Vistas mexicanas- Mexican Perspectives
Course Overview
In this course, students will study our nearest Spanish speaking neighbor: México. Students will simultaneously expand their grammar and vocabulary while studying varied topics pertaining to this engrossing and fascinating country, including (among others) the Mexican-American war, immigration, the fine arts, the recent crisis of drug violence, and the changing role of women. Students will do a mixture of reading, watching brief films and writing about what they learn, as well as having numerous in-class discussions and debates. Elements of the OLA and Rassias language immersion methods will be used to communicate class material mostly in Spanish, although English may be used to clarify certain points.
Assessment Strands
Conversation (25%). Examples could include:
Formal and informal discussions with teacher or peers
Focused “simulations” with peers in which students must complete a communicative task
Email correspondence in Spanish
Interpretation (25%). Examples could include:
Listening to a Spanish conversation and answering comprehension questions
Reading a short story or poem in Spanish and answering comprehension questions
Following printed or spoken directions to create a drawing or map
Presentation (25%). Examples could include:
Writing and performing a skit
Memorizing and reciting a poem in Spanish
Writing and sharing longer compositions
Work Habits (25%). The work habits grade represents the habits and practices that make an effective Spanish student. These include:
Participation in prácticas and other class activities
Speaking in Spanish in class
Completion of homework
Studying vocabulary and grammar
Timely completion of all steps on major projects
Persistence and good humor in challenging situations (interpretation assessments, conversations, etc.)
HONORS
Students taking this class for Honors credit will have to complete additional work related to each project. In addition, Honors students will occasionally have to complete more in-depth work on homework assignments, including oral homework. Honors students are also expected to contribute regularly to class discussions and consistently maintain a high level of work habits.
POLICY ON MISSING CLASS
If you miss class due to illness, a doctor’s appointment, or any other reason, it is your responsibility to email the instructor to see if you have missed any important work and find out if you have homework (see below for email policy).Extensions will not be granted if a student fails to comply with this policy.
EMAIL POLICY
You may email the instructor at beinsidler@innovationcharter.org at any time should you have any questions about your grade or our course material. Emails will receive a response within one school day. However, emails that lack an appropriate heading and closing, and/or have not been checked for spelling, will not warrant a response.