Spanish H

Español 8 Honors

Course Description:

Spanish 8 Honors is designed to build on and continue the skills and cultural knowledge gained in the first two years of study. The pace will be faster and the material more in-depth than previous years. We will also have the opportunity to expand on various topics and incorporate more technology. For the most part, ONLY SPANISH will be spoken in class.

The New York State Foreign Language Proficiency Exam will be taken in June and is in lieu of a final in June. The exam consists of four sections. Part 1a is the informal assessment of speaking skills in the classroom from February through the test date. Points are awarded based on your speaking performance in the classroom. For Part 1b, students will converse in Spanish with the classroom teacher. There are four dialogues they must actively engage in appropriately to earn full credit. Parts 2a, b, and c make up the listening section. For this, the teacher will read a series of passages and short messages in Spanish. The questions in part a are in English, in Spanish for part b, and in part c, the answers are pictures. Sections 3a and b include various passages and advertisements in Spanish followed by questions regarding what was read. For sections 4a and b, students are required to respond to a prompt by writing two thirty-word paragraphs in Spanish.

Classroom Expectations:

Students are expected to arrive to class on time with all necessary materials. When students arrive to class, they should find their seat, take out their binder, place their homework in the appropriate bin, pick up any handouts, and copy down the homework assignment. Next, students should start any work (i.e. Do Now) that is written on the board. Students must ask questions when they arise since the pace will be faster this year. It is important that students participate actively since using Spanish is the essence of knowing it. Students are to be respectful to everyone at all times. There is no gum chewing in the foreign language classroom!

Textbook and Materials:

The Spanish 6 textbook, ¡Ven Conmigo!, is brought to class each day unless specified. Text books need to be covered. Outside sources such as products, books, newspapers, flyers and brochures will continue to be utilized when they are most beneficial. Using native products (realia) helps students understand language (grammar and vocabulary) in context. It also serves to enrich the cultural understanding of the Hispanohablante societies. Topical media will be used this year to enhance learning by continuing to address more learning modalities of learning in varied ways. A student reader will also be used this year.

Supply List is as follows:

· 2” inch floppy binder (yellow). This should be divided into five sections (conversation, vocabulary, verbs, grammar, and culture). Some extra paper should be placed in the front for daily work/Do Now.

· (1) Spanish-English dictionary that has entries that consist of more than one word: Larousse Student Dictionary is preferable.

· (3) Packets of index cards.

· Several 2” inch binder rings or index card box

· Pen and/or pencil. (I will only accept work done in pencil, blue or black ink, or typed.)

Grading Policy:

	Tests and Quizzes: There will be one major test per chapter. There are multiple quizzes that check a student’s grasp of a particular topic and vocabulary as well as quizzes for each of the three pasos in a chapter. Additionally, tests and/or quizzes will be given on additional vocabulary and topics. Grading is based on 100 and is determined by the point value of each question.
	Homework: Homework preparation is a natural extension of class work and is assigned regularly. Students are expected to complete assignments promptly and carefully and to plan appropriately for the completion of large projects or term papers. Homework is due the day after it is assigned unless otherwise noted. Homework is graded on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest. Students may re-do an assignment for a better grade, provided that it was handed in on time. Students have one day to make up an assignment, and one point will be deducted from the student’s grade. The student can receive up to half of the original credit for made up work.
	Other assignments: Writing assignments such as paragraphs or letters are designed to assess a student’s progress within a chapter and for general assessment of performance abilities. Interviews, dialogues, dictation, simple speaking exams, and conversations are quite common in the classroom. Additional time will be given to complete these assignments.
	Other: In addition to quizzes and tests, students will also be graded on class work assignments such as skits, orals, and group activities. Class participation is Very Important!
	Grading: Your grade is computed based on total points. For example, you received homework grades of 4/5, 3/5, 5/5, a quiz grade of 20/24 and a test grade of 93/100. You earned 125 out of a possible 135 points. Your average is 92.3%.

Homework and Extra Help:

Homework will be more complex and more often than in previous years. Any night without written homework is an automatic minimum of ten minutes studying the material covered in class or during the previous week. Always review the vocabulary found at the end of the current chapter and on the supplemental vocabulary handouts. Absence from class does not excuse one from completing an assignment. Students are encouraged to come and see me during lunch or activity period. Students should make an appointment to see me as soon as they are in need of extra support. This is especially true for extra support for homework and projects. If I see a student is in immediate need, I will request a student to attend an activity period. All teachers have the right to require a student to report during the activity period for extra help. Teachers are required to give 24 hour notice when the time required for extra help shall exceed past 3:00 pm. All students who fail to report, on given such notice, will be referred.