New York state offers exam for Ukrainian language credits (03/25/01)

New York state offers exam for Ukrainian language credits

by Oksana Bakum

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

Since 1999, the procedure for applying and taking the exam has undergone a marked change, as directed by the State Education Department. This applies not only to Ukrainian, but to five other languages not usually taught in high schools. Exams or high school credits in these languages are now administered not at high schools as in the past, but they must be given at community schools, outside regular schools. This involves the Ukrainian studies schools and their upper-level language teachers.

Special teachers' committees, which up to this change have worked under the aegis of the State Department of New York in devising such exams in six languages, continue to function. Each year, they produce these tests in full adherence to the Regents requirements, for the benefit of students and teachers of the state's various ethnic groups. In the case of Ukrainian, it is the Committee for Preparation of the Sample Comprehensive Examination in Ukrainian (CPSCEU).

Students must be aware of the following mandatory conditions: their high school level cannot be lower than grade 11 or 12; their course requirements for their high school diploma must be met. In view of this, the Ukrainian language exam cannot serve as a substitute for any test in a required subject. Only the high school authorities make the ultimate decision as to the student's qualification for taking this language test.

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

All language exams are given in the first half of June, but formalities must be completed well in advance. Should any forms be unavailable, a high school can order them from the Education Department.

Applicants should have a level of competency in Ukrainian that measures up to the state's intermediate language standard, Checkpoint B. In practical terms, this means that students must have completed three years of Ukrainian studied on the upper level, and that their weekly sessions - which may include classes in language, literature, history and/or culture - should total not less than three hours. Those who are now successfully completing their Ukrainian studies should pass this exam.

Teachers of Ukrainian studies are obliged to take care of some of the initial formalities to enable students to file their applications. The above-mentioned CPSCEU will continue to prepare the exam, according to all the state requirements and the Regents format. Upon request from Ukrainian teachers, the committee will mail the complete and certified exam, to be administered at their schools in June. The review and certification thereof is provided by the Language Immersion Institute of the College at New Paltz, N.Y.

Also according to the new Education Department directive, community schools (Ukrainian studies schools) have two choices: to use the exam structured yearly by the exam committee, or to construct it themselves, observing all the standards, i.e., modeling it precisely on the Regents foreign languages test. Their exam must then be evaluated by an independent, qualified language and education expert and the certification submitted to the students' school office. Evaluation forms are available at schools.

The Education Department will mail interested teachers the Ukrainian exam of 1998 to be used as a model (parts 2, 3 and 4), Also, the Oral Test Topics of any past year should be requested. Teachers should write to: Office of Testing and Assessment, R.760 EBA, State Education Department, Albany, NY 12234, and ask for the Sample Comprehensive Examination in Ukrainian and for Oral Test Topics.

Requests for this year's exam prepared by the committee, with $5 enclosed for printing and mailing, should be addressed to the CPSCEU coordinator: Oksana Bakum, 18 Orchard Lane, Highland, N.Y. 12528.

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