Students must successfully complete two units of study and pass a locally developed examination that is aligned to the Checkpoint A Learning Standards by the end of grade 9.

Spanish I Exploratory

Spanish I Exploratory is a one-year course, which introduces the Spanish language and culture.  Students practice the four language skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – with an emphasis on vocabulary and pronunciation. Students will survey aspects of the history, culture, geography, and daily life in Spanish speaking countries. The introductory nature of the course permits students to become acquainted with Spanish and to strengthen skills in the acquisition of this language. This course is project based and is designed to help students obtain one credit of study in a second language in order to meet the New York State requirement for graduation. Students who take this course are not eligible to continue taking Spanish without the teacher’s recommendation.

• Grade: 9 – 12
• Prerequisites: For students who fail Spanish 1, Spanish 1A, or the local exam in middle school .
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation: Cumulative Test/Project
• Credits: 1

Mandarin I Exploratory

Mandarin I Exploratory is a one-year course, designed for students who simply want to earn a credit for World Language without continuing on, and/or also for students who may have struggled previously.  The course introduces the Mandarin language and culture, and no previous knowledge of Mandarin is assumed.  Students practice the four language skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – with an emphasis on building basic vocabulary. Students will survey aspects of the history, culture, geography, and daily life in Mandarin speaking countries. The introductory nature of the course permits students to become acquainted with Mandarin at a basic level. This class is project-based and is designed to assist  students with obtaining one credit of study in a second language in order to meet the New York State requirement for graduation. Students who take this course are not eligible to continue taking Mandarin  without teacher recommendation.

• Grade: 9 – 12
• Prerequisites: For students who fail Spanish 1, Spanish 1A, or the local exam in middle school.
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation: Cumulative Test and/or Project
• Credits: 1

Spanish Language Arts

The Spanish Language Arts course uses the New York State standards, the World-Readiness for Learning Languages (National Standards), and ELA Next Generation Standards as an academic framework and guide.  Therefore, the course aims and objectives align with these standards.  While the topics outlined below follow the mentioned standards, they were also chosen because they are interdisciplinary; that is, their study could benefit students’ comprehension of content in their other classes, such as ELA, science, history, math, art, and music.  By examining and studying these subjects in Spanish, it is hypothesized that students will encounter high frequency words, tasks, and objectives characteristic of, and inherent in, the respective subjects.

• Grade: 9 – 12
• Prerequisites: For native speakers.
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation: Cumulative Test/Project
• Credits: 1

Spanish IB

Spanish IB is a one-year, ½ unit of study course, which introduces the Spanish language and culture. Students practice the four language skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – with an emphasis on vocabulary and pronunciation. Students will survey aspects of the history, culture, geography, and daily life in Spanish speaking countries. The introductory nature of the course permits students to become acquainted with Spanish and to strengthen skills in the acquisition of this language. Students must pass the Spanish IB class in order to receive one high school credit toward graduation. Those students who pass IA and a LOTE checkpoint A,  Spanish IA exam at the end of 8th grade MUST continue to Spanish IB.

• Grade: 9
• Prerequisites: For students who pass Spanish 1A.
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation: Cumulative Test/Project
• Credits: 1

Spanish II

The basic skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) continue with increased emphasis on reading and idiomatic writing and more opportunity for original expression.  The introduction of additional tenses occurs with more advanced grammar studied in depth.  The teacher will revisit some topics from Spanish 1, Spanish Heritage or Spanish 1A and IB with additional vocabulary and the use of more sophisticated concepts.

• Grade: 9 – 12
• Prerequisites: successful completion of either Spanish I, Spanish Heritage, or Spanish IA & Spanish IB and the LOTE Checkpoint A exam
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation: Local Exam
• Credits: 1

Spanish III (Regents)

The teacher will stress the continued use of aural and oral Spanish.  More writing and composition are included.  The teacher will emphasize considerable vocabulary build-up through reading and discussion.  The introduction and drilling of advanced points of grammar will also occur.  The student must take a  locally developed exam for Regents credit upon completion of this course.  Students must pass both the course and the exam in order to receive credit for the course.

• Grade: 10 – 12
• Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish II
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation:  locally developed exam for Regents credit
• Credits: 1

Spanish IV | SCCC

The Spanish IV curriculum is centered on the five C’s of the ACTFL standards: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Students will focus on the three modes of communication: interpersonal, presentational and interpretive. The themes presented in each unit correlate with the AP Spanish themes. This curriculum is organized into themes. Each unit will include vocabulary, grammar, and culture that will be used meaningfully. Students will work with reading comprehension, art and realia that are authentic to the Spanish-speaking world. The topics will connect to real communication needs. Students will also practice grammatical concepts using a variety of tasks that include concrete activities as well as tasks that are more open-ended that focus on communication.  Spanish IV focuses on the application and expansion of the skills acquired in Spanish I-III.  A firm grasp of the basic grammatical and syntactical structures is assumed.  While some new grammatical concepts are introduced and some grammar is reviewed, it is not the primary focus of this course and it is addressed primarily through intensive reading and writing and through the daily use of Spanish in the classroom. Each marking period features a hands-on cultural activity, current events and a presentational project.

• Grade: 11 – 12
• Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish III
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation:  final exam or a project
• Credits: 1 high school credit and 3 college credits (with tuition payment)

Spanish V | SCCC

The Spanish V curriculum is centered on the five C’s of the ACTFL standards: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Students will focus on the three modes of communication: interpersonal, presentational and interpretive. The themes presented in each unit correlate with the AP Spanish themes. This curriculum is organized into themes. Each unit will include vocabulary, grammar, and culture that will be used meaningfully. Students will work with reading comprehension, art and realia that are authentic to the Spanish-speaking world. The topics will connect to real communication needs. Students will also practice grammatical concepts using a variety of tasks that include concrete activities as well as tasks that are more open-ended that focus on communication.  Spanish V focuses on the application and expansion of the skills acquired in Spanish I-IV.  A firm grasp of the basic grammatical and syntactical structures is assumed.  While some new grammatical concepts are introduced and some grammar is reviewed, it is not the primary focus of this course and it is addressed primarily through intensive reading and writing and through the daily use of Spanish in the classroom. Each marking period features a hands-on cultural activity, current events and a presentational project. Students have the option of taking this course for college credit.

• Grade: 12
• Prerequisites: Successful completion of Spanish IV
• Length: 40 weeks
• Final Evaluation:  final exam or a project
• Credits: 1 high school credit and 3 college credits (with tuition payment)