All Upper School students are required to take three consecutive years of one language. Languages offered are French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. Students who begin a new language in Class V will complete the requirement at the end of Level 3; those who continue their Lower School language will complete it after the Advanced Topics or Advanced Placement course. Students  will complete the language requirement at the end of Class VII, but students are encouraged to continue their language study in Class VIII. Students may take a second language beginning in Class VI, and should speak with the head of the World Languages Department if they are interested in this option. Students who would like to take a sixth major course in one or both semesters must submit a petition for an additional course (see appendix for petition process). A student with previous experience in a language but who has not taken that language at Winsor must take a placement test. All world languages courses are major courses.

French

Accelerated Foundations in French (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course, an accelerated study of introductory French, is an intensive, fast-paced class that provides the fundamentals of grammar, structure, and vocabulary needed to reach specific, targeted communicative benchmarks. Students learn to recognize patterns in the written and spoken language, and to employ their observations to stretch their own language skills. Activities are designed to help students develop skills in listening comprehension, as well as written and oral proficiency. Readings from various resources give contextualized examples of the topics being studied while also giving the students a glimpse into the diversity and complexity of the French-speaking world. Integrated audio and authentic video materials are regularly used to strengthen students’ aural comprehension and comfort with a range of speakers and accents. The course is designed for students with little or no knowledge of French language or culture.

French 2: Le français, une langue mondiale (1 Credit, Yearlong)

In French 2, students continue to develop skills introduced during the Lower School program or in Accelerated Foundations in French. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills are reinforced on a daily basis. Students add to their foundation in grammar and become more adept at communicating and expressing their thoughts in French, both orally and in written form, in full and increasingly complex contexts. Students broaden their vocabulary and grammar concepts through activities and projects designed to practice and deepen their understanding of language and culture through everyday interactions with authentic thematic materials. They also continue to discover the richness of the cultures in the French-speaking world. The class is conducted mostly in French, allowing students to process in English how they learn French. Prerequisite: Accelerated Foundations in French or its equivalent.

French 3: Les Visages de la Francophonie: Les Caraïbes et le Canada (1 Credit, Yearlong)

In French 3, students continue to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The class includes the study of French grammar in addition to discussion and analysis of Francophone literature, including poetry, short stories, and films. As we examine large cultural movements—such as la Négritude, la mission civilisatrice, Québécois nationalism and la créolité—we will answer questions related to the development of cultural identity. For example, what impact did the creation of the Négritude movement by the Francophone and Caribbean intellectuals, namely Aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Léon Gontran Damas, have on perceptions of Black identity and culture? French 3 students will develop their language and analytical skills and will also build a substantial vocabulary as they work to master the grammar needed for a sophisticated level of written and oral communication. This class is conducted entirely in French. Prerequisite: French 2.

Advanced Topics in French: La France contemporaine (1 Credit, Yearlong)

Stereotypes of France are abundant: baguettes, berets, bicycles, the Eiffel Tower, and moonlight walks on the Seine. Behind these romantic images, the real France is to be found. In this course, we will examine cultural currents, tensions and developments in contemporary France. These will include the exploration of topics including immigration, political engagement, religious identity, environmental stewardship, and music and cultural expression. We will delve into these topics while considering how they are represented in the French and world media, as well as how they relate to similar trends we face in America. In this course, taught entirely in French, students will expand their vocabulary base and their command of sophisticated grammatical structures and will develop their linguistic skills as they learn to discuss, debate, and present their points of view on these current topics. Students can take this course after completing French 3. Prerequisite: French 3.

AP French: French Language and Culture (1 Credit, Yearlong)

The AP French Language and Culture course takes a holistic approach to language proficiency. The course “emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational skills in real-life situations. This includes interpretation of meaning, communicative abilities, research strategies, and cultural understanding. The AP French Language and Culture course strives to not overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication.” The course provides students with opportunities to explore culture across contemporary and historical contexts. Moreover, the course “develops students’ awareness and appreciation of cultural products, practices, and perspectives,” as articulated by the College Board. AP French is structured around six thematic units that provide the context and content necessary for students to develop their communication skills. Authentic materials from the French and Francophone world provide the basis for vocabulary acquisition and class discussion. Beyond preparing students for the AP French Language and Culture exam, the course enables them to engage meaningfully with French-speaking communities. In order to best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is conducted entirely in French. This course prepares students to take the AP French Language and Culture Exam. Students can take this course after completing French 3 or Advanced Topics in French. Prerequisite: French 3.

