Spanish 4/5 Class Objectives & Expectations Profe Johnson

____ Melbourne High School

Johnson.Jennifer@brevardschools.org Phone 952-5880 _ Room 214
! Bienvenidos a la clase de Español ! Welcome to the Spanish class!

COURSE MATERIALS:
3 ring binder or notebook

SPANISH COURSES

This course will be taught in Spanish to help the student immerse himself / herself in the language.

The study of a modern language entails acquiring a language system and applying it in four active and interrelated
ways through listening, speaking, reading and writing. These four skills involve exchanging ideas and effective
communication that demands an awareness of the cultural characteristics of the audience. The study of Spanish, at
any level, should enable students to use it spontaneously and appropriately in unfamiliar as well as in familiar
circumstances.
Courses in foreign language fulfill certain college entrance requirements. A second language can enhance a student's
career in many areas. Students taking a world language course can benefit psychologically, intellectually and
aesthetically from the study of other cultures, customs and backgrounds. The study of foreign language is shown to
significantly increase English language abilities and standardized test performance.

TEXTBOOKS – Spanish B

GLOBALIZATION
The benefits of effective foreign language instruction focus on the role of the individual in a multilingual, global
society. The learning goals of foreign languages are based on the academic, business, personal, recreational and
practical interactions with others whether the person is on another continent, across town, or within the
neighborhood.
Objectives and expectations:
 To promote the preparation of students for a global society including the integration of global issues into
classroom learning
 Provide an outlet to promote student involvement and reflections about their global experiences
 Understanding the responsibility to get involved in global issues
 Having a significant and meaningful exposure to various international cultural communities within and outside
of our local community by utilizing different forms of arts to expedite students' exposure to different cultural
groups' experience.

Student LEARNER PROFILE / GLOBAL-MINDEDNESS

The learner profile and global mindedness are an integral part of this course; in each component, linking class
activities with one or two attributes from the profile allows students to demonstrate those qualities that contribute to
their development as active and independent learners: develop their natural curiosity, exercise initiative, explore
concepts, explore new roles and ideas in an independent way and express ideas confidently and creatively.
Integrating the learner profile into language B fits naturally with the aims and objectives of the course and it will be a
natural part of the learning process.
Highlighting these links in advance, will help students discover what it means to be internationally minded and
enables them focus on active learning.

The language B thematic units including interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational activities will allow teacher
and students to think deeper about the world around us and to consider how important it is for us to connect with
other citizens.
Students will demonstrate a growing inclination toward:
 An understanding and laughter of the value of diversity, in all its forms
 compassion for those who are different, while retaining pride in one's own identity
 Open-minded inquiry accompanied by critical thinking about what is discovered via that inquiry
 An understanding of the need for balancing interdependence with self-determination
 A confidence in the value of pluralism
Particular qualities needed for active and independent learning stand out during class written and oral activities. These
qualities encourage students and teachers to be:
 COMMUNICATORS – Students will have to participate in oral activities and communicate their
ideas in an essay
 RISK-TAKERS- an element of risk-taking is also involved as students and teachers explore a text and
are prepared to articulate their ideas in the group
 REFLECTIVE- the course requires students to write various reflective statements
 INQUIRERS, THINKERS and KNOWLEDGEABLE during class activities

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS/OBJECTIVES: Themes and contexts are organized around Essential

Questions/Objectives that drive student learning throughout all units.
SPANISH 4/5: COURSE DESCRIPTION & CLASS PROCEDURE

The purpose of this course is to expand previously acquired skills. At the advanced level a greater
understanding of grammar concepts previously presented is emphasized. The content includes developing oral fluency
in the language, comprehending difficult authentic text, commenting on text meaning and content orally and in
writing, and developing oral comprehension of a high standard. The course will be taught in Spanish only with a focus
on refining already acquired skills in the language.
Reading skills will be broadened to include authentic and adapted literary material, preferably short stories and
current event articles. Reading assignments are an integral part of class work and homework. Reading is an excellent
way to see language modeled authentically. Classroom discussion of the readings will allow students to practice the
grammar and vocabulary in a meaningful but guided setting as well as provide a deeper understanding of the diverse
cultures represented by the Spanish language.
Listening skills will also be broadened to include some authentic material. Listening comprehension and
reading are the bases for the sound acquisition of a foreign language and we will encourage students to make reading
and listening to Spanish part of their everyday routine. Writing skills will emphasize a fuller development of ideas and
use of transitional expressions to form a very cohesive composition.
After successfully completing this course, students will be able to understand spoken Spanish when delivered
clearly by native speakers, communicate orally with sufficient vocabulary and structures to speak on different topics
and write compositions and essays demonstrating an advanced level of vocabulary and structure.
Students will participate in a variety of cultural activities that will provide them with an understanding of the
Hispanic world. They will be encouraged to open their minds to an international perspective that includes an
understanding and appreciation for other cultures. Gaining a cultural and international understanding of the language
being studied will ultimately allow students to enrich their language experience. Students should also be encouraged
to develop confidence in the use of the language, sensitivity to the audience and an ability to communicate their ideas
clearly

