Curriculum Detail

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World Languages

World Language Department Mission Statement

To build cultural competency, communicative confidence, and life skills through joyful language acquisition and immersive experiences.

  • Cultural Competency

Cultural competency: the ability for a student to observe, detect, compare, comprehend, or interpret both the visible and underlying codes that define a specific culture. A truly culturally-competent student would not only acknowledge those differences (in both the target and home cultures), but would seek understanding of their origins and would be respectful in this analytical quest. 

  • Communicative Confidence

In language classes, teachers help students acquire communicative skills such as talking and reading about familiar topics (family, school, food, etc), narrating stories in different time frames, and navigating real world situations. Teachers provide encouragement and feedback to students as they learn skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in the target language.

  • Life Skills

Learning a new language also teaches students how to think differently and develop skills that are useful in other areas of their lives. Teachers at University School of Nashville encourage students to have a growth mindset. No one knows a skill immediately, therefore we highlight the growth our students make and celebrate it, encouraging them to make mistakes along the way in order to learn from them. Students are taught to engage in other cultures with curiosity and respect and that continuing to enhance their skills in pronunciation, fundamental grammar, reading in the target language, and communication is out of cultural appreciation. Through these exercises, students learn how to study, investigate, develop curiosity and respect, and how to collaborate with their peers.

  • Joyful Learning/Acquisition

When students are happy, they are comfortable. Language classes at USN strive to be a place where students find joy in learning and are comfortable making mistakes. It is through the process of making mistakes that we learn best. Our teachers strive to create an atmosphere where every child feels like they belong and are excited to come to and participate in class.

  • Language Immersion

Second-language acquisition research indicates that students need to experience as much input (listening, reading, viewing) as possible to be able to produce output (speaking and writing). Being immersed in comprehensible language is how students acquire a second language and learn to produce it. Teachers maximize class time by providing a language-rich lesson with a focus on meaning and self-expression. Immersion in the target language, as well as in the target culture, happens most authentically and thoroughly through live abroad programs with a homestay. In the language classroom, we attempt to replicate that immersive experience by negotiating meaning with and among students in the target language.

Advanced Courses

Our Advanced Topics (AT) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide an extension of the skills and content found throughout our foundational and intermediate course offerings. Courses with these labels require students to demonstrate independent mastery of the skills developed in foundational courses, such as cultural competency, media literacy and analysis, and precise grammatical knowledge. They are also required to exhibit consistent accountability for their own learning in various settings. Moreover, the volume of content and pace at which this content is covered is increased to better prepare students for a level of language acquisition aligned with higher-education settings. This pace also offers students the opportunity to engage with the target language in more practical and authentic contexts. 

Both Advanced Topics and Advanced Placement courses parallel the style and rigor of instruction at higher-level educational institutions. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are specifically aligned with the requirements of the College Board, but they are not the only courses offered that challenge students to learn at a collegiate level. Advanced Topics (AT) courses offer higher-level educational experiences to students that, while parallel with Advanced Placement in scope and difficulty, go beyond the limitations of the College Board in content and assessment style.

  • MSON: Advanced Spanish Language Seminar: Art, Literature, and Film

    (Academic)   Grades: 11-12   0.5 credit   Spring Semester

    Wednesday/Friday, 10:05 am-11:05 am

    Target Grade Level: 11-12 

    Prerequisite: Advanced-level Spanish coursework or equivalent; or AP Spanish Language and Culture; or qualifying scores on OPI, AAPPL, or STAMP; or demonstrated readiness through an oral conversation with the instructor.

    Instructor: Nancy Rivas, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Jackson, MS

    This advanced-level Spanish course is designed for advanced learners and native or heritage speakers. Non-native students will enhance fluency, confidence, and higher-level language skills, while all students explore Spanish-speaking cultures through literature, visual arts, and film. Conducted entirely in Spanish, the course serves as a post-AP option for continued study through cultural and analytical perspectives.


