SCCHS: Course Guide: Foreign Language Department

Foreign Language

The general objectives of the SCCHS Foreign Language Department are to teach our students (1) to communicate in a language other than English, and (2) to appreciate and understand the cultural differences of people who speak languages other than English. Curently, students may study French, Spanish, and Latin to satisfy the NYS Regents requirements. While the Foreign Language Department does participate with the NYS Regents program and administers the Regents examination as early as a student's sophomore year, the department's primary goal is to encourage students to continue their foreign language study throughout their high school careers. Since many colleges and universitiesrequire some foreign language experience, SCC students are well prepared to continue at a level which will benefit them both personally and professionally. The French and Spanish programs participate in the "University in the High School" program which enables students to obtain university credit for the fourth and fifth years of language study. The Latin program offers the Advanced Placement course as the fourth year of study.

Spanish 1 / Spanish 1B	French 1 (not offered 2008-2009)	Latin 1
Spanish 2	French 2 (not offered 2008-2009)	Latin 2
Spanish 3 R	French 3 R (not offered 2008-2009)	Latin 3 R
Spanish 4H	French 4H	Latin 4 AP
Spanish 5H	French 5H
Spanish 6H	French 6H (not offered 2008-2009)

513. FRENCH 1 (not offered 2008-2009)
514. SPANISH 1

Full year course, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: none
Credit: 1 unit

The curriculum for French 1 and Spanish 1 follow the New York State mandate for Checkpoint A of the Regents Languages Other Than English curriculum. Successful completion of this level with a passing grade for the course may satisfy some students' minimal foreign language requirements.

However, it is recognized that some students may not achieve a sufficient mastery of the fundamentals of the language to progress immediately to level 2. Therefore, students achieving between 65% and 85% as their final course grade will proceed to level 1B. This course will give the students the extra time necessary for full understanding of the essential foundations of the language. Please note, however, that level 1B is only offered when there is a sufficient number of students to justify the course.

Objectives:

To enable the students to learn to communicate at the most basic level in the language.
To teach students to understand and express opinions, exchange information, persuade others to take a particular course of action, and socialize in the target language.

564. SPANISH 1B

Full year course, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of level 1 with a final course grade between 65% and 85% and teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

This course offers a review and intensification of the level 1 curriculum for students who passed level 1 with final course grades between 65% and 85%. It will move quickly over those areas/topics that have been mastered and more slowly over those that need more practice. Students must pass BOTH the course work and the final examination with a minimum of 65% in order to progress to level 2.

Objectives:

To give students the additional time necessary to master the most basic grammatical structures and vocabulary in the target language.
To reinforce students' knowledge and understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and culture so as to prepare them for continued study of the target language.

511. LATIN 1

Full year course, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: none.
Credit: 1 unit

This course introduces the student to the culture and elementary principles of the language of the Romans. Vocabulary building and word derivatives are stressed. Basic exposure to Roman life and mythology completes the course. Students must pass the course work and the exam with a minimum of 65% to achieve one unit of credit.

Objectives:

To introduce the student to working with vocabulary and word derivations.
To develop a sense of translation through the study of basic grammar skills.
To learn about the people, culture, and customs of ancient Rome.

523. FRENCH 2 (not offered 2008-2009)
524. SPANISH 2

Full year course, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of either level 1 (with a final course grade of more than 85%) or level 1B (with at least 65% for both the final course grade and the final exam), teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

This course is the second year of the Regents three-year sequence. While the Regents vocabulary topic areas are reintroduced with greater detail, the major focus of this level is grammar. Key concepts include the verb and past tenses, function and use of object pronouns, dependent clauses, and compound sentences. The primary goal is communication and students practice their speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing. The final examination is a school examination. Students must pass BOTH the course work and the final examination with a minimum of 65% in order to progress to level 3.

Objectives:

To provide students with an understanding of more sophisticated grammatical concepts to enhance their speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills.
To expand students' abilities to communicate and understand the cultural differences in the target language.

More Detailed Course Description and Requirements (separate page).

521. LATIN 2

Full year course, Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Latin 1, teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

The student in this course makes practical use of the skills acquired in Latin 1. Cultural background, mythology, and Roman history are further developed. The course work ends in a school examination. Students must pass BOTH the course and the exam to achieve the second unit of study.

Objectives:

To pursue a continuation of the development of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax in order to improve translation of Latin.
To continue to deepen the study of Roman history and culture.

533. FRENCH 3R (not offered 2008-2009)
534. SPANISH 3R

Full year course, Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: Students must have passed BOTH level 2 course work and the level 2 final examination with at least a 65% and receive their teacher's recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

This is the third and final year required for a Regents sequence in foreign language. The vocabulary topics are further expanded and mastered. Assessment of this mastery incorporates the use of genuine target language materials. Students are expected to be able to express themselves orally with some degree of fluency in the Regents topic areas, using the most common verb tenses and expressions. Students are expected to be able to infer meaning over a wide range of everyday topics and are tested through listening and reading comprehension. In addition, students are expected to write short business letters and personal notes, as well as simple stories using common vocabulary. The final examination is the Regents Comprehensive Exam. Students must pass BOTH the course and the exam with a minimum of 65% to complete the Regents sequence.