French Fall Senior Seminar: Le Deuxième Sexe, L’expérience et la représentation des femmes françaises et francophones dans la littérature et les films (0.5 Credits, Fall)

In the French Fall Senior Seminar, students will explore representations of French and Francophone women, both how these women view themselves and how they are viewed by others. Students will come to understand the challenges, obstacles, and socio-political circumstances that have shaped the lives of these sensitive, yet determined women who have worked to establish identity and prevail as intellectual beings over time and across geo-political space. Texts and films by French and Francophone authors and filmmakers create a rich and varied portrait of the lives of “le deuxième sexe.” Through a final project, students will gain insight into their own experiences as young women coming of age in the 21st century. This class is conducted entirely in French. Prerequisite: Advanced Topics in French or AP French.  

French Spring Senior Seminar: Camus et l’absurde (0.5 Credits, Spring)

In this advanced French seminar class, students will have the opportunity to engage deeply with the works of Albert Camus, one of the central figures of twentieth-century French literature and thought. Through selected readings such as Le Mythe de Sisyphe and Lettres à un ami allemand and excerpts from La Peste, students will examine Camus’s concept of “l’absurde” and the meaning of human solidarity in times of crisis. In examining these ideas and notions, students will work on refining their oral and written communicative abilities. Class activities include analytical discussions, short essays, presentations, and creative projects that connect Camus’s ideas to contemporary moral and social issues—such as the fight against the climate crisis, political polarization, collective resistance, etc. By the end of the course, students will be able to articulate Camus’s main philosophical concepts in French, engage critically with literary texts, and express nuanced opinions both orally and in writing. This class is conducted entirely in French. Enrollment in French Fall Senior Seminar is not required to take the Spring Senior Seminar. Prerequisite: Advanced Topics in French or AP French.

Latin

Accelerated Foundations in Latin (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course, an accelerated study of introductory Latin, is an intensive, fast-paced class that provides the fundamentals of grammar, structures, and practical vocabulary in order to be able to read texts in Latin, along with an ability to engage in regular oral and written communication. New topics of study are introduced through daily readings about Greco-Roman culture, history, and mythology. A regular emphasis on vocabulary building provides students with the skills to recognize, use, and decipher word roots, suffixes and prefixes, not only in Latin, but also in English and other modern languages. The course is designed for students with little or no knowledge of Latin.

Latin 2 (1 Credit, Yearlong)

Latin 2 students begin the year examining the Latin text of several important Roman myths, working to become more fluent readers of Latin prose. They expand upon their understanding of Latin grammar and vocabulary through regular practice, grammar exercises, and Latin composition projects, all while gaining a fundamental understanding of the values of ancient Roman society as expressed in mythology. In the second semester, the students tackle stories with increasingly complex Latin syntax as they transition to reading stories of the legendary founding of Rome and accounts of the history of the Roman Republic adapted from Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita. These readings help students to build a context for their further study of important literary works of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire, which will be covered in subsequent courses. Prerequisite: Accelerated Foundations in Latin or its equivalent.  

Latin 3 (1 Credit, Yearlong)

During the first semester, students complete their study of Latin grammar and explore the portrayals of women and non-Romans in Latin literature. They read selections, adapted and unadapted, from classical authors such as Livy, Valerius Maximus Ovid, Horace, as well as modern novellas of famous women in the ancient Mediterranean. In addition to analyzing the readings’ grammar and syntax, students discuss how these stories reflect the cultural values and biases of the authors, thus gaining experience with literature analysis. In the second semester, students read selections from Vergil’s Aeneid. These readings offer insight into the empire-building culture of the late Roman Republic and one of its most notable historical figures. Students will come to understand the Roman definition of virtus and pietas and also examine how Rome viewed their relationships to foreign nations. Prerequisite: Latin 2.

AP Latin (1 Credit, Yearlong)

Following the curriculum of the revised College Board’s Advanced Placement course in Latin, students read selections from Books I, II, IV, and VI, VII, XI, and XII of the Aeneid in Latin and selections from Pliny’s Letters. In addition to these authors, students will read other works of Latin prose and poetry. The College Board requires a set of “project readings” each year, and, in addition to the required readings, classes will choose selections from a list of suggested readings. The reading and analysis of the Latin texts lead to discussions of the works’ literary significance and historical background. There is an emphasis on connecting the modern and ancient worlds to better understand the causes and effects of political struggle, the interplay between different cultures, and the moral and ethical questions with which humans struggle. The students also explore the mythical and legendary aspects of Roman culture, thus acquiring knowledge that will aid their reading of any literature that has classical foundations. This course prepares students to take the AP Latin Exam. Prerequisite: Latin 3.

