St Stephen's School

English

The St. Stephen's English Department creates an inquiry-based, student-centered learning environment, where instruction encourages critical thinking, reading and writing. Students learn to explore both the literary and cultural dimensions of the subject, which enhances their analytical skills, creativity and imagination.

Through active discourse, students develop an appreciation of how the texts they study connect to other texts, their lives and the world around them. The department nurtures an appreciation of language and cultivates communication skills by further developing students' abilities to clearly and persuasively express their ideas, both orally and in writing.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

GRADE 9 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Overview

English

fosters an appreciation of craft in a variety of genres
helps develop critical reading strategies that allow students to interpret, evaluate and appreciate challenging texts
inspires students, through their writing, to assimilate their critical reading experiences with the world around them
study texts from a wide range of places and time periods
encourages students to be articulate speakers who use language and register that is appropriate for different audiences and purposes

Languages

Situated in Rome, at the crossroads of many cultures, the Modern Language Department at St. Stephen’s promotes the principle that knowledge of other languages is an essential asset for any individual in today's world as globalization, mobility and communication are bringing societies closer together. Students who develop a proficiency in a foreign language not only have sharper cognitive and life skills, but also have a heightened sense of global and cultural awareness.

Our program is designed to help students develop an appreciation for structure and the role of language itself. We offer Italian, French and Spanish as foreign languages and Italian as a first language. Through their studies, students concentrate on acquiring receptive, productive and interactive language skills as well as enhancing their intellectual abilities and creative expression.

Overview

Modern Languages

promote an appreciation of the wealth and subtleties of language
heighten awareness of language as a means of expression and communication and enhance students' capacity for expression
encourage students to engage freely in conversation and to explore the culture(s) connected to the language studied
broaden outlooks on other cultures by studying original language texts covering an extensive range of topics
promote enjoyment and interest in the literature and cinema of different cultures

Italian as a First Language

fosters an appreciation of craft in a variety of genres
develops critical reading strategies that allow students to interpret, evaluate and appreciate challenging texts
study of texts from a wide range of places and time periods
inspires students, through their writing, to assimilate their critical reading experiences with the world around them
encourages students to be articulate speakers who use language appropriately