CLASS PARTICIPATION
The students’ success in this program will rely on their preparation of assigned readings and grammar exercises for
each class session, and in their efforts to take part in the class activities in which the material is discussed. Students’
participation in class is assessed daily and a grade is recorded. The grammar exercises prepared for each day will
provide a point of departure for personal expression that develops in line with the grammar issues studied. The
readings prepared for the course will form the basis of class discussions and will also provide the context in which the
vocabulary lists will be formulated. To become functional and effective in another language does not require error-
free expression in class activities. It does require willingness to risk errors when developing the habit of speaking
frequently and effectively. The skill of listening to others speak is also a very effective tool for personal language
development.
Your participation grade will be based on several components: individual participation, preparation for class as
evidenced by in-class performance, group work, use of Spanish in the classroom and punctuality. The unexcused
absences count against participation.
Students will be evaluated on a daily basis.
ASSIGNMENTS:
This course carries everyday homework and classwork, so it is important to keep up
with your assignments. You will receive maximum benefit from the assignments if you complete them
according to the due dates rather than leaving them until the day before a test.
CLASS WORK: Students are expected to use the time wisely during the class period.
Only students who have been absent will be able to make up these assignments.
GROUP WORK - Working with other students in study groups is an extremely effective means of studying. Not
everyone in the study group needs to be at the same proficiency level: teaching others is a very powerful way to learn
material yourself. Make sure, however, that you do not simply copy another student’s work and turn it in as your own.
When working in groups, each assignment must reflect individual work.
Cultural activities: All students are expected to participate in various cultural activities.
JOURNAL: Each student is required to have a well-maintained, organized notebook. It is one of your
most important study tools as you learn how to communicate in Spanish. You must bring it to class on
daily basis and you are required to keep your written journal entries, handouts, etc.

METHODS OF EVALUATION
Grades will reflect individual achievement of course objectives. A variety of assessments will determine the student’s
grade. Formative assessments will measure student learning during the course of a unit of study. These may include
homework, class work, quizzes, oral communication, and writing assignments. Summative assessments will measure
learning at the end of a unit of study. These may include unit tests, oral presentations, and projects. There will be other
activities such as participation, homework completion, and practice assignments, which reflect learning skills.
Exams, quizzes, and oral: 70%; Participation (classwork/homework): 30%.
Late work: 50% off on first and second day. The assignment will result in a Zero on the third day and beyond. It is the
student’s responsibility to turn in the work.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the Melbourne High School community. An academic
honesty offense is defined as the act of lying, cheating, or stealing academic information so that one gains academic
advantage.
Academic work (quizzes, tests, projects, compositions, oral presentations, homework, etc.) submitted by students shall
be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Scholastic dishonesty that includes cheating on an exam or
quiz, plagiarizing, and turning in outside work that you did not write, for which you had considerable direct help from
someone else, or which have been translated by a translation service or computer program will be considered cheating.
At no time is it permissible for a student to copy any material and claim it as his/her own. Copying homework is
considered plagiarism/cheating and will result in a zero for all students involved.
Anyone copying from others, allowing others to copy their work, or using information fraudulently obtained will
receive an “F”.
The World Languages Department considers the use of any electronic device or translation program to
translate any COMPLETE phrase, sentence, paragraph, or written text as academic dishonesty.
CIVILITY

Disclaimer: No one has permission to take a video or audio of my students or of me to post on line in any social
media platform. My delivery of instruction is property of Brevard Public Schools.

 Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to the following: receiving cell phone calls during class (violation of
student code of conduct), coming to class habitually late, doing assignments for other classes, sleeping, and engaging
in other activities that detract from the classroom experience.
 Students are expected to conduct themselves in a classroom manner which contributes to a positive learning
environment for all
  Students are expected to familiarize themselves with and to adhere to the Melbourne High School Code of Conduct.
All school policies (including dress code, cell phones, etc…) will be enforced in this course.
 Students are expected to work, individually and together, to create an atmosphere that is valuing of one another and
opens to other perspectives and to show courtesy, civility, and respect for one another and the instructor.

TUTORING:
Students should consult with the teacher when they have any questions or concerns.
Seeking help is your responsibility.

Electronic devices are prohibited in class.

Schedule of Classes and Assignments: Daily assignments and assessments will be posted in class. It is
expected that students will come to class each day prepared with completed assignments. Homework is
valuable practice that gives practice for the assessments.

Homework / Class Policy

Spanish Class _______ Profe Johnson _______
All work must also contain the proper class heading in the upper right-hand corner of the paper. This heading consists of
the student's name and #, class period, date and the COMPLETE description of the assignment.
You will work hard, but you will be rewarded. Students are expected to complete all homework and submit
completed assignments on time. It is imperative that homework be taken seriously.
 Homework submitted after the respective deadline is considered late.
 Homework is due at the beginning of the class period.
 Each homework will be completed in the student’s journal/Workbook pages, properly headed in the
upper right-hand corner of the paper as stated above.
 Students who are absent from class for a field trip, sports event, guidance appointment, school
activity, late arrival, early departure, or other non-emergency reason, are required to find out what
they missed that day and what the assignment is for the next day. They should come to class fully
prepared on the day of their return.
 Students who miss class are encouraged to find out what they missed. They will be excused and given
an extension. Please refer to the Student Handbook for school policies regarding absences.
 All homework assignments are to be completed individually and pledged, unless otherwise
stipulated by the classroom teacher. At no time is it acceptable for a student to allow another student to
copy his/her work or to copy another student’s work. It is unacceptable for a student to verbally give
answers to another student.
 CLASSWORK – Students are expected to use the class time wisely.
 Class will be taught in Spanish.
Acknowledgement of having read the Class Objectives and Expectations

Please print and sign below.

____________________________ ________________________ _____________

Student signature Parent signature Date