| World Languages |
All of our students have the opportunity to gain access to other cultures through the study of Modern languages. They can learn, with equal facility, any of the languages offered: French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Students begin their language study in grade eight and may continue through grade twelve.
Students of all languages have the opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy at graduation. Modern languages also offer the opportunity to receive SUNY Oswego credits for levels beyond 4, 5 and AP and may take the AP exams. In our classes you will not only study how the language is formed and functions but how to communicate with others. Students gain a better appreciation and awareness of other cultures and other ways of life around the globe. Studies show that bilingual people have the advantage of an increased vocabulary, better decoding skills, reading comprehension, critical thinking skills and have a broadened global view and understanding of others’ perspectives. These are skills that will help as students take the SAT in English as well. Learning a second language helps build critical thinking, reading and vocabulary skills in your first language as well!
When selecting their first language, students should consider these influences: their own cultural heritage, the languages spoken in or near their town, how languages are related to one another, their personal Modern contact at home and abroad, their religious and social affiliations, their travel opportunities, their interests in history, art, and music, and their career plans.
The following information may also help students decide which language(s) and to which levels to study.
College credit in Modern Languages for honors electives
Modern languages (Spanish, French, German) offer the opportunity to receive SUNY Oswego credits for levels beyond 4, 5 and AP. CW Baker high school curriculum and staff are approved by the college to be a part in their High School Program. Students may opt to enroll and register in the college’s High School Programs and earn 3-6 credits through SUNY Oswego by their high school graduation. These would be for courses 201 and 202.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT IN Modern and Classical Languages
This course is part of a national program run by the College Entrance Examination Board which has been recognized by many prestigious colleges and universities. It offers students the opportunity to gain college Modern Language credit, advanced standing, or both credit and standing at the college of their choice. Amount of credit and the opportunity for exemption are based on the student’s performance on the Advanced Placement exam in May. The course content may include the arts, history, current events, literature, culture, sports and intensive grammar review. Materials may consist of recordings, films, newspapers, magazines and texts. The objectives of the courses include the following:
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The ability to comprehend formal and informal spoken language.
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To facilitate the reading of newspapers, magazine articles and modern literature.
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The ability to compose expository passages.
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The ability to express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency.
TRAVEL French is the second most studied language in the world, after English. It is the worldwide second language. French is spoken in France, Luxembourg and parts of Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. It is also an important language in North Africa and East Asia. French is also spoken in the Caribbean Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Communication with these people in French on a personal level changes many misconceptions into a new perception. CAREER The knowledge of French is very useful in international careers in trade, law, business, and diplomacy. French is, for example, the external language of negotiation for African nations and is one of the official languages at the United Nations. EXPANDING YOUR ENGLISH The study of French enhances the understanding of “laissez-faire,” “coup d’ état,” “RSVP (répondez s’il vous plaît),” and many other French expressions commonly used in the English language. French I : 4121 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit This full-year course introduces the student to the French language and the French people. In French I, students learn how to communicate with French people about everyday life. Although spoken communication is the major emphasis, students also learn how to read and to write in simple French. Through slides, students are able to learn to appreciate the culture of French speaking countries. This course is offered only at Durgee. French II : 4221 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: French I This full year, one credit course continues the work begun in French I. The major emphasis is on the development of communication skills which will be useful in daily life. There is added practice in reading and writing French which focuses on the daily life and language of the typical French teenager. This course is offered only at Durgee. French III : 4321 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: French II This full-year, one credit course brings the communication skills to the Comprehensive Final Exam level of proficiency. The development of conversational and communicative skills is the central focus. Much small group work is done to allow students to practice speaking French on topics of interest to them. Emphasis is on vocabulary development and the refinement of previously learned structures. Authentic French materials are used to help students experience selected areas of the culture of French speaking peoples. French IV (OSWEGO FRE 201) : 4421 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: French III This full year one credit course helps the student begin to attain communication skills at a level of proficiency beyond the Comprehensive Final Exam. It is the first course necessary for those wishing to move toward the advanced Checkpoint C proficiency leading to advanced placement at college level. Students will participate in a variety of activities: reading, discussions, skits and one-to-one conversations and an introduction to French cooking. Both vocabulary and knowledge of the grammatical patterns of French are developed and refined. This course is conducted in French. Successful completion of this course will enable each student to additionally earn three college credit hours at SUNY Oswego. A fee is required to obtain college credit. French V (OSWEGO FRE 202) : 4521 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: French IV This full-year, one credit elective offers advanced students the opportunity to bring their communicative skills to the highest level of development at Checkpoint C. The student will be exposed to excellent examples of French literature which serve as a catalyst for discussion as well as a most expanded vocabulary. French culture and civilization are emphasized with special emphasis on French foods. This course is conducted in French. Successful completion of this course will enable each student to additionally earn three college credit hours at SUNY Oswego. A fee is required to obtain college credit. Advanced Placement French : 4511 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: French IV Advanced Placement French is a senior elective for the able French student who is committed to the intensive training that will lead to success in the Advanced Placement examination in the French language. The course stresses competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing comparable to an advanced college course in composition and conversation. Successful completion of the Advanced Placement French examination in May could earn the student up to six hours of college credit. This course is conducted in French. A fee will be charged for the AP exam. This examination is required for all students taking Advanced Placement courses.
