LOTE - Languages Other Than English

The LOTE Department at Cathedral High School follows the NYS learning standards for languages. We offer courses for native, heritage, and non-native speakers.

Standard 1: Communication Skills

Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

Standard 2: Cultural Understanding

Effective communication involves meanings that go beyond words and require an understanding of perceptions, gestures, folklore, and family and community dynamics.

FRESHMEN

The first year of the language introduces the student to the culture of the people speaking the target language. Students learn the correct pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and elementary grammatical constructions. This is to enable the students to understand simple questions and respond intelligently.

SOPHOMORES

All foreign language courses must be approved by your language teacher. Every sophomore is expected to continue with the language she started in freshman year unless her present language teacher recommends otherwise. Spanish, American Sign Language, Mandarin, and Latin are offered to sophomores, but a student must first successfully complete the current course in order to advance to the next one.

JUNIORS

Students in junior year may begin a new language provided they continue in their present language. However, a student’s request for a second language will be satisfied depending upon openings in the particular course. Approval to begin a language must be obtained from the chairperson of the department. Seniors may not begin a new language. The third year of language study offers greater facility in speaking, reading and fundamentals of writing the target language. School Administered Exams are offered at the completion of each of these courses.

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Spanish 1 Non-Native

Grade 9 | Full-Year Course

This course is for those students who have no knowledge or only a little of Spanish and wish to learn the language. Students are introduced to basic grammar and vocabulary.

PREREQUISITE: None

Spanish 1 Native

Grade 9 | Full-Year Course

This course is for students who have some background or knowledge of the Spanish language. The course will involve stress on common errors in pronunciation, reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening skills, as well as develop an appreciation for the Hispanic Culture. These students will continue in Native courses in sophomore and junior years.

PREREQUISITE: Knowledge of Spanish

American Sign Language 1

Grade 9 | Full-Year Course

This is an introductory level course which will provide the visual-gestural skills needed to communicate with deaf people in the context of the deaf culture instilling in the student that interactive communication is possible with deaf people through the use of signs. Students will also become aware of cultural patterns, learned through the use of American Sign Language, that characterizes the deaf culture.

PREREQUISITE: None

Latin 1

Grade 9 | Full-Year Course

The Latin language is the source of a majority of English words, and Latin terminology is still used in science, law, medicine, and the church. Latin I introduces students to basic Latin vocabulary and grammar and helps them develop an appreciation for the culture of ancient Rome.

PREREQUISITE: None

Mandarin 1

Grade 9 | Full-Year Course

This course is an introductory course to basic Chinese for students with no background in the language. This course will focus on communicative skills and cover pronunciation, grammar fundamentals, and vocabulary. Topics include but are not limited to: greetings, family matters, numbers, and communication in daily life. The course also incorporates Chinese culture and practical situations.

PREREQUISITE: None

Spanish 2 Non–Native

Grade 10 | Full-Year Course

This course is a continuation for those who have successfully completed Spanish 1 Non-Native. The course is designed to help students develop proficiency in the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the target language.

PREREQUISITE:Spanish 1 Non-native

Spanish 2 Native

Grade 10 | Full-Year Course

This course is a continuation for those who have successfully completed SPANISH 1N. The aim of this course is to strengthen the student’s verbal communication skills in the target language. Grammar and vocabulary will be presented in a cultural manner. Students who achieve 95 percent or above may take the Spanish Comprehensive Examination at the end of this course with the approval of the teacher/chairperson/administration.

PREREQUISITE:Spanish 1 native

American Sign Language 2

Grade 10 | Full-Year Course

This is the second level of a three year sequence which will provide the visual-gestural skills needed to communicate with deaf people in the context of the deaf culture instilling in the student that interactive communication is possible with deaf people through the use of signs. Students will also become aware of cultural patterns, learned through the use of American Sign Language, that characterizes the deaf culture. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be qualified to continue to American Sign Language 3.

PREREQUISITE: American Sign Language 1

Latin 2

Grade 10 | Full-Year Course

The course begins where Latin I left off, with more complex conjugation, declension, and vocabulary. We will continue to explore the grammatical structure of Latin, plus learn numbers, pronouns, special verbs, comparison of adjectives and adverbs, among other topics.

PREREQUISITE: Latin I

Mandarin 2

Grade 10 | Full-Year Course

This is the second level of basic Chinese for students who have learned Mandarin before and now want to strengthen their vocabulary and grammar. This course will teach lower intermediate Chinese communicative skills. It will cover sentence structure and idiomatic expressions and develop listening, speaking, reading, and written competence in Chinese. The incorporation of Chinese culture is also part of this course.

