Spanish Language

Prerequisite: None

Level 1 focuses on the survival skills outlined in Checkpoint A of the State Syllabus. Employing extensive oral/aural activity, the student is placed into real life situations using the Spanish language. With the aid of authentic materials, the student will simulate everyday life in a Spanish 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: Spanish 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 Spanish composition.   

Prerequisite: Spanish I Honors or Teacher Recommendation

Spanish II courses build upon skills developed in level I, preparing students to communicate authentically in Spanish by interpreting (reading, listening, viewing), exchanging (speaking and listening; reading and writing), and presenting (speaking, writing) information on concrete topics. The 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: Spanish II

Level 3 Spanish 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 Spanish newspapers, magazines, films and video programs. All students are required to take the Checkpoint B examination at the end of this course.  

Prerequisite: Spanish II Honors or Teacher Recommendation

Spanish III courses prepare students to communicate authentically in Spanish 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 Spanish-speaking countries and cultures. The honors course will prepare students to master Checkpoint B skills outlined in NYS standards and taking the Checkpoint B examination in Spanish in order to earn Regents credit. 

Prerequisite: Spanish III, Spanish III Honors, or HLA II

This course concentrates on the conversational and written aspects of the Spanish language as outlined in Checkpoint C of the State Syllabus. This course continues to build oral and written proficiency. Authentic Spanish will be combined with reading a survey of Spanish literature. Real life materials will be utilized to provide a better understanding of the Spanish language and culture that exists here in our own community. 

Prerequisite: Spanish III, Spanish III Honors, or HLA II

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

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

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Spanish IV Honors and Teacher Recommendation. 

This course is intended for students with an extensive background in Spanish, who are interested in continuing an intensive, culture-rich course.  Conducted almost entirely in Spanish, this course will further the development of all four skill areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing.  Emphasis will be placed on the development of better oral/aural comprehension.  In addition, cultural awareness will be enhanced by using a wide variety of literature, authentic material, and other resources.  Basic grammar structures and usage will be reviewed and more sophisticated alternatives will be introduced.  This course offers the opportunity for students to earn college credits based on meeting course requirements.  Upon completion of this course, it is anticipated that the students will take the AP exam in May. The AP exam cost is $96. The Free/Reduced Lunch cost is $53. These costs are subject to change as per federal and state guidelines.  

Prerequisite: Spanish III OR Home Language Arts II  

Conversational Spanish courses provide students with an exploration of authentic experiences in the Spanish language and the culture(s) of Spanish-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.  

Prerequisite: Spanish III OR Home Language Arts II  

This course will run concurrently with International Business, meeting every other day. The course will help students become comfortable using Spanish to communicate with customers, clients, and coworkers that do not speak English. The course will target skills and vocabulary that will be useful in their career paths and ultimately give them the tools they need to become a bilingual employee. This course will expand students’ knowledge of relationships among the products, practices, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking countries and cultures.  

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.