TRAVEL Students who select German will gain the opportunity to not only connect with a German-speaking peer from the first year on (pen pals), but will have the opportunity to both visit with and be visited by this German-speaking peer in their hometown in Bavaria, Germany (German American Partnership Program). Additionally, learning German is the key to unlocking the European continent for work and travel, as German is the most spoken language (aside from Russian) within Europe, in terms of native population. The Germanic Family of languages (those very similar to it), which includes English, also includes the languages of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic (Old Norse), and Dutch (some 2.5 billion people). It is therefore not surprising that many International Business Majors in college are expected to learn German. CAREER Though other languages may have more speakers immediately nearby in the United States, this fact equates to an overabundance of competition in the job market and drives down wages. Being unique and studying German will give you a leg up on the competition by offering something not everyone has and is also shown to pay more when comparing direct salary benefits. German is also the second most-used language for scholarly publications. More than 1100 companies from Germany have subsidiaries in the US and more than 750 American companies do business in Germany. Industries like T-Mobile, Adidas, Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, Bosch, Siemens, and Bayer are heavy-hitters in the world economy.
ENGLISH ROOTS AND HISTORY German and English evolved from the same parent language. In addition to the loan words from German into English, including Kindergarten, strafe, Gesundheit, Sauerkraut and Schadenfreude, the very basic vocabulary of everyday English is also directly from German: Hand, Finger, Arm, Schule, Rucksack, Socke, Schuh, Apfel, Brot, Butter, Wasser, to name a few, are all easily recognizable as their English equivalents (hand, finger, arm, rucksack, sock, shoe, apple, bread, butter, water). As one would expect, the further back in time one goes the closer English and German resemble their common ancestor and each other. From Shakespeare to Chaucer, your knowledge of German will make things easier for you to understand in your English class. Additionally, the German curriculum at B'ville works in tandem with the Social Studies department to bring German history alive in the classroom; providing key insight on past events and offering students a chance to further explore the details of key eras, while strengthening their German language knowledge: from the Middle Ages, to the Romantic Era, World War 1, World War 2, and even current events and politics. College- and World-Readiness Note* It is currently free for Americans to attend German Universities and the Study Bridge Program offers a way of accomplishing this goal. German I : 4125 : 40 weeks ?1 credit This full-year, one credit course covers the essential grammatical and conversational components of the German language within the context of cultural concepts and the development of technological skills and responsibilities via Google Classroom. A combination of skits, listening activities, and guided notes are used in class to coincide with and complement the establishment of a long-term friendship with our partner school in Germany via pen pal letters and/or live video conferences. Circumstances permitting, an opportunity to host as well as visit said students will also be communicated. This course is offered only at Durgee German II : 4225 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: German I This full-year, one credit course continues work begun in German I. Cultural topics are explored further, grammatical topics are expanded upon, and German history and/or fairy tales are also covered. As communication skills develop, more advanced conversations are held with our pen pals via letters, live video conferencing, and/or face-to-face discussions during hosting/visiting, circumstances permitting. This course is only offered at Durgee. German III : 4325 : 40 Weeks :1 Credit Prerequisite: German II This full-year, one credit course brings the modalities of listening, speaking, reading, and writing to the Regents-level of communication. Authentic German materials are used and projects/skits that emphasize speaking skills are prioritized. The conversational past is the central grammatical-focus and journaling is also part of the coursework. Select areas of German culture, including travel-related topics, are studied in great detail. Currents events in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are also discussed. German IV (OSWEGO GER 201) : 4425 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: German III This full-year, one credit course carries students beyond the Regents-level proficiency and toward the college-level, Checkpoint-C degree of proficiency. Students will study the language through a variety of cultural, literary, and historical activities and will experience the language in some famous literature and music. Scholarship opportunities and other opportunities for distinction in German-language learning may be communicated at this point. Successful completion of this course will enable each student to additionally earn three college credit hours via SUNY Oswego. A fee is required to obtain college credit. German V (OSWEGO GER 202) : 4525 : 40 Weeks ; 1 Credit Prerequisite: German IV This full-year, one credit course provides students the opportunity to develop their communication skills to the highest level of proficiency at Checkpoint C. Students will intermittently have the opportunity to select certain areas of interest to study from the German perspective via authentic texts and media within the context of grammatical/thematic units in the class. Advanced grammatical topics, paragraph-level speaking, and fluency are stressed. Successful completion of this course will enable each student to additionally earn three college credit hours via SUNY Oswego. A fee is required to obtain college credit.
