Yes, The Somos Curriculum meets Ohio's Learning Standards for World Languages and Cultures

Culture Goals

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact with intercultural competence using knowledge and understanding of native and other cultures. Throughout the Somos Curriculum students are provided with ample opportunities to: 

• Investigate, reflect on and explain the relationship between products, practices and perspectives.

• Interact with others in and from other cultures.

Communication Goals

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate effectively in languages other than English in person and via technology.Throughout the Somos Curriculum students are provided with ample opportunities to engage in the following modes of communication: 

• INTERPRETIVE: Identify, understand and analyze input that is heard, read or viewed on a variety of topics from authentic resources.

• INTERPERSONAL: Interact and negotiate meaning in spontaneous spoken, written or signed conversations to exchange and share

• information, reactions, feelings and opinions.

• PRESENTATIONAL: Present information, concepts and viewpoints to inform, explain, persuade and narrate in spoken, written or

• signed language when negotiation of meaning is not possible.

Benchmarks

Intercultural Communication (ICC) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to meet the following benchmarks:

1. Identify typical products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures using the target language.

2. Interact at a survival level in everyday contexts with people in and from other cultures using the target language and appropriate rehearsed behaviors.

Interpretive Communication (INT-C)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to meet the following benchmarks:

1. Comprehend information in very familiar, everyday contexts from authentic texts that are spoken, written or signed.

2. Identify the general topic and basic information from words, phrases and simple sentences in authentic informational and fictional texts and overheard or observed conversations

Interpersonal Communication (INP-C)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to meet the following benchmarks:

1. Communicate in spontaneous spoken, written or signed conversations on very familiar, everyday topics.

2. Request and provide information using a variety of practiced or familiar words, phrases, simple sentences and questions.

Interpersonal Communication (INP-C)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to meet the following benchmarks:

1. Present prepared or spontaneous information on very familiar, everyday topics through written, spoken or signed language.

2. Inform, narrate and express preferences and opinions using a variety of practiced or familiar words, phrases and simple sentences.

Standards

Interpretive Intercultural Communication (INT-C)

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify practiced or familiar words and phrases supported by visuals, gestures and facial expressions.

Investigate Intercultural Products, Practices and Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize a few typical products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures.

Compare Intercultural Behaviors

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize a few very simple behaviors in other cultures.

Comprehend Authentic Texts That Are Spoken, Written or Signed

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to understand a few familiar words or phrases in:

1. Authentic informational texts;

2. Authentic fictional texts;

3. Overheard or observed conversations.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they identify basic facts from practiced or familiar words and phrases supported by visuals, gestures and facial expressions.

Investigate Intercultural Products, Practices and Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify typical cultural products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures to help understand perspectives.

Compare Intercultural Behaviors

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify familiar or everyday behaviors in other cultures.

Comprehend Authentic Texts That Are Spoken, Written or Signed

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to understand very basic information in:

1. Authentic informational texts;

2. Authentic fictional texts;

3. Overheard or observed conversations.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students identify the topic and basic related information from simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products, Practices and Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify and compare typical products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures to help understand perspectives.

Compare Intercultural Behaviors

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify and compare familiar or everyday behaviors in native and other cultures

Comprehend Authentic Texts That Are Spoken, Written or Signed

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to understand the topic and some isolated facts in:

1. Authentic informational texts;

2. Authentic fictional texts;

3. Overheard or observed conversations

Interpretive Literacy (INT-LIT)

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use literacy skills to make meaning from authentic texts that are spoken, written or signed.

Infer Meaning of Texts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize cognates and familiar or practiced words, as well as nontraditional letters, accents, characters or tone marks.

Recognize and Use Organizational Feature of Texts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize visual, aural and organizational features to identify the purpose of very simple texts, such as lists, labels, headlines or titles.

Apply Self-Questioning Skills

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use literal or factual self-questioning before, during and after engaging with texts, such as ”Who, where, when, what or how many?”

Make Text Connections

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to make personal connections to a text using prior knowledge or experiences.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use digital and cultural resources appropriately. 

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they use literacy skills to comprehend authentic texts that are spoken, written or signed.

Infer Meaning of Texts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize cognates and words from context, as well as non-traditional letters, accents, characters or tone marks.

