Spanish II (Español II)
Course Syllabus: August 2010 – May 2011
Instructor: Señorita Gallo
Contact info: Office – W5
Email -
Free periods – D, F, H (find me in W17 for H during 1st quarter)
Contact location – W5
Phone – 314–968–1505 (ext. 118)
Materials Needed:
Realidades 2 Textbook (blue)
Practice Workbook 2
Writing, Audio, & Video Workbook 2
Spanish / English Dictionary with at least 40,000 entries
Notebook, pen or pencil
Course Objectives:
Build knowledge of vocabulary and verb tenses on your foundation from Spanish I.
Improve listening and speaking skills through conversational activities.
Expand control over more complex grammar through written expression.
Enrich understanding and appreciation of Spanish – speaking cultures.
Sharpen critical thinking skills.
Course Content: (This is tentative and subject to change. A more detailed schedule will be given as the year progresses.)
Quarter 1 – Review, Chapters 1A, 1B
Quarter 2 – Chapters 2A, 2B
Quarter 3 – Chapters 3A, 3B
Quarter 4 – Chapters 4A, 4B
Class Rules / Behavioral Expectations:
1. Be respectful towards fellow classmates and the teacher. One person talks at a time except during paired and group activities.
2. Be on time. Tardies will affect your participation grade. Because Nerinx does not have bells, understanding what is considered late is difficult. The general rule will be as follows: if everyone else is here and you are not, you are late or you miss saying “Padre Nuestro”.
3. Be prepared with the materials mentioned above.
4. NO WHINING!
5. Leave cell phones in your locker. See Nerinx’s policy on p. 47 in the handbook regarding cell phones.
6. Water (not flavored water) in a clear container is acceptable. Food is not allowed. We are in a new classroom. Yay! Let’s keep it sparkling!
7. Be neat. Other classes use the same place. Clean up after yourselves.
8. Be cooperative. Participate in all class activities – individual, paired, and group. Help others understand the material but avoid translating in English during class.
9. Relax! In order to learn a language you must take risks and make mistakes. No one speaks perfect English 100% of the time. I certainly do not expect students to be able to do that in Spanish. However, I do expect students to respond or ask questions in Spanish as much as possible.
10. NO WHINING!
Grading / Percentages: see p. 18 in handbook
Quarter Grade: A total points system will be used.
Semester Grade:
40% Quarter Grade
40% Quarter Grade
20% Semester Exam
Tests: Each chapter test will assess the following skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and cultural understanding. The test will be taken over 2 days. There will be individual conversations with the teacher or paired conversations between students in front of the teacher. There is a rubric attached to understand the expectations and grading process.
• Please see p. 18 “Test Policy” if the student has more than 3 tests on one day.
Quizzes: Students will take daily quizzes on grammar and vocabulary from the homework. Also, short dictations from each chapter will be included in the quiz grade.
Compositions and Projects: There will be 1 composition for each chapter and 1 small project every quarter.
Procedure for writing compositions:
1. All compositions are written in class using a pen or pencil. I will provide paper.
2. Only dictionaries are allowed.
3. For grades 86% and below the student MUST make corrections. Additional points may be earned based on the accuracy of the corrections.
4. Students with 87% and above have the option to receive extra points.
• Please note that compositions, quizzes, and tests will be filed in a folder and left with the teacher. They will remain at school and not be used to study for exams.
Participation:
The following behaviors are expected on a regular basis and will earn you B-/B for participation:
1. Gesturing or singing along as appropriate.
2. Bringing the required materials to class everyday.
3. Saying the “Our Father” in Spanish everyday.
4. Having homework ready to correct at the appropriate time.
5. Paying attention in class
6. Following along during readings and listening to teacher.
7. Answering questions appropriately when called upon.
8. Using Spanish appropriately.
The following behaviors will kick your score up a notch to a B+/A depending on frequency:
1. Acting out dialogues or reading aloud with enthusiasm and correct intonation
2. Putting forth clear and audible effort in pronunciation
3. Volunteering to answer.
4. Helping or encouraging others.
5. Speaking Spanish with Srta. Gallo outside of class.
6. Contributing original information or ideas in class work or discussions.
7. Asking relevant questions (not ones just answered by teacher!)
The following behaviors could lower your score to a C, D, or F, depending on frequency:
1. Not bringing materials to class
2. WHINING!
3. Chewing gum or eating food or things (end of a pen)
4. Bringing drinks other than water – i.e. - flavored water
5. Not paying attention or participating fairly in class or small group activities
6. Doing anything that is not Spanish class related (doing other homework, playing games online or on a calculator, shopping online, playing beauty salon, sleeping, etc.)
7. Not answering when called upon (or even trying)
8. SPEAKING DISRESPECTFULLY OF OTHER TEACHERS!
9. Being rude or disrespectful to the teacher or other students
10. Distracting others who are trying to hear or speak
11. Asking questions in English w/o even thinking about how to do it in Spanish
12. Asking questions which have JUST been answered
13. WHINING!
Homework: Homework will be checked in on the assigned dates. It is only checked for completion. It is the student’s responsibility to correct her work as it is reviewed in class.
Late work for the chapter will be accepted until the day of that chapter test.
Policies / Procedures:
1. Cheating will not be tolerated on tests, quizzes or assignments. All parties involved will receive a zero. No make-ups will be given and parents will be called. See p. 21 in the handbook for the definition of cheating and plagiarism.
• Internet translators are only acceptable when used as a dictionary. If the student composes Spanish sentences / paragraphs with the translator, it will be considered cheating.
2. Field trip policy – see p. 22 in the handbook
3. Attendance / Absences – see pp. 23 – 27
• Also see Make-up Tests on p. 19 in the handbook
• Work assigned before the absence is due upon your return to class.
• It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the process.
• Once you start the test, it must be completed before leaving.
Habits for Success:
1. Take good notes. If I am writing on the board, you are writing in your notebook.
2. Study at least 15 minutes everyday, including the days we do not have class. Learning a language is like playing a musical instrument or playing a sport. You need to practice everyday.
3. Develop a study system that works for you. Some students learn from saying the vocabulary aloud. Others need to write it out 10 times.
4. Look up ALL the words that you do not know in EVERY sentence. Be sure you understand the tense of the verbs used.
5. Do ALL homework on your own. The purpose of having homework is to learn how to do what has been covered in class. Then, if you can’t do it, or do not understand it, at least you will be aware of not knowing it BEFORE a quiz and will be able to get help.
6. Make corrections on the homework so that you will know what you are doing wrong, if anything.
7. Use the homework as a practice quiz. It will save you time studying.
8. Get help early. Visit me in my office or in W5 during contact time. If I step outside my office or W5 please leave me a note saying you stopped by. Also, use email to ask questions. I will check my email until 4:30 pm during the school week.
PLEASE NOTE:
#1 – ¡La vida no es justa! (Life is not fair!)
#2 - ¡No hay extra crédito en la vida! ¡Haz el trabajo y hazlo bien! (There is no extra credit in life! Do your work and do it well!)
Agreement to the rules and policies as stated in Ms. Gallo’s course syllabus for Spanish II
Student:
I, (print name)______, agree that I will be held accountable for the rules and policies stated in the syllabus and in the corresponding pages found in Nerinx Hall’s handbook. I acknowledge that I have read the syllabus and the handbook.
Student signature: Date:
______
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Parent / Guardian:
I, (print name)______, agree that my daughter will be held accountable for the rules and policies stated in the syllabus and in the corresponding pages found in Nerinx Hall’s handbook. I acknowledge that I have read the syllabus and the handbook.
Parent / Guardian signature: Date:
______
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