Omar Ramos

Credit: 1 (1 year)
Prerequisites: Spanish IV or Faculty recommendation
Grade: 11, 12

 

Course Overview

This course is intended for students with expectations of becoming proficient in Spanish. This course is designed to parallel a fifth semester college level language course. In order to develop good language skills, an integrated approach to language learning will be the focus. All course material will include authentic sources. The use of Spanish language newspapers, radio broadcasts, video clips and literary works will form the foundation of the course. Language and culture will be taught simultaneously through the use of these materials. Students will be asked to prepare oral presentations, work on individual and group projects, and research a variety of teacher and student selected topics. The teacher will conduct classes completely in Spanish and students will sign a “Palabra de Honor” indicating that they will use the target language exclusively in class.

 

Goals For The Course

• To understand the spoken and written language and be able to respond appropriately with a high level of vocabulary and accuracy.
• To use language that is semantically and grammatically accurate according to a given context.
• To develop strong interpersonal skills both aural and written.
• To develop strong presentational skills.
• To write well-organized essays that demonstrates synthesis and integration of skills.
• To research, discuss and present on a variety of cultural topics.
• To differentiate between informal and formal registers in aural and written work.
• To develop awareness of Spanish-speaking people, their culture, and their contributions to our society through a variety of authentic resources such as newspaper articles, radio broadcasts and works of literature.
• To extend their learning environment and make connections with Spanish speaking people in the community.
• To sit for the AP Spanish Language exam in May.

 

Evaluation

Grades will be based on your performance on all activities in the course. This includes, but is not limited to, recorded speaking samples, essays, listening and reading comprehension activities, tests and homework.

 

Weighing of Grades:      

Tests/Quizzes/Projects     35%

Written Assignments     20%

Aural/Oral Activities     20%

Classroom participation     15%

Homework     10%

 

NiceNet.org

I have asked all students to sign up to www.nicenet.org, which is an interactive, online classroom, where I will be able to: 

• Message all of the students the same time (parents too if they wish).
• Post links to useful websites.
• Start conversation topics for the student to participate (message boards - this will become very important in AP!).

For AP SPANISH Use Class Code: H3Z9438A36

 

Weekly Article Homework

Get familiarized with the following website: www.prensaescrita.com

This site contains links to most if not every newspaper website from Spanish-speaking countries. Every Friday you will have an article summary due. Select a country, select a paper, and select an article. Turn in a printout of the article used along with a typed, double-spaced summary in Spanish. No emails. Said summary does not need to be longer than one- substantial- paragraph. You can turn this earlier if you prefer but not late, so please plan accordingly around you absences. All or nothing, 10 points per week towards your grade.

 

Late Work Policy

Any late work, except for the weekly article summary, which is not eligible, will be automatically deducted 50%. After a week late work will not be accepted.

 

Get to know the AP Spanish Test Format:

 

Learn the Lingo!

Interpersonal: a more informal communication between two or more individuals.

Interpersonal Writing – written communication that goes back and forth or is intended for a specific audience; examples: emails, letters.

Interpersonal Speaking – oral communication that goes back and forth between two or more individuals; examples: in person conversation, telephone conversation, voicemails.

Presentational: a formal communication coming from one individual towards an audience.

Presentational Writing – a formal written work that exposes synthesized information, a summary or an opinion; examples: an essay, a research paper.

Presentational Speaking – a formal oration that exposes synthesized information, a summary or an opinion example: a speech.