Barren County High School
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Spanish III Pre-AP
WKU Sp 102 Elementary Spanish II
WKU SP 201 Intermediate Spanish I
Instructor: Sharon Mattingly
Contact Information: Much of the course information and related handouts are located
on my web page at http://www.barren.kyschools.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=1208 If you
wish to contact me you may e-mail me at sharon.mattingly@barren.kyschools.us or, if
you wish to speak to me personally you may call BCHS (651-6315) during my planning
period.
Office Hours: Monday –Friday before and after school
7:30 AM -8:00 AM
2:53 PM- 3:30 PM
Course Resources:
We use a variety of sources for this course. We will utilize the textbook Anda and
supplement with a variety of other sources. We will constantly focus on authentic
sources, those items which are real news stories, magazine articles, books, radio and TV
broadcast etc. used by real native Spanish speakers. The complete Level I, II, and III text
books are available on-line as well. Additional supplies that you will need to bring from
Spanish II are 1) a 3 inch 3-ring binder with paper 2) a Spanish-English Dictionary and 3)
colored writing utensils in red, blue, orange, green, purple and yellow. 4) Red Verb
Packet from previous years. These items are used in all levels of Spanish study at BCHS
and are a one time purchase.
Course Objective and/or Description: This year the BCHS Spanish III course will
also be offered to students as the WKU Spanish 102 and 201 courses for those students
who wish to have the credit on their university transcript. There is no difference in
course content only in grade calculations for the two institutions.
BCHS Spanish III General Course Description: Spanish III is focused on the
development of fluencey in the the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and
listening), a deeper knowledge of Spanish grammar and much greater familarity with the
various cultures where Spanish is spoken . Vocabulary study will now demand the
correct useage of the words in original sentences. Daily classroom activities are more
flexible than in the introductory levels as students begin to explore the language in
greater depth. There is an increased demand for independent work and there will be an
overall Pre-AP focus. Spanish days become the norm and are graded on both correctness
and participation. Daily study outside the class continues to be necessary in order for the
student to do well.
Expectations: Students are expected to come to class prepared, to thoughtfully
contribute to class activities, to be on time, to attend regularly and to seek assistance
when needed. Cell phones are to be turned off before class begins. To succeed in this
course students should be prepared to spend a minimum of one hour preparing for
each class. When there are no written assignments due, the time should be spent in
individual practice of the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening).
WKU Course Information
WKU Modern Language Mission Statement: Through coursework, experience abroad,
and other cultural encounters, the Modern Languages Program cultivates communicative
skills and cultural awareness that prepare students at Western Kentucky University to be
more knowledgeable and sensitive citizens of the global community.
WKU SP 102 Course description: Spanish 102 is designed for students who have successfully
completed either SP 101, or two years of Spanish in high school. Students with more experience
are strongly encouraged to enroll in SP 201, or to take the CLEP exam. Spanish 102 fulfills the
University foreign language requirement (Category A. II.) and the following General Education
goals:
•
Competence in a language other than the native language
•
An appreciation of the complexity and variety in the world’s cultures
The goal of the course is to continue developing basic communication skills in Spanish. Class
activities and assignments provide students the opportunity to listen, speak, read, and write. After
successfully completing the course, students will be able to do the following in written and/or
spoken Spanish:
•
describe and discuss past activities, feelings, events
•
describe and discuss daily routine, leisure activities, holidays, living arrangements, food,
and preferences in present and past tenses
•
discuss and/or describing past events
General Education Spanish 102 is designed for students who have successfully completed either
SP 101, or two years of Spanish in high school. Students with more experience are strongly
encouraged to enroll in SP 201, or to take the CLEP exam. Spanish 101 fulfills the University
foreign language requirement (Category A. II.) and the following General Education goals:
•
•
Competence in a language other than the native language
An appreciation of the complexity and variety in the world’s cultures
WKU SP 201 Course description: The prerequisite for this course is Spanish 102 or
appropriate score on a placement exam. Spanish 201 fulfills the University foreign
language requirement (Category A. II.) and fulfills the following General Education
goals:
 Competence in a language other than the native language
 An appreciation of the complexity and variety in the world’s cultures
Speaking, writing, reading and listening comprehension will be further developed in this
course. Students will review Spanish grammar, and practice written and oral expression.
Students will read a variety of texts in Spanish that will require the application of critical
reading skills and will provide the basis for discussion of the cultural traditions of
different Spanish-speaking groups and the contributions made by them. After
successfully completing this course, the student will be able to do the following in written
and spoken Spanish:
 Describe and discuss daily activities and feelings
 Make comparisons
 Describe and discuss past actions and continuous actions in present and past
 Describe and discuss family, friends, sports, health, food and preferences
 Use the formal and informal command form in appropriate situations
 Use the subjunctive to express wishes, doubts, and feelings in the present
Learner Profile (adapted from JCPS World Languages- TMS )
Having reached this level of proficiency, you are at a place where you feel
confident to communicate about normal, everyday matters. You can describe
people and places and provide personal information about yourself and others,
family, home, daily activities, interests and personal preferences. You can get
into, through and out of normal daily situations that involve obtaining food,
lodging, transportation and also taking care of health issues. You can ask a
variety of questions to obtain simple information and take care of your basic
needs, like getting directions, prices and services. So, at the end of this
semester/trimester …
What can you say and write?
When you speak or write, you generally use more than one sentence. You often
link two short sentences together using a connector (for example, and, but, or)
and you even produce strings of sentences to communicate your thoughts. You
are getting much better about using proper word order as you communicate
basic ideas but find it more difficult as you try to express more complex thoughts.
Much of what you say or write takes place in present tense – and you are mostly
accurate in this timeframe – but you do occasionally use past or future tense,
although you make more errors in these two timeframes. Sometimes you can't
exactly think of the right word to use but you are now able to "talk around" the
word and find another way of getting your point across.
What can you understand when you listen?
When you listen to the target language, you can generally follow what is being
said for a longer amount of time, although you sometimes find that you didn't
quite understand the main idea. You do notice that you can more easily
understand when the speaker uses past and future tense.
What can you understand when you read?
You can pretty much read simple passages with full understanding as long as
