Spanish 2 Advanced:  Academic Year 2007 - 2008

SPANISH 2 ADVANCED           MR. MOSCOV           ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

TEXTS:  EN ESPANOL DOS

          MAS PRACTICA

                                GRADED SPANISH READER

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This honors intermediate course will utilize a uniquely designed program that effectively balances both proficiency and grammar with the goal of maximizing communication.  The varied exit and entry activities are structured to actively engage all participants.  The various sequences lead students through controlled, transitional and open-ended activities geared toward developing all four communication skills—listening, writing, reading and speaking.  In addition, it provides a variety of learning strategies to enhance and stimulate these skills with an introduction to the Hispanic/Spanish culture including the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Costa Rica and Ecuador.  The main text is divided into six unidades each consisting of three etapas each.  Each etapa has various objectives that are clearly outlined which presents vocabulary, grammar and culture with supporting exercises.  Supplemental materials include a student workbook- Más Práctica- and an audio program with related drills to assist the students in the mastery of each new topic.  The text also offers the class zone which is an on line companion offering access to internet resources at www.mcdougallittle.com.  In addition, a literary text will be incorporated which will introduce the students to literature in Spanish. As an honors course, it will be taught as such with appropriate demands expected.  Students will begin to use more complex grammatical structures, more idiomatic language, a broader range of vocabulary and employ a higher level of thinking.  The class will move at a quick pace and will be conducted almost entirely in Spanish.

OBJECTIVES:

·         To introduce grammar and vocabulary which will lead to improved proficiency

·         To support and encourage student confidence and retention

·         To present and adapt various learning styles and abilities

·         To integrate technology to facilitate immersion in both language and instruction

GOALS:

The material presented should enable the students to:

·         Better articulate and communicate their ideas and thoughts with greater facility as the course progresses

·         Be able to use the language creatively in a variety of settings both formal and informal

·         Understand the language at a normal speed

·         Prepare a composition of approximately two pages which utilizes appropriate vocabulary and grammar

·         Read, understand, analyze and discuss the assignments in the reader

·         Prepare a power point presentation with a partner on two types of music from any Spanish speaking country

CLASSWORK:  Assignments will be given on a daily basis, which may include written preparation of a specific grammatical concept, preparation of short compositions and exercises, dialogues, group projects or additional oral presentations.  At times, students may be called upon at random to lead class drills, present a reading or make a short presentation.  Each class will begin with a comentario at which time every student will be responsible to contribute to the related topic or vocabulary.  Class participation will count in the overall evaluation of the students’ progress. It is each student’s responsibility to phone a classmate for an assignment if a class is missed.  If this proves unsuccessful I can be reached at 883-8221.  There will be no homework assigned on test days.  If a test is missed for any reason, a mutually beneficial time will be arranged for a make-up.  This also includes a missed assignment.  Each student will be responsible to assemble a notebook, which should contain all of the assignments properly labeled as to page number and date, quizzes, handouts and compositions.  The notebooks will be reviewed at the end of the first and third mark periods.  I will keep tests after review and will return them before exams.  The power point presentation will be assigned during the 3^rd mark period and will count as 1/3 of the term grade.  A diagnostic test will be administered during the first two weeks of classes which will NOT count in any evaluation except to give me an idea of the students’ progress at that particular time.

GRADING AND EVALUATION:  There will be frequent unannounced quizzes during the mark periods which are approximately eight weeks in length.  A full period test will be given at the end of each etapa .  In addition, there will be a reading comprehension test each mark period.  Oral work and compositions will be evaluated also.  Compositions may be corrected and resubmitted for credit.  All quizzes, compositions and oral presentations will be averaged together and will count as one half of the mark period grade.  Homework will be checked on a daily basis and may be collected spontaneously, graded and counted as quizzes.  The mark period grade will be the composite of the tests, quizzes, class participation, journals, notebooks and oral work.  A number grade will be derived and this then, will be translated into a letter grade (see below).  There will be NO make-ups on missed surprise quizzes.  Vocabulary quizzes will be announced and may be made-up if missed.  Three (3) unexcused, incomplete assignments will result in lowering a student’s mark period grade five (5) points.  Late compositions or assignments will result in lowering grades one (1) step per day including weekends.  Extra credit work is available after mutual approval or content, form, length and due date.  No extra credit or re-writes will be accepted during the last week of the mark period.  Students may inquire about their status at any time.  Some students may be required to attend extra help sessions during X period or after school.  I will be available at these times for anyone who would like extra help.  EACH STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO READ AND REVIEW THE SECTION IN THE HANDBOOK ON PLAGARISM.  Approximately one week will be spent reviewing in class for each exam during which time review exercises will be assigned to help the students recall the grammar completed to date.  The oral portion of the exam will be administered during this time on a one on one basis with me.  Topics for this portion will be distributed in advance.

EXAMS AND FINAL GRADES:  There will be a comprehensive exam given at the end of each semester in January and June, which will cover all of the material presented to date.  The final grade will be a composite of the four mark period grades and both exams, all averaged equally.

ANUNCIO:  This is a most exciting time for all of us and as we encounter many diverse cultures and ethnic origins in our daily lives, the study of a foreign language can become one of primary importance.  Internet access has opened many new and exciting foreign vistas. It is my sincere wish that your interest and desire to learn Spanish or any other foreign language do not end with this course.  To be able to understand and appreciate another culture can only expand our often times limited daily horizons.  In our rapidly changing world, it just may become one of the most singularly important endeavors we undertake.  An interesting fact is that there are more native speakers of Spanish than English!  We have a unique opportunity in the language department to apply what we learn in class to a real life setting by participating in our exchange programs to both France and Spain or Costa Rica.  You are invited and encouraged to do so.  ¡Adelante y que te vaya bien!

                                    GRADING SYSTEM

A+  98 – 100     B+  88 – 89       C+  78 – 79       D+  68 – 69      F  59 and below

A    93 – 97      B    83 – 87       C    73 – 77       D    63 - 67

A-  90 – 92       B-  80 – 82       C-  70 – 72       D-  60 - 62

ASSIGNMENTS

WRITING TOOLS:  correction legend, dictionaries , writing rubric

SPEAKING TOOLS: oral rubric

READING TOOLS: suggestions