Recognize and Use Organizational Feature of Texts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize visual, aural and organizational features to identify the purpose of simple texts, such as infographics, song refrains, simple poems or schedules. 

Apply Self-Questioning Skills

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use literal or factual self-questioning before, during and after engaging with texts, such as “What time, who is, why or how?”

Make Text Connections

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to make personal connections to a text using prior knowledge or experiences.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use digital and cultural resources appropriately.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students Use literacy skills to comprehend authentic texts that are spoken, written or signed.

Infer Meaning of Texts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize cognates and infer meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases using context clues and background knowledge.

Recognize and Use Organizational Feature of Texts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use visual, aural and organizational features to identify the purpose of simple texts, such as fables, graphics, announcements or instructions. 

Apply Self-Questioning Skills

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use a mixture of literal and inferential self-questioning before, during and after engaging with texts, such as “What happened or what might happen next?”

Make Text Connections

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to make simple text-to-text connections using information from previous texts.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to select relevant digital and cultural resources and use appropriately.

Interpretive Listening and Viewing 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify practiced or familiar words and phrases supported by visuals, gestures and facial expressions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify a few very familiar cultural products and practices in native and other cultures, such as:

• Holidays, celebrations;

• School supplies, school schedules

Comprehend Informational Media and Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize a few individual words in a voicemail or public announcement.

Comprehend Fictional Media or Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize common opening and closing words in oral or video storytelling.

Follow Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to follow simple directions for classroom tasks or routines.

Comprehend Overheard or Observed Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize very basic information or questions from overheard or observed conversations, such as greetings, introductions, name, title or age.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they identify basic facts from practiced or familiar words and phrases supported by visuals, gestures and facial expressions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify similarities and differences between typical cultural products, and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Food, mealtimes, importance of dining together;

• Clothing, leisure activities, appropriate dress.

Comprehend Informational Media and Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize repeated words, taglines or short quotes from jingles, travel ads or movie trailers.

Comprehend Fictional Media or Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify simple phrases describing physical or personality traits of a cartoon or movie character

Follow Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to follow directions to pack a suitcase or fill in a graphic organizer.

Comprehend Overheard or Observed Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify basic information and questions from overheard or observed conversations, such as phone number, residence, family members and occupation.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students identify the topic and basic related information from simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify and make simple comparisons

between typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Video and cell phones, school life, importance of extracurriculars;

• Currency, shopping, saving vs spending.

Comprehend Informational Media and Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify individual facts from radio or video ads, such as product name, cost and where to buy it.

Comprehend Fictional Media or Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify individual events in an episode of a video-streamed series, including characters, setting or theme.

Follow Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to follow simple steps in an online video to make food or draw an image.

Comprehend Overheard or Observed Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify simple information and questions about weekend plans or preferences from a conversation among peers.

Interpretive Reading 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify practiced or familiar words and phrases supported by visuals, gestures and facial expressions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify a few very familiar cultural products and practices in native and other cultures, such as:

• Greetings, how people greet others;

• Clothing, how people dress.

Comprehend Informational Media and Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize a few individual words in school schedules, menus or headlines.

Comprehend Fictional Media or Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize characters’ names in a fairy tale or a few words in a movie poster.

Follow Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to follow familiar instructions or routines posted in the classroom.

Comprehend Written Conversation

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize question words in a text or email.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they identify basic facts from practiced or familiar words and phrases supported by visuals, gestures and facial expressions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify similarities and differences between typical cultural products and practices to understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Decorations, how people celebrate, reasons for celebrations;

• Types of houses, dining habits, size of rooms.

Comprehend Informational Media and Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify items on a shopping list, food label categories or information from a weather forecast with symbols.

Comprehend Fictional Media or Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify simple facts from captions in an illustrated book or simple phrases describing a story character.

Follow Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to follow a printed schedule or simple website recipe.

Comprehend Written Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recognize very common abbreviations in a social media post.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students identify the topic and basic related information from simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify and make simple comparisons between typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other

cultures, such as:

• Meals, grocery shopping, food trends;

• Rooms in a house, use of space, size of appliances

Comprehend Informational Media and Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify the topic and a few events in a family story or historical account.

Comprehend Fictional Media or Content

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify some details or actions from a scene in a play, including characters, setting or theme.

Follow Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to follow multiple steps to learn a simple dance or complete a scavenger hunt.

