Syllabus for Spanish III
Course Description: Spanish III emphasizes utilizing the vocabulary and grammatical structures studied in Spanish I and II. More complex grammatical structures and readings will be studied. Cultural study is also expanded with the emphasis on Hispanics in the U.S., Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Spain, and Colombia. Class discussions will be done to a great extent in Spanish.
Course standards and competencies: The five standards of reading, writing, speaking and culture will be demonstrated by the following competencies:
1. Students will demonstrate expanded aural comprehension.
2. Students will formulate speech at a higher level in which some sentences will be complex and there is an increasing richness of vocabulary.
3. Students will write adequately for a variety of purposes in which some sentences will be complex and there is an increasing richness of vocabulary.
4. Students will practice expanded skills in reading.
5. Students will demonstrate more sophisticated speaking skills.
6. Students will demonstrate enriched knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world.
Student Support: It is important to keep up in all classes, especially in a foreign language class. Therefore, please come and see me if you have any questions or feel deficient in any area in Spanish. When I am not in class, I am usually in room 236 or 241 or in the teachers’ workroom. I am available at the following times:
Before school B4
A1 After school
Because there are many demands on my time, you may find it more convenient to make an appointment to meet with me.
In addition to the help that I can provide, Spanish tutoring is also available before school two days a week and after school three days a week. This tutoring is provided by the teachers in the RBHS Spanish department. If you earned a grade lower than a B in Spanish II, you should begin attending tutoring sessions before encountering difficulties to ease your transition to Spanish III. You will also be given the internet address of useful sites and there is a specific RBHS website for level 3.
Required materials: You should bring your textbook, En Español, to class each day. You are also expected to have paper and a #2 pencil or a pen (blue or black ink).
You should have a folder or a binder to keep your papers in. You need to have an organizational system so that you will always be able to access your homework and colored handouts promptly. You are to keep all handouts copied on colored paper for the entire year.
Participation: Since a language is a skill involving speaking, listening (and comprehending), reading and writing, it is important to actively participate in all class activities. You should mentally do all activities and answer all questions, even though it may not be your turn to respond. You will receive a weekly participation grade. In order to receive 100% of these points, you need to be on time, prepared (paper, pencil/pen, etc.), attentive, cooperative, on task and do your best.
Tardy Policy: If you not here and ready for class when the bell rings, you will be considered tardy, which will affect the participation grade. If you are more than 10 minutes late you should get a pass from the office. Students with excessive tardies will be referred to the dean.
Homework and testing:
There is an assignment due almost every class. Therefore, if you are absent, you should contact a classmate and find out the assignment or stop by the classroom on the day of your return to school to obtain the assignment so that you will be prepared for class. In addition to written assignments, you will also be expected to study grammatical explanations and the vocabulary. There will be vocabulary quizzes and tests will be given at the end of each chapter and/or unit. There will also be semester tests.
Generally speaking, homework dealing with new grammatical structures will be graded according to the degree of completion and effort rather than on the accuracy of your answers. In addition, when the homework is corrected in class, you are expected to correct your work as part of your grade. Compositions, oral presentations, and projects will be graded according to quality in most cases.
Make-up work policy
Listed below are the guidelines for work not completed with the class. I will be happy to correct work completed after the deadline but no credit will be given. You are responsible for obtaining and submitting the assignments and scheduling make-up tests and quizzes within the time frame indicated below.
Excused absences: Homework must be made up by 3:15 on the Friday of the week following the absence. You must arrange a time for making up quizzes and tests immediately upon your return to class. In cases of extended absences, you must arrange with me a suitable schedule for making up the work upon your return to school.
Late homework: Late homework must be turned in by 3:15 on the Friday of the week following the original due date in order to receive 90% credit (penalty rounded up to the nearest quarter point, minimum penalty of ½ point). (Zero credit for obvious copying or doing the assignment in class.)
Unexcused absences: Homework, quizzes and tests must be made up by 3:15 on the Friday of the week following the absence for 90% credit. You will receive a zero for participation.
Truant: No credit given for homework, quizzes or class activities. Test must be made up promptly for 50% credit.
Suspended: On the first suspension you may make up work for 90% credit, completing it by 3:15 on the Friday of the week following the suspension. If there is a second suspension in the same semester, only exams and major projects may be made up for 50% credit.
Behavior: Courteous behavior is expected at all times. Any behavior that detracts from the learning atmosphere is unacceptable. Unacceptable behavior includes sharpening pencils during oral activities, being late to class, or putting feet on desks or chair seats, talking to friends, doing homework for other classes, etc. Food (including candy) and drink (except for bottled water) are not permitted. Gum chewing is discouraged, but those who choose to chew gum should do so quietly and without blowing bubbles. Gum is prohibited in the language lab.
Consequences for breaking the rules can vary depending on the circumstances and can include a verbal warning, a call to parent, parent-teacher-student conference, detention/loss of AUT, or a referral to the principal’s office.
Grades:
The following grading scale will be used:
A 95-100 B 86-88 C 77-79 D 68-70
A- 92-94 B- 83-85 C- 74-76 D- 65-67
B+ 89-91 C+ 80-82 D+ 71-73 F below 65
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