Foreign Language

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language Department presently offers sequences in American Sign Language (ASL), Italian and Spanish. To acquire real competence, it is strongly recommended that students study the language for an extended period. An Advanced regents diploma is earned upon successful completion of a Local Comprehensive Exam. Course objectives integrate the New York State Learning Standards for Foreign Language at Checkpoints A, B, and C. Six college credits are earned through St. John’s University in courses College Italian or College Spanish. Six college credits are earned through Seton Hall University in College American Sign Language.

SPANISH 1 1 YEAR – 1 CREDIT

ITALIAN 1

Offered to Grade 9

Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory level course open to students who have little or no prior instruction in Italian or Spanish language. This course is intended to develop the student’s ability in all four basic skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking, through thematic vocabulary with a focus on daily life topics and cultural awareness. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have attained the NYS LOTE Standard at Checkpoint A.

SPANISH 1 Honors 1 YEAR – 1 CREDIT

ITALIAN 1 Honors

Offered to Grade 9

Prerequisite: TACH EXAM SCORE

This is an introductory course open to students who have little or no prior instruction in Italian or Spanish. The course is intended to develop the students’ ability in all four basic skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) through thematic vocabulary with a focus on daily life topics and cultural awareness. Honors courses are taught at a more rapid pace with higher expectations of students in all skills. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have attained the NYS LOTE Standard at

Checkpoint A.

SPANISH 2 1 YEAR – 1 CREDIT

ITALIAN 2

Offered to Grade 10

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Level 1

This Intermediate level course is open to students who have successfully completed one year in Italian or Spanish. The focus of this course is to expand proficiency, to further cultural awareness, and to integrate previously learned material. This course is an expansion of the first year of the target language.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be qualified to continue to level 3.

SPANISH 2 Honors 1 YEAR – 1 CREDIT

ITALIAN 2 Honors

Offered to Grade 10

Prerequisite: 85% Spanish 1 Honors 85% Italian 1 Honors

90% Spanish 1 90% Italian 1

This course is open to gifted learners who have successfully completed the goals of the first level honors course. This course is an expansion of the student’s proficiency through the introduction of additional thematic vocabulary, structure and a greater awareness of culture. This course will elicit a high level of participation and enhance the students’ ability to enjoy the language.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be qualified to continue in level 3H.

SPANISH 3H YEAR – 1 CREDIT

ITALIAN 3H

Offered to Grade 11

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Spanish 2H / Italian 2H

Departmental approval from Spanish 2 / Italian 2

This course is a continuation of the 2H course and it covers the 2nd half of NYS LOTE checkpoint B curriculum in a second language. The honors curriculum provides a more in depth analysis of grammatical structures of the language. Students will read literature that is more complex and will be engaged in higher-level language discussions in the target language. The objective of the class is to prepare students to achieve mastery on the Local Language Exam, a state mandated exam testing all four language learning skills: Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing.

COLLEGE ITALIAN 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: 85% Italian 3 Honors / Dept. Approval Offered to Grade 12

This course is a response to the needs of those students who have passed the Comprehensive Regents Exam and wish to continue the study of the Italian language beyond that level. The College course will bring the reality of the Italian language into the classroom and put the students in direct contact with genuine advanced materials of the language. This course is affiliated with the St. John’s University College Advantage Program. For a nominal fee, students who meet the St. John’s University requirement will earn six (6) college credits which may be transferable to other colleges and universities.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have attained the NYS LOTE Standard at Checkpoint C. STUDENTS IN THIS CLASS MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR SIX COLLEGE CREDITS FROM ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE SPANISH 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: 85%

Spanish 3 Honors/ Dept. Approval

Offered to Grade 12

This course is a response to the needs of those students who have passed the Compressive Regents Exam and wish to continue the study of the Spanish language beyond that level. The College course will bring the reality of the language into the classroom and put the students in direct contact with genuine advanced material of the Spanish language. This course is affiliated with the St. John’s University College Advantage Program and for a nominal fee will grant the students who meet the St. John’s University requirement (6) college credits which may be transferable to other colleges and universities.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 1 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: None Offered to Grade 9

This is an introductory level course, which will provide the visual-gestural skills needed to communicate with members of the deaf community. In learning American Sign Language, students will also become aware of cultural patterns specific to the language.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 2 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: American Sign Language 1 Offered to Grade 10

This is the second course of a three-year sequence, which will provide the visual gestural skills needed to communicate with the deaf community. In learning American Sign Language, students will also become aware of cultural patterns specific to the language. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be qualified to continue in American Sign Language 3.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 2 HONORS 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: 90% American Sign Language 1 Offered to Grade 10

The Honors track follows the same curriculum as ASL2 but challenges the students through more intensive and challenging assignments.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 3 HONORS 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: 85% American Sign Language 2 Honors / dept. approval

Offered to Grade 11

The Honors track follows the same curriculum as ASL3 but challenges students through more intensive and challenging assignments. The objective of the class is to prepare students to achieve mastery on a state-mandated local exam consisting of role play visual-gestural skills, expressive skills, and receptive skills.

110 COLLEGE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE 1 YEAR - 1 CREDIT

Prerequisite: 85% American Sign Language 3 Honors Offered to Grade 12

This 4th level course is a continuation of ASL 3 and will maintain the same language goals needed to have effective communication with members of the deaf community. In addition to visual gestural communication through sign language, elements of culture, history, audiology, and interpreting will be covered to ensure a full understanding of the deaf community. For a nominal fee, students who meet the Seton Hall University requirement will earn six (6) college credits which may be transferable to other colleges and universities.