Italian Language

Prerequisite:  None 

Level 1 focuses on the survival skills outlined in Checkpoint A of the State Syllabus. Employing extensive oral/aural activity, students are placed in real life situations using the Italian language. With the aid of authentic materials, students will simulate everyday life in an Italian environment through role-playing, dramatizations, and other oral exercises. All students are required to take the Checkpoint A examination at the end of this course.  

Prerequisite:  Italian I

Level 2 embraces the first half of the proficiencies outlined in Checkpoint B of the State Syllabus. While maintaining emphasis on oral survival skills, this course will also involve the students in readings of a more complex nature and in the basics of Italian composition.  

Prerequisite:  Italian I Honors

Italian II courses build upon skills developed in level I, preparing students to communicate authentically in Italian by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information on concrete topics. Italian II honors courses introduce the relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures and prepare students for the Checkpoint B exam, which will be taken at the end of level III.   

Prerequisite:  Italian II

Level 3 Italian covers the second half of the proficiencies outlined in Checkpoint B of the State Syllabus. This course continues with the emphasis on communication skills. The students will be expected to demonstrate comprehension of lengthy auditory and reading passages. Students will also engage in creative and guided composition. All aspects of the course will center on real life situations, with utilization of authentic materials such as Italian newspapers, magazines, films and video programs. All students are required to take the Checkpoint B examination at the end of this course.  

Prerequisite:  Italian II Honors or Teacher Recommendation

Level 3 courses prepare students to communicate authentically in Italian by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information, concepts, and ideas on a variety of topics, including connections to other subject areas. These courses expand students’ knowledge of relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of Italian-speaking countries and cultures. The honors course will prepare students to master the Checkpoint B examination for Regents credit that will be taken in June.   

Prerequisite:  Italian III Honors or Teacher Recommendation

This course concentrates on the conversational aspects of the Italian language as outlined in Checkpoint C of the State Syllabus. This course continues to build oral and written proficiency. Survival Italian will be combined with reading a survey of Italian literature. Authentic materials will be utilized to provide a better understanding of the Italian language and culture.  

Students will have the option of taking this course for college credits through the Suffolk County Community College Beacon Program.

Prerequisite:  Italian IV

This course completes the Checkpoint C curriculum of the State Syllabus. The course combines the continued study of works of literature with increased oral/aural activities, such as dramatizations and panel discussions. Emphasis is placed on the students’ ability to write critically, creatively, and correctly.  

Students will have the option of taking this course for college credits through the Suffolk County Community College Beacon Program.

Prerequisite: Italian III  

Conversational Italian courses provide students with an exploration of authentic experiences in the Italian language and the culture(s) of Italian-speaking people, placing greater emphasis on speaking and listening skills while deemphasizing writing and reading the language. Authentic, real-life and work-based situations will be highlighted.  Students interested in exploring Italian language and culture through authentic experiences would benefit from taking this full year course. 

Prerequisite: Italian III, Spanish III, Home Language Arts II or Recommendation from the Department Chair  

This exploratory French course will provide students with an introduction to the French language and the culture(s) of French-speaking people.  Students will be exposed to the French language and culture through literature, music and videos while learning some basic conversational survival skills.   Emphasis will be placed on developing cultural competency while acquiring some basic language useful for travel to French speaking countries.