Spanish 2 Course Syllabus

Sra. Marianela González

 

¡Bienvenidos al español 2!

 It is my pleasure to be your teacher for Spanish 2.  My name is Señora Gonzalez and I am excited to join the LFA community.  I look forward to working with you to grow in your Spanish skills.  ¡Sí se puede!

 

Important Information

 

Course Name: Spanish II- Verde (5128-02)

Periods of Instruction:  A2,B1, C3, E7,F8, G5

Office Hours: by appointment

School Website:  lfanet.org  “Cycle Sheets” can be found in pages             

 

Email:  mgonzalez@lfanet.org

 

Course Description

The course is designed to teach advanced beginner grammar and basic vocabulary, with an emphasis on meaningful communication.  There is also a cultural component that exposes students to the geography and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.  This component is increasingly important as we integrate more activities with an international focus into the curriculum.  It is my belief that to learn Spanish we must use Spanish in and out of the classroom.   Daily study is imperative as is class participation.  If you find an opportunity to use Spanish, please do! You will see how quickly your Spanish skills will develop. 

PLEASE READ, UNDESTAND, AND BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.  THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE IMPORTANT TO CREATING A PRODUCTIVE, FAIR, CHALLENGING AND FUN LEARINING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.

 

 

 

Supplies:

Text:      Dos Mundos: Comunicacion y comunidad 7th Edition
ISBN: 9780073385211
Workbook/Lab Manual Part B to accompany Dos Mundos
ISBN: 9780077304751

Additional Required Material:

• Organized way to take/keep notes – binder or notebook. I prefer a notebook but the choice is yours.  Pick the one that works best for you. 
• Also required – Pens/pencils and flashcards 2 packs of 3x5 cards ( these can be cut in half)
• Spanish-English Dictionary (La Rousse is good)

 

**Please use only Wordreference.com as an online dictionary.

EXPECTATIONS –Here are some general behavior guidelines for you to follow in class.  

• Arrive to class on-time and prepared to begin.
• Be prepared to review homework and ask questions about the assignments.
• Listen actively & take notes.
• Raise your hand to ask questions and/or comment.
• Follow the instructions the first time given.
• Participate, participate, and participate.
• Wait at your seat for dismissal.
• Please listen while instructions are being given.
• Always ask questions by raising your hand, when the directions are not clear.
• Seats will be assigned.

You will sit in your assigned seat unless I reassign you or if class participation requires movement. If you have difficulty with the assigned seat, please WRITE me a note explaining your difficulty.  Then we will discuss possible solutions.

Additional expectations

AKA -What to expect in Sra. Gonzalez’s Spanish 2 classes

Spanish I - CLASS PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS

Welcome to the wonderful world of Spanish.  Spanish is fun and you will have fun learning it- I promise!  However, learning a new language will be challenging and hard work just like any other subject.   I look forward to working with you to be a successful language student!

Important areas we will work on this year:
1. a) PRONUNCIATION -- Unlike English, Spanish pronunciation will have you thinking about vowels sounds in a different way.  At first it will sound different to you but in time, and with practice, it will become more familiar to you.  The more you practice in class, with friends, or even listen to Spanish music or watch Spansih TV, the more comfortable it will be come.  

1. b) VOCABULARY-- Vocabulary is the essence of learning any language. Just as you build your English vocabulary in class, by reading and writing, the same will happen in Spanish. The more you input into your brain through connections to English or by memorization, the easier it will become to output the words.  In the beginning we will use flashcards to help us learn vocabulary and farther down the year, as we think in Spanish, we will explore other formats to learn vocabulary.
2. c) GRAMMAR -- Oh no, not grammar! We will start with the basics and what you’ll find is that Spanish grammar will help you review and perhaps relearn English grammar.  Remember without grammar, we can’t read or write in a language and what fun would that be? 
3. d) COMMUNICATION -- Communication is the key to learning a language. Speaking and listening go hand in hand. From day one we will be using Spanish and building on that each day. Mistakes are part of the learning process.  Listen carefully to questions and you will be able to format answers easier.   The more you speak the better and more confident you will become. Remember to practice.
4. e) CULTURES – Learning a language is fun but what adds to the lesson is learning about different cultures. Spanish is spoken in many countries. Can you name all of them?  You will learn about Hispanic traditions and customs.  We will best be able to appreciate the richness of the Hispanic world by keeping our minds open to these new outlooks and new cultural practices. You will also find many similarities among your own cultures and Hispanic culture, and you may be surprised at how much we all have in common.
5. BEING A GOOD STUDENT

Being a good student in this class principally means adhering to the four pillars of the school.

Responsibility: Arrive to class on time and prepared with all your materials.  Complete assignments in a timely manner and ask questions as necessary.  Prepare in advance for any projects and assessments.  Use ELECTRONIC materials properly.  In this class, ALL CELL PHONES MUST BE OFF/SILENT or IN BACKPACKS.  If cell phones are to be used for learning purposes in class, I will ask you to bring them out. 

SCHOLARSHIP:  This is means to be successful in class you must study your new acquired knowledge.  Be engaged and interested in what you are learning and your success rate will increase.  

CITIZENSHIP:  You will further develop your sensitivity and understanding of other cultures and ideas that may be new to you as a 21st century global citizen.

