The Foreign Language Department develops the skills needed for effective communication in the targeted language.  This is accomplished by increasing the student’s ability to speak, read, and write the language with increasing accuracy, as well as to bring about a better knowledge of the people, geography, culture, and literature of the countries that speak the language.  Since a very high percentage of the top American colleges and universities require three years of one language or two years of two foreign languages for admission, R-MA requires the same for its Advanced College Prep Diploma. At R-MA we offer a language seal to recognize advanced language students who complete five years in one language or a combination of six years in two or more languages.

German I

Students learn to feel at home with listening to, speaking, reading and writing German in an entertaining and supportive environment. A key part of the course is a complete video, DVD and CD program to promote listening and speaking skills supported by the most up-to-date textbook series "Deutsch Aktuell." The textbook and accompanying workbook support an interactive learning experience with an emphasis on conversational German, reading, writing and grammar structure. Students learn about German, Swiss, and Austrian cultures and customs.

German II

Students progress to more complex reading passages on real-life situations in a German setting with more idiomatic language usage in the video and DVD materials. The course includes several subtitled German movies to promote listening skills and accompany the study of German culture and history. Throughout the year, the teacher communicates progressively with the students in German. Knowledge of vocabulary and language structure is enhanced throughout the year in the key areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Honors German III

The reading texts in this class are more advanced and are supplemented by German short stories and fairy tales. The class is conducted in German to hone students’ listening and speaking skills. The use of audio and video materials includes subtitled movies and German movies without subtitles. Students are introduced to German newspapers, live German radio, and news web sites on the Internet. By the end of the year, students should feel confident in reading and listening to spoken German, with improved skills in speaking and writing.

Top students have the opportunity to be invited to participate in the biannual trip to Germany. Above is a video that covers only the first two days of the three-week trip. For other clips of the trip, visit our YouTube channel.

Advanced Placement German IV/V

At this level the course progresses from the use of a textbook to reading full-length novels by such prominent authors as Franz Kafka, Berthold Brecht and Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Regular use is made of German newspapers, movies and live news from the Internet. Listening and speaking skills are promoted by the use of movies and the advanced "Turbo" video series. This is an immersion course concentrating on the achievement of greater fluency in the areas of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The Level V class functions on the same basis as the Level IV class with different literature and the same advanced audiovisual materials.  The class is conducted in an immersion environment as with Level IV.