LOTE Course information

For next 2025- 26 School Year

American Sign Language (ASL), French, and Spanish

Navigating this slideshow

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In order to move through the slideshow at your own pace, you can click the icon for “Pause”, click the next button, or use the dropdown menu to navigate to the slide of your choice.

On the slide listing available LOTE courses:

• Click the name of a language to get �More information about it in general.
• Click the name of each course for �specific details.

Welcome to Bowie World Languages!

To be successful in a language class, students should...

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• Actively participate in class by: asking questions, actively listening, writing down notes, and being a team member in partner/group activities.
• Come prepared to use the target language.
• Spend time outside of class exploring the language and cultures they are studying.
• Take interest in learning about other cultures, and the way people in other cultures communicate.

Which level of a course sequence do I choose?

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If you are a native speaker of the language you would like to study, or you have previous experience with the language, please be sure to make your counselor aware.

Your counselor will advise you on the correct level to move into, with the help of the World Languages department staff if needed.

Otherwise, you should start at the beginning, if you have not studied your chosen language before, or choose the next course in the sequence if you have.

Course Pathways

AP French Language & Culture

AP Spanish Language & Culture

AP Spanish Literature & Culture

ASL I

ASL II

Advanced

ASL III

Advanced

ASL IV

Advanced

ASL V

French I

French II

Advanced

French III

Advanced

French IV

Advanced

French V

Advanced

French VI

Spanish I

Spanish II

Advanced

Spanish III

Advanced

Spanish IV

Advanced

Spanish V

Click course names to view info or click the buttons below for an overview of each program.

ASL

French

Spanish

A merican

S ign

L anguage

American Sign Language at Bowie HS

Students at Bowie have an unique opportunity to learn a new language that is being used extensively in the community around Austin. We have one of the largest Deaf communities in the country. Bowie is one of only four campuses in AISD that offer ASL.

Students in American Sign Language (ASL) classes should also...

• Expect to be IMMERSED in the language�
• Expect to only use their eyes and hands if you want to be successful - It is a visual language - We won’t use spoken English�
• Be willing to engage in conversations as they learn

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ASL 1

Students in ASL 1 will be facing the most difficult challenge: learning the language in a total-immersion classroom where the teacher �will only use ASL to communicate.

We will learn the following:

1. All About Me
2. Hobbies, Sports, Etc.
3. My Family
4. Food
5. Storytelling
6. Basic ASL Grammatical Features
7. Basic conversational skills
8. Differentiating English from ASL

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To be successful in ASL 1 and beyond:

1. You will need to take on the challenge of using your eyes and hands only from the day one. Total Immersion! �
2. Use ASL at ALL time. For many students, the classroom may be the only time they can use and practice ASL with their classmates and the teacher. �
3. Do not think ASL is easy because it does not have any formal written component like French, or Spanish.

ASL 2

Students in ASL 2 continue with what they learned in ASL and build on their vocabulary and conversational skills.

We will learn the following:

• Schedules - Routines
• Classifiers (ASL Linguistic feature)
• My Daily LIfe Unit
• Descriptions: Clothes, Money, Shopping
• Comparisons - Tendencies and Habits
• Healthy LIving Unit
• Medical Terms
• Travel / Games

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Advanced ASL 3

In ASL 3 we will be learning the following:

1. Idioms & Regional Variations
2. Advanced conversational Skills
3. Expand on the units from ASL 1, 2 and learn more vocabulary
4. Expanded Storytelling Skills
5. Deaf History in depth
6. Deaf Culture: Poetry, ASL Literature (both visual and written)

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Homework and preparation expectations

1-2 hours a week in preparation for class. You will be studying and accessing vocabulary. Complete skill practices on topics.

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Advanced ASL 4

In ASL 4 we will be learning the following:

• Advocacy and Leadership
• Technology
• Art
• Storytelling and Folklore
• News and Weather

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ASL 4 Students will be expected to…

Demonstrate and engage in a variety of ASL exchanges of learned material to socialize, provide, obtain information at an intermediate-to-advanced proficiency level.

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Homework expectations:

1-2 hours a week in preparation for class studying independent vocabulary practice, cultural immersion, class discussions, 1:1 conversations about various topics, and group and individual projects.

French

Why take French at Bowie HS

Here is why some of our current students chose to study French.

French 1

By the end of French 1, I can…

• Describe myself, my family, and friends.
• Say what kinds of activities I do at school or for fun or because I have to do them.
• Talk about what I like to eat, and traditional dishes in different french-speaking cultures
• Tell what I do and don’t like, and find out if other people like the same things I do.
• Talk with my friends about what we did on the weekend, or over the holidays or break.

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• Talk with my friends about what we are going to do, later, over the weekend, or at a specific date or event.
• Write and say complete sentences about myself and other people.

Average homework time: 1-2 hrs / wk

• Study vocabulary lists
• Prepare for tests and presentations

Prerequisites: None

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French 2

By the end of French 2, I can…

• Talk about traveling to a French-speaking country.
• Compare holidays and traditions from French-speaking countries to American ones, or ones in my culture.
• Talk about growing up, and what I did when I was younger.
• Say what I think I will study in college, and what profession(s) I’m thinking about pursuing.
• Research and talk about scientific discoveries and inventions that have a great impact on my life.
• Write 1-2 paragraphs about myself, my friends and family, and other topics I’ve studied, expressing my opinions.

