Upper School Curriculum

Grades: 11, 12
Spring

PREREQ: Students are offered placement into WL ADV courses by their current teacher, in consultation with the department. Performance in previous courses, end-of-year assessments, overall language proficiency, and student skills are factors in offering placement to students.

This course combines linguistic analysis with a deep exploration of the historical and cultural influences of the Inca, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations in contemporary Latin America. This challenging course offers a historical dive into the socio-political dynamics, art, science, and belief systems of these empires. Students will explore linguistic legacies, tracing etymologies to Nahuatl, Quechua, and Mayan languages, and gain an understanding of the ancient roots of modern Spanish. Cultural integration examines how traditions, beliefs, and practices resonate in today’s Latin American festivals, cuisine, narratives, and customs, while architectural influence explores the importance of ruins in modern national narratives. Designed at the Advanced Mid level, the course aligns with ACTFL proficiency guidelines.