SPANISH 4 COURSE SYLLABUS 2016-2017
Sra. M. Mizusawa
Course Description
Spanish 4 students will continue their study of advanced grammar & vocabulary, learn the conditional tense, continue studying the subjunctive and other applications of the subjunctive. There will be advanced opportunities to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Research projects on Hispanic topics, events, and culture will involve students expressing their own ideas, interpretation and perspectives incorporating the four skills. They will be involved with different cultural activities and experiences.
Course Topics:
1. Special events & celebrations
2. Past events, childhood
3. Health & Nutrition
4. Future goals
5. Careers, skills, abilities, jobs, community
6. Relationships
7. Spain
8. Maya & Aztec Civilizations
9. Cultural perspectives of the above
Course Expectations
In order to become proficient in a foreign language, students must actively participate in their own learning, both in and outside of class. Therefore, it is important that students, 1) attend class daily; 2) work to the best of their ability—individually, in pairs, or with a team; 3) follow and respect school and classroom policies; 4) have a positive attitude about learning; 5) be respectful to everyone; 6) bring book and supplies to class; and 7) take good notes. Outside of class, students need to complete assignments on time; study daily to review notes/concepts/vocabulary/phrases/patterns; and practice pronunciation to develop fluency.
Supplies:
Loose leaf paper for class work and notes, composition book to use as a class journal, blue or black pen for quizzes/exams, textbook, and a folder for handouts/verb charts/study cards. Students may be asked to bring in some art supplies needed for cultural activities, if not provided.
Classroom Procedures
1. Turn in homework when the bell rings, at the beginning of class, on the date it is due. No late work is accepted, unless student was excused absent.
2. Be ready for quiz or exam with your blue or black ink pen.
3. Bring your textbook to class daily.
4. When the Writing, Audio & Video workbook is used (class copy) in class, please write your answers on loose leaf paper or in your journal.
5. Students are responsible for obtaining assignments, making up quiz or exam, for an excused absence, within the time frame designated by school.
6. Students are expected to do their own work, no copying or cheating.
7. Use of a translator to do assignments, pen pal letters, journals, projects, etc. is prohibited, because it does not allow you to learn by practice nor from learning from your mistakes. By using a translator to do your work, it is not your own work, therefore you will not earn credit. A translator often limits the choice of words and does not provide the range of vocabulary that a large dictionary has. A7 has many large dictionaries in class for students to use.
8. Use of the dictionary is encouraged to foster the development of vocabulary & the skill of determining the correct words to select (adjective, verb, noun, adverb, preposition, etc.). Many large dictionaries & other reference materials are available for students in class.
Classroom Rules
1. Sit in your assigned seats daily. Cooperative learning teams are changed each quarter. Sometimes, you will be able to pick your own partner or team for certain activities or projects.
2. No writing or drawing on classroom furniture.
3. Dispose of trash in trash can and recycle bottles and cans in bin.
4. Contraband items should not be in sight or they will be confiscated.
5. Try to limit your use of the bathroom, during class time, because recess and lunch are before and after this class.
6. Follow the class motto, SALSA. S=Stay on task/A=Always be responsible for your own work, as an individual or as a team/L=Listen actively while others speak/S=Show respect to get respect or Show Aloha!/A=Act with a positive attitude.
7. No credit is given for cheating or copying.
8. Be careful when using scissors and equipment in class to avoid injuries.
Course Objectives (World Language Standards)
A. Interpersonal Communication: Use target language to engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feeling and emotions, and exchange opinions.
1. Use appropriate vocabulary to exchange ideas about current or past events that are of significance to the culture being studied.
B. Interpretive Communication: Understand and interpret written and spoken language on diverse topics from diverse media.
1. Identify significant ideas and details in material by making inferences or predictions supported by evidence in the text.
C. Presentational Communication: Present information, concepts and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.
1. Use strategies appropriate to speaking for various purposes.
2. Use strategies appropriate to writing for various purposes.
D. Cultures: Understand relationships among perspectives, products and practices of target culture.
1. Analyze the history, politics, and art of the culture being studied by making comparisons to native culture.
2. Explain themes, ideas, and perspectives related to products and practices of the target culture.
E. Comparisons: Understand that different languages use different patterns to communicated and apply this knowledge to the target and native languages.
1. Use various structural patterns in narration and description.
General Learner Outcomes (GLO) Students will be:
1. Self-Directed Learners with the ability to be responsible for their own learning.
2. Community Contributors who understand that it is essential for people to work together.
3. Complex Thinkers with critical thinking and problem solving skills.
4. Quality Producers with the ability to recognize and produce quality performance and quality products.
5. Effective Communicators.
6. Effective and Ethical Users of Technology with the ability to use a variety of technologies effectively and ethically.
Assessment Plan
A. Homework will be awarded points, based on completeness of the assignment. Emphasis is placed on the application of skills learned in class, and homework is good practice for this application of skills.’
B. Quizzes are given for new vocabulary learned, concepts introduced, grammar patterns, etc. to check for mastery.
C. Chapter exam is given, upon completion of each chapter. Semester exam and final exam are cumulative exams.
D. Class journal helps to develop writing skills.
E. Projects may include culture projects in English or simple Spanish, presentational projects in Spanish (poster, poem, skit), research project, etc.
F. Oral participation is important for language skills development. Students are observed, as they interact with each other and participtate in class activities.
Grading
Rubrics will be used to score assessments such as projects, oral presentations, and some cultural activities. All other learning activities, homework, classwork, quizzes, and exams earn points which are totaled and averaged on a 100% scale.
Tutoring is available after school with Sra. Mizusawa on most Mondays & Fridays. To contact her by email:
To contact her by phone: #305-6414.
Special Notes:
1. The Spanish Club is open to all students. The Spanish Club’s mission is to promote the Hispanic culture, provide service to school & community, and interact with other clubs.
2. Anyone interested in volunteering to visit the Spanish classes? We welcome people of Hispanic background to be interviewed or anyone willing to teach Hispanic cultural traditions (music, dance, food, arts, etc.). Travel experience to Hispanic countries is also a topic of interest.
Please contact Sra. Mizusawa via email or phone (see above).
MUCHAS GRACIAS for your interest in your child’s Spanish course. Looking forward to a wonderful year! Please sign, date, and return the signature page to indicate that you have read the course syllabus.