Latin Fall Senior Seminar: Cicero: A Study in Style (0.5 Credits, Fall)

A novus homo from a small town outside of Rome, Cicero rose to prominence in politics at a time when the foundations of the Roman Republic were being shaken at their core. Though he ascended the cursus honorum to the consulship, it was his writings that shaped his legacy. Cicero’s influence on Latin prose was so immense that nearly all writers who came after were characterized as either a reaction against or return to his style. Nor was his impact limited to the Roman world; from the Enlightenment to President Obama, from the founding fathers to A Few Good Men, Cicero’s influence appears across a wide swath of modern culture. Over the course of the semester, students will read selections from both his political and legal orations to analyze both his thinking and his style. Additionally, students will examine speeches from—both historical and literary—and trace the influence of Cicero’s thinking and style in modern politics, literature, and film. Students can take this course after taking Latin 3 or AP Latin. Prerequisite: Latin 3.

Latin Spring Senior Seminar: Lyric Poetry (0.5 Credits, Spring)

Students read the lyric poems of such authors as Catullus, Horace, Propertius, and Ovid, whose topics center on themes of daily life, loves, and friendships from the perspectives of the most notable poets of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. In addition, students examine the socio-political climate of the times in order to better understand the context of the writings. Students make connections between Roman poets and their Greek predecessors, including Sappho and Callimachus. Students may also read later Latin poems that are influenced by these Golden Age authors, in addition to exploring modern interpretations and adaptations of these works. The skills of reading, translation, analysis, and essay writing are emphasized. Students can take this course after taking Latin 3 or AP Latin. Enrollment in Latin Fall Senior Seminar is not required to take the Spring Senior Seminar. Prerequisite: Latin 3.

Mandarin Chinese

Accelerated Foundations in Mandarin Chinese (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course, an accelerated study of introductory Mandarin Chinese, is an intensive, fast-paced course that introduces students to spoken Mandarin and written Simplified Chinese, with an emphasis on pronunciation, the romanization system (Pinyin and tones), and the building blocks (radicals) of Chinese characters (Hanzi). Students will build their vocabulary, learn to write and type characters, and develop skills for everyday conversations. Students are encouraged to speak Chinese in class, to utilize their resources, and to establish their study strategies for learning the language. This course also explores cultural topics from both ancient and contemporary China through short videos, cultural projects, and current events. By combining collaborative group activities and independent learning, the class accommodates different learning styles. The course is designed for beginners as well as for students with some prior knowledge of the Chinese language and culture.

Mandarin Chinese 2: Traveling to China (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course builds upon foundational knowledge of spoken and written Chinese as students develop the productive, receptive, and cultural skills necessary for effective communication with native speakers. As new grammatical structures are introduced, basic grammar will be reviewed and reinforced. Students will learn to use a wide range of vocabulary to discuss a variety of everyday topics, ranging from weather and directions, to birthday celebrations, sports, and travel events. Through readings, writing exercises, and role-playing activities, students will enhance their linguistic abilities and creative expression. This course provides opportunities to practice and master independent learning skills, as well as to enhance communication skills and to explore Chinese culture through group activities. Prerequisite: Accelerated Foundations in Mandarin Chinese or its equivalent.

Mandarin Chinese 3: Living in China (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course builds on skills developed in previous years, preparing students to navigate real-life situations in Mandarin. Emphasis is placed on improving pronunciation and oral proficiency, while continuing to develop reading and writing skills. Students will engage in spontaneous conversations on topics such as school life, urban living, renting an apartment, applying for a job, and education. Research projects and presentations enhance students’ grasp of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and deepen their understanding of contemporary Chinese society. This course also provides opportunities to practice independent learning and communication skills, with an emphasis on exploring Chinese culture through group activities. Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese 2.

Advanced Topics in Mandarin: China: Past, Present, and Future (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course offers students the opportunity to explore China’s rich cultural traditions, to compare contemporary China with its pre-reform era, and to examine evolving perspectives within modern Chinese society. Topics covered will range from feudal society to the present day. Students will engage in descriptive, interpretive, and reflective writing and will deliver oral presentations based on the materials studied in class, including news articles, video clips, and podcasts. Through individual and group projects, students will demonstrate their proficiency in both simple and complex grammatical structures, using their linguistic skills to draw comparisons between Chinese culture and their own. This course is primarily conducted in Mandarin. Prerequisite: Mandarin Chinese 3.