Latin is very much alive today. At Baldwinsville CSD, we study the language and culture of the ancient Romans and their empire in the following ways:
CAREER EXPANDING YOUR ENGLISH
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| SPANISH |
SPANISH
The United States is home to the fifth largest Hispanic population worldwide. There are many opportunities to communicate in Spanish around the US and even in Central New York. There are more Spanish speakers in New York City than in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In Los Angeles, nearly 6 out of 10 students are Spanish speaking. By 2050, it is projected that Hispanics will make up at least 30% of the US population. The U.S. is the country with the second largest Spanish-Speaking population after Mexico.
In class we use world events, history, art, literature, music and entertainment to guide our discussions and build our confidence as we acquire language to hopefully become proficient in real world settings.
TRAVEL
More than 20 countries speak Spanish as a first language. Whether traveling to another country or within the US you will very likely encounter an opportunity to use Spanish. We offer CW Baker students the opportunity to travel to Spain during spring break with teachers as a way to put their Spanish skills to use in the real world and also to gain an appreciation of a different way of life and another culture. This gives them the opportunity to take their classroom into the real world and see it first hand.
CAREER
In 2007, there were an estimated 2.3 million businesses owned by Spanish speakers in the US. International and domestic companies need bilingual personnel to communicate, negotiate, market, and promote their products. There is also a great need for Spanish speakers in the service professions (doctors, nurses, police, etc.) because of the extensive number of Spanish speakers in the US. Most people in an emergency revert to their first language and first responders and medical personnel need to be able to use their language skills to communicate with those in need.
EXPANDING YOUR ENGLISH
Because of the ever present Hispanic influence in the United States, many Spanish words have crossed over into our everyday English vocabulary. Some examples are: Breeze, ranch, guerrilla Patio Stampede, Macho Cockroach, Avocado, plaza, mustang, cargo, vanilla, lasso, canyon, tornado.
Spanish I : 4123 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
This full year, one credit course introduces the student to the Spanish language and the Hispanic people. In Spanish I, students learn how to communicate with Hispanic people about everyday life. Although spoken communication is the major emphasis, students also learn how to read and to write in simple Spanish. Through Spanish, students are able to learn to appreciate the culture of Spanish speaking countries. Students will take the N.Y.S. Proficiency Examination at the end of the course. This course is offered only at Durgee.
Spanish II : 4223 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Spanish I
This full year, one credit course continues the work begun in Spanish I. The major emphasis is on the development of the communication skills which will be useful in daily life. There is added practice in reading and writing Spanish which focuses on what it is like to travel through various Hispanic countries. This course is offered only at Durgee.
Spanish III : 4323 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Spanish II
This full year, one credit course brings the communication skills to the Comprehensive Final Exam level of proficiency. In this class students explore Spanish through storytelling, novels, songs, movies, current and cultural events and more. Students will be expected to read, listen and respond in Spanish throughout the course. Communication, critical thinking and literacy at an intermediate level are prioritized.
Spanish IV (OSWEGO SPA 201) : 4423 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Spanish III
This full year, one credit course helps the student begin to attain communication skills at a level of proficiency beyond the Comprehensive Final Exam. It is the first course necessary for those wishing to move toward the advanced Checkpoint C proficiency leading to advanced placement at college level. Students will study the language through its literature, art, and history. Communication skills in Spanish are further developed and refined. This course is conducted in Spanish. Successful completion of this course will enable each student to additionally earn three college credit hours at SUNY Oswego. A fee is required to obtain college credit.
Spanish V (OSWEGO SPA 202) : 4523 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Spanish IV
This full year, one credit elective offers advanced students the opportunity to bring their communicative skills to a higher level of development at Checkpoint C. The student will be exposed to diverse examples of Hispanic literature and film which serve as a catalyst for discussion as well as a more expanded vocabulary. Spanish and Latin American culture and civilization are emphasized. This course is conducted in Spanish. Successful completion of this course will enable each student to additionally earn three college credit hours at SUNY Oswego. A fee is required to obtain college credit.
Advanced Placement Spanish : 4513 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Spanish IV
Advanced Placement Spanish is a senior elective for the Spanish student who is committed to the intensive training that is conducted entirely in Spanish. The course stresses competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing comparable to an advanced college course in composition and conversation. Successful completion of the Advanced Placement Spanish examination may earn the student up to six college credits. A fee will be charged for the AP examination which is required for students taking the course.