    Students study painters such as Velázquez, Kahlo, and Picasso; authors like Cervantes, Matute, and García Márquez; and films and short films such as Machuca and El Héroe. Through discussion, analysis, and creative projects, students develop both cultural understanding and advanced language proficiency.

  • AP Chinese

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12   1 credit    Year  

    Prerequisite: Chinese IV and Instructor approval

    This course prepares students for the AP Chinese Exam. The course will be conducted exclusively in Chinese and will emphasize, at the advanced level, the four major skills required to master the language:  listening, speaking, reading and writing. The class will be conducted as a seminar in which there will be in-depth discussions of various aspects of Chinese culture and how it differs from our own. Students will work with primary sources such as newspapers, online sources, television, videos and literary texts. Numerous written and oral presentations by students will develop their language skills. The following criteria will be used to determine entrance into AP Chinese: grades, teacher recommendation, essay written in Chinese, etc.

  • AP French

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12   1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: French IV and Instructor approval  

    The AP French Language and Culture course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement French Language Exam. The course will be conducted exclusively in French and will emphasize, at an advanced level, the four major skills required to master the language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will focus on applying the language structures learned in previous levels in order to increase their accuracy and fluency in French. Students will work with primary sources from the Francophone speaking world such as newspapers, magazines, online sources (videos, movies and news media), and a few literary texts. Students will practice integrating their language skills in a variety of ways including: recording dialogues and cultural comparisons, writing argumentative essays, diary entries and professional emails. This course is recommended for students who are highly motivated about strengthening their language skills and seeking an academic challenge. Interested students should contact both their current French teacher and the AP teacher.

  • AP Spanish Language

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisites: Spanish IV, departmental approval, and completion of summer assignment

    This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture Exam. The course will be conducted exclusively in Spanish and will emphasize, at an advanced level, the four major skills required to master the language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will focus on applying the language structures learned in previous levels in order to increase their accuracy, specificity and fluency in Spanish. Students will work with primary sources from the Spanish-speaking world from digital media — including news articles, radio broadcasts, podcasts and videos — films, music and a few literary texts. Students will practice integrating their language skills in a variety of ways including: recording dialogues and preparing cultural presentations, writing argumentative essays and research papers, and analyzing texts and contributing to class discussions. This course is recommended for students who are serious about improving their proficiency in the language and are looking for a challenge. Critical and objective self-assessment of your own work and growth is an integral part of the course. Prerequisite: Spanish IV or departmental placement.

  • AT Latin: Vergilian Epic

    (Academic)   12th Grade  1 credit   Year

    This advanced Latin course offers an AP-level study of Vergil’s Aeneid enriched by structured comparisons with Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Students develop high-level proficiency in translation, scansion, literary analysis, and interpretation while exploring themes such as heroism, exile, fate, trauma, war, love, and cultural identity.

    Through close reading, comparative epic, and engagement with modern scholarship, students examine the Aeneid as both a continuation of and response to the Homeric tradition. The course matches the rigor of an AP Latin class while allowing greater depth, flexibility, and intellectual exploration.

  • AT Spanish - Hispanic Media and Culture

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisites: Spanish IV, AP Spanish, or departmental approval

    Advanced Topics in Spanish – Hispanic Media and Culture is a yearlong, seminar-style course conducted in Spanish that examines how literature, film, music, visual arts, and digital media across the Hispanic world represent identity, myth and tradition, urban/rural spaces, and historical memory and democracy. The course explores complex themes such as gender and sexuality, indigeneity, the uncanny, modernization and industrialization, and authoritarianism and democracy. Working with authentic materials from Spain and Latin America, students build advanced linguistic proficiency and media literacy through close reading, audiovisual analysis, and comparative cultural critique. Learning is project-based and features interdepartmental collaboration with other disciplines. By year’s end, students will demonstrate stronger oral and written expression, sharpened interpretive skills in Spanish and in their first language, and a global perspective on Hispanic media and culture.

