¡Bienvenidos! Benvenuti! We in the LOTE (Languages Other Than English) Department believe that language is the basis of human relationship and communication. Multi-lingualism is essential in an ever-changing, global society, and it opens the door to opportunities that otherwise would be nonexistent. We also believe that proficiency in a foreign language demands the ability to communicate purposefully, while appreciating contemporary and classical cultures in an intercultural population. Thus, it is the purpose of our Department to enable students to communicate with native speakers of that language and to understand other cultures better. A communicative approach is emphasized, rather than a linguistic one. Students are encouraged to use language as a tool that will enable them to accomplish specific communicative goals. Knowledge of a foreign language not only enables communication with others but also builds confidence in the self. “The focus is always on what the students can do with the language and how well they can do it” (New York State Syllabus).
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- BA - BA Italian - Iona College (1988)
- MS - MS Secondary Education - The College of New Rochelle (1997)
Rosemary DeMaio studied elementary education and Italian at Iona College. She studied Secondary/Special Education at the College of New Rochelle. She studied Spanish at Lehman College and Fordham University. She has taught Spanish and Italian here at Preston High School. She has been teaching at Preston High School since September 2007.
She believes in the Italian Honor Society motto, “Con un po` di coraggio si finisce ogni viaggio.” “With a little bit of courage, one finishes the journey.”
- BA or BS Degree - Adolescent Education: Italian - Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus (2014)
- MS - Education - SUNY- ONEONTA (2022)
Stephanie Mozzone studied Secondary Education in Italian and Spanish at Long Island University: CW Post. She has taught for the past 7 years on Long Island and in Westchester. Though this is her first year teaching at Preston High School, she is a proud Preston alumna.
“Un hombre solo tiene derecho de mirar a otro hacia abajo cuando tiene que ayudarlo a levantarse.” (A man must only have the right to look down upon another when he has to help them up.) — Gabriel García Márquez
- BA - Comparative Literature Spanish and Italian - Universidad Central de Venezuela (2015)
Josué Ocando studied Spanish Literature and mastered in Comparative Literature at Central University of Venezuela, a college where he taught classes for two years in the Department of Classical and Western Literatures.
He has been a teacher for seven years, teaching Spanish and Social Studies classes in secondary schools in Venezuela and Colombia. In addition, he loves sci-fi and fantasy texts, and genres of his novels will soon be published.
In that sense, he enjoys teaching Spanish in a fun way, using many resources, and focusing on improving each skill. He believes that everyone can speak Spanish as long as they have a motivation to discover a new world within this language.