Foreign language

Gloria Savino, Foreign Language Supervisor

75 Watervliet Ave.

Albany, NY 12206
Phone: 475-6549

The City School District of Albany offers foreign language options to students in middle school and high school.

Middle school foreign-language programs

Middle school foreign-language programs provide a foundation for students and fosters language proficiency at the high-school level. The focus of foreign language instruction in middle school is on cultural awareness as well as the spoken language.

Structure and support is given to students as they become immersed in the Spanish and French culture and language. Listening and speaking skills are the major focus at the elementary level. As students become proficient with oral skills, reading and writing activities will be introduced. Elementary foreign language teachers use many hands-on materials and multimedia activities as well as teacher-made materials to support the elementary foreign language curriculum.

Reading and writing skills will be developed as students respond to questions, write skits, research and report on topics, and read short passages.

High school foreign-language programs
Students entering Albany High School are required to earn one credit of high school foreign language by the end of ninth grade. Students who pass their eighth-grade foreign language class and the district's proficiency exam will receive one high-school credit.

Students who do not pass the eighth-grade program and the proficiency exam will need to take a first-year language course to receive the required high school credit for foreign language to meet the requirements for graduation.

Students who are pursuing an advanced Regents diploma must pass the comprehensive exam given after completion of the third year of the foreign language program.

A five-credit sequence in foreign language is offered to students wishing to pursue an Advanced Placement diploma.

Albany High students have the opportunity to take Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses are offered for each of these languages as well.

Complete listings, foreign language sequences and course descriptions may be found on the Albany High School web site under "course offering booklet." Follow this link.