  • Chinese I

    (Academic)   Grades: 9-11   1 credit   Year 

    Students are introduced to the International Chinese pin-yin system with the standard tones. Conversation focuses upon topics such as introducing oneself, family, hobbies, visiting friends, phone conversations, and shopping. Small group projects are employed for scripting and acting skits. Calligraphy is introduced. Field trips are incorporated to provide students a first hand immersion experience when encountering native speakers. Other cultural activities include research projects to deepen students' understanding of the culture. 300-350 Chinese characters are gradually introduced by both hand-writing and computerized word processor. Technology is integrated into the curriculum, bringing an authentic learning environment to enrich students' acquisition of the language.

  • Chinese II

    (Academic)   Grades: 9-12   1 credit   Year   

    Prerequisite: Chinese I (or Chinese 7th and 8th grades)

    Chinese II builds on the language skills developed in Chinese I and introduces more complex structures and communication tasks. Mastery of the pinyin system is required. The course continues to emphasize understanding and speaking Chinese while further developing reading and writing skills. Instruction is organized around the topics of Integrated Chinese II, including studying Chinese, school life, transportation, weather, dining, and asking directions. Cultural understanding is developed through research-based and experiential activities that introduce students to Chinese traditions, festivals, arts, and daily life.

  • Chinese III

    (Academic)   Grades: 10-12   1 credit   Year   

    Prerequisite: Chinese II  

    The course will emphasize ACTFL three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will learn 500 vocabs. Topic includes birthday party, seeing a doctor, dating, rooms of your house, sports and travel. Tang poems and common idioms are introduced to deepen students' understanding about Chinese values. Cultural events are celebrated or observed throughout the year. 90% target language inside and outside of the class.

  • Chinese IV

    (Academic)   Grades: 11-12   1 credit    Year  

    Prerequisite:  Chinese III

    This course emphasizes the ACTFL three modes of communication—interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational—through the integrated practice of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will acquire approximately 800 vocabulary words related to topics such as school life, dorm living, dining, shopping, course selection, emotions and moods, dating, technology and the internet, part-time work, and education. Cultural study is embedded throughout the course, with classroom discussions incorporating current events and contemporary issues. Students are also introduced to Tang dynasty poetry and common idioms to deepen linguistic and cultural understanding. Instruction is conducted primarily in the target language, with approximately 95% target-language use both in and outside of the classroom.

  • French I

    (Academic)  Grades: 9-12  1 credit   Year

    French I introduces students to the basic patterns of spoken and written French. This course emphasizes learning how to listen to French in order to understand it, learning to imitate the sounds of the language in order to develop accurate pronunciation and beginning to use the language as a means of communication. Class activities stress active participation. In addition to fundamentals of the language, this course introduces students to the cultures of the francophone world.

  • French II

    (Academic)   Grades: 9-12   1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: French I (or French 7th and 8th grades) 

    French II builds on the skills developed in French I and introduces more complex language structures. The course maintains a strong emphasis on communication in French and active student participation in all class activities. Writing skills are further developed through creative writing exercises and a variety of projects, ranging from music videos to informational pamphlets. Reading skills will also be developed through short readings. This course is for students in the ninth grade who have successfully completed two years of French in the Middle School, as well as students who have completed French I.

  • French III

    (Academic)  Grades: 10-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: French II   

    French III emphasizes the development of advanced communication skills in French. A comprehensive review of structures mastered during the first two years of study provides a foundation for continued growth in both written and oral proficiency. Students further strengthen their writing skills through longer, more complex creative writing activities. In addition, the course deepens students’ understanding of the Francophone world by exploring cultural perspectives through films and videos from Francophone news media.

