New York state exam offers credit for Ukrainian (02/17/02)

New York state exam offers credit for Ukrainian

HIGHLAND, N.Y. - High school students have the opportunity to earn three credits toward their New York State requirement in foreign languages by taking an accredited exam in the Ukrainian language.

Starting with 1999, the whole procedure for testing of languages not taught at the state's secondary schools, has been changed. These tests are given now at various ethnic community schools - not at high schools; the application steps also are not the same.

In Ukrainian American communities, this testing involves the Ukrainian studies schools and their upper-level teachers.

The exam in Ukrainian is developed annually by the Committee for Preparation of the Sample Comprehensive Examination in Ukrainian. The committee, comprising teachers, has worked for over 20 years under the aegis of the State Education Department; it continues to function for the benefit of students of Ukrainian descent.

Similarly, in the case of the other five languages, that are not part of the regular high school curriculum, special teachers' committees produce such languages tests in full adherence to the Regents Exams requirements and format.

It must be emphasized, that no other form of language testing in the state of New York is acceptable for high school credit. The Ukrainian exam is reviewed and certified by the Language Immersion Institute of the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Interested students must be cognizant of some mandatory conditions: they must be attending grade 11 or 12 and they have to meet the course requirements for their high school diploma. Only school authorities may make the final decision as to a student's eligibility for taking the Ukrainian language test.

Students should be on the level of competency in the literary Ukrainian language that corresponds to the state's intermediate standard, Checkpoint B. Language proficiency testing is based upon basic grammar and a well-developed vocabulary.

The weekly Ukrainian school sessions may include classes in language, literature, history and/or culture, and should total no less than three hours per week during the school year. Three-hour's language instruction per week is one of the State Education Department's requirement.

The application procedure is as follows: a student should obtain from his high school office two specific forms: the Regents Credit for Foreign Language Studied Outside of the Regular High School, and the Student Profile. These forms are to be filled out by the Ukrainian studies school teacher, and mailed to the high school that the student attends.

All language exams are given in the first half of June, and the formalities have to be completed well in advance. Should any of the forms be unavailable, a high school office can order them from the Education Department, at this address: Office of Testing and Assessment, R.760 EBA, The State Education Department, Albany, NY 12234.

As with all Regents exams, the Ukrainian test consists of four parts: oral (24 points), listening comprehension (30), reading comprehension (30) and writing skill (16). Upon request from Ukrainian studies teachers, with a payment of $5 to cover the printing and mailing, the Committee for the Preparation of the Sample Comprehensive Examination in Ukrainian will forward to them the complete and certified 2002 exam to be administered at their schools.

Requests should be addressed to the committee's coordinator: Oksana Bakum, 18 Orchard Lane, Highland NY 12528.

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