Foreign Language Studies Program
Northbrook is proud to have a rigorous and comprehensive foreign language studies program which excels at preparing students for high school. This currently includes studies in both Spanish and Latin.

Spanish Studies Program
Our program includes using the Realidades series of textbooks that uses a standard-based approach to balance grammar and communication. The program offers technology designed to integrate language and culture to teach and motivate all students. Our program uses the following texts (with supplementary videos, CDs and online classrooms):

• Realidades A ISBN 0131340891 Pearson – Prentice Hall
• Realidades B ISBN 0131340905 Pearson – Prentice Hall
• Realidades 1 ISBN 0131340920 Pearson – Prentice Hall
• Realidades 2 ISBN 0131340921 Pearson – Prentice Hall

This program of study begins with the Spanish 1 course which uses Realidades A textbook and online classroom. This is a full year 4 days per week course. It is for students with little or no previous language classes. It is possible that a student who has had Spanish classes in a prior school to take a placement exam and begin our language program in Spanish II B.

Spanish 2 (A or B) builds upon the work in Spanish I and uses the Realidades 1 or Realidades B textbook and online classroom. It is a as a full year 4 days per week course. Spanish 2B is for students who have had a Spanish class outside of Northbrook, but who have not completed Northbrook's Realidades A curriculum. Spansih 2A is for students who completed the Northbrook's Realidades A curriculum. It is common for Northbrook graduates to place into a High School Honors Spanish when they have completed Spanish 2 (A or B) at Northbrook Academy.

Spanish 3 brings the students into more complex vocabulary and grammar and uses Realidades 2 textbook and online classroom. This is also a full year course, though the amount of material covered may vary from year to year. The Realidades Spanish curriculum used by Northbrook is designed for Middle School students. However, its content combines to equal a high school level course. It is usually possible for Northbrook graduates to test out of Spanish 1 at the high school level when they have completed Spanish III at Northbrook Academy.

The Northbrook Latin Studies Program
Latin 1 includes using the Ecce Romani textbooks and workbooks which offer a reading-based approach that immerses and engages students by bringing the history of the Roman civilization to life with interesting subjects and a continuous storyline about the life experiences of a typical Roman family living in A.D. 80. This is complimented with Jenny's First Year Latin textbook which offers a comprehensive progressive study and practice with Latin grammar. Our program uses the following texts (with supplementary videos, CDs and online classrooms):

• Ecce Romani 1A Activity Book ISBN 0801312094 Pearson
• Ecce Romani I Text ISBN 0801312019 Pearson
• Jenny's First Year Latin ISBN-10: 0205078591ISBN-13: 978-0205078592 Allyn & Bacon (May 1983)
  
  The objectives of offering Latin at Northbrook Academy is grounded less in the acquisition of oral skills than in the recognition and generation of the written language, familiarization with classical civilization and mythology, and developing awareness of the primary role of Latin in the formation of English vocabulary The benefits of studying Latin in the Middle School is evident with improved English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary skills as measured by common High School entrance exams such as the SSAT.
  
  A Northbrook middle school diploma signifies a student is rigorously prepared for high school. This preparedness includes the requirement that students study a language every year and complete at least one year of Latin studies before graduation. We recommend that students study Latin in 7th grade whenever possible. When it is not possible, we require students take Latin 1 in 8th grade. Honor students maintaining an average of a B or above usually have the option of taking two languages in 7th grade, and advanced Spanish studies in 8th grade.
  
  Students whose English language skills are being remediated will have individualized language requirements.<top>