CHARACTER:  Be positive and respectful in class and with classmates.  Language is challenging and each of us learns differently.  What might be easy for you may not be easy for someone else.  R-E-S-P-E-C-T all questions and comments please, and think before you speak.

3. 
   How can I BE a good language student?

• Be diligent and show consistent effort both in and outside of class. (Practice, practice, practice!)
• Be an active learner. Pay close attention in class and take notes as necessary for you
• Be in the moment and stay on task. Use SPANISH at all times, but especially when working in pairs or groups
• Be a risk-taker. Remember it’s ok to make mistakes in a language class. 

4. GRADES

You will be evaluated on your progress in the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. In addition, your grade will reflect the extent to which you meet the criteria of the descriptions above.

In accordance with school policy, you will receive a grade for each semester. You will also receive an INTERIM GRADE in each semester which will not be recorded on your transcript, but which will be an indicator of your progress to you and your parents.

Please refer to this syllabus for grade breakdowns.

The grading system for Spanish class is as follows:

Grading Breakdown:

Tests  (30%)

Quizzes (20%)

Homework, projects (15%)

Participation  (15%)

Final Exam Cumulative (20%) 

 

Grading Scale for Progress Reports and Final Grades

 

Letter Grade	Percentage Points
A+	100 – 97
A	96.5 – 93
A-	92.5 – 90
B+	89.5 – 87
B	86.5 – 83
B-	82.5 – 80
C+	79.5– 77
C	76.5 – 73
C-	72.5 – 70
D+	69.5– 67
D	66.5 – 63
D-	62.5 – 60
F	Below

 

 

 

 

5. HOMEWORK

You will be assigned homework regularly for the purpose of practicing the concepts that we cover in the course. I may choose to go over homework in class or collect it outright. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that homework is completed by the beginning of the class period on the day that it is due. Please note that late homework will not be accepted. Please see the Department late work policy.

Homework assignments (including readings), longer writing and/or research assignments and tests will be announced on cycle sheets. Short quizzes may be given without prior notice, but consistent completion of class assignments will prepare students for success on any unannounced quizzes.

6. Additional guidelines

• Please arrive on time! If you have class in a far corner of campus before this one, please let me know.
• Use every opportunity that you can to speak in Spanish!
• Dictionaries are encouraged! However, the use of other translation devices or online translators such as Google Translate is not permissible -- in or outside of class -- and qualifies as academic dishonesty as outlined in our student handbook.
• iPads will be used for some activities in class and at home. Specific instructions will be announced. Please use your device responsibly. Inappropriate use of technology will result in a lowered participation grade.
• Food and gum will not normally be allowed during class time, as much of the period will be spent speaking.

7. Academic Dishonesty

Lake Forest Academy takes all forms of academic dishonesty very seriously, and you should not engage in any of those activities. As stated in the Student Handbook, “Students are [...] expected to avoid placing themselves in any position that would call into question their integrity or sense of academic honesty.  Some of the more obvious forms of academic dishonesty are cheating on a test and plagiarism of a written assignment. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, thoughts, or ideas without crediting the source. Students are especially cautioned that using or copying material from Internet sites and presenting it as one’s own work is entirely dishonest and easily distinguished by one’s teacher(s) as the work of another writer.”

 

In short, any work that you turn in for a grade must be completed BY YOU without help from anyone else, including other students, parents or friends. Below are some additional details about academic honesty in language classes:

 

• The use of online translators is prohibited, and is counterproductive to your language learning. On the other hand, you may use a credible dictionary or dictionary app or any other credible reference book while preparing assignments.
• You are welcome (even encouraged!) to consult the teacher for help with phrasing or with confusing translations before you turn in your work!
• DO NOT copy answers from a book appendix or from a friend. This is not only entirely transparent to your teacher but also remarkably counterproductive. Your homework is assigned so that you can practice the concepts that we learn in class, and copying the answers completely defeats this purpose. Put simply, if you do not make use of practice opportunities, you will not learn the material.
• If you choose to work with a tutor, please let your teacher know. Anyone who gives you outside help may point out errors or explain concepts to you, but they MAY NOT correct or write any part of your work.
• In research assignments, it is important to properly document your source material. We have fantastic resources at LFA to help support you in any research assignment, including your instructor, the librarian, your other teachers, and the Writing Center. If you have any doubt about whether you have properly cited sources in an assignment please do not hesitate to consult us! Here are some specific reminders about citing sources:

 

• Please remember that you must not cut and paste material directly from the Internet or any other source without proper citation.
• When giving a spoken presentation or similar assignment, you may not memorize material that was not composed by you.

 

Please refer to these guidelines throughout the year to ensure the integrity of your work. Any instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Department Chair and to the Dean of Students.

8. Modern and Classical Languages Department Philosophy on Rewrites, Retakes, and Revisions

 

The Department feels strongly that language learning is a process and that students reinforce their learning by having the opportunity to examine and correct their mistakes. Your instructor may provide opportunities for test corrections, test retakes or revision of written work. These opportunities may be optional or required. Corrections, retakes, and revisions generally impact the grade positively because they often reflect an improvement over previous work, but your teacher will determine the impact on your grade based on the quality of your work.

 

Students who have questions or would like additional practice are invited and encouraged to make an appointment with me or to set up a cycle meeting.

Spanish is fun so give it a try, ¡Hola is hello and Adios is goodbye!

¡Bienvenidos al español! Let’s make it a great year!