese I-V
n Hawaiian I-V
n Japanese I-V
n Spanish I-V
AP CHINESE LANGUAGE (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Chinese III
Year Course
AP JAPANESE LANGUAGE (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Japanese III
Year Course
AP SPANISH LANGUAGE (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish III
Year Course
This course reinforces the reading and writing skills acquired in Chinese I to IV and
strengthens students’ listening and speaking skills. The class, conducted mostly in
Chinese, emphasizes advanced vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures and incorporates the study of authentic Chinese stories, idioms, essay writing and extended cultural projects. The AP Chinese exam is computer-based, and students will be expected to
complete some assignments using Chinese typing.
This advanced course is designed to help students integrate language and cultural knowledge to communicate students’ personal perspectives on various topics. This course develops students’ interpretive, interpersonal and presentation skills in Japanese along with
knowledge of Japanese culture and AP Kanji. This class is conducted mainly in Japanese.
The AP Japanese exam is computer-based, as are many assignments given in this course.
AP Spanish reinforces the listening, written and verbal skills from Spanish I to III classes.
More complex reading is given to enrich understanding of the Hispanic language and culture. Students in this course will take the AP exam in May.
CHINESE I (Grade Level: 8 to 12)
Year Course
CHINESE II (Grade Level: 9 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Chinese I
Year Course
CHINESE III (Grades Level: 10 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Chinese II
Year Course
CHINESE IV (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Chinese III
Year Course
CHINESE V (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Chinese IV
Year Course
HAWAIIAN I (Grade Level: 8 to 12)
Year Course
Chinese I introduces students to the Chinese language through speaking, listening, reading and writing. The course teaches students to differentiate the Chinese sound system
and the Chinese writing system emphasizing stroke technique. Students are also introduced to the Chinese culture and daily life in China.
Chinese II reviews basic vocabulary and sentence structure learned in Chinese I, including skill in pronouncing words with tones, completing proper writing strokes and using
simple vocabulary/grammar for daily life purposes. Lessons are developed around subjects
of interest and cultural worth.
Chinese III is intended for advanced learners. Students should be able to demonstrate
skills in fluently pronouncing words with tones, write strokes fluidly, write basic-level
vocabulary and recognize intermediate-level vocabulary, and utilize simple grammar structures for daily life purposes with proficiency. The course emphasizes advanced vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures and incorporates extended reading passages and
longer written exercises.
Chinese IV continues to reinforce the reading and writing skills acquired in Chinese I to
III and strengthens students’ listening and speaking skills. The class, conducted mostly in
Chinese, emphasizes advanced vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures and will
incorporate the study of authentic Chinese stories, essay writing and extended cultural
projects.
Chinese V continues to reinforce the reading and writing skills acquired in levels I to IV
and strengthens students’ listing and speaking skills. The class, conducted mostly in
Mandarin, emphasizes advanced vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures as well as
the incorporation of poetry and Eastern philosophy. Various cultural “hands-on” projects
and engaging in online Chinese learning communities and blogs are incorporated.
This beginning language course includes basic knowledge of the Hawaiian language. The
four areas of skill are listening (ho’olohe), writing (kakau), reading (heluhelu) and speaking (‘olelo). Students are introduced to basic vocabulary, sentence patterns, stories and
dialogs. Studying Hawaiian culture is also integrated throughout the course.
HAWAIIAN II (Grade Level: 9 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Hawaiian I
Year Course
HAWAIIAN III (Grade Level: 10 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Hawaiian II
Year Course
HAWAIIAN IV (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Hawaiian III
Year Course
HAWAIIAN V (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Hawaiian IV
Year Course
JAPANESE I (Grade Level: 8 to 12)
Year Course
JAPANESE II (Grade Level: 9 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Japanese I
Year Course
Hawaiian II reviews the basic vocabulary and sentence patterns learned in Hawaiian I and
emphasizes pronunciation, listening, writing, reading and speaking skills. Hawaiian culture
and its values and history are studied, and students produce simple conversations and correct sentence structure using a variety of patterns, vocabulary and idioms.
Hawaiian III furthers students’ conversational skills in the Hawaiian Language. This course
involves advanced reading and writing, and students strengthen their knowledge and use
of the basic sentence structure and vocabulary learned in levels I and II. The course continues to expand knowledge of the Hawaiian culture through ancient stories and legends.