• Have a very brief conversation with my friends about topics we are both familiar with.

Average homework time: 1-2 hrs / wk

• Study vocabulary lists
• Prepare for tests and presentations
• Complete skill practices on topics of students’ choosing (i.e. write something in French on a topic you like).

Prerequisites: French 1

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Advanced French 3

Average homework time: 1-2 hrs / wk

• Study vocabulary lists
• Prepare for tests and presentations
• Complete skill practices on topics of students’ choosing (i.e. write something in French on a topic you like).
• In the spring semester, reading and reading journals while we complete a class study of Le Petit Prince (lasts about 6 weeks)

Prerequisites: French 2

Advanced French 3

By the end of French 3, I can…

• Discuss my own culture (customs and traditions), comparing and contrasting with French-speaking cultures.
• Explore the ideals of patriotism and citizenship in France and other French-speaking countries.
• Talk about my own future plans for my education and career, and look at job opportunities in French-speaking countries.
• Read and give my opinion about Le Petit Prince, a classic French novel for children.
• Study and give my opinion about art and items of popular culture from modern French history, including important literary, social, and artistic movements of the mid to late 20th century.
• Write several paragraphs about different ideas, expressing my thoughts and opinions on a topic and explaining why I feel or think that way about the topic.
• Have brief conversations with my classmates about a variety of topics, both related and unrelated to what we’re studying.

Advanced French 4

For students wishing to continue to advance in their language skills but not enter into AP (yet), this course provides an opportunity to grow to an intermediate high proficiency level in one’s interpersonal, presentational and interpretive skills.

Prerequisite:

• French 3

Homework expectations:

Expect to devote around an hour per week in preparation for class. A standard homework task in the advanced course is devoted to preparing for class discussions, annotating readings/audio segments, or exploring a cultural inquiry topic.

Examples of Activities in French 4

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• Reading authentic texts (literature/non-fiction)
• Group and 1:1 conversations
• Inquiry projects on various topics related to our units of study
• Vocabulary and language building
• Daily practices in listening, reading, writing and speaking

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AP French Language and Culture

Average homework time: 2-3 hrs / wk

• Read and listen to authentic French resources about class topics.
• Write reflections synthesizing information from sources on the same topic
• Once per six weeks, lead a socratic seminar in French (with a group)
• Study vocabulary words that you look up during class activities or homework.

Prerequisites: French 3 or French 4

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AP French Language and Culture

In French AP, we explore a great variety of topics related to the following AP Language and Culture themes:

• Personal and Public identities,
• Family and Community,
• Contemporary Life,
• Science and Technology,
• Global Challenges, and
• Beauty and Esthetics.

We research and discuss cultural products, practices, and perspectives from a wide range of French-speaking cultures and countries.

By the end of French AP, I can…

• Read short fiction and non-fiction texts on a variety of topics.
• Understand the main idea, point of view, and some salient details from non-fiction audio and video clips.
• Give my opinion about a text, audio clip, or video clip in writing or discuss my opinion with a small or large group.
• Engage in long discussions in French with a small or large group, on a variety of topics.
• Write essays in French on a variety of topics, and organize my writing in general.

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Advanced French 5

Average homework time: 1-2 hrs / wk

• Read short stories and works of literature in French
• Lead a socratic seminar in French (with a group)
• Study vocabulary words that you look up during class activities or homework.
• Complete skill practices on topics of students’ choosing (i.e. write something in French on a topic you like).

Prerequisites:

• French 4 or AP French Language & Culture

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Spanish

Why take Spanish at Bowie HS?

Here is why some of our current students chose to study Spanish.

Here’s why our teachers recommend taking Spanish:

• You'll be better able to communicate with Spanish speakers.
• Being conversant in Spanish or bilingual makes you more competitive in the workplace.
• Whether as a teacher of Spanish or that of any discipline, you can make a difference in the field of education.
• You can travel to a Spanish-speaking country and really get to know the culture.
• Your ability to understand Spanish enables you to gain important insights which monolinguals cannot.
• Learning a second language improves your critical thinking skills.

Spanish 1

By the end of Spanish 1, you will be able to:

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• repeat single words or phrases you’ve heard and memorized
• greet others.
• say how you’re doing
• introduce yourself
• name some objects
• answer questions with “yes” or “no”
• say numbers 1-100
• respond to and ask simple questions
• greet others in different ways
• name some of your likes, dislikes
• ask simple questions
• list words
• speak in phrases and short sentences
• talk about familiar subjects
• describe surroundings and people
• give time, date, and weather info
• give opinions on things
• use connecting words

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Estimated homework time: 1 hour per week

• studying vocabulary lists
• preparing for oral presentations

Why should you take Spanish?

Spanish 1 is a very interactive class. It is geared towards various learning styles. You will have the opportunity to move around the class, interact with your peers, play games, and more!

