Alexander Hamilton Jr./Sr. High School

Below are the typical Foreign Language course selections at each grade level. Check course descriptions for course details and prerequisites.

SPANISH 1R - 1 year, 1 credit
Introductory course in Spanish taught with an emphasis on authentic communication. The primary aim of the course is the development of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, as defined in the New York State syllabus for proficiency in foreign language. In addition, there will be a focus on rudimentary aspects of the target culture of Spanish speaking countries. Instruction is provided within functional and topical contexts immediately useful to the beginning speaker. Authentic cultural materials include reproductions of advertisements, excerpts from magazines, and regalia from other sources and the Internet. Students will take the FLACS Final Checkpoint “A” examination at the end of the year.

SPANISH 2R - 1 year, 1 credit
This second-year course follows the communicative proficiency model as set by the New York State syllabus. The primary focus of the course is the four communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The skills are practiced within the context of practical topics around which the vocabulary and grammar are organized. The topics of instruction, as begun in Spanish 1R, are continued with the simultaneous reinforcement of vocabulary and expressions previously presented and the introduction of higher-level vocabulary, expressions, and idioms. Students will continue to be engaged situational and functionally in each of the topic areas. Additionally, the curriculum integrates National Standards and the Common Core by using the acquired linguistic structures to teach topics about Hispanic culture. Materials include culturally authentic reproductions of newspaper articles and ads, as was well as readings and excerpts from magazines, books, and the Internet. Students will take a departmental final exam at the end of this course.

SPANISH 3R - 1 year, 1 credit
The primary focus of the course is on the four communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The curriculum follows the New York State syllabus for proficiency in a foreign language. Grammar review at the beginning of the year develops into a course in which grammar instruction is balanced with cooperative activities which provide students with as many communicative tasks as possible to maximize their opportunities for active participation in the target language. The skills are practiced within the context of practical topics around which the vocabulary and grammar are organized. The components of the curriculum are embedded in cultural contexts. In keeping with National Standards and the Common Core, content-based instruction takes place in Spanish on cultural topics of the Hispanic world. In addition, course materials throughout the year and the final examination are modeled after the after the FLACS Final checkpoint “B”. Course materials include culturally authentic reproductions of newspaper ads, schedules, readings and excerpts from magazines, books and the Internet.

College SPANISH - 1 year, 1 credit
This course is recommended for students to reinforce and expand the necessary skills acquired in previous courses and to achieve the next step towards communicative proficiency. Emphasis is placed on the study of more advanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Students will read a variety of high interest texts as well as experience videos, music, news broadcasts, etc. that provide models for discussion and writing, and that are a means for understanding the contemporary culture of Latin America and Spain.



College ITALIAN 5R - 1 year, 1 credit
This course is recommended for students to reinforce and expand the necessary skills acquired in previous courses and to achieve the next step towards communicative proficiency. Emphasis is placed on the study of more advanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Students will read a variety of high interest texts as well as experience videos, music, news broadcasts, etc. that provide models for discussion and writing, and that are a means for understanding the contemporary culture of Italy. The 2022-2023 will be last year Italian will be offered at AHHS.