Parents & Students

Bienvenidos!  Welcome to Spanish class! 

Learning another language is a skill that is challenging, yet rewarding.  In order to be successful, you must be willing to work, not only with me, but also with your classmates to form a team that will make your study interesting and exciting.

This is a class that can be fun and a new adventure.  However, it is different from many others in that you are asked to demonstrate what you have learned in a variety of ways.  On a regular basis, you will be asked to perform a variety of tasks that will not only illustrate your growing skills, but also provide situations similar to those you will encounter in the Spanish-speaking world.  You will find it very hard to succeed in this class if you do not take an active role in your learning.  In other words, if you do not do the required work, you will not pass the class.

Objectives:  The objectives of this class are to acquaint beginning Spanish students with the basics of the language and cultures of Hispanic countries.  Emphasis is placed on practical vocabulary, basic sentence structure, verb forms and grammatical principles, and oral practice of the language.

Grades:  You will be graded on the following types of coursework:

1. Writing assignments (individual and group)
2. Oral participation (individual and group) - Active, attentive participation is essential for learning a foreign language.
3. Projects - Class projects will be assigned periodically and will be discussed at length at the appropriate time. 
4. Tests & Quizzes - You may expect tests frequently to assess your progress in reading, speaking, listening, writing, and overall comprehension of Spanish.  Most of these will be announced ahead of time.
5. Homework & Homework quizzes - Homework quizzes are generally not announced ahead of time.
6. Binders - Binders will be kept organized & neat.  The Spanish section will be graded each quarter.

Attendance:  Regular attendance is necessary in order to be successful in this class.  Each lesson builds on the one previous to it.  I cannot teach you if you are not in class.  Consequently, if you are absent frequently, you will miss out on instruction that will be essential to your success in Spanish.  Also, you will do oral practice in class on an almost daily basis.  If you are absent, you cannot make it up since it is done orally in class with a partner. 

Make-up Work:  It is your responsibility to contact me for any make-up work.  You may talk to me at school, email me, or look up your assignment on your weekly assignment sheet.  If you do not turn in your make-up work within the assigned limits as stated in the school handbook, your grade for the missing assignment will become a "0".  This work will not be done during class time.  If you wish to stay after school from 2:45 to 3:30 pm to do your makeup work or to receive help, you are welcome to do so.  All make-up tests or quizzes will be completed during a make-up session only.  No make-up tests or quizzes will be completed during class time.  You will make an appointment to make-up a test or quiz during a make-up session time (generally during the after school times listed above or during your study hall).  If you miss this appointment, you may reschedule for another session.  If, however, you miss the second appointment, you may not reschedule again.  So if you miss two scheduled appointments, you will not make-up that test or quiz and the grade will be a "0".     

Homework:  Learning a foreign language requires practice, practice, practice.  For this reason, homework will be assigned regularly.  You will be graded on the completion of your homework and each time it is not completed, it will affect your homework grade very quickly.  Homework will be checked for accuracy at the beginning of class each day.  Each assignment will be graded as follows:

• All work completed        =  4 points
• Incomplete                     =  0 points

If you are present in class and do not do the homework assignment, you may not turn it in late.  Learning to be responsible is part of your education experience.  The only time an assignment may be turned in late is when you are absent.  The assignment is then due as stated in the Make-up Work section of the School Handbook.

Also, there are several practice games that can be accessed through the links page of my website listed above.  Vocabulary words and various grammar points can always be reviewed and practiced using these games.

Materials Needed for Class:  Please check the Lista de Necesidades section of this website for a list of all the materials each student will need for Spanish classes.   Also, you will need to purchase a Bare Book for your written project for the semester exams.  The information to do this will be given in class at the appropriate time.  These books cost $1.50 - $2.00 plus shipping and tax, depending on what size book you get. 

Internet form:  Since we will be using the internet frequently for various assignments and projects, every student must have an internet permission form signed and on file in the library.  If anyone has a problem with this, please come and talk with me about it. 

Semester Exams:  All students are required to take the first semester exams, which consist of 2 sections: written and oral.  Everyone is also required to take the semester exam for 2nd semester.  The exam is a written project consisting of writing an autobiographical book using the vocabulary and grammar structures learned throughout the year.  Each student will present their book to the class orally on exam day. There is also an oral section of the semester test just like 1st semester.   

Spanish 2 students who wish to continue on to Spanish 3 must pass the oral exit exam section included in the Semester 2 test.  Those students who do not pass this section will not be allowed to enroll in Spanish 3. 

Class Participation:  Very simple concept - if you expect to pass this class, lack of participation is not an option!  In order to learn to speak Spanish, you must open your mouth and participate orally at the appropriate times.

Other Expectations: 

1. To continue to have the privilege of attending this class, you will always show respect to other people and their property.  Language and conduct should always demonstrate a high degree of consideration for others.  If you have prejudices against other individuals or other races or cultures, leave them outside this classroom.
2. This is a class that will be conducted in Spanish, not only about Spanish.  You are expected to use your developing Spanish skills at every available opportunity.
3. You are expected to show honesty and integrity at all times, especially with regard to academics.  Students caught cheating on assignments, tests, etc., will receive a "0" for that assignment.  No exceptions.  This includes those students who use the internet (online translators) to translate their work or plagiarize work from the internet.  See the Plagiarism section in the student handbook.
4. You will not be allowed to work on assignments from other classes during your Spanish class. You will be warned to put it away once. After that, such work will be confiscated.  Do your other assignments at home or in study hall.

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