Seniors may elect not to take math, as long as they have met their home school requirement and sign up for SYA's five other courses. SYA does not distinguish between eleventh and twelfth graders in the organization of classes. The average class size is 15 students. Classroom performance is graded A-F, and grades are reported to families and home schools after each quarter. All language course levels contain a program of intensive grammar review with substantial attention given to the development of speaking and writing skills.
Vocabulary development is stressed.
Teachers employ a variety of materials and techniques, including fiction and non-fiction readings, papers, oral reports, listening comprehension activities, videocassettes and films. The core program is supplemented by outside reading in newspapers and periodicals. Students read and in some cases memorize poems. Qualified students are placed in a section that covers readings equivalent to a college survey course. This includes, but is not limited to, authors and works chosen by ETS for their Advanced Placement program in Spanish Literature.