Department of World Languages/English as a Second Language
Denise Hannaoui
Curriculum Director
High School  (516)295-8022
Middle School (516)812-7530

Parents as Partners

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)

The English as a Second Language program is available for students whose first language is not English. ESL students may have been born in this country and have had little or no exposure to English during the first years of their lives, or they may have come here from another country. 
Students who are in the program attend ESL classes once, twice, or three times a day, depending upon their ability and grade level. The ESL teacher works with small groups of students in the ESL classroom and also “pushes into” classrooms where s/he works cooperatively with the classroom teacher.  The primary focus of this program is on developing all skill areas of English—listening, speaking, reading and writing. These four skills are fully integrated into ESL lessons as the learner develops his/her English proficiency. As students become more proficient, emphasis moves toward understanding grade-level content area material so that they can succeed without assistance in the regular classroom.
The aim of the ESL program is to provide students with basic communication skills and cognitive/academic language proficiency so that they will become effective meaning makers and active participants in school.  The ESL teacher uses a variety of instructional strategies and practices to enable ESL students to acquire and develop English Language skills. These include but are not limited to cooperative learning, the Language Experience Approach, Literature-Based activities, and thematic instruction.
Direct instruction in skills and grammar, as well as the use of technology in the classroom, also benefit ESL students.

 
WORLD LANGUAGES
Courses are designed to prepare students to take the Second Language Proficiency exams at the end of 8th grade. In High School, students prepare for the Regents exams at the end of Level 3 coursework, and then they may move into Level 4 and 5/AP advanced studies. Honors classes are offered as well at different levels of study.
Advanced Placement courses allow students the opportunity to not only study subjects in greater depth and detail, but also earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation’s colleges and universities. It gives students an edge in college preparation by getting a head start on college-level work and developing study habits necessary for tackling rigorous coursework.

FRENCH
Traditionally, this language has been considered the language of culture and international relations, and more recently French has been seen as the language of diplomacy.  Many universities require a reading knowledge of French for students undertaking a doctoral (PhD) degree. Students entering French 5/AP will study the regular French 5 curriculum, and will also include Advanced Placement coursework, with all the readings covered in depth.

HS COURSES:
FRENCH 1   (1 year, 1 Credit)
FRENCH 2/2H (1 year, 1 Credit)
FRENCH 3/3H  (1 year, 1 Credit)
FRENCH 4H   (1 year, 1 Credit)
FRENCH 5H   (1 year, 1 Credit)
FRENCH 5AP   (1 year, 1 Credit)

 
ITALIAN
From Leonardo da Vinci in art and Dante in literature, to Verdi and Puccini in music, Italian is the language of music and art. Almost all musical terms in English derive from Italian, and so do many technical words in the fine arts.
 
HS COURSES:
ITALIAN 1   (1 year, 1 Credit)
ITALIAN 2/2H  (1 year, 1 Credit)
ITALIAN 3/3H  (1 year, 1 Credit)
ITALIAN 4H   (1 year, 1 Credit)
ITALIAN 5H   (1 year, 1 Credit)

SPANISH
This is not merely the language of Spain but also the language of the majority of our neighbors in Central and South America. 

HS COURSES:
SPANISH 1  (1 year, 1 Credit)
SPANISH 2/2H (1 year, 1 Credit)
SPANISH 3/3H (1 year, 1 Credit)
SPANISH 4/4H (1 year, 1 Credit)
SPANISH FOR TRAVELERS  (1 year, 1 Credit)
SPANISH FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS (1 year, 1 Credit)
 

High School Extra Help - 2009/2010