Knowledge of a second language serves many purposes:
- It increases both oral and written communication and competency in real-life situations both in a student’s native tongue and the target language.
- It promotes awareness, acceptance and understanding of diverse people and their respective cultures.
- It empowers students to competitively represent their base of knowledge (science, math, etc.) in another language.
Our Philosophy
By learning another language and its related culture, students gain greater insight into the workings of their native language. They come to realize that their customs, traditions, and perspectives are only one way of viewing the world. Knowledge of another language and its culture helps students prepare for careers in commerce, international relations, law, science and the arts in our global market.
Students are encouraged to take full advantage of all language course offerings.
Middle School Second Language: Testing & Credit
- Students will be awarded one high school credit for passing the 8th grade Language course and a proficiency exam.
- Students will receive a final numerical grade at the end of 8th grade. This will be recorded on the high school transcript as the grade for French I or Spanish II.
High School Second Language: Sequences
- Grade 9
- Honors: French 2 H/ Spanish 2 H
Spanish 1 (elective) - Regents: French 2 R / Spanish 2 R Regents
French 1 / Spanish 1 (elective)
- Honors: French 2 H/ Spanish 2 H
- Grade 10
- Honors: French 3 H / Spanish 3 H
Spanish 1 (elective) - Regents: French 3 R/ Spanish 3 R
French 1 / Spanish I (elective)
- Honors: French 3 H / Spanish 3 H
- Grade 11
- Honors: OCC 201 Enriched (French, Spanish)
Spanish 1 (elective) - Regents: OCC 201 (French, Spanish)
French 1 / Spanish 1 (elective)
- Honors: OCC 201 Enriched (French, Spanish)
- Grade 12
- Honors: OCC 202 Enriched
AP Exam Optional (French, Spanish)
Spanish 1 (elective) - Regents: OCC 202 (French, Spanish)
French 1 / Spanish 1 (elective)
- Honors: OCC 202 Enriched
Courses
Spanish 1
Course Number: 4023
Length: 1 year
Credit: 1 credit
This introductory course is designed for students to gain a basic understanding and control of the Spanish Language. Students will learn aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of the Spanish language.
Lessons focus on basic thematic vocabulary and beginning grammar necessary to develop language competency. Students learn how to communicate with peers and adults on topics such as weather, school, home, health, food and occupations. Competency in reading information provided on signs, timetables, maps and menus is stressed. Students learn to write short informal notes and descriptive stories.
French 1
Course Number: 4014
Length: 1 year
Credit: 1 credit
This introductory course is designed for students to gain a basic understanding and control of the French Language. Students will learn aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of the French language.
Lessons focus on basic thematic vocabulary and beginning grammar necessary to develop language competency. Students learn how to communicate with peers and adults on topics such as weather, school, home, health, food and occupations. Competency in reading information provided on signs, timetables, maps and menus is stressed. Students learn to write short informal notes and descriptive stories.
Note: At the successful completion of this course, students must also pass a Proficiency Exam to earn credit and move to French 2.
French 2 Honors / Spanish 2 Honors
Course Number: 4011 – French 2 Honors, 4012 Spanish 2 Honors
Length: 1 year each
Credit: 1 credit each
Prerequisite: In order to enroll in Level 2, students must achieve a 90%+ average in Level 1, accompanied by the recommendation of the Level 1 teacher. Students who do not meet the above requirements may challenge by demonstrating their language proficiency by means of an oral interview in the target language and completing the 2 H placement exam with a 90% or higher.
This course is designed for students who have the potential and the motivation for accelerated language study and have been recommended by their middle school teacher. The goals of the course are to maintain and develop oral proficiency, to continue the formal study of grammar begun in middle school, to develop writing and reading skills and to become more familiar with cultural differences and similarities. This honors course places emphasis on the use of the target language in class by both the students and the teacher.
Note: At the end of this course, students are expected to pass both the course and the final exam to move to Level 3.
French 2 Regents / Spanish 2 Regents
Course Number: 4021 – French 2 Regents, 4022 Spanish 2 Regents
Length: 1 year each
Credit: 1 credit each
The goals of this course are to develop the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in a second language. Students will be introduced to topics relating to activities that touch their lives, such as home, school, sports, shopping, entertainment and travel. They will practice conversation and develop their oral proficiency as they continue the formal study of grammar begun in middle school or in French or Spanish 1.
Students who do not meet the above requirements may challenge by demonstrating their language proficiency by means of an oral interview in the target language and completing the 2 H placement exam with a 90% or higher.
Note: At the end of this course, students are expected to pass both the course and the final exam to move to Level 3.
