Foreign Languages
Important Links
Philosophy/Objectives
Oakland Catholic is proud of its tradition of excellence in foreign languages and the fact that we offer one of the most extensive high school foreign language programs in Western Pennsylvania. OC’s curriculum offers a complete 4 or 5 year sequence in Chinese, French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish, with A.P. classes currently available in all languages except Chinese. Students are required by the state of Pennsylvania to complete two years of study of the same language. Most colleges prefer to see a 3 or 4 year sequence of study in one language. Given that 98% of our graduates continue their education at the college or university level, the majority of OC students take a minimum of three years of a foreign language. It is important to note that a significant number of OC students pursue the study of more than one foreign language simultaneously, as long as their schedule permits this endeavor.
Course Offerings
- Chinese I Honors
- Chinese II Honors
- French I CP
- French II CP
- French II Honors
- French III CP
- French III Honors
- College-Equivalency French (IV) (University of Pittsburgh)
- A.P. French
- Italian I CP
- Italian II Honors
- Italian III Honors
- Italian IV Honors
- A.P. Italian
- Latin I CP
- Latin II Honors
- Latin III Honors
- Latin IV Honors
- A.P. Latin
- Spanish I CP
- Spanish II CP
- Spanish II Honors
- Spanish III CP
- Spanish III Honors
- Spanish IV Honors
- A.P. Spanish
Instructors
Mr. Daniel Switala, chair of the Foreign Languages Department, received his B.A. from St. Meinrad College with a major in Biology and minors in Classics and Philosophy. He earned his M.A. degree in Latin from Duquesne University, and certification in Spanish through the University of Pittsburgh. His hobbies include music, gardening, Tai Chi, and learning other languages.
Mrs. Mary Claire Kasunic has been a French teacher at Oakland Catholic High School since 1992 and has taught both French and Spanish during her years here. Educated at the University of Pittsburgh, she has her B.A. in French and an M.A. in Education. She currently teaches the honors levels of French II and III, College-Equivalency French IV taught in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh, A.P. French, and one section of Spanish I. In addition to her duties as a classroom instructor, Mrs. Kasunic also serves as co-moderator of the French Club, Director of the Joan of Arc Society of Scholars, moderator of Forte, moderator of the Bookstore Club, and coordinator of the Student Ambassador Program. To contact Mrs. Kasunic, please email her at mckasunic@oaklandcatholic.org or leave her a message at 412-682-6633 x2710.
Dr. Giovanni Puppo has been the Italian teacher at OCHS since 1989 and in the Pittsburgh Diocese since 1976. He’s had the privilege and joy of teaching his native language and culture to hundreds of young ladies and many young men from Central Catholic, eager to learn the language and culture of their grandparents. Since 1975, he has also taught at Carnegie Mellon University. Born and educated in Rome, Italy obtaining degrees in classical studies and philosophy from the De Merode Institute, Gregorian University and the University of Rome, he came to America in 1972 and studied in the School of Education of the University of Pittsburgh in 1974-1975 for the PA State Certification in Italian, Latin and Social Studies. He is married with three children and is a USA citizen. His extra-scholastic interests and activities also include military service in Italy as a radio operator and as a real estate agent in America. He enjoys reading, music, travel, world cultures, nature, and … teaching Italian!
Ms. Melissa Teeters received her B.A. from Mercyhurst College with majors in Political Science and Spanish. She also completed her education courses at Mercyhurst. She is a co-moderator of the Spanish Club. Her hobbies include reading, concerts, sports, scrap booking and spending time with friends.
Mrs. Isabelle Schetley teaches French levels 1, 2, and 3 and Introduction to Languages. Born and raised in France, she graduated from the “Ecole Polytechnique Feminine” college (Paris), with a major in Computer Science. Mrs. Schetley worked for 15 years in the field of Information Technology. After moving to Pittsburgh in 1992, she began teaching French as a volunteer at her sons’ middle school. In 2002 she made a career switch and became a French Teacher. Before O.C., Mrs. Schetley taught in various schools such as the 10th Street School in Oakmont, Christ the Divine Teacher in Aspinwall, and Imani Christian Academy in Penn Hills. She also offers private tutoring to adults and teenagers. She belongs to several organizations such as the Alliance Française de Pittsburgh, the American Association of Teachers of French, and the Pennsylvania Council for International Education. She enjoys the beach, listening to music, going to the movies, reading, talking on the phone with family and long-time friends from France, and sharing her native language and culture with her students.
Please feel free to contact me via email at ischetley@oaklandcatholic.org if you have any concerns or questions.
Cindy Lu Goodman holds a Master’s (M. Ed.) degree in Education in Math and Computer Science, and a Multimedia program certificate from California University of PA. While she teaches Chinese I at Oakland Catholic, she also maintains a full-time position as an Instructional Technologist at the University of Pittsburgh since 2000. She also teaches Spoken Chinese classes part-time at East Asian Language department at the University of Pittsburgh since 2003.