BIENVENIDOS! WELCOME!
Congratulations on choosing to study Spanish this year. Did you know that Spanish is spoken by over 400 million people in 21 countries, and is one of the five official languages of the U.N.? This year you have the opportunity to learn this beautiful and exciting language.
In this course I use a method called Teaching with Comprehensible Input (TCI). In other words, I want you to understand what you hear (in Spanish). This is possible through attentive listening, active participation, and by speaking in Spanish as much as possible! When you learned to speak your first language, you acquired it naturally by listening to other people speak it around you for a long time, not studying it. Therefore, almost all of our class time will be spent using Spanish and the focus initially will be on listening, oral-storytelling and reading.
The course also provides opportunities to explore the cultural diversity of the world’s Spanish speaking peoples, for example through film, art, music, dance, poetry, and food. We will learn about some of the issues that shape life in the Spanish-speaking world, including Latino migrants and immigrants living in the USA and Canada. I believe it is more important than ever to foster empathy and build solidarity with people around the globe, and learning a second language is one path towards this goal.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS – ROARS
As your teacher, it is my RESPONSIBILTY to:
As a student, it is your RESPONSIBILITY to:
Behave in a way that shows RESPECT for:
Take OWNERSHIP for your learning:
Bring a positive ATTITUDE to what we do together. In this class we will be telling a lot of (often silly) stories together. These are our TPRS rules. You can maximize your own and others learning during these stories by…
Help maintain a physically and emotionally SAFE learning environment in the classroom.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
In fun and highly interactive ways, students will be able to:
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
COURSE FEES
Nothing initially, although small fees may be collected through the year for food/other related activities.
EVALUATION:
Term Marks:
25% Student Engagement –student self-evaluations and teacher evaluations (TPRS rules)
30% Interpretive Communication –student understands what they hear/see in Spanish (listening, reading)
25% Interpersonal Communication –student can communicate in Spanish (written, oral)
20% Cultural Connections and Intercultural Learning -projects and in-class cultural activities
Final Marks:
Term 1: 20%
Term 2: 30%
Term 3: 30%
Final Exam: 20%
Congratulations on choosing to study Spanish this year. Did you know that Spanish is spoken by over 400 million people in 21 countries, and is one of the five official languages of the U.N.? This year you have the opportunity to learn this beautiful and exciting language.
In this course I use a method called Teaching with Comprehensible Input (TCI). In other words, I want you to understand what you hear (in Spanish). This is possible through attentive listening, active participation, and by speaking in Spanish as much as possible! When you learned to speak your first language, you acquired it naturally by listening to other people speak it around you for a long time, not studying it. Therefore, almost all of our class time will be spent using Spanish and the focus initially will be on listening, oral-storytelling and reading.
The course also provides opportunities to explore the cultural diversity of the world’s Spanish speaking peoples, for example through film, art, music, dance, poetry, and food. We will learn about some of the issues that shape life in the Spanish-speaking world, including Latino migrants and immigrants living in the USA and Canada. I believe it is more important than ever to foster empathy and build solidarity with people around the globe, and learning a second language is one path towards this goal.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS – ROARS
As your teacher, it is my RESPONSIBILTY to:
- Behave in a way that shows RESPECT for myself, others, the environment, property, time, and rules.
- Take OWNERSHIP for delivering engaging and thoughtful lessons enable students to meet the curricular objectives for the course
- Have an ATTITUDE in class that encourages positive results and makes everyone feel welcomed
- Ensure the classroom supports all learners in an inclusive and academically rigorous space.
- Provide a physically and emotionally SAFE learning environment.
As a student, it is your RESPONSIBILITY to:
Behave in a way that shows RESPECT for:
- Yourself: Be honest and do quality work. Any cheating will not be accepted, and an automatic '0' will result. This most definitely includes online translators. This also includes obvious help from native speakers of Spanish.
- Others: Respect the diversity in our classroom and learning needs of your classmates. Set appropriate boundaries. Racist, homophobic, sexist comments are not tolerated.
- Time: We have a limited amount of time together to learn Spanish so don’t waste it! Arrive on time to class. If you are late twice in a row you will write me a letter. If you are late three times in a row we will chat with the administration.
- Property: Take care of things (whether they belong to you, your neighbour, me, or our school). Do NOT write on the desks. Arrive at class with the supplies you need (pen/pencil, paper, binder)
- Rules: Know the rules for both our school (ROARS) and our class rules.
- The Environment…Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair!
Take OWNERSHIP for your learning:
- Attendance: You are expected to come to class every day and be prepared to work. A note from home is required for every absence. Remember, to learn a second language, you need to be here!
- Tests/Assignments: It is YOUR responsibility to re-schedule any missed tests and quizzes and get in any late assignments due to illness. These must also be accompanied by a note from home explaining your absences.
- Extra help: Please come and see me whenever you have questions or need extra help. My door is always open on Day 1! (I am not at school on Day 2). My email address is: [email protected]
- My Website/Onenote Class Notebook: Use it! Course outlines, information and assignments will be posted here.
Bring a positive ATTITUDE to what we do together. In this class we will be telling a lot of (often silly) stories together. These are our TPRS rules. You can maximize your own and others learning during these stories by…
- Sitting up
- Keeping your eyes up front
- Writing down EVERYTHING that you see on the board
- Only speaking in Spanish when we are telling stories, no social talking or cellphone use!
- Responding with enthusiasm to the story and my questions!
- Letting me know when you don’t understand!!!!
Help maintain a physically and emotionally SAFE learning environment in the classroom.
- Ensure your belongings are stored safely and keep all electronic devices out of sight. No phones. No phones. No phones. Nada. Unless you want me to take them!
- Work cooperatively and respectfully with all classmates
COURSE OBJECTIVES
In fun and highly interactive ways, students will be able to:
- Learn to speak introductory Spanish with confidence and creativity
- Tell stories together as a class, extract information from these stories, and respond to questions orally
- Re-write stories told in class and create your own versions
- Read a short novel in Spanish
- Expand usage of language expressions to personal lives (needs, desires, emotions, interests, opinions)
- Gain cultural and social awareness and understanding about the Spanish-speaking world
- Interact spontaneously in Spanish
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
- 3-ring course binder with 4 section dividers (Vocab, Daily Work, Writing, Handouts)
COURSE FEES
Nothing initially, although small fees may be collected through the year for food/other related activities.
EVALUATION:
Term Marks:
25% Student Engagement –student self-evaluations and teacher evaluations (TPRS rules)
30% Interpretive Communication –student understands what they hear/see in Spanish (listening, reading)
25% Interpersonal Communication –student can communicate in Spanish (written, oral)
20% Cultural Connections and Intercultural Learning -projects and in-class cultural activities
Final Marks:
Term 1: 20%
Term 2: 30%
Term 3: 30%
Final Exam: 20%