French 3 Honors / Spanish 3 Honors
Course Number: 4115 – French 3 Honors, 4116 Spanish 3 Honors
Length: 1 year each
Credit: 1 credit each
Final Assessment: See Note Below*
Prerequisite: In order to enroll in Level 3, students must achieve a 90%+ average in Level 2, accompanied by the recommendation of the Level 2 teacher. Students who do not meet the above requirements may challenge by demonstrating their language proficiency by means of writing a 100-word essay and/or by completing an oral interview in the target language.
This course prepares language students for more complex, real-world applications as they further develop the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the target language at the intermediate level or Checkpoint B. Students continue their study of essential grammar and vocabulary skills above and beyond the intermediate level, or Checkpoint B. They practice communicating both orally and through writing to socialize, provide and obtain information, express needs and solve problems. They learn to interpret spoken and written language on a variety of topics, including those presented in literature (essays, poems and short stories) and in other authentic sources, such as news articles, video broadcasts, films and songs. The Level 3 Honors course is taught in the target language and students are required to communicate with the teacher and each other in the target language as well.
Note: *At the end of the year, all Level 3 students are expected to pass the course and the appropriate Second Language FLACS examination at the end of the year to move to Level 4 (OCC 201).
French 3 Regents / Spanish 3 Regents
Course Number: 4121 – French 3 Regents, 4122 Spanish 3 Regents
Length: 1 year each
Credit: 1 credit each
Final Assessment: See Note Below*
The goal of the course is to further develop the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the target language at the intermediate level or Checkpoint B. Students engage in oral and written exchanges that allow them to socialize, provide and obtain information, to express needs and solve problems. Students work on vocabulary and grammar skills in order to interpret straightforward spoken and written language, such as directions, announcements and short narrations. Oral communication is the goal of this course. The course also continues to expand the student’s understanding of cultural differences and similarities.
Note: *At the end of the year, all Level 3 students are expected to pass the course and the appropriate Second Language FLACS examination at the end of the year to move to Level 4 (OCC 201).
OCC 201 / OCC 201 Enriched (French & Spanish)
Course Number: 4219 – French 4 OCC 201, 4220 – French 4H OCC 201X, 4223 Spanish 4 OCC 201, 4224 Spanish 4H OCC 201X
Length: 1 year each
Credit: 1 credit each (3 OCC credits)
This intermediate-level course builds upon the grammatical, linguistic, communicative and cultural skills previously learned at the introductory level. Students acquire more complex grammar and lexical skills that will enable them to communicate within a greater range of contexts. Topics are set within the Spanish or French speaking world and may include: Linguistic Identity & Diversity, Legends/Traditions, Art/Architecture, and Technology/Leisure. This course also fulfills the Global Awareness and Diversity (GLAD) requirement at OCC. Upon successful completion of SPA or FRE 201, students may enroll in SPA or FRE 202.
201 Enriched: This course is a continuation of the honors program for those students who wish to pursue advanced language studies beyond the NYS Checkpoint C Standards. Its purpose is to provide students with the speaking and listening skills needed to ensure a high level of fluency at Checkpoint C, preparing them for the next level of study. 201E is enriched with cultural, cinema and complex grammatical study.
The focus of the course is the intense study of the language, understanding grammar and pitfalls. Advanced grammar instruction will facilitate students’ comprehension of materials relating to the various forms of media such as videos and podcasts, online research and interactive activities, short stories and novels.
Note: *At the end of the course, all OCC 201 students are required to pass the final exam and the course to receive college credit.
OCC 202 / OCC 202 Enriched (French/Spanish)
Course Number: 4309 – French 5 OCC 202, 4310 – French 5H OCC 202X, 4323 Spanish 5 OCC 202, 4324 Spanish 5H OCC 202X
Length: 1 year each
Credit: 1 credit each (3 OCC credits)
Final Assessment: AP Exam in May (Optional)*
This course is a sequel to Intermediate Spanish or French 201. Students acquire increasingly complex grammatical, linguistic, communicative and cultural skills that will enable them to communicate in a greater range of situations within an authentic cultural context. Relevant topics to the Spanish or French speaking world discussed in this course may include: Food, Relationships, Social Issues, The Environment, and Technology and Globalization. This course also fulfills the Global Awareness and Diversity (GLAD) requirement at OCC.
202: In conjunction with the above, this course seeks to develop the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) that allow the student to discuss a full range of topics in detail, support opinions and make hypotheses. Students will be introduced to a variety of communicative strategies to enhance both their oral and writing capabilities. Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions is an integral part of upper level studies. Students will listen to and interpret the target language in complex personal dialogues, interviews, literary discussions, news broadcasts and other authentic media and be able to detect nuances in meaning and emotion.
Note: *All students enrolled in OCC’s Spanish or French 202 are required to complete a Final Exam. Students have the option to also take the AP Exam in French or Spanish.