Spanish 3 Syllabus

Senora Livingston, Teacher

Shaw High School 

Course Description

The course begins with a review of essential Spanish I and II skills. Level of instruction assumes a basic knowledge of grammar concepts and vocabulary introduced in Spanish I and II. Emphasis is on communicating in Spanish through speaking, listening, reading, and writing in various aspects of time. Students also study Hispanic culture, geography, and history. Students will participate in individual, paired, and group activities as well as complete written and oral exercises to practice new vocabulary and grammar concepts. Students will also write papers on an assigned topic in Spanish and demonstrate speaking and listening proficiency throughout the year.

Spanish III is an in-depth course that will review and study many of the same topics presented in Spanish I and II but to a greater degree. Speaking, writing, and reading skills will expand as you are challenged with the language. You will continue to study Hispanic culture and traditions, and will have the opportunity to make presentations about the culture. You will be introduced to higher level vocabulary, newspaper and magazine articles from Spain and Latin America. You will also be introduced to the works of some of the major writers of the Spanish-speaking world. At all times, the primary focus will be to increase your ability to communicate in Spanish with ease and confidence.

To take Spanish III, you must have a Spanish I and II credit either through taking the course or by placement test. It is highly recommended that you have made at least a final grade of "C" in Spanish II before taking Spanish III.

Goals:

Materials

The following materials should be brought to class each day:

*I also recommend that you buy an English-Spanish/Spanish-English dictionary for your use throughout this course and throughout your life as a speaker of Spanish! This is not required.

Class Rules: The Expected Behaviors

1. Be prepared - ready to start, with all materials in class.

       2. Bring a positive attitude with you to class.

3. Respect others - Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Use appropriate

    language.

       4. Each student should be in his/her seat when the bell rings.

       5. Follow directions - no side conversations.

       6. Leave personal grooming and eating outside the classroom.

7. Keep classroom clean.

       8. Academic honesty is essential! (*see below) 

*Each student is responsible for his/her own learning. All work should be completed independently unless otherwise notified. Cheating will result in the grade of a zero.

Assignments
1.
All assignments are due on the date specified. Late work is not accepted except in the case of an excused absence.
2. All work is to be done neatly.
3. Homework is due at the beginning of class. You may not leave the room to retrieve it. If turned in after due date, the homework assignment will receive half credit.  We check homework in class. It is a reinforcement activity of what you have previously learned.
4. It is up you to check for missed work; or you may contact another student or the teacher outside of class time. All such assignments missed due to an excused absence must be turned in within three days of returning to school.
5. You must see the teacher on the day you return to make arrangements for missed tests and quizzes. If you wait any longer you may not be able to make them up.

Homework: Expect homework each night. Assignments may not always be written. Students should complete all written homework assignments and have them ready to turn in at the beginning of class on the due date. If you are absent on the day that a homework assignment is due (an assignment made on a day that you were present), the assignment is due on the day that you return to class.

Quizzes: In order to assess how you are progressing, quizzes will be given frequently on material that has been covered in class. The key to performing well on quizzes is adequate nightly preparation!

Tests: A test will be given at the end of each unit. Tests will have a variety of formats including any combination of written, listening, and oral assessment. Oral presentations, written compositions, and/or research projects may also be assigned for a quiz or test grade.

Make-up Work: Students should attend class each day. If you miss class due to an excused absence, it is your responsibility to obtain all missed work and assignments. It is also your responsibility to set up a convenient time with the teacher to make-up missed quizzes and/or tests.

Class Participation: Speaking is an integral part of learning a foreign language. Although we are in the beginning levels of instruction, students will be expected to use Spanish in class as much as possible. You will not be penalized for incorrect answers, so don’t be shy! A positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and being prepared are also important parts of your class participation grade. Not doing homework, working on materials for other classes during Spanish class, and/or being disrespectful will have a negative effect on your grade.

Assessment

Your grade will be comprised of the following elements:

Evaluation

Daily participation                         20%

Daily homework                             20%

Quizzes                                                10%

Tests                                                     15%

Final Exam                                         25%

Projects, dialogues, etc.                10%

 

Course content

·         Vocabulary Themes: Travel, Daily routines, Pastimes, Events and ceremonies, History, Values, Health and Well-being, and Roots. Each grouped by region.

·         Grammar: Review of present, preterite, imperfect, present perfect, conditional, future, gustar, ser, estar, pronouns, articles, comparisons, demonstrative pronouns

·         Grammar: present subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, present perfect subjunctive, por y para, pluperfect, future perfect, pluperfect subjunctive, if clauses, possessive nouns, passive voice

·         Culture of Spanish-speaking countries: music, history, literature, art, dance, clothing, journalism, politics

 

Attendance and Tardies:
The school’s policies will be followed and enforced.

Contacting the Teacher

Please call the school at W. H. Shaw High School 7579 Raider Way Columbus, GA  31909
telephone 706-569-3638
at least one day in advance to make appointments for conferences so that I can make adjustments in my planning schedule. I can also be reached by email at mlivingston@mcsdga.net

Course Topics

Chapter 1: Spain, preterite verb tense, demonstrative, and possessive pronouns

Chapter 2: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the imperfect, the subjunctive

Chapter 3: Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, ser vs. estar, indirect objects, gustar, faltar, subjunctive

Chapter 4: Central America, future, conditional, direct and indirect object pronouns, imperfect subjunctive

Chapter 5: Mexico, perfect tenses, commands, the progressive tenses