Hawaiian IV will strengthen the student’s conversational skills in the Hawaiian language.
This course involves advanced reading and writing. The student will expand her knowledge of the language with advanced sentence patterns and vocabulary. Hawaiian culture
will continue to be integrated in the course.
Hawaiian V strengthens students’ conversational, writing and reading skills in the Hawaiian
language. This course involves advanced reading and writing, and students expand their
knowledge of the language and advanced sentence patterns and vocabulary through
learning different aspects of Hawaiian tradition and culture.
Japanese I introduces students to Japanese through listening, speaking, reading and writing. Vocabulary, basic grammar, hiragana and katakana as well as reading selections and
dialogues are designed to give the student cultural insights into the daily lives of the
Japanese.
Japanese II advances students’ conversational, reading and writing skills. Approximately
120 new kanji are introduced. Lessons are developed around subjects of interest and cultural worth. A honors section in Japanese II is available with teacher recommendation.
JAPANESE III (Grade Level: 10 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Japanese II
Year Course
JAPANESE IV (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Japanese III
Year Course
JAPANESE V (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Japanese IV
Year Course
SPANISH I (Grade Level: 8 to 12)
Year Course
SPANISH II (Grade Level: 9 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish I
Year Course
Japanese III involves the continued and expanded study of the written and spoken language. This course assumes mastery of the hiragana, katakana and kanji covered in
Japanese I and II. Approximately 200 new kanji are learned. Students speak primarily in
Japanese during this class and are expected to give detailed explanations and descriptions. An honors section in Japanese III is available with teacher recommendation.
Japanese IV involves the continued and expanded study of the written language, vocabulary and contextual usage of sentence patterns designed to enhance the student’s interactive skills in Japanese. The class is conducted in Japanese, and students are expected
to participate in cultural and linguistic ways.
Japanese V further develops the four basic skills; speaking, listening, reading and writing,
that students acquired through lower levels of Japanese language courses with emphasis
on more casual oral communication skills and Japanese honorific expressions in various
practical situations through a variety of activity-based lessons. Students continue to learn
more Kanji characters. This course emphasizes advanced vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures and incorporates the study of authentic Japanese short stories, short
writings and extended cultural projects.
Spanish I is an introduction to language and culture through listening, speaking, reading
and writing at a flexible pace. Comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, grammar, critical
thinking, language accuracy and appreciation of diversity are stressed. Topics covered
include what students need to communicate when shopping, talking about home, family
and friends and participating in activities and traveling.
Spanish II continues to expand the grammar skills necessary for communication as well
as develop the students’ knowledge and understanding of the Hispanic culture. Level II
expands the grammatical knowledge by emphasizing the present, preterite, imperfect,
future, conditional, preterit perfect and pluperfect tenses. A more complex pattern of
speech and grammar is employed to expand the students’ communication. A honors section of Spanish II is available with teacher recommendation.
SPANISH III (Grade Level: 10 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish II
Year Course
SPANISH IV (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish III
Year Course
SPANISH V (Grade Level: 11 to 12)
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish IV
Year Course
Spanish III strengthens students’ command of the spoken language and written language
by using basic structures previously learned. Students develop skills in narrating past,
present and future events in the Spanish language including the use of the subjunctive
mood. The student also develops reading skills through exposure to the prose of recognized Spanish authors. A honors section of Spanish III is available with teacher recommendation.
Spanish IV continues to reinforce the listening, written and verbal skills begun in levels I
to III. More complex reading is given to the student to enrich her understanding of the
Hispanic language and culture with an emphasis on verbal practice to express ideas in the
target language and work at a proficient level. In this course, students refine their Spanish
skills while reviewing and expanding the control of several functions and language structures. They also gain an understanding of social, cultural and political history as well as
literature of the Spanish-speaking world.
Spanish V reinforces the listening, writing and verbal skills begun in levels I to IV with
more complex reading and oral practice to express ideas in the Spanish language and to
work towards a proficient level. Students refine their Spanish skills while reviewing and
expands the control of several functions and language structures. They will also gain an
understanding of social, cultural and political history as well as literature of the Spanishspeaking world.