  • French IV

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit  Year 

    Prerequisite: French III   

    French IV requires students to refine and apply advanced communication skills at a high level of academic and intellectual engagement. It allows students to express their creativity through culturally-based projects that develop both written and oral proficiency. The course also places a strong emphasis on reading Francophone literature to further strengthen students’ reading skills and better prepare them for advanced levels of French study.

  • French V: Francophone Cinema and French Newspaper

    (Academic)   Grades: 11-12   0.5 credits    Fall Semester

    Prerequisite: French IV or permission from instructor

    French V (Francophone Cinema and French Newspaper) is offered in the Fall semester. This project-based course emphasizes advanced writing skills as students create and publish En Quelques Mots, the monthly USN newspaper written in French. The course also fosters critical thinking, oral communication, and cultural awareness through the study of several French-language films. Enrollment is typically open to students who have successfully completed French IV.

  • French V: Self-Portraits and Music in the Francophone World

    (Academic)   Grades: 11-12  0.5 credit  Spring Semester

    Prerequisite: French IV or permission from instructor

    French V (Self-Portraits and Music in the Francophone World) is offered in the spring semester. This project-based course emphasizes advanced writing skills as students create their own self-portrait. The course also develops oral communication, listening comprehension, and cultural awareness through the study of music from the Francophone world. Enrollment is typically open to students who have successfully completed French IV.

  • Latin I

    (Academic)  Grades: 9-12  1 credit   Year

    Latin I provides an introduction to the study of Latin. The course emphasizes the study of basic grammar and vocabulary through extensive Latin to English and English to Latin exercises. Supplementary reading in history and daily life introduces students to the culture of ancient Rome.

  • Latin II

    (Academic)   Grades: 9-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: Latin I   

    Latin II furthers the study of skills developed in Latin I. Advanced grammatical topics are covered and students read stories about mythological heroes, such as Hercules and Jason. In the spring semester students read authentic Latin by Livy, Eutropius, and/or Julius Caesar. Students in the ninth grade who have completed two years of Latin in the Middle School, as well as students who have completed Latin I, should enter this course.

  • Latin III

    (Academic)  Grades: 10-12   1 credit    Year  

    Prerequisite:  Latin II   

    Latin III is a reading course in which a variety of authors are studied. Texts likely to be selected include selections from Livy, Eutropius, Caesar, Petronius, Apuleius, Nepos, Cicero, and Ovid. Occasional selections from medieval and neo-Latin may also be read. Grammatical review and the teaching of new constructions employed by authors will also be covered. Background readings in English provide relevant biographical, historical, cultural, mythological and literary information. Students begin learning literary analysis, such as figures of speech, scansion of meter, and rhetorical theory.

  • Latin IV

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12   1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: Latin III   

    Latin IV is a literature course (with grammatical review as necessary), in which a variety of republican and imperial authors are studied. Texts likely to be selected include selections from the following authors: Sallust, Cicero, Livy, Martial, Catullus, Horace, Plautus, Ovid, and Vergil. Occasional selections from medieval and neo-Latin may also be read. This course emphasizes the language's beauty often described as "untranslatable" and majesty. Students continue their exploration of literary analysis in greater depth. Additional grammar will be taught as necessary, depending on the syntax of the authors read.

  • MSON: American Sign Language I

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit  Year

    Monday/Wednesday, 12:20-1:20 pm EST 

    Prerequisite: None

    Instructor: Katina Mower, Canterbury School, Fort Wayne, IN

    In MSON ASL Level 1 you will learn basic signs, culture, and conversation skills in American Sign Language. In the fall term, the instructor will teach many signs upfront so that you and your classmates can use them conversationally as the class moves forward. In the spring term, youwill learn much more about ASL syntax so that you can make sure you’re properly conversing in ASL (ASL syntax varies from American English syntax!).


    You will not need your voice for most of this class, as "Voices Off" and "No Voice" will be our mantras as we learn to communicate with our hands. You do not need to know any sign language at all before you take this class. We begin at the very beginning, and move at the speed of the class. You will use a purchased text, ASL videos, apps, and hands-on classwork to improve muscle memory and ingrain the language. You will surprise yourself with the amount of language you acquire during class and have fun doing it.

