• Advanced High School Spanish 103,

    3 Credit Hours

     

     

    Instructor:    Sra. Quiñones

     

    Pre-Requisite:           4 units of high school Spanish and recommendation of the instructor

     

    Course Description:

    This is an advanced Spanish course for high school students who have completed 4 units of study.  As such, the course will emphasize advanced communication and listening skills.  Reading at an advanced level will consist of articles of varying topics and lengths and will stress comprehension.  Writing skills will be enhanced to include personal narratives with emphasis on improved grammar, which will be an integral aspect of the course.  Previously learned structures will be reviewed and reinforced, while advanced grammatical structures will be introduced for continued growth in the language.  Students will add to their already extensive vocabulary bank with an emphasis on words necessary for improved communication skills.  Students will also continue to learn about the many cultures throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

     

    Course objectives:

    In addition to the general objectives of any advanced course, the following specific objectives will be included:

              -To reinforce the knowledge of basic and advanced grammatical concepts and structures.

     

    -To increase knowledge and use of vocabulary for better communication skills in the target   

     language.

     

              -To further reading skills, emphasizing comprehension through various learning strategies.

     

              -To extend writing skills with a focus on effective communication.

     

              -To promote cultural awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity through videos, articles,

               realia, etc. of the various Spanish-speaking countries. 

     

    Expectations:

    To promote and foster the enhancement of communication skills in the foreign language, it is expected that students will actively participate in the target language when at all possible.  Students will engage in a variety of activities that encourage the use of the target language such as small and large group discussions, skits, partner work, etc.

     

    Homework is an integral part of the course to reinforce and practice the grammar concepts learned in class.  It is expected that homework be completed and of good quality when it is assigned.  Not allhomework will be graded but in order to gain better command of the language, homework should be done on a daily basis.

     

     

    Grading: 

    Grades for this course will be based on quizzes, tests, projects, homework, writing assignments and the final exam.  Oral proficiency will be judged by the instructor during class participation and in formal testing at the end of each unit.  The following show the weighing to be used in determining the final grade:

              MP-1            20%             MP-4            20%

              MP-2            20%             Final Exam     20%

              MP-3            20%

     

    The following components will make up each marking periods grade:

              Tests = 35%            at the end of each unit, consists of grammar, vocabulary and culture

              Quizzes = 25%         small and on one topic at a time, once per week

              Homework  = 15%    once or twice a week, 10 will be graded out of 10 pts. totaling 100 pts.

              Projects = 15%         individual, group and writing assignments

              Participation = 10 % based on preparedness for class (ex. book, hmwk., paper), daily use of

    Spanish in the classroom and two oral tests per marking period (1 picture sequence and one interview)

     

    The college grading scale, which follows, will be used to determine the granting of credit (3 hours), C- being the minimum for granting credit.

     

    100-93                        A                 79-77           C+                         62-60           D-      

    92-90                            A-                76-73           C                           59              F

    89-87                            B+               72-70           C-

    86-83                            B                 69-67           D+

    82-80           B-                66-63           D

     

    Plagiarism:

    Students should present material of their own composition.  In this course, students will be asked to do various writing assignments.  It is expected that students will do their own work.  Any use of computer aided composition or translation websites is strictly prohibited.  In cases of possible plagiarism, the appropriate disciplinary steps, according to Akron Central Schools, will be followed.

     

    Texts: Gordon, R. Stillman, D. The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice, Passport Books, 1999.

     

    Grammatical Structures to be presented:

    Present Subjunctive and Commands                     Future and Conditional

    Uses of the Subjunctive                                     Probability

    Object Pronouns

    Imperfect Subjunctive

    Hacer with Time Expressions

    Uses of se

    Passive Voice

    Perfect tenses

    Imperfect Progressive