Course Information for Spanish V

NORTH SALEM HIGH SCHOOL

COURSE INFORMATION SHEET 2010-2011
COURSE TITLE Spanish V
TEACHER Margarita Blessing

1
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In order to successfully communicate, you must continue to develop your facility with the language, familiarity with the cultures that use this language, and an awareness of how language and culture interact in Hispanic societies. You will learn to apply this knowledge as you express and interpret events and ideas in Spanish and reflect upon observations from its diverse culture.

To meet high communicative standards, you will have ample opportunities to experience Spanish as it is spoken and written. Meaningful language from real contexts becomes the basis for further development of expressive skills. This Spanish classroom will provide a safe place in which to experiment with linguistic and cultural challenges. The class will provide opportunities for many different kinds of interaction with Hispanic cultures so you can draw informed conclusions and develop sensitivity to their perspectives, practices and products.

The course is intended to aid your further development of communicative
fluency, structural/idiomatic accuracy and grammar knowledge.



2
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS TO STUDENTS

A.
Use of a three ring binder is required. Formal notes are given in class, and you will need to make notes on vocabulary, cultural material and other pertinent information. A good Spanish/English Dictionary, to be kept at home, is helpful. Possible Suggestions are: Random House (Second Edition), Larousse (2002 Edition) Oxford Spanish Dictionary (Third Edition)
B.
Packets of exercises and activity sheets plus other printed material are distributed in class. Be sure your notebook has a place to store current material safely.
C.
Much of your class time will be spent on oral work. Participation is not optional. Raise your hand and volunteer frequently. A large part of the oral work grade comes from your vocabulary participation. Speak as often as possible; it will lead to fluency.
D.
Homework will be assigned on most night. Do all assignments; they lead to mastery.
E.
Grades are also recorded on a separate sheet in the three-ring binder. When tests and quizzes are returned, record them on that page.
F.
All exams (tests and quizzes) and assignments missed due to legal absence are to be made up within a week after your return to class. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and make arrangements with the teacher to make up the work. If extra help is needed, I am available after-school.
G.
Be patient and helpful to your classmates and be tolerant of one another.




3
TITLES

A.
Avance McGraw-Hill 2008
Program Components: Student Audio CD, Lab Manual, Audio program, website, (www.mhhe.com/avance2), videos.

B.
Internet & E-mail: AOL.com en espanol.; About.com, Spanish.com, El Pais.com, El Dario. Com.

C.
Magazines/TV
Authentik (Magazine and CD for advanced Spanish students)
Selecciones
Cometa
Univision,


4
HOMEWORK POLICY
The primary purpose for assigning homework is to give you additional practice in developing your language competence. It obviously takes more time to master a foreign language than the 40 minutes available in the daily school schedule. Homework is either oral preparation, written work, reading for understanding, or watching taped material. It should be stressed that homework always bears directly on the next day’s class and is therefore an integral part of the your daily responsibility. Homework is assigned on most days and should take an average student 30 minutes.
5
EXAMINATION POLICY
The final exam will count as one-fifth of the year’s average. All materials from the year will be included. It will include: listening, speaking reading and writing assessments such as: DBQ’s and models from the SAT II.
6
GRADING POLICY
All tests cover all areas of communication. Report card marking system is as follows:

Quizzes: 40% (6-8 a quarter)

Tests: 30% (2 a quarter)

Project: 10% (1 a quarter)
Homework: 10%

Participation: 10% (formal and informal)

7
ATTENDANCE
Frequent absence will result in a parental conference. Attendance is essential for progress in this class. After an extended absence due to illness there will be 5 class days will be allowed to make up all tests, quizzes, and homework. Make an appointment for make-ups as soon as you return to

8
TARDINESS
Lateness disrupts students and teacher alike. Detention will be the result according to school policy. Although the class is 1st period you need to strive to be on time every morning.
9
EXTRA HELP DAYS AND LOCATION
Thursdays 2:15 - 2:55 p.m. in room E217
10
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
A. I am able to respond to your concerns more quickly via e-mail: please use my school address or mbblessing@yahoo.com to contact me. This e-mail goes directly to my Iphone so it is the quickest way to contact me. Voice mail: You are also able to leave me messages on the school’s voicemail system at extension is 2162
B. All types of assessment will be graded and returned to you as quickly as possible. There are many projects, quizzes, tests and opportunities for you“to show what you know.”
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HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS TO STUDENTS
Remember that this is a second language to most of you. Be patient and helpful to your classmates and be tolerant of one another.
An important part of the student’s grade comes from daily participation. Speak as often as possible in class; it leads to fluency. Everyone can learn a new language. There will come a day when you will be glad you did.
Fun things to do

Change the language on your favorite movies to Spanish when viewing a DVD and see how many words you can catch.

Listen to Yahoo Music. Click on the Radio option and select Latin. To start I would recommend you click on all the artist as the year goes on you will find what kind of music each represents (Rock, Pop, Romantic, Salsa, etc..)


Please sign and return this form to me by Monday September 13, 2010.

Student’s NAME_____________________________________
Insure that the remainder of the document is in the Spanish section of your binder.
I have read Course Information Sheet for Spanish V 2010-2011 including the grading policy for this year. I will work to the best of my ability to achieve the objectives of this class and will strive to be present, on time and willing to speak in Spanish during class.

Student _____________________________

My son/daughter seems to have a clear understanding of the requirements, grading policy and assistance available to them this year in Spanish V.

Parent __________________________