Course Syllabus
SPANISH 1
This is an introductory, full year course in the Spanish language designed to build the foundations on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The emphasis is placed on developing communication skills on a variety of topics that include: greetings and farewells, numbers, the calendar, the weather, the school (supplies, facilities, schedules), descriptions (physicality and personality), clothing, food and the family. Students are often called upon to work in pairs or small groups so as to simulate a natural conversational setting.
Grammar practice focuses on the use of the indicative mood with the present verbal tense (simple and progressive). There is an introduction to the use of personal pronouns, articles, adjectives and prepositions. Writing is taught through a variety of short activities including personal essays about the topics studied, available in the primary textbook (Buen Viaje 1) and additional resources.
Each unit addresses cultural topics about the Spanish speaking world via short articles and ads that help students build awareness regarding social customs. These materials promote reading comprehension in the target language. Spanish songs and films supplement the program.
Drawing, spelling and learning games are played frequently to reinforce vocabulary and grammar acquisition. Role-playing is used as a tool to incorporate the vocabulary and grammar presented within a specific context, and to encourage creativity to connect emotionally with the target language. Duolingo is ocassionally used as a platform for additional practice.
Assessment
Evaluation is on all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. These language skills includes: reasoning (grammar and reading comprehension), communication (oral and written communication) and content knowledge (vocabulary and cultural knowledge).
Classroom conversations are used to build confidence in the target language and to assess the progress of students. Research projects with a writing component and an oral presentation that encompass the units studied, further the goal of training for competence in the target language, and promote confidence for public speaking.
Rubrics are used to assess the performance of students for their participation. Students are invited to assess themselves. A writing and oral presentation rubric is used to assess research projects.
The categories that comprise the total grade are: homework, participation, quizzes/projects and tests.
Goals
Students will be able to:
-Speak in short utterances in Spanish about limited practical, everyday topics or needs.
-Demonstrate comprehension of short samples of the target language.
-Write questions and sentences in short paragraphs about limited, practical topics or needs.
-Have an essential understanding of the Spanish syntax* system.
-Develop foundational literacy of Spanish grammar and use its concepts in context.
-Build awareness of the Spanish-speaking world by researching topics related to the course.
Essential Skills
-Exchange greetings and farewells.
-Introduce others in a culturally appropriate manner.
-Exchange basic information about self and others (name, age, birthday, etc.)
-Ask & tell time, and at what time something happens.
-Describe a school setting & school life.
-Describe people, places and things.
-Talk about clothing, colors and prices.
-Discuss everyday activities.
-Discuss plans.
-Discuss the weather and activities done in various seasons.
*Syntax: the part of grammar that studies linguistic elements concatenated to form correct phrases or clauses.