Comprehend Written Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify simple descriptions in a group text.

Interpersonal Intercultural Communication (INP-C) 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate with others by answering a few practiced questions with words and phrases and the help of visuals or gestures.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify a few typical products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact in very familiar intercultural situations using practiced language and behaviors and show cultural awareness by recognizing a few culturally inappropriate behaviors.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to provide basic information on very familiar topics.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express a few basic personal needs in very familiar situations.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express a few basic preferences or feelings.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they communicate with others by asking and answering a few practiced questions using words, phrases and simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify typical products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact in very familiar intercultural situations using practiced language and behaviors and show cultural awareness by recognizing culturally inappropriate behaviors.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to request and share simple information on familiar or everyday topics.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express basic needs in familiar or everyday situations.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express basic preferences or feelings and react to those of others.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students communicate with others by asking and answering practiced and some original questions using simple sentences most of the time.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify products and practices related to everyday life to help understand perspectives of native and other cultures.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact in familiar, everyday intercultural situations using practiced language and behaviors and show cultural awareness by recognizing culturally inappropriate behaviors.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to request and share information on familiar and everyday topics.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact with others to meet basic needs in familiar and everyday situations.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express, ask about and react to simple preferences, feelings or opinions on familiar topics.

Interpersonal Literacy (INP-LIT) 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use interpersonal skills to interact and communicate effectively.

Communicate, React, and Show Interest

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use familiar, relevant vocabulary and structures and rehearsed or imitated cultural behaviors to communicate, react and show interest.

Continue and Extend Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use a few very simple verbal or nonverbal interjections, rejoinders or requests for clarification.

Increase Comprehensibility and Clarity of Expression

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to increase comprehensibility using gestures, hand shapes, facial expressions, repetition or awareness of pronunciation.

Infer Meaning of Unfamiliar Language

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to infer meaning of unfamiliar language from gestures, facial and body expressions or context clues during simple interactions.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use digital and cultural resources appropriately. 

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they use interpersonal skills to interact, negotiate meaning and communicate effectively.

Communicate, React, and Show Interest

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use familiar, relevant vocabulary and structures and rehearsed or imitated cultural behaviors to communicate, react and show interest.

Continue and Extend Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use very simple verbal and non-verbal interjections, rejoinders, requests for clarification, interrogatives or transition words.

Increase Comprehensibility and Clarity of Expression

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to Increase comprehensibility using gestures, hand shapes, facial expressions, repetition, word substitution or awareness of pronunciation, tone or pitch.

Infer Meaning of Unfamiliar Language

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to infer meaning of unfamiliar language from gestures, facial and body expressions or context clues during simple interactions.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to Use digital and cultural resources appropriately. 

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students communicate with others by asking and answering practiced and some original questions using simple sentences most of the time.

Communicate, React, and Show Interest

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate and relevant language and rehearsed or learned behaviors to communicate, react and show interest.

Continue and Extend Conversations

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use simple interjections, rejoinders, requests for clarification, interrogatives and transition words.

Increase Comprehensibility and Clarity of Expression

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to increase comprehensibility and clarify information using word substitution, rephrasing, circumlocution and attention to pronunciation, tone or

pitch.

Infer Meaning of Unfamiliar Language

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to infer meaning of unfamiliar language from gestures, facial and body expressions, context clues or topic of conversation.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to select relevant digital and cultural resources and use appropriately. 

Interpersonal Listening and Speaking 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate with others by answering a few practiced questions with words and phrases and the help of visuals or gestures.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to answer a few simple questions about very familiar cultural products and practices in native and other cultures, such as:

• Flags, flag design;

• Days of the week, telling the date.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to imitate culturally appropriate behavior at a festival or holiday celebration. 

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to respond when asked the price of a lunch item.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to volunteer when the teacher asks for help in the classroom.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to tell favorite type of animal or pet to a visitor from an international zoo. 

