Course Descriptions
CHECKPOINT “A” / LANGUAGE I – 1 credit (Grades 8 & 9)
Beginning 1 and Beginning 2 – French, Spanish Grade 8: 1 credit for Beginning 2 students who pass course and Proficiency Exam Grade 9: 1 credit for Beginning 2 students who pass the course and / or Proficiency Exam.
Expected Proficiencies: Students will be able to comprehend simple statements and questions and usually the main idea of longer but simple messages and conversations. They will be able to initiate and respond to simple face-to-face conversations within the vocabulary, structure, and phonology appropriate to the communicative situations and functions at this level. They will be able to read simple connected material for informative or social purposes and understand the essential content of short, general public statements and standardized messages. The students will gain limited knowledge of the target language culture but will be aware of the existence of cultures other than their own.
French Beginning 1 – 1 credit
Spanish Beginning 1 – 1 credit
The purpose of this course is to start acquiring a foreign language through comprehensible input while engaged in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Class time will be focused on listening and speaking activities in the new language. Skills necessary to enable a student to scan through an authentic reading to gather specific information will be taught. Writing notes to accomplish a task is a goal of this program. Grammar items will be taught as they are necessary for communication. The topics covered in this course include: personal identification and description, school, leisure activities and sports, food and meal taking, family, and shopping and clothing.
French Beginning 2 – 1 credit
Spanish Beginning 2 – 1 credit
This course is a continuation of Beginning 1. Emphasis continues to be placed on communicative proficiency as measured by the student’s ability to accomplish a variety of tasks in different situations. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing will be practiced as they relate to the functions of language: providing and obtaining information, expressing personal feelings, persuasion, and socialization. Grammar will continue to be taught as it becomes necessary for communication. The topics covered in this course include: house and home, vacation and travel, health and body, community, and weather and the environment. Participation in class activities continues to be a major component of the child’s grade. At the end of this course, students will take the New York State Proficiency Exam in a Second Language. High school credit will be granted after successful completion of the Beginning 2 course and/or passing of the NYS Proficiency Exam.
CHECKPOINT “B” / LANGUAGE II AND III High School (Grades 8 – 12)
French II – 1 credit
Spanish II – 1 credit
This course is a continuation of Beginning 2. Emphasis continues to be placed on communicative proficiency as measured by the student’s ability to accomplish a variety of tasks in different situations. Students will be able to comprehend short conversations on simple topics in everyday situations and the frequently used tense forms and word order patterns in simple sentences. They will be able to initiate and sustain a conversation using the more common verb tense forms in their accurate word order within simple sentences. They will be able to read with understanding simple narrative and descriptive authentic materials and edited texts within a familiar context. Students will be able to distinguish some culturally authentic patterns of behavior and start to assimilate into their communicative skills new cultural patterns from their observation of authentic models.
French II H (5% weight) – 1 credit
Spanish II H (5% weight) – 1 credit
This course is a continuation of Beginning 2. Emphasis continues to be placed on communicative proficiency as measured by the student’s ability to accomplish a variety of tasks in different situations. Students will be able to comprehend more extended conversations on simple topics in everyday situations. Greater emphasis will be placed on developing grammatical mastery. They will be able to initiate and sustain a conversation using the more advanced verb tense forms in their accurate word order within simple sentences. They will be able to read with understanding narrative and descriptive authentic materials and edited texts within a familiar context. Students will have greater exposure to passive vocabulary. Students will be able to distinguish some culturally authentic patterns of behavior and start to assimilate into their communicative skills new cultural patterns from their observation of authentic models.
French III – 1 credit
Spanish III – 1 credit
This course is a continuation of the Language II course and covers the second half of the New York State Checkpoint B curriculum in a Second Language. The expected proficiencies are extensions of those listed in Language II above. This course ends in the Regents Examination in a Second Language. Success in the examination will satisfy the LOTE requirements for the Advanced Regents Diploma.
French III H (5% weight) – 1 credit
Spanish III H (5% weight) – 1 credit
This course is a continuation of the Language IIH course and covers the second half of the New York State Checkpoint B curriculum in a Second Language. The Honors curriculum covers the same core topics as the on-level courses while providing a more in-depth analysis of the grammatical structures of the language. The objective of the greater focus on grammatical mastery is intended to prepare the groundwork for Advanced Placement level of study.
CHECKPOINT “C” High School (Grades 10-12)
French Advanced IV – 1 credit
Spanish Advanced IV – 1 credit
Students revisit topics from the New York State syllabus from the unique perspective of the target culture. The objective of the course is to further students’ communicative skills and cultural awareness.
French Advanced V – 1 credit
Spanish Advanced V – 1 credit
Students are immersed in communicative and cultural skills and study through extended conversations, lectures, debates and readings from authentic literary texts.
French Advanced Placement IV (10% weight) – 1 credit
RHS ONLY Spanish Advanced Placement IV (10% weight) – 1 credit
French Advanced Placement V (10% weight) – 1 credit
RHS ONLY Spanish Advanced Placement V (10% weight) – 1 credit
This two-year course, as prescribed by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), emphasizes the development of advanced language skills that can be applied to various activities and disciplines. Students in AP Level IV and V are required to take the Advanced Placement Language Examination.
College Level Spanish (10% weight) – 1 credit
This course is organized to enable students to attain a functional level of proficiency. Students review the fundamentals of Spanish grammar, with emphasis on developing proficiency in oral reading and writing skills. Selected themes, together with cultural essays, literary excerpts and new articles in Spanish, aim to broaden students’ insight into Hispanic/Latino life and civilization. This course is offered through the State University at Albany. Prerequisite: Passing the Spanish Regents with a score of 85 or above, passing the placement test or teacher recommendation.