AP Mandarin Chinese (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course is designed to help students improve their proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in preparation for the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam. Students will engage with the Chinese language and culture through authentic texts, audio, video, and digital media, exploring cultural perspectives through inquiry-based learning and practices. The course emphasizes the three modes of communication—interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational—through real-world communicative tasks, cultural analysis, and collaborative discussions. Students analyze and synthesize information from multiple authentic sources.  Students will explore topics reflecting various aspects of Chinese society and culture through six course themes—families and communities, personal and public identities, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges—while developing linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding. Each unit includes vocabulary acquisition and application, sentence pattern practice, language skill development, text analysis, supplementary readings, and performance-based assessments. Students will also complete a cultural investigation project using authentic Chinese language sources, culminating in a presentation and discussion designed to stimulate AP speaking tasks. To facilitate immersion, the course is conducted primarily in Mandarin Chinese. This course prepares students to take the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Prerequisite: Advanced Topics in Mandarin or Mandarin 3 and department permission.

Mandarin Senior Seminar: Social Perspectives (0.5 Credits per Semester, Fall and/or Spring)

This advanced-level course aims to enhance  students’ language proficiency through the exploration of social issues in contemporary China. Students will engage with a variety of topics that provide real-world context for their language development, including the urban-rural divide, Chinese aesthetics, migrant workers, feminism, and human rights movements. This course is designed to strengthen debating, writing, and speaking skills through group discussions, essays, presentations, and critical reflections. A variety of language exercises will support the improvement of students’ conceptual understanding and oral expression. This is a two-semester course, and seniors have the option to enroll in fall semester only, spring semester only, or both semesters. Prerequisites: Advanced Topics in Mandarin or AP Mandarin.

Spanish

Accelerated Foundations in Spanish (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This course, an accelerated study of introductory Spanish, is an intensive, fast-paced course that provides the fundamentals of grammar, structure, and practical vocabulary needed to reach specific, targeted communicative benchmarks. Students learn to recognize patterns in the written and spoken language, and employ their observations to stretch their own language skills. Classroom activities are designed to develop skills in listening comprehension, as well as written and oral proficiency. Readings from various texts give contextualized examples of the grammar being studied while also giving the students a glimpse into the diversity and complexity of the Spanish-speaking world.  Students regularly use integrated audio and video materials to strengthen aural comprehension and comfort with a range of speakers and accents. Throughout the year, students are engaged in research and creative projects relevant to the thematic units they study. This course is designed for beginners or students with limited knowledge of Spanish.

Spanish 2: Voces del mundo hispano (Voices from the Spanish-Speaking World) (1 Credit, Yearlong)

In Spanish 2, students continue to develop skills introduced during the Lower School program or Accelerated Foundations in Spanish. Listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills are reinforced on a daily basis. Students add to their foundation in grammar and become more adept at communicating and expressing their thoughts in Spanish, both orally and in written form, in full and increasingly complex contexts. Students broaden their vocabulary and grammar concepts through projects and activities designed to practice and deepen their understanding of language and culture through everyday interactions with authentic thematic materials. They also continue to discover the richness of the cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. The class is conducted mostly in Spanish, allowing students to process in English how they learn Spanish. Prerequisite: Accelerated Foundations in Spanish or its equivalent. 

Spanish 3: Discovery, Encounter, Conquest: Multiple Perspectives (1 Credit, Yearlong)

In Spanish 3, students continue to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Students develop their language and analytical skills and build a substantial vocabulary as they work to master the grammar needed for a sophisticated level of written and oral communication. Spanish 3 students reflect critically on culture, language, history, and their own perspectives. Through film, primary sources, literature, and discussion, students examine how narratives are constructed and who controls them. Guiding questions invite students to reflect on power dynamics, cultural bias, and the importance of multiple perspectives in understanding history and contemporary society.   Spanish 3 students explore colonial encounters, the cultural worlds of Al-Andalus and Sefarad before 1492, and key historical and literary figures such as Malinche, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and the Maya creation narrative in the Popol Vuh, using film, historical documents, and literature. The course then broadens to include the African diaspora in the Americas, the Cold War in Latin America (with a focus on the Salvadoran Civil War), Indigenous rights movements such as the Zapatistas, and twentieth-century Mexico through the work of Rosario Castellanos. This class is conducted entirely in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 2.