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they communicate with others by asking and answering a few practiced questions using words, phrases and simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to ask and answer a few simple questions about typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Invitations, special occasions, reasons for celebrations;

• Rooms in a house, house design, what makes a house a home.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use rehearsed culturally appropriate behavior when purchasing an item.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to ask and answer simple questions about the weather when deciding what to wear to an outdoor event.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact with the waiter to ask for food at a café or restaurant.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to ask and answer simple questions with a peer about favorite singers or movies.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students communicate with others by asking and answering practiced and some original questions using simple sentences most of the time.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to exchange simple information about similarities and differences between typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• School schedules, course selection, importance of academics;

• National parks, study of geography,importance of natural resources.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use foreign currency with an understanding of its conversion value.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to ask and answer simple questions about an infographic on a topic of interest.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to interact with a group of friends to plan deadlines and who will do what for an upcoming event.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to exchange opinions about which photo

apps are more useful than others and tell why.

Interpersonal Reading and Writing 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate with others by answering a few practiced questions with words and phrases and the help of visuals or gestures.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to answer a few simple questions about very familiar cultural products and practices in native and other cultures, such as:

• Months, calendars;

• Types of pets, popular pet names.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate greetings or abbreviations in a text message.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to tell what time lunch is in response to a new student’s text.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to respond to a family member’s text asking what type of takeout food to bring home.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to respond to a simple interactive survey about favorite pets, movies or clothes.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they communicate with others by asking and answering a few practiced questions using words, phrases and simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to ask and answer a few simple questions about typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Famous artists, art styles, art appreciation;

• School subjects, required tests, teen attitudes toward testing.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate word order and punctuation when exchanging time, date, phone number or price.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to ask and answer questions about weather, hobbies or hometown in an online conversation.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to exchange holiday greetings with a peer or family member via text message.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to React to a text from a friend about a new movie and ask for an opinion about the film.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students communicate with others by asking and answering practiced and some original questions using simple sentences most of the time.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to exchange simple information about similarities and differences between typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Monuments, monument names, national pride;

• Cultural landmarks, architecture, landmarks’ popularity.

Interact with Culturally Appropriate Language and Behavior

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate formatting of contact information when buying items or event tickets from an online seller.

Exchange Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to send an electronic invitation to teachers for a school performance and answer questions they may have.

Meet Personal Needs

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to exchange information with your manager at work to request a day off or change your schedule.

Express and React to Preferences and Opinions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to write to an e-pal to talk about a new favorite singer from another culture.

Presentational Intercultural Communication (P-C) 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present information using practiced or familiar words and phrases with the help of gestures or visuals.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify a few typical products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present in very familiar intercultural situations using memorized or practiced language and behaviors.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to name very familiar people, places and objects.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to provide very basic details about self.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express likes and dislikes about very familiar topics from native and other cultures.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they present information using a mixture of practiced and familiar words, phrases and simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify typical products and practices related to familiar, everyday life in native and other cultures.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present in very familiar intercultural situations using practiced or learned language and behaviors.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give simple information about very familiar topics. 

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to provide simple details about self, interests and activities.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express likes and dislikes about familiar topics from native and other cultures.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to continue growing into the Novice High sub-level of proficiency, in which students present information using mostly simple sentences and transitions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify similarities and differences between typical products and practices related to everyday life to help understand perspectives of native and other cultures.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present in very familiar situations using appropriate learned behaviors to show basic cultural awareness.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give simple descriptions of familiar and everyday topics. 

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to provide details about personal life, interests and activities.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to express preferences on familiar and everyday topics or topics of interest from native and other cultures.

Presentational Literacy (P-LIT) 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use presentational skills to communicate effectively

Choose Relevant, Authentic Content and Concepts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use authentic resources and familiar vocabulary and structures that are relevant to the topic.

Organize Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to organize very simple information in a logical sequence and clarify with gestures or visuals as needed by the audience.

Increase Comprehensibility and Clarity of Expression

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate with emerging awareness of pronunciation, spelling, mechanics, hand shapes or signing parameters to increase comprehensibility.

Maintain Audience Interest

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to Maintain audience interest via gestures, creativity, emotion, technology or visuals.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use digital and cultural resources appropriately.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they use presentational skills to communicate effectively.

Choose Relevant, Authentic Content and Concepts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use authentic resources and familiar vocabulary and structures that are relevant to the topic.

Organize Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to organize information in a logical sequence, with topic sentence, simple details and conclusion, and clarify with gestures, visuals or words as needed by the audience.

Increase Comprehensibility and Clarity of Expression

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate with awareness of pronunciation, spelling, mechanics, hand shapes or signing parameters to increase comprehensibility.