  • MSON: American Sign Language II

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit  Year

    Monday/Wednesday, 2:35-3:35 pm EST 

    Prerequisite: MSON American Sign Language Level 1, or ASL conversation with the teacher to determine eligibility.

    Instructor: Katina Mower, Canterbury School, Fort Wayne, IN

    In MSON ASL Level 2 you will learn advanced signs, conversation skills in American Sign Language, and touch on some current Deaf Culture/Deaf Community topics. In the fall term, the instructor will review signs from the ASL Level 1 class to be certain all needed terms are understood. You will mostly have your voice off in this class, as using ASL exclusively will allow you to grow your knowledge of the language. There will be games, videos, assignments, and signed tests to help you retain the maximum amount of culture and language that is possible! You will also use a purchased text, ASL videos, apps, and hands-on classwork to improve muscle memory and ingrain the language. We will be focused on the acquisition of a more developed use of the language.

  • MSON: Arabic I

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit   Year

    Monday/Thursday, 11:15-12:15 pm

    Prerequisite: None

    Notes: First of a possible two-year sequence

    Instructor: Noura Almasaeid, Maret School, Washington, DC

    This first-year course of a two-year sequence is an introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, the language of formal speech and most printed materials in the Arab-speaking world, as well as some aspects of the Arabic dialects that are used in daily life. Students will learn to speak and listen to Arabic, develop beginning proficiency in the language while learning about culture in the Arab world. Additionally, students will learn the Arabic alphabet, and will start reading and writing words and progress to simple sentences by the second semester. Through frequent oral and written drills, students will develop their basic communication skills.

  • MSON: Arabic II

    (Academic)  Grades: 10-12   1 credit   Year

    Tuesday/Friday, 11:15-12:15 pm

    Target Grade Level: 11-12

    Prerequisite: Arabic I or verified equivalent experience

    Instructor: Noura Almasaeid, Maret School, Washington, DC

    This course is a continuation of the introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, the language of formal speech and most printed materials in the Arab-speaking world, and the Arabic dialects (mainly the Levantine dialect). Students will explore various themes such as school studies, daily routine, hobbies, travel, music & poetry, and more. These themes will help develop students’ communication in Arabic, in three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational), while also learning about culture in the Arab world. Moreover, students will progress in their reading and writing skills by learning about sentence structures to form compound sentences and short paragraphs.

  • Spanish I

    (Academic)  Grades: 9-12  1 credit   Year

    Introduction to the basic patterns of spoken and written Spanish. The course emphasizes listening to understand the language, imitating sounds to develop accurate pronunciation, and beginning to use Spanish for communication. Class activities are conducted primarily in Spanish and promote student participation. In addition to the basics of the Spanish language, this course introduces students to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Students entering the high school with previous Spanish courses must demonstrate proficiency to be placed in the appropriate level.

  • Spanish II

    (Academic)   Grades: 9-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: Spanish I (or Spanish 7th and 8th grades) 

    Spanish II further develops the basic skills mastered in Spanish I. This course continues to emphasize the ability to understand and to speak Spanish; it also increases writing proficiency through short compositions and creative tasks. The reading of texts in Spanish is introduced, and further development of an awareness of life and thought in the Spanish-speaking world is an integral component of the course. Classes are conducted in Spanish, and students are expected to use Spanish as the principal means of communication. Students entering the high school with previous Spanish courses must demonstrate proficiency to be placed in the appropriate level. 

