World Languages

The Department of World Languages at Shen strives to cultivate a supportive environment which empowers our students to develop and use their language skills in modern and classical languages, thus enabling them to engage in productive roles in our global community.

In Shen language courses, students will…

Develop the skills necessary to listen, speak, read, and write in a language other than English to meet the communicative needs of an ever-changing world.
Attain and demonstrate the ability to use more than one language in culturally authentic situations.
Develop cross-cultural understandings and an appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives.
Develop the critical thinking skills and creative habits essential to the learning process.
Develop lifelong language skills and demonstrate the ability to apply them to the English language and to the study of additional languages.
Develop the technological skills necessary to access information which will enhance their linguistic and cultural awareness of the language(s) which they study.

At Shen, we offer languages beginning in grade 7 and our curriculum is based on the New York State Standards for World Language.

Middle School – Students have the opportunity to study Spanish, French, German or Latin beginning in grade 7. The Program of Studies has more information and descriptions of the courses. Middle School Parent presentation on the World Languages program at Shen. NYSUT Brochure on on how to help your child be a language learner.

High School – The High School Program of Studies has more information and descriptions of the courses. Students have the opportunity to study the following languages, and ultimately earn multiple college credits by continuing through 11th and 12th grades:

Chinese
French
German
Latin
Spanish

Graduation Requirements

Students who enter high school are required to have one (1) unit of credit in world language to earn a Regents diploma. Two years of middle school world language study and a passing grade on the Checkpoint A exam satisfies the minimum world language requirement for high school graduation. Students who do not pass a Checkpoint A Examination in Grade 8 must pass a high school world language course to fulfill the graduation requirement.

To earn an Advanced Regents Diploma, students must complete 3 units of credit in world language OR 5 units of credit in art, music or Career Technical Education.
Students pursuing a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation must pass a Comprehensive Checkpoint B Examination.

NYS Checkpoint Exams

The Checkpoint A and B exams are assessments that measure a student’s language proficiency with respect to the New York State Standards for Languages Other than English.

The Checkpoint A Exam is typically given at the end of grade 8 and the Checkpoint B Exam is typically given at the end of grade 10.
Our district administers the New York Capital Area Languages Checkpoint Examinations. These exams are developed in collaboration with many other schools across New York State and must be given on the date decided by the exam consortium.