DORAL ACADEMY PREPARATORY SCHOOL SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014 FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPANISH TEACHER: Paula Rodríguez Fresno Room: FTBA SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE Bienvenidos a la clase de español! Es un placer recibirles! I hope you enjoy learning Spanish during this amazing school year! COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will be a complete course designed to introduce you to the Spanish language, or improve your Spanish, through the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and on acquisition of the fundamentals of applied grammar, as well as a cultural exchange that will better enable you to understand the language. In fact, I believe that fluency in a language is acquired by learning not only the language, but also learning about the cultures and countries associated with that language. I will incorporate cultural experiences into as many lessons as possible throughout the year to ensure that you are exposed to a variety of cultural information, such as music, gastronomy, customs or literacy. By the end of this course you will be able to hold a basic or advanced conversation, talk about yourself, your family, your likes and dislikes and many other topics. You will be able to read and understand everyday items and write some texts in Spanish. CLASS RULES: Serás capaz de hablar correctamente español! 1. Follow directions the first time they are given and do your work. 2. Get to class on time and sit down. Do your warm up work when the bell rings. 3. Don t talk when the teacher is talking or when other student is asking or answering a question. 4. Respect others, be polite and helpful. 5. Take care of school property (desks, books ) 6. Sit and stay in your assigned seat; raise your hand if you need help. 7. Don t eat in class. You have an assigned lunch time for that. 8. Electronic devices are not allowed in class. Your cellular telephones must be turned off.* CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES: 1. Warning. (2 opportunities) 2. Call to parents. 3. Detention. 4. Referral to the administration. 1
* If you are using your cellular telephone in class, it will be confiscated and will be returned to you when the teacher deems appropriate. CLASS AND TEACHING MATERIALS: Class fee: There is a $10.00 class fee to cover the cost of photocopies, books, etc. Each student will use the textbooks REALIDADES 1 and REALIDADES 2 in the classroom. They are expected to keep all books and other materials in good condition. Class materials: Students must bring the following supplies everyday: 1 composition notebook. 1 binder with pockets (can be shared with other subjects), and loose leaf paper. At least 2 pens in two different colors, pencil and eraser. 1 English-Spanish dictionary. GRADING: Students will receive at least two grades per week. Grades are based on oral or written work, and they can be in the form of quizzes, tests or projects. Students will receive a class work grade based on their actual accomplishments in class. For example, to get an A in class work grade you must do your bell work, bring your homework, participate actively, etc. Classroom participation and conduct will also be graded. Conduct, effort, and participation will be given every nine weeks. The grading scale is provided below: A 3.50-4.00 B 2.50-3.49 C 1.50-2.49 D 1.00-1.49 F 0-0.99 The grade distribution is the following: Test and essays 30% Quizzes 22% Projects 20% Classwork and homework 18% Participation 10% Homework: Homework is very important if you want to learn Spanish and succeed. Your homework consists in reviewing the material we have worked in class every day. There will also be homework from activity books, websites or worksheets provided by me. The textbooks can also be found online. If you do not have access to the Internet you can visit a public library. You need to turn in your homework as soon as you get to class. 2
Tests and quizzes: There will be chapter tests about every two or three weeks. Also, there will be announced and non-announced quizzes every week. These quizzes could be oral or written. Written assignments: All written assignments must be done only by you. Try to do these works without help. If your assignments are not original or you use a translator, you can get a grade of F. Remember that I will observe your progress in the subject, and that means that mistakes are normal, and you can learn from them. Speaking Spanish in class: Because it is so important to have as much practice as possible speaking the language, it is essential for us to spend as much class time as possible speaking Spanish. 10% of your class work grade per term will be based on the extent to which you speak Spanish with your classmates and with me. You will learn how to ask for general things in Spanish. Make-up work: Make-up work and assignments are the student s responsibility. No makeup work will be given for unexcused absences and tardies. Check the school s website for homework, class summaries, etc. Late assignments will not be accepted and you will get a grade of F. Attendance: The school attendance policy is followed in this class. Please be on time. If a student has more than 5 unexcused absences he/she will receive a failing grade (no credit) and will need to take the class again. CLASS ROUTINE: In order to maximize our learning we need to follow a structured routine in our class. Although this routine could vary slightly from time to time, the following will be the usual way in which the class will be conducted. a. Bell work (or warm up) (Review from previous class, etc.) b. Lesson (Vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, learning a song or a poem, etc) c. Individual or group work d. Presentation or discussion. e. Class conclusion- Review of what we learned in class (formal or informal) If you need some information, don t hesitate to contact me. I will be willing to solve my student s doubts or communicate with their families. You can contact me at paularf@dadeschools.net. Thank you! Paula Rodríguez Fresno. 3
SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE By signing below, I certify that I will abide and follow the rules explained in this syllabus. I understand that the teacher reserves the right to do any necessary changes to the syllabus and we (parent and student) understand that not following the rules set forth in this document will jeopardize the class grade. DATE: STUDENT S NAME AND SIGNATURE: CLASS AND PERIOD: PARENT S SIGNATURE: 4
August, 2013 Dear Parents: During the course of the year we could watch some movies in Spanish. The Spanish curriculum suggests the use of audiovisual authentic materials such as movies, songs, and videos. The films we will watch could be rated PG-13. I am hereby asking you to allow your child to partake in this class activity. If you decide that your child should not watch the movie, he or she will not be penalized and will be given alternative assignment. These videos provide students with the opportunity to practice and sharpen their listening skills while learning about the Spanish culture. These movies will be appropriate and relevant to the lessons, but could include some material that may be inappropriate for children under 13. For this reason, we request your permission for your child to view some of the films in the Spanish class. I will provide the tittles of the films some days before the showing, so you can check the information about it, too. Estimados padres y madres: Durante el presente curso escolar podremos ver algunas películas en español. El currículo de lengua española aconseja el uso de material audiovisual auténtico, como películas, canciones y vídeos. Las películas que veremos podrían ser clasificadas PG-13. A través de esta carta les pedimos su aprobación para que su hijo o hija vea estas películas en clase. Si usted no desea que a su hijo/hija vea las películas señaladas, le proveeremos otro trabajo, asegurándole que su calificación no se verá afectada por este motivo. Estos vídeos proporcionan al estudiante la oportunidad de practicar y mejorar su destreza auditiva a la vez que se acerca a la cultura española. Estas películas son apropiadas y relevantes en las clases, pero podrían incluir alguna escena que podría ser inadecuada para niños menores de 13 años. Por esta razón, les pedimos su premiso para que su hijo/a pueda ver estas películas en la clase de español. Además, les proporcionaré los títulos de las películas días antes de su proyección, de modo que ustedes puedan informarse sobre las mismas. Check appropriate response. I give permission for my child,, to watch movies in the Spanish class. I do not give permission for my child, to watch movies in the Spanish class. Student name ; Period Parent/ guardian of the student- Name, phone, and signature Date 5