Advanced Topics in Spanish: Recursos y Relaciones (1 Credit, Yearlong)

On a shrinking planet, how will human communities make decisions about the distribution, use, and conservation of precious natural resources, such as food, water and fuel? This advanced Spanish course examines how natural and agricultural resources shape societies, economies, and power relations in the Spanish-speaking world. Students explore case studies such as coffee in the Dominican Republic, sugar and slavery in Cuba, Cuban migration and the cigar industry in Ybor City, the cultural and economic significance of corn and cacao in Mexico, and water in Bolivia. Through films, literary texts, journalistic sources, and historical documents, students investigate how the extraction, use, and control of these resources influence local communities, global markets, and international relations. Using a communicative, task-based approach, students develop their proficiency across interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes as they debate ethical questions, compare perspectives, and connect historical processes to contemporary challenges. They strengthen their ability to narrate and describe in major time frames, explain cause and effect, support opinions with evidence, and synthesize information from multiple authentic sources. This class is conducted entirely in Spanish. Students can take this course after completing Spanish 3. Prerequisite: Spanish 3.

AP Spanish: The Hispanic Caribbean Past and Present (1 Credit, Yearlong)

This is a full-immersion course conducted entirely in Spanish that explores the histories, cultures, and contemporary realities of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean—especially Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic—while connecting these contexts to broader issues in the Spanish-speaking world. Through literature, film, music, historical texts, and current events, students analyze how identity, migration, politics, and artistic expression shape Spanish speaking societies and diasporic communities.   Using a project-based, communicative approach aligned with the AP Spanish Language and Culture framework, students develop proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication. Learning activities include debates, research projects, role-plays, collaborative writing, and persuasive essays designed to strengthen critical thinking and linguistic accuracy. Students expand their command of advanced grammar, idiomatic expressions, and vocabulary while refining skills in self-editing, peer revision, and formal argumentation. Core texts and cultural works—including Claro de Luna by Elizabeth Santiago, plays by Carmen Rivera, the film Casi una mujer directed by Betty Kaplan, In the Name of Salomé by Julia Álvarez, and the film Libertador about Simón Bolívar—serve as entry points for thematic exploration and language development. Students also explore artistic traditions such as Puerto Rican Bomba and analyze contemporary cultural voices including Bad Bunny. Authentic engagement with culture is further enriched through guest speakers from local Hispanic/Latino communities, artists, and cultural practitioners who share lived experiences and perspectives connected to the Caribbean diaspora. Guided by the Five C’s of World Language Education—Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities—students critically compare their own perspectives with those of diverse Spanish-speaking communities. By the end of the course, students build the linguistic proficiency, cultural knowledge, and analytical skills needed for success on the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam and for meaningful engagement with the global Spanish-speaking world.This course prepares students to take the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam. Students can take this course after completing Spanish 3 or Advanced Topics in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 3.

Spanish Fall Senior Seminar: La Justicia (0.5 Credits, Fall)

What is justice? What does it mean to you personally to be just? How do your personal beliefs and values inform your understanding of justice? What is your role in the struggle for justice in your community and in the world? What can we learn from artists, poets, writers, journalists, social justice activists, and regular citizens about this theme in the Spanish-speaking world and in the Spanish-speaking communities here in the United States? The course entry point is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the violation of those rights during the Dirty War in Argentina and Chile. Using a communicative, task-based approach, students continue to develop their proficiency across interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes as they engage in understanding how they can be agents of social change. Students hone their ability to narrate and describe in major time frames, explain cause and effect, support opinions with evidence, and synthesize information from multiple authentic sources, such as news articles,  movies, music, video clips, and podcasts. This course allows students to explore the theme of social justice, pursuing their personal interests and questions while engaging with primary resources in advanced Spanish. Prerequisite: Advanced Topics in Spanish Advanced Topics or Spanish AP.

Spanish Spring Senior Seminar: Towards a More Sustainable and Democratic Future of Innovation, Technology, Science, and Design (0.5 Credits, Spring)

During the spring semester, students explore social justice by focusing on the challenges posed by climate change. Students will learn about how scientific and technological innovation models in Spanish-speaking countries are being used to respond to this global crisis. As students identify their personal connections to this global crisis, they will focus on this question: How can the initiatives of the 2030 UN agenda help us build healthy societies and dignified, habitable spaces while allowing us to reconnect with nature, and achieve more peaceful and sustainable life models? Guided by this question, students will analyze videos, texts and relevant information about sustainable development in order to identify the most urgent changes to advance the 2030 Agenda for Development. In addition, local Latino experts in the fields of design, science, art, technology, and innovation will be invited to share their work in order to help students deepen the exploration of themes of sustainability. Using the Design Thinking model, students will create a final project to showcase their work throughout the semester. The seminar concludes with a summit at which students will present their creative conclusions and proposals to other Spanish classes. Enrollment in Spanish Fall Senior Seminar is not required to take the Spring Senior Seminar. Prerequisite: Advanced Topics in Spanish Advanced Topics or AP Spanish.