Maintain Audience Interest

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to maintain audience interest via content, creativity, emotion, humor, technology or visuals.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use digital and cultural resources appropriately.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use presentational skills to communicate effectively.

Choose Relevant, Authentic Content and Concepts

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use authentic resources and familiar content, structures and syntax that are relevant to the topic.

Organize Information

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to organize information in a logical sequence, with topic sentence, simple details and conclusion, and clarify with simple language or circumlocution as needed by the audience.

Increase Comprehensibility and Clarity of Expression

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to communicate with attention to pronunciation, spelling, mechanics, hand shapes or signing parameters to increase comprehensibility

Maintain Audience Interest

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to maintain audience interest via details, creativity, emotion, humor, technology or visuals.

Select and Use Resources

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to select relevant digital and cultural resources and use appropriately.

Presentational Speaking 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present information using practiced or familiar words and phrases with the help of gestures or visuals.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to name very familiar cultural products and practices in native and other cultures, such as:

• Foods, portion size;

• Artists, art movements.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate language and rehearsed or imitated behavior.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to list familiar places on a state or local map when planning a trip.

Provide Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give a phone number or the combination to unlock a locker.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to tell name, age, phone number and email address when introducing oneself.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to tell likes and dislikes of clothing colors, leisure activities, songs or menu items.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they present information using a mixture of practiced and familiar words, phrases and simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Invitations, special occasions, rites of passage;

• Tongue twisters, typical games, value of traditional rhymes.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate language and rehearsed or imitated behavior.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give simple information about classes or teachers when presenting a schedule.

Provide Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use familiar commands and courtesy phrases during a game with peers.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give simple likes, dislikes, personality and physical traits of self and other members in a family tree.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to tell degree of personal preferences for holidays, foods, actors or authors.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present information using mostly simple

sentences and transitions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify similarities and differences between cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• School schedules, course selection, importance of academics;

• Rooms in a house, house design, what makes a house a home.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate language and learned behaviors.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give a friend driving directions from school to a destination.

Provide Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to give a phone number or the combination to unlock a locker.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to tell a simple story about a family or vacation photo, answering who, what, where, when and why questions.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to recommend places to shop, eat or vacation, using simple details.

Presentational Writing 

The Somos I Curriculum is a Novice level curriculum that prepares students to move through the proficiency sub-levels from Novice Low to Novice High.

Novice Low (NL)

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present information using practiced or familiar words and phrases with the help of gestures or visuals.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to name very familiar cultural products and practices in native and other cultures, such as:

• Careers, formal and informal titles;

• School supplies, back-to-school events.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate greetings or abbreviations in a text message.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use a simple catchphrase in a text message to a friend.

Provide Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to write a simple shopping list for school supplies, food, clothes or books.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to text personal contact information to a friend, such as name, email address and social media username.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to list favorite technology devices in a classroom survey.

Novice Mid (NM) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to move into the Novice Mid sub-level of proficiency, in which they present information using a mixture of practiced and familiar words, phrases and simple sentences.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify typical cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Musical instruments, music performances, music appreciation;

• School subjects, telling time, importance of school.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate word order and punctuation when writing time, date, address, phone number or price.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to create a meme with a simple caption to

describe oneself.

Provide Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to provide information in a passport application before a trip overseas.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to make a Venn Diagram comparing physical and personality traits of two friends, family members or fictional characters.

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to rank favorite entertainment options for an online survey.

Novice High (NH) 

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to present information using mostly simple

sentences and transitions.

Investigate Intercultural Products and Practices to Help Understand Perspectives

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to identify similarities and differences between cultural products and practices to help understand perspectives in native and other cultures, such as:

• Monuments, architecture, national pride;

• National parks, history of park names, popular parks.

Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to use culturally appropriate formatting of contact information when purchasing an online item or ticket to an event.

Inform and Describe

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to publish a promotional poster or video to advertise a school or musical event.

Provide Instructions

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to fill in a planner with steps to meet a deadline for a school, work or extracurricular project.

Narrate About Life and Activities

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to compare soccer fans to rugby or football fans in an article for the school newspaper. 

Express Preferences

The Somos Curriculum prepares students to make a top five list of music streaming platforms, listing pros and cons.

This alignment document for Ohio educators was created using verbiage from Ohio's Learning Standards for World Languages