LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH (LOTE)


Following the mandate of the Regents Action Plan, all students in South Country Schools begin LOTE in the seventh grade and may begin another language at any time in the High School; however, the longest possible sequence is recommended in order to achieve conversational proficiency in any language. For those students who have the ability and the time available, a third language is recommended.

 In the adventure of learning second and third languages students learn about foreign cultures. This expands their mental concepts in terms of new grammatical relationships, ways and means of expressing view points concerning the world around them and an appreciation of the ways other people think and live. All of these are experiences that enhance a student's understanding and appreciation of his/her own culture.

 French, Italian and Spanish are modern languages and are therefore taught with the major emphasis on oral communication.  There is less stress on reading and writing especially in Level I.  Levels II, III, IV, and V are taught   in 4 or 5 years depending on the sequence chosen.

In Latin, communicative skills are developed and at the same time, communicative skills in English are consciously developed.  Students learn Latin to enhance their awareness of our Greco-Roman heritage and to communicate more effectively in English.  Three levels of Latin are taught.  The study of Latin is recommended for students geared toward AP English.

A New York State Comprehensive Regents Examination is given in French, Italian, Latin and Spanish.  A very capable student may be allowed to take these examinations prior to the completion of the normal number of years of study if the faculty feels that this would be advisable.  Credits awarded will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Students who are native speakers of a language may take the Regents examination and receive Regents credit without attending a class upon scoring a minimum of 85% on the Regents exam.  Regents exams can be ordered from the State Education Department for other than the Modern Languages upon students request.

Incoming 9th grade students have 5 options available to them:

OPTION 1:        Students who fail the Proficiency Examination and the Level I course must repeat  their previous course in the High School and seek to pass French I, Italian I, or Spanish I for High School credit.  This is a graduation requirement.
OPTION 2:         Students who fail the Proficiency Examination, but pass the eighth grade language course, must take a language for at least one year.  They do not have to repeat Level I;  they may choose Option 3 or Option 4.  One high school credit for work completed in seventh and eighth grade will be awarded after successful completion of Level II or Level IIA.
 
OPTION 3:           Students who have passed the Regents Proficiency Examination may  pursue LOTE Level  II over a two (2) year period in Spanish II A & B.  (A) Level will be taken the first year, (B) Level will be taken the second year.  (A & B) Levels are modified versions of the course.
OPTION 4:           With their teacher's recommendation, students pursue LOTE  Level  II in a one year period - French II, Spanish II or Italian II.
OPTION   5:          All students have the option of starting a different/additional LOTE  in French, Italian, Latin, or Spanish at any grade level.  (Course will be approved if there are 15 students enrolled.)
 

COURSE SELECTIONS
French I
French II
French III
French IV & V
Advanced Placement French
Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III
Spanish IV & V
Advanced Placement Spanish
Latin I
Latin II
Latin III
Latin IV & V
Italian I
Italian II
Italian III


*FRENCH, LEVEL 1 - Full year – 1 credit

*SPANISH, LEVEL 1

*LATIN, LEVEL 1     

*ITALIAN, LEVEL 1

Two thirds of the course concentrates on speaking communication. Cultural awareness, reading, and writing make up the rest of the curriculum.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:  Class participation, oral presentations, homework, projects, notebook, quizzes, unit examinations, mid-term and final examinations.

PREREQUISITE:  None

*FRENCH, LEVEL II - Full year - 1 credit

*SPANISH, LEVEL II

*SPANISH, LEVEL IIA

*SPANISH, LEVEL IIB

*LATIN, LEVEL II

*ITALIAN, LEVEL II                        

The proportion of oral work to reading and writing is about 50% in the second year.  Culture and history are stressed here.  (A) Level is a modified (slower paced) version of the course.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:  Class participation, oral presentations, homework, projects, notebook, quizzes, unit examination, mid-term and final examinations.

PREREQUISITE:  French, Spanish, Latin or Italian Level I. Spanish IIB requires successful completion of Level IIA or faculty recommendation.                                                                                             

*FRENCH, LEVEL III - Full year - 1 credit

*SPANISH, LEVEL III    

  LATIN, LEVEL III

*ITALIAN, LEVEL III                                       

The proportion of time given to oral work in the class continues to be about 50%.  Composition and advanced reading comprise the rest of the curriculum.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   Class participation, oral presentations, homework, projects, notebook, quizzes, unit examinations and mid-term.  The final evaluation of this course is the New York State Comprehensive Regents Examination.

PREREQUISITE:  Successful completion of Level II

*FRENCH, LEVELS IV & V - Full year – 1 credit

*SPANISH, LEVELS IV & V

These courses cover some literature, current events, everyday conversations, history and culture.  Speaking and writing for communication are stressed.  Level IV & Level V are each one credit.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:    Class participation, homework, notebook, quizzes, written papers, written and oral projects, mid-term and final examinations.

PREREQUISITE:  Passing New York State Regents Comprehensive Examination in French, Italian, Spanish or Latin, at Level III.

*ADVANCED PLACEMENT FRENCH - Full year - 1 credit

*ADVANCED PLACEMENT SPANISH

The program is a national program of the College Board to help students who wish to pursue college level studies while still in secondary school.  The course covers studies comparable in content and difficulty to a full year course in Advanced Composition and Conversation at the third year college level.  In our school, this consists of a two year high school course intended to develop the knowledge and proficiency of the student in  French and Spanish Languages.  Students receive one credit for each year.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   Class participation, quizzes, notebook, homework, unit exams, written and oral projects, mid-term and final examinations.  The Advanced Placement Examination is taken at the end of year two.

PREREQUISITES:  This program is for 11th and 12th graders who commit themselves to the two year program.  They must have a good command of the grammar and have considerable competence in listening, reading, speaking and writing French or Spanish.  They must have completed Level III French or Spanish and have passed the New York State Comprehensive Regents Examination with a B or better.

Criteria for Graduation with Distinction
 (For Seniors Only)
L.O.T.E.

The following has been established as criteria for Graduation With Distinction in the L.O.T.E. Department. in order to receive this recognition, the student must meet the following criteria:

(Students should contact the guidance department chairperson for an application which should be submitted by April 1st.)

 

Page rev. 2/1/08 KR/JBJS