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2010 – 2011
J. R. Tucker High School
2910 North Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23294
School: 804-527-4600 ext. 3069
Center: 804-527-4618 Fax: 804-527-4611
OVERVIEW
The program at the Center for World Languages offers you a unique opportunity to be immersed in one of two world languages, namely French or Spanish, for the duration of your high school years. You will gain a respect for diversity of languages, backgrounds, and values. Insight into the structure of the English language is expanded. You will also acquire an understanding of the close connection between language and thought and the nature of language itself. Additionally, you will develop creative expressions and logical thinking and the ability to communicate and exchange ideas and information. Further, you will empower yourself with the sense of an international community.
Originally known as the Foreign Language Immersion Center, the Center for World Languages was founded in 1993-94 at J. R. Tucker High School as the second Specialty Center for Henrico County Public Schools. We are proud to continue this tradition into our second decade. We will offer you an opportunity to prepare yourself to thrive in a society that is rapidly becoming global in nature. By taking advantage of the opportunities we provide, you can develop a very high level of proficiency in either French or Spanish, both of which are languages of major importance in the world today. The course sequence starts in the ninth grade, and you normally have already had one year of study in the language you choose to pursue. Exceptions can be made for highly motivated and talented students.
STAFF 10-11
Anne Fano: Center for World Languages Director
French 
Marian Abbott: Immersion World History II, Immersion 12 (French Literature), Immersion Field Experience (French/Spanish combined)
Shannon Bailey: Immersion 10, Immersion 11 (AP Language), Immersion Language through the Media
Ellie Harper: Immersion 9, Immersion 10
Mylene Melson: Immersion Geometry
Spanish 
Rose Belue: Immersion 10, Immersion 12 (AP Literature)
Anne Fano: Immersion 9, Immersion World History II
Lauren Delgado: Immersion Geometry
Ben Medina: Immersion 11 (AP Language), Immersion Language through the Media
PROGRAM GOALS & OBJECTIVES
To
develop a near-native proficiency in all four skills: reading, writing, speaking,
and listening
To promote
awareness, acceptance, and understanding of cultural differences
To
reinforce and further knowledge in other school subjects
through world languages
To
demonstrate understanding of the nature of languages through comparisons
of the language studied and English
To
use the language both within and beyond the school setting,
taking advantage of summer exchange programs offered
To show evidence
of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment
and enrichment
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A student enrolled in the Center for World Languages will be required to have ten immersion credits in order to graduate from the program. If the student enters the program having already completed both required math courses, he/she will need nine immersion credits to be eligible for graduation with the Center for World Languages seal.
The student must complete the following required courses at the Center for World Languages in order to graduate from the program, unless the student received credit for an equivalent course while attending middle school. Courses with an asterisk (*) are honors level courses.
All Center for World Languages students entering the program in 2010-2011 and thereafter will be required to complete four years of an immersion language plus one year of a second language.
*Immersion Language 9
*Immersion Language 10
*Immersion Language 11 (AP Language)
*Immersion Language 12 (AP* Literature) *Spanish only
*Immersion World History (from 1500 to the present, 10th grade)
*Immersion Health and PE (9th grade)
Field Experience
The student may choose from several different immersion elective courses as well, in order to meet his/her ten credits requirement. These courses are offered in a cycle of alternating years; therefore, the student should work closely with his/her school counselor to choose classes wisely.
•Study Abroad Exchange Program (1 credit)
•Immersion Humanities (1 credit)
•Immersion Language through the Media (1 credit)
•Immersion Conversation and Compostion (1 credit)
The student will receive a specialty center diploma when all the requirements listed are completed. Each student must demonstrate proficiency in the language during the second semester of his/her senior year. If the student fails an immersion course, he/she may remain in the program, but will not receive a specialty center diploma.
COURSE CREDIT & GRADE REVIEW
Students receive one Carnegie unit of credit for each successfully completed immersion class. All immersion classes have honors weighted credit except for Field Experience, and Study Abroad Exchange Program.
Your grades are an indication of your success and progress in all of your classes. Earning and maintaining good grades in all your classes cannot be over emphasized. Excelling in your immersion classes is encouraged, and an immersion grade below a C will initiate a conversation about your commitment and dedication to your achievement in the program. Grades in all classes will be reviewed regularly, and academic success will be noted. Your grade point average (GPA) is calculated only on classes in which you are enrolled each grading period. The minimum GPA expectation for all students is 2.5. Students who are having difficulty will be counseled to determine possible solutions, will be placed on probation, and will jeopardize their eligibility to remain in the center if their grades do not show improvement.
If at the end of each nine weeks’ marking period a student does not meet the minimum GPA requirement, a probationary letter will be mailed home, and the student will be placed on academic probation for the following nine weeks’ marking period. At the end of this marking period, if the student’s GPA still does not improve, he/she will have the next semester to raise his/her GPA. If the student fails to improve his/her GPA by this time, an academic review meeting will be held to determine whether or not the student will be allowed to remain in the program.
ATTENDANCE & ASSIGNMENTS
All students at the Center for World Languages are expected to maintain regular attendance in all classes. Because the Center for World Languages’ program is a rigorous program of study, it not only requires regular participation, but also consistent class preparation and interaction with other students and instructors. Students are expected to keep up with classroom instruction, assignments, and assessments while out of school. Students who fail to keep up with classroom instruction, assignments, and assessments during extended absences jeopardize their enrollment in the program.
TEXTBOOKS & MATERIALS
Individual class instructors issue textbooks and supplementary materials to each student, and each student is responsible for the proper care of his/her textbooks and materials. The student must pay for any lost or damaged textbooks and materials issued to him/her.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
All students enrolled in the Center for World Languages are required to complete a minimum of 80 in-service hours while enrolled in Immersion Field Experience:
30 hours Teaching/observing in second or fourth grade classes from mid-October through the end of May
30 hours Planning for teaching lessons in those classes
10 hours Activities on teaching techniques
10 hours Community service with an approved organization, business, or agency that has a cross-cultural connection
Up to ten additional community service hours may be substituted for hours in the first three categories if needed. Community service performed during the summer prior to the Immersion Field Experience course may be counted upon approval. Community service hours that are used for fulfilling other school-related requirements may not be counted for this class, but separately calculated hours from the same organization may count. For example, imagine that you volunteer at the Ten Thousand Villages store for 75 hours. You may turn in the ten hours you need for this class and separately turn in the other 65 to the other organization that needs them.
Each parent and student will be asked to sign a form to indicate understanding
of
the expectations outlined in the handbook.