World Languages

The World Languages department at Upper St. Clair High School offers five levels of French, German and Spanish; and four levels of Latin, Chinese and Japanese. We also offer AP and IB courses. Students who complete the middle school language program are normally placed in the second-level class at the high school. Most high school students take a minimum of two years and a high percentage elect a third and fourth year as well. Approximately 85% of Upper St. Clair High School students are enrolled in World Languages classes. An increasing number of students are enrolling in two or more World Languages courses.

The emphasis in the World Languages department is on oral proficiency, which anticipates that all students will have sufficient oral practice in their classes to be able to get along in another country. To this end, many activities are structured to allow oral practice. All fourth and fifth level students are given oral proficiency interviews to measure their progress, evaluate our program and prepare them for college where the course grade often depends on a certain level of oral proficiency, tested through this same interview process.

Culture is an important component in language classes. We provide special program features to connect to outside resources and to the world. Field trips, videos and international communications are methods of acquainting the students with the culture of other countries. The department also sponsors language clubs for each World Language. Several teachers also coordinate travel/study abroad trips in the summer. German students have the option to participate in a biennial exchange with the Lise-Meitner Gymnasium in Leverkusen, Germany, which combines a home-stay and school experience and travel throughout German-speaking countries. Students from Leverkusen visit USCHS for three weeks in the fall. USCHS began GAPP (the German-American Partnership Program) in 1993 and in 2019 was recognized as a "School of Distinction,"  as well as recognized by the U.S. Department of State, for this long-term international partnership. Visit https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/spr/eng/gpp.html more information about GAPP. Email lkopaz@uscsd.k12.pa.us to get involved. 

Spanish students have the opportunity to participate in an exchange with private school Colegio Santa María de la Hispanidad, in Madrid, Spain, for an 18-day home-stay, study and travel experience. Students from Spain visit USCHS for 3 weeks in the fall. USCHS students are able to see Madrid in depth, attend Spanish-language immersion classes in Spain, as well as travel to surrounding cities, such as Segovia & Toledo, with additional travel to Valencia & Barcelona. The Exchange to Spain began in 2012. Contact lkopaz@uscsd.k12.pa.us for more information or to sign-up for the next Exchange to Spain opportunity.

French students have the opportunity to participate in the Exchange to France. Students from the private school Lycée Saint-Marc in Lyon visit USCHS in the spring. In the summer, USCHS students stay with their partner in Lyon. Additionally, students travel to Paris for 3 days. The Exchange to France began in 2006. For more information or to sign-up for the next exchange, please contact bchase@uscsd.k12.pa.us. 

In addition, the World Language Department also offers/ has offered travel tours to Italy/Greece, China, Japan, Argentina and Peru. We also welcome Thai students on their cultural exchange.

Intercultural Studies, a one-semester course, is an interdisciplinary course designed to complement the Asian Studies course (See Social Studies offerings.). Students may take either course but are encouraged to take both. This course will look at international studies from the perspective of culture and language, teaching students cross-cultural skills that they need in order to cooperate and to compete in the new world economy. Students will learn through discussions, readings, visual media, simulations, speakers, and field site visits. This course will be helpful to students interested in culture, business, history, current events, technology/media, and the exploration of careers.