  • Spanish III

    (Academic)   Grades: 10-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: Spanish II  

    Spanish III emphasizes further development of language proficiency in Spanish through deeper engagement with grammatical structures. Students broaden and refine the foundational skills gained in Spanish I and II by sustained interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication; analyzing authentic texts and media; and expressing ideas with increasing accuracy, complexity, and cultural awareness. Writing is a major component of the course as students experiment with multiple types of composition in the target language. Additionally, students interpret and analyze literary and informational texts to cultivate cultural knowledge and global citizenship. Classes are conducted in Spanish, and students are expected to use Spanish as the principal means of communication. Students entering the high school with previous Spanish courses must demonstrate proficiency to be placed in the appropriate level.

  • Spanish IV

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  1 credit   Year  

    Prerequisite: Spanish III   

    This course will continue to develop the students’ communication skills in Spanish through an in-depth review of the Spanish grammatical structures learned at previous levels. This course intends to further develop students’ proficiency through communicative methods. Students will also explore the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through an engagement with a variety of authentic texts — articles, podcasts, films, poems, short stories, etc. — from Spain, Latin America and the United States. The class will be conducted entirely in Spanish and will emphasize student participation through class discussions, individual and group presentations and projects, and frequent writing. Prerequisite: Spanish III or departmental placement.

  • Spanish Topics: Cultura

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  0.5 credits  Spring Semester

    Prerequisite: Spanish IV

    Conducted entirely in Spanish and emphasizing oral Spanish, projects, and presentations, this course explores the wide and diverse cultural history and present of the Spanish speaking world. Exploring various topics from traditional indigenous cultural practices, religion, and art to contemporary music, telenovelas, and long-form cinema students will deepen their understanding of cultural difference and learn to situate culture in a wider sociological and historical context.

  • Spanish Topics: Justicia

    (Academic)  Grades: 11-12  0.5 credits  Fall Semester

    Prerequisite: Spanish IV, counts towards History/Social studies requirement

    Conducted entirely in Spanish and emphasizing oral Spanish, projects, and presentations, this course explores issues of justice in the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. Focusing on topics such as immigration, class, race, gender, colonialism, and the environment, students will engage with current events, developing a nuanced and historical perspective on power and politics in the 21st century.

Department Faculty

  • Photo of Richard Espenant
    Mr. Richard Espenant
    World Languages Department Chair, HS French Teacher
    (615) 321-8000
    Universite d'Aix-en-Provence - M.A. in International Business
    Vanderbilt University - MA and PhD. Albeit Dissertation
  • Photo of Bear Anthony
    Bear Anthony
    HS Spanish Teacher
    Vanderbilt University - PhD - Spanish and Comparative Media
    Vanderbilt University - MA - Spanish and Comparative Media
    Bowling Green State University - MA - Spanish
    Bowling Green State University - BS - World Language Education
  • Photo of Ninon Bartz
    Ninon Bartz
    HS French
    University of Virginia - Doctorate of Philosophy
  • Photo of Andrew Cosper
    Andrew Cosper
    HS Spanish Teacher
    Wayland Baptist University - BA
    Texas Tech University - MA
    Texas Tech University - PhD
  • Photo of Mei-Yen Cracraft
    Ms. Mei-Yen Cracraft
    Part-time High School World Language Teacher
    The World College of Journalism (currently known as Shih Hsin University) - Associate of Arts
  • Photo of Josephine Huang-Yeh
    Mrs. Josephine Shu-Fen Huang-Yeh
    Middle School and High School Chinese Teacher
    (615) 321-8000
    National Cheng Chi University - B.A.
    Univeristy of Arizona - M.Ed.
    Vanderbilt University - M.S .
  • Photo of Julianna Lewis
    Julianna Grace Lewis '14
    High School Latin Teacher
    Bowdoin College - Bachelor of Arts
    University of California Los Angeles - M.A.
  • Photo of Kate Sullivan
    Kate Sullivan
    High School World Languages Teacher - Spanish
    Florida State University - MA
    Flagler College - BA
    Florida State University - ABD

Contact

Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212

Phone:  615-321-8000
Fax:       615-321-0889 
Email:    info@usn.org

River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218

Resources

USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.