Yes, The Somos Curriculum meets NYS Learning Standards for World Languages (2021).

Anchor Standard: Communication

The Somos Curriculum prepares learners to communicate effectively in the target language in order to function in a variety of contexts and for multiple purposes.

Standard 1: Interpretive Communication

Throughout The Somos Curriculum, learners understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, received*, or viewed on a variety of topics, using a range of diverse texts, including authentic resources.

Standard 2: Interpersonal Communication 

Throughout The Somos Curriculum, learners interact and negotiate meaning in spontaneous, spoken, visual, or written communication to exchange information and express feelings, preferences, and opinions.

Standard 3: Presentational Communication

Throughout The Somos Curriculum, learners present information and ideas on a variety of topics adapted to various audiences of listeners, readers, or viewers* to describe, inform, narrate, explain, or persuade.

Anchor Standard: Cultures

Standard 4: Relating Cultural Practices and Products to Perspectives

Throughout The Somos Curriculum, learners use the target language to identify, describe, and explain the practices and products of the cultures studied as well as the cultural perspectives they suggest.

Standard 5: Cultural Comparisons 

Throughout The Somos Curriculum, learners use the target language to compare the products and practices of the cultures studied and their own.

Themes and Topics covered by The Somos Curriculum

A wide variety of themes and topics are covered throughout the course of The Somos Curriculum. Together, themes and topics serve as the meaningful contexts of communication and promote the development of proficiency in each unit of The Somos Curriculum as learning spirals through the ACTFL Proficiency Pyramid. 

The Somos Curriculum provides opportunities for Novice learners at Checkpoint A to communicate about their everyday experiences. As learners move through the curriculum and advance toward Checkpoints B and C, they communicate about topics beyond their own immediate experiences. 

High frequency topics recur throughout multiple units of The Somos Curriculum so that they are addressed in multiple contexts to promote retention. The Somos Curriculum creates opportunities for learners to "build, reinforce, and expand their knowledge of other disciplines while using the language to develop critical thinking and to solve problems creatively" (3.1); and "access and evaluate information and diverse perspectives that are available through the language and its cultures." (3.2)

Themes & Topics for Modern Languages 

Click here to view a complete list of NYS Themes and Topics in The Somos Curriculum.

This alignment document for New York educators was created using verbiage from the NYS Learning Standards for World Languages (2021).

Read more about how Somos aligns with NY themes and topics.