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 version of the 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 that are all part of the second-year level of the Deutsch Aktuell textbook series. 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, and knowledge of vocabulary and language structure is enhanced in the key areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. 

Honors German III

This course continues with the third year of the Deutsch Aktuell textbook series with its accompanying audio-visual materials. The class is conducted primarily 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 online newspapers that include video news segments. During the second semester students read a full-length German novel. An advanced grammar book is used to review grammar topics from previous years and introduce more advanced grammar. By the end of the year, students should feel confident in reading and listening to spoken German, with improved skills in speaking and writing.

AP German IV/V

At this level the course progresses to the use of a textbook called “Aspekte” that is designed specifically for AP German students. Students read full-length novels by such prominent authors as Max Frisch, Berthold Brecht and Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Regular use is made of German online newspapers that include video news segments. Listening and speaking skills are promoted by the use of documentaries recorded from German satellite TV, movies, and the "Turbo" video series that is designed for proficient German students. An advanced grammar book designed specifically for AP German students reinforces all major grammar topics in detail. This is an immersion course concentrating on the achievement of greater fluency in the areas of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The Level V students share the same class as the Level IV students with a different literature selection used each year based on a traditional A/B curriculum. The same sources of challenging audiovisual materials are used, again on an A/B curriculum basis. 

Honors Advanced German VI

Occasionally we have advanced students who take Honors Advanced German VI. These students work in the same class as the AP German IV/V students and the year is taught based on an alternate C curriculum to offer a different selection of literature and audiovisual materials.