PREREQUISITE: Mandarin 1

Spanish 3 Non-Native

Grade 11 | Full-Year Course

This course is for those students who have successfully completed Spanish 2NN. Teachers will emphasize the acquisition of advanced grammatical points, development of reading, writing and communication skills in the target language. Students will be prepared for the Spanish Comprehensive Examination at the end of the course.

PREREQUISITE:Spanish 2 Non-native

Spanish 3 Native

Grade 11 | Full-Year Course

This course is for the students who have successfully completed Spanish 2 Native.  The course engages students in authentic communicative activities in cultural contexts.  Students will continue developing their conversational skills while building language proficiency in reading, listening, and writing to demonstrate their language acquisition through interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational activities.  Students will be prepared for the Spanish Comprehensive Examination at the end of this course.

PREREQUISITE:Spanish 2 native

American Sign Language 3

Grade 11 | Full-Year Course

This is an intermediate-to-advanced course in American Sign Language (ASL). This course is designed to practice conversational skills, teach narrative performance skills, and deepen understanding of various aspects of deafness and Deaf culture. Previous knowledge of ASL and Deaf Culture is necessary; students are expected to have taken ASL I and II, and thus to have PREREQUISITE knowledge of ASL concepts, grammar, and history. Course content shall include, but not be limited to, conversational vocabulary, conversational norms, classifier use, storytelling, and grammatical features of ASL. The audio logical, educational, social, cultural, artistic, and historical aspects of deafness are also included.

PREREQUISITE: American Sign Language 2

Latin 3

Grade 11 | Full-Year Course

Latin 3 is a higher-level language course that emphasizes the critical vocabulary and grammar needed for translation and understanding of more advanced Latin passages. Students will study a broad range of cultural and philosophical issues that are consistent to all eras of Roman civilizations. Readings in English pertaining to Roman history, mythology, and culture will be properly translated for comprehension. Simpler writing productions and expressive Latin speech will be focused on throughout.

PREREQUISITE: Latin 2

Mandarin 3

Grade 11 | Full-Year Course

This is the third level of Chinese for students who are interested in continuing their higher education in Mandarin. Students will master more essential characters, continue enlarging their vocabularies, and practice expressions through several popular topics, such as: school life, friends, shopping, food, travel, and more. In general, this course will improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

PREREQUISITE: Mandarin 2

Advanced Placement Spanish

Grades 11, 12 | Full-Year Course

The Advanced Placement Program is a cooperative educational endeavor with the College Entrance Examination Board. A course will be offered in Advanced Placement Spanish for those who wish to pursue college level studies in Spanish Language and Culture. Many colleges will grant credit and appropriate placement to students who do well in the examination(s). This special examination(s) will be given in May for those who wish to participate and pay the fee required by the College Entrance Board. This course will be an intensive course in both language and culture to prepare the students for the examination. Students are required to think critically, reflexively and be autonomous in their own process of learning. THIS CLASS IS TAUGHT ENTIRELY IN SPANISH.

PREREQUISITE: A MARK OF 90% BOTH IN SPANISH 3 AND THE SPANISH REGENTS; RECOMMENDATION OF THE TEACHER/ CHAIRPERSON/ ADMINISTRATION APPROVAL

FEE: Approximately $90 for each examination

American Sign Language 4

Grades 12 | Full-Year Course

This 4th level advanced course is a continuation of ASL3 and will maintain the same language goals needed to have effective communication with members of the deaf community. In addition to visual gestural communication through sign languag, elements of deaf culture, history, audiology, and interpreting will be covered to ensure a full understanding of deafness and deaf people.

PREREQUISITE: ASL 3

Latin 4

Grade 12 | Full-Year Course

A higher-level course that follows Latin 3. Students will take a more in-depth approach and study to vocabulary, grammar, and translations, as well as Roman history and culture and its effect on our modern world.

PREREQUISITE: Latin 3

Mandarin 4

Grades 12 | Full-Year Course

This is the College level of Mandarin Chinese. This course is designed for students to deepen their skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing with college-level topics. It provides a review of essential grammar, extensive vocabulary building, and development of writing skills. The fourth year of Chinese is dedicated to the development of more extensive writing skills and engaging in more meaningful discussion in Chinese. The College level Mandarin class is a post-Regent exam class to further immerse students in Chinese culture and language.

PREREQUISITE: Mandarin 3 and teacher recommendation

Culture, Film, and Music

Grades 11, 12 | Full-Year Course

This course is designed for native speakers and students who have Spanish background. Classes will be conducted in Spanish and English. Students will be able to use multimedia to explore literary topics to gain insight into Latino American culture.

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of a language track