Objectives:

To increase students' abilities to communicate with and to understand speakers of languages other than English.
To expand students' abilities to read and write in the target language.
To expose students to genuine target language materials so as to enhance their reading comprehension and appreciation of the culture and customs of the target language.

531. LATIN 3

Full year course, Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Latin 2, teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

The works of Latin prose and the study of Roman government and religion form the core of this course. The course continues the study and application of grammatical structures, and Regents preparation is provided for the Regents examination at the end of the year. Students must pass BOTH the course and the exam to be awarded the third unit of study in foreign language.

Objectives:

To place emphasis upon reading comprehension.
To show facility with Latin grammatical structures.
To deepen knowledge of the culture of ancient Rome.

543. FRENCH 4H
544. SPANISH 4H

Full year course, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of level 3 and teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

This course offers a full grammar review as well as the study of new, more sophisticated grammatical concepts. In addition, history, geography, art, culture, and customs and traditions are explored through literature. Conversation and composition are stressed through oral and written reports. Class participation is essential for a successful completion of the course.

Students may be recommended for participation in the University in the High School program through the State University at Albany. Upon payment of a program fee and successful completion of the course, student will receive four university credits in the language. These credits may be used to fulfill a foreign language requirement or allow the student to be placed in upper level foreign language courses at the university level.

Objectives:

To increase students' abilities to speak, read, write, and understand the spoken and written target language.
To expand students' awareness and appreciation of the history, geography, culture, art, music, and way of life of the peoples and countries where the target language is spoken.

551. LATIN 4 AP

Full year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Latin 3, teacher recommendation, willingness to schedule class outside of regular school hours if necessary.
Credit: 1 unit

This course is an intensive study of Virgil's Aeneid. Students will read the entire work in English and all of Books 1, 2, 4, and extensive selections from 6 in Latin. The students will also study Latin meter and Virgil's literary techniques. Themes discovered in the work will include Roman mythology, the history of Rome during Virgil's lifetime, and eternal themes of war, peace, love, and duty.

Objectives:

To offer the student an in-depth study of Virgil's writing.
To make the student aware of the techniques of modern literary criticism.
To develop the student's ability to read Latin.

553. FRENCH 5H
554. SPANISH 5H

Full year course, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of level 4H and teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

Students will continue their study of complex grammatical structures, increase their reading ability, analyze literary selections, write compositions and essays of varying lengths, so research on historical and/or cultural topics, and make oral presentations in the target language. Students will be expected to practice sustained speaking skills and to develop increasingly fluent listening comprehension.

Students may also participate in a second year of the University in the High School program, if recommended, and receive four credits from the University at Albany.

Objectives:

To enable students to develop more fluency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening to and understanding the spoke and written target language.
To increase student knowledge of the history, geography, and cultural contributions of the peoples and countries where the target language is spoken.

556. FRENCH 6H (not offered 2008-2009)

Full year course, Grade 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of French 5H and teacher recommendation.
Credit: 1 unit

This course will offer students who have successfully completed French 5H an opportunity to continue their study of French. The emphasis will be on literature, specifically fables and short stories. We will explore these genres through the works of la Fontaine, the greatest of French fabulists, and Maupassant, who perfected the art of the French short story. A secondary component of this course will be preparation for the SAT II in French for those interested in taking this exam.

Objectives:

To expand knowledge and deepen appreciation of French literature.
To strengthen reading skills.
To practice speaking and writing skills by creating and performing works based on the selections studied in class.

574. SPANISH 6H

Full year course, Grades 11-12
Prerequisites: Spanish 5 and teacher recommendation
Credit: 1 unit

The AP Spanish Language course seeks to develop language skills that are useful in themselves and that can be applied to various activities and disciplines. The course is designed to prepare students to have the option to take the SAT II Exam in Spanish Reading or in Spanish Listening and/or the AP Spanish Language Exam. The course level is comparable to college/university advanced (fifth or sixth semester or the equivalent) Spanish language courses. It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition.

Students taking this course, which emphasizes the use of Spanish for active communication, have the following objectives:

the ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish
the acquisition of vocabulary and a grasp of structure to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as of modern literature in Spanish
the ability to compose expository passages; and
the ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency

Course content will seek to reflect intellectual interests shared by the students and teacher (e.g., the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, sports, etc.). Materials may include recordings, films, newspapers, and magazines. Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions will be an integral part of the AP Spanish Language course. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on test-taking skills for both the SAT II in Spanish Reading and/or Listening and the AP Spanish Language exams. Students will have experience with the type of questions as well as the various components of both exams by taking timed practice exams.