Introduction to Spanish

Objetivo: La meta de esta clase es hablar español.

In this course, beginners will be introduced both to Spanish and to how to learn in an immersion classroom. Students will be active in class and use play, movement and gesture to help them communicate in the classroom without English. Students will be learning to communicate basic facts about themselves and to interact with simple statements. The core of the class will focus on building comfort in the language and vocabulary (numbers, colors, greetings, family, school, etc.)

Requisito: El reto de esta clase es hablar español.

• To use Spanish 100% of the time.

• To  not be afraid of a Spanish environment.

• To take risks and break down the filter (make mistakes!)

• To be able to infer and circumlocute

• To participate and be a part of the community.

Filosofía: A hablar se aprende hablando.

This class is designed to help you learn Spanish by speaking Spanish. The class will consist of students speaking about their lives and interests in Spanish — no more and no less. Readings, music and videos will be drawn from expressed student interests and hobbies. Vocabulary, studying and written work will all be drawn from class conversations.

Once in a great while we will have days in English. You will know this because I will speak English to you as we come in. This will typically be to address logistics that cannot be addressed in Spanish.

Actividades — Conversación (El círculo, Mini-debates, estaciones) — Pronunciación (Rassias) — Escritura (Dictados, Diario electrónico) — Lectura (Actividades de leer, Diario electrónico)

Strands (Evaluaciones) — Conversation (35%): Graded conversations, Interviews — Presentation (15%): Recall of words & forms, edited written work; written blog. — Interpretation (15%): Recognition of words & forms, reading and listening assessments; independent reading. — Work Habits (35%): Class participation, homework

Recurring Assessments

DIGITAL PORTFOLIO: At 4 points during the semester, you will be asked to record yourself and post the recording to your Digital Portfolio. This will act as a record of your improving conversational abilities.

CUADERNO: You will use their composition notebooks regularly in the class and to complete homework assignments. These will be graded for completion and effort. From time to time particular assignments will be graded for level/communication and the teacher will let students know. It’s important to label each entry with the date, title, and number of the entry. Profe will write this on the board.

DIARIO: Students will also write brief, English (or Spanish if a student chooses) entries in their Diarios about the experience of acquiring a new language. Your teacher will give students prompts and sentence starters.

EDMODO POSTS: In Spanish we are using Edmodo so that students can interact in Spanish outside of the normal class period. Just like in the classroom, students need to interact without using any English. Everyone is required to complete a weekly task through posting and commenting on other posts. Additionally, there are other enrichment assignments posted for students to practice various skills: listening, reading, writing and interpersonal communication skills.

ents on your classmates’  Edmodos as well as writing your own.

GRADING

Please utilize x2 to follow your progress. If you or your parents would like to discuss your progress, please do not hesitate to contact me.

In order to justly assess all student work, please expect a two week window from the due date of an assignment before a grade is posted onto x2.

HONORS

Honors students in Spanish must take on additional responsibilities in class and take on some additional outside work as well.

Responsibilities include:

— Liderar: lead small-group discussion activities, committing to keeping students speaking in Spanish and constantly pushing the level of conversation higher.

— Liderar en el Blogosfero: Honors students are also expected to be leaders in the blogosphere. Honors students need to regularly read and respond to their peers’ blog entries as well as writing their own. Honors students will also have to write twice as many blogs as usual.

— Planear una clase: Honors students will have to plan and lead one entire class period.