World Languages

The Language Department offers a five year sequence in French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. The primary objective of the language program is to teach fluency through a communicative approach using the five standards for world language learning...

Communication
Cultures
Connections
Comparisons
Communities

The four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing are taught at each level using the state syllabus of fifteen topics.

Checkpoint A, which is a requirement for graduation, culminates with a Proficiency Exam.

Checkpoint B, which is taught in Level 2 and Level 3 classes culminates with the State Equivalent Comprehensive Exam in languages. These courses are recommended for all college bound students.

Checkpoint C includes all upper level language courses.

FRENCH 1 (2500) / SPANISH 1 (2505) (Revised 2026)

FRENCH 2 (2510) / SPANISH 2 (2515) (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Checkpoint B of the state syllabus begins at this level. Although this course is a continuation of the skills and culture presented in Level 1 classes, the coursework is more demanding. There is still a communicative approach to understanding and learning. Reading and writing skills are expanded and more complex structures are introduced and practiced.

FRENCH 2 HONORS (2511) / SPANISH 2 HONORS (2516) (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Prerequisite: For students who exhibit high functioning language ability and are interested in joining the honors track, they must pass the Checkpoint A exam with a score of I1 or better in the speaking and writing sections, a final average of 90% or better in the coursework and teacher recommendation.
For students who exhibit high functioning language ability and are interested in joining the honors track, they must pass the Checkpoint A exam with a score of I1 or better in the speaking and writing sections, a final average of 90% or better in the coursework and teacher recommendation.

FRENCH 3 (2520) / SPANISH 3 (2525) (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Prerequisite: Must successfully pass Level 2 French or Spanish
This level culminates with a Checkpoint C examination (comprehensive examination in the target language). Emphasis is on improving skills. However, more reading and writing are given in combination with a more rigorous communicative environment and through the use of multimedia, communicative activities and cultural realia. This course is recommended to all college-bound students.

FRENCH 3 HONORS (2521) / SPANISH 3 HONORS (2526) (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Successful completion of French 2 Honors or Spanish 2 Honors with a final average of 85 or better and teacher recommendation.
For students interested in joining honors from French 2 Regents or Spanish 2 Regents, they must pass the Checkpoint B exam with a score of an I2 or better in the speaking and writing sections, a final average of 90% or better in the coursework and a teacher recommendation.
These courses are advanced level courses in which the goal is to give the students a solid knowledge about the target language through understanding and speaking the language. Students will get exposure to the vocabulary and language structures through multimedia, various communicative style activities and cultural realia. Emphasis is on continuing and improving skills with a faster pace and heightened rigor. More reading and writing are given in combination with a more rigorous communicative environment and through the use of multimedia, communicative activities and cultural realia. This course is recommended to all college-bound students.

CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH (2546) / CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH (2547) (Revised 2026)

FRENCH (2530) / SPANISH (2535) UNIVERSITY 1 (Formerly level 4) (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Prerequisites: successful completion of French/Spanish 3 Regents with a final average of 90 or higher - or - Honors a final average of 85 or higher and Regents credit.
The University 1 course is a language elective that allows the student to earn four (4) college credits. Its main objective is to continue to develop the four areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing the language. The course will be taught in French/Spanish and the students will be expected to speak in French/Spanish as well in order to help the fluidity of the language development. The goal is to give the students a solid knowledge about the target language, through understanding and speaking the language. Students will get exposure to the vocabulary and language structures through multimedia, various communicative style activities and cultural realia. Emphasis is on continuing and improving skills with a faster pace and heightened rigor. More reading and writing are given in combination with a more rigorous communicative environment.

FRENCH (2531) / SPANISH (2536) UNIVERSITY 2 (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Prerequisite: Successful completion of the University 1 course.
The University 2 course is a continuation to the University level 1 course. This class allows the student to earn four (4) additional college credits. Its main objective is to continue to develop the four areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing the language. The course will also be taught in French/Spanish and the students will be expected to speak in French/Spanish in order to continue and improve the fluidity of the language development. We will study the history, geography, culture, art and literature of France/Spain and Latin America. The goal is to continue to give students a solid knowledge of various components of culture and real-life in the target language, through understanding and speaking the language. Students will get exposure to the vocabulary and language structures through multimedia, various communicative style activities and cultural realia. Emphasis is on continuing and improving skills with a faster pace and heightened rigor. More reading and writing are given in combination with a more rigorous communicative environment.

MANDARIN CHINESE 2 (2551) 1 Credit | MANDARIN CHINESE 3 (2552) (Revised 2026)

1 Credit
Prerequisite: students must have taken and passed Mandarin Chinese I
Students will be given increasing opportunities to engage in authentic written and recorded materials from the Chinese-speaking world. They will be able to initiate, follow and sustain conversations related to everyday life and the larger society. They will also be able to write short responses to prompts relating to classroom situations.

MANDARIN CHINESE 4 (2553) (Revised 2026)

.5 HS Credit/3 College Credits
Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed three years of secondary level Mandarin Chinese.
Mandarin Chinese 4 is a course in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese that aims to develop the students’ vocabulary, pronunciation, and mastery of simple conversations. Using an interactive and technology-rich approach to build student confidence and skill in listening, speaking, reading and writing the Chinese language, the course expands students’ ability to function in Mandarin, the predominant dialect of Mainland China, and at the same time offers students insight into Chinese culture. This course begins to prepare students for the NYS Checkpoint C. Successful completion of this course earns both high school and university credit (moderate transcript fee is required for university credit). Units of study include but are not limited to: Health and welfare – illness and accidents to include symptoms of illness, medical services and treatment. Chinese culture – focus on the anthropology of modern China.

MANDARIN CHINESE 5 (2554) (Revised 2026)

.5 HS Credit/3 College Credits
Prerequisite: students must have successfully completed four years of secondary level Mandarin Chinese.
This course is a college level course taught through distance learning in collaboration with SUNY Orange and Orange-Ulster BOCES. Students in this course will further develop the language and cultural foundations that were learned in Mandarin 4.

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