For successful completion, all students must complete all of the below Second Language Course Challenge requirements
| Part 1 | Two Projects |
Completed independently and submitted digitally in the designated Google Classroom
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| Part 2 | Oral Exam | ***NEW THIS YEAR - Students complete this portion in-person at Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre with second language examiners. Students will complete 2 prepared and 2 spontaneous tasks with 2 - 4 different examiners. |
| Part 3 | Written Exam |
Reading, listening, and written exam components. Scheduled at Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre.
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Registration opens October 20, 2025
- Registration is open to ECSD Grade 10-12 students.
- Students must speak to their teacher designate (See dropdown below) at their high school for registration information.
- One language only may be challenged. Do not submit a second or a repeat registration.
- Once registered in the Second Language Course Challenge, students must wait for a confirmation email that will explain the payment process.
- The cost per student is $70. ($39 tech and $31 program fee, non-refundable). Pay at Alternative Education Online Registration (Payment is required before project will be distributed to students)
Students: To learn more about the Second Language Course Challenge, please view the following document: Second Language Course Challenge Information for Students.
Families: To learn more about the Second Language Courage Challenge, please view the comprehensive guide: Second Language Course Challenge Guide for Students and Families.
Exam Details
| Oral Exam | When: February 14, 2026. |
Students will arrive at their designated exam time. Students will complete 2 prepared and 2 spontaneous tasks with 2 - 4 different examiners. Please note, the student expected arrival time is 45 minutes prior to oral examination time (registration and exam prep time) Approximate Oral examination time 90 minutes. *Bring your school ID. Approximately 2.25 hours to completion.
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| Written Exam | When: March 7, 2026 at 9:00 am | Arrive ½ hour early with ID and a pencil Exam should take approximately 2 hours to complete. |
Exam Location: Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre (9405 - 50 Street) WEST ENTRANCE
If you require assistance, please call 780-441-6080.
What is it?
Current ECSD high school students have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency (culture, speaking, reading, writing) in one of six languages Filipino, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish and Ukrainian.
- Students will receive a % mark and receive five '30 level' credits for the challenged Second Language course (if successful)
- The student will also receive waived prerequisite credits and a "P" (pass) for courses lower in the course sequence
- Students must speak with the teacher designate at their high school for registration information
- Students may challenge one exam only
For all curricular questions, please speak with your high school designate. For all registration questions, please email alternativeeducationprograms@ecsd.net or call 780-441-6080.
Students: To learn more about the Second Language Course Challenge, please view the following document: Second Language Course Challenge Information for Students.
Families: To learn more about the Second Language Courage Challenge, please view the comprehensive guide: Second Language Course Challenge Guide for Students and Families.
Important 2025-2026 Dates
There are several deadlines that must be met:
| October 20, 2025 | Registration Opens Payment must be made to finalize registration. Project details will be distributed once the registration has been finalized with payment. |
January 30, 2026 at 3 pm | Registration Closes. Registration and payment must be completed by 3 PM |
February 6, 2026 at 3 pm |
Project Deadline |
February 14, 2026 | Oral Examination - Examiners will arrange an appointment time to meet with the students in person at Lumen Christi. |
| March 7, 2026 | Exam begins at 9 AM sharp
Students should arrive ½ hour early with ID and a pencil) Exam should take approximately 2 hours to complete |
High School Teacher Designates
For questions regarding the exams, project, etc. please see the Second Language Challenge teacher designate at your high school:
| SCHOOL | SECOND LANGUAGE COURSE CHALLENGE TEACHER DESIGNATE |
| Archbishop MacDonald High School | Rania Eshak |
| Archbishop O’Leary High School | Corey Nahayowski |
| Austin O'Brien High School | Paul Horpyniuk and Gina Carducci |
| Cardinal Collins Catholic Academic Centre Clareview Campus | Cathy Kahanyshyn |
| Cardinal Collins Catholic Academic Centre Mill Woods Campus | Genevieve Carolan |
| Cardinal Collins Catholic Academic Centre Westmount Campus | Gino Ripoli |
| Father Michael McCaffery High School | Melissa De Stefanis-King |
| Holy Trinity High SchooL | Sophia Lobo |
| J. H. Picard High School | Cindy Dallaire |
| Louis St. Laurent High School | Aimee Robert and Anne Flerheler |
| Mother Margaret Mary High School | Robert Pahud |
| St. Francis Xavier High School | Catherine Bacinski |
| St. Joseph High School | Sabrina Filiplic |
| St. Oscar Romero High School | Landy Haltiner |
| Center for Diverse Learning St. Gabriel | Carmen Gartner |
Registration and Payment Information
Registration Information:
Students must speak to their teacher designate (see dropdown) at their high school for registration information.
Teacher designate will provide a QR code or a registration link for students to register through a Google form.
- Students must have their ASN ready
- Students will be required to provide their ECSD email address. They must check that email on a regular basis for confirmation of registration and other necessary steps (payment, project submission information, etc.)
- Students may challenge one exam only
Payment Information:
- To make your payment online for the Second Language Course Challenge exam ($70 non-refundable), you will need to go to registerae.ecsd.net. Payment can be made online by Visa or MasterCard
- Payment must be made to finalize registration. Project details will be distributed once the registration has been finalized with payment.
- You may already have an account if you have taken a previous course through any program at Edmonton Catholic School of Alternative Education. If you don’t recall your password, you can reset your password by selecting “Forgot Your Password”
- If you do not have an existing account, you will need to sign up and create one
- Once you log in to your account, you will find the registration fee in the “Cart” and will be able to make the payment from there
If you experience any difficulties, please contact 780-441-6080 for assistance.
The Exams - What to Expect
Exam Part 1 - Students complete this portion in-person at Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre with second language examiners. Students will complete 2 prepared and 2 spontaneous tasks with 2 - 4 different examiners.
Exam Part 2 - The assessment of the student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes will reflect the unique learning outcomes of the Second Language course being challenged. A variety of assessment strategies will include:
- A formal written exam
- An interview (via teams) to assess the student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes of the language being assessed, and the breadth and depth of the student’s understanding
- Two projects to demonstrate both second language proficiency and cultural appreciation
The Project - What to Expect
- Once registered, students will receive an email outlining the project requirements specific to the language they are challenging.
- All students are expected to submit two digital projects to their Google Classroom.
- The projects will demonstrate an understanding of both historical and cultural perspective.
- The projects will be submitted electronically through a Google Classroom
- Students will be invited to the Google Classroom upon receipt of payment
Again, all correspondence regarding requirements will be through the student’s ECSD email. As such, students are expected to check their school email on a regular basis.
Contact Information
For any questions regarding registration or the payment process, please email alternativeeducationprograms@ecsd.net or call 780-441-6080