In Spanish 1 you will practice the following: reading, having a conversation about familiar topics, listening to music in Spanish, and viewing culturally authentic videos.

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Spanish 2

By the end of Spanish II, you will be able to…

• speak in complete sentences.
• create with language and answer open-ended questions.
• speak in the present and occasionally in other time frames.
• understand language in a few time frames.
• describe things and people in detail and give opinions on various topics/situations.
• self-correct when you hear yourself say something incorrectly.
• ask clarification questions.
• use vocabulary to describe a subject.

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Estimated homework time: 1 hour per week

• studying vocabulary lists
• preparing for oral presentations

Advanced Spanish 3

By the end of Spanish III I will be able to…

• Have conversations about everyday topics and some researched topics, being able to use details and explanation
• Using strings of sentences to describe, explain, and compare in the language
• Speak confidently about actions in the present tense and in other time frames
• Recognize language in different time frames
• State my viewpoint and ask pointed, relevant questions
• Spontaneously access vocabulary to speak about familiar and occasionally unfamiliar topics
• Express my feelings, hopes, wishes, and doubts about different topics and others’ actions
• Give others recommendations and offer solutions to various problems

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Homework expectations:

Expect to devote around an hour or two per week in preparation for class, focusing on projects, independent vocabulary practice, and exposure to culturally authentic media. These tasks ensure that you will be prepared in class to apply language skills within partner/group/whole class activities.

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Advanced Spanish 4

For students wishing to continue to advance in their language skills but not enter into AP, this course provides an opportunity to grow to an intermediate high proficiency level in one’s interpersonal, presentational and interpretive skills.

Homework expectations:

Expect to devote 1-2 hours per week in preparation for class. A standard homework task in the advanced course is devoted to personalized vocabulary/structure practice, annotating readings/audio segments, or exploring a cultural inquiry topic.

Examples of Activities in Spanish 4

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• Reading and listening to authentic texts (literature/articles/interviews/videos)
• Group and 1:1 conversations
• Inquiry projects on various topics related to our units of study
• Expanding vocabulary through interactive and engaging activities

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Prerequisite:

• Advanced Spanish 3

AP Spanish Language and Culture

By the end of AP Spanish Language & Culture I will be able to…

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• express and defend an opinion or preference orally and in writing with supporting elaborative statements and with recommendations
• inform others orally and in writing about a variety of topics using connected sentences with details and elaboration
• analyze culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials in a variety of contexts
• compare and contrast cultural practices and perspectives from authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials
• have conversations with others and exchange personal opinions, preferences, and recommendations with supporting elaborative statements

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In AP Spanish Language and Culture, we explore a great variety of topics related to the following AP themes:

• Personal and Public identities,
• Family and Community,
• Contemporary Life,
• Science and Technology,
• Global Challenges, and
• Beauty and Esthetics.

We research and discuss cultural products, practices, and perspectives from a wide range of Spanish-speaking cultures and countries.

AP Spanish Language and Culture

2021 2022

2023 2024

AP Spanish Literature and Culture

At the end of AP Spanish Literature you will be able to :

• Discuss the birth of Spanish language literature and name its most important works and authors
• Compare and contrast literary works and art and relate them to modern themes
• Converse and debate a literary work’s contribution to the literary canon
• Defend thesis centered on the representation of class, gender roles, spirituality, religion, imperialism, and marginalization

Homework expectations:

Expect to devote several hours per week in preparation for class. A standard homework task in the AP Literature course is to read an excerpt/poem/chapter and answer comprehension questions.

Prerequisites: (At least one of the following)

• Spanish 4
• AP Spanish Language and Culture

AP Spanish Literature and Culture

Why take AP Spanish Literature?

Spanish AP Literature and Culture is a course that hones literary analysis skills. In taking this class you will improve your writing and communication skills substantially. However, the joy of studying Spanish language literature, is in immersing oneself in another time and place. We will travel across Spain and through Latin America. We will experience love and loss. We will take in history and cultural practices in each reading and then reflect on their relevance, past and present. If you would like to grow your language skills and ready yourself for a world where cultural and language proficiency skills are valued, this will be a great class for you.

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Hoping to take Spanish Literature in 24-25?

Advanced Spanish 5

This advanced course carries students further on the path of gaining proficiency in communication skills while continue to grow an appreciation of cultural topics. The course evolves each year to cater to the interests and needs of our students at this advanced level.

Prerequisites: (At least one of the following)

• Spanish 4
• AP Spanish Language and Culture
• AP Spanish Literature and Culture

Students in will be able to:

- engage in conversations and write with generally consistent use of register in all time frames in items such as correspondence, narratives, descriptions, and summaries of a factual nature; and

- read and analyze information from a variety of authentic print and electronic resources such as artwork, graphs, media, narratives, and descriptions in various literary genres, including texts about past, present, and future events that communicate information on a variety of geographic, scientific, historical, artistic, social, or political features of target culture communities;

(B) compare, contrast, and analyze cultural practices and perspectives from authentic audio, print and other electronic resources.