World Languages
Long Beach Middle School Language Program Video
Philosophy, Curriculum, and Assessments
The World Languages Department provides all students with equity and access to educational programs that promote language proficiency or mastery, social development and cross-cultural opportunities.
Long Beach students start their exploration of languages beginning in third grade and continuing through 5th grade with the study of Spanish. At the end of fifth grade, our students can choose to continue studying Spanish, or start learning French or Italian in sixth grade. At the conclusion of 8th grade,, our students take the Checkpoint A exam and receive one high school credit towards their Regents Diploma. In tenth grade (and ninth grade for those students in the Spanish Native Language Arts classes), our students take the Checkpoint B exam and receive two High School Regents credits towards their Advanced Regents Diploma. At the conclusion of tenth grade, our students will have earned a total of 3 regents credits. As a requirement for high school credit, students must pass the Checkpoint Exams with a grade of 65 or higher. Our curriculum is thematic and uses a communicative approach, aligned with the IB Middle Years Program, IB Diploma Program and NYSED World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. Most of our students continue their World Language studies through Senior year in order to complete the requirements for the Seal of Biliteracy, the IB Diploma, and the World Language Honor Society.
Goals
- Provide opportunities for students to develop communication skills in more than one language
- Strengthen instructional delivery through inquiry and student-centered classroom experiences
- Continue to develop a rigorous curriculum
- Improve support materials and curriculum resources
World Languages
- Spanish at the Elementary level in all schools grades 3-5
- World Languages 6-12 in French, Italian and Spanish
- Native Spanish Language classes 9-12
Professional Development Support
Our World Language teachers participate in professional development in a variety of ways including, in district and out of district trainings, workshops, conferences:
- Long Island Language Teachers (LILT)
- New York Association of World Language Administrators (NYSAWLA)
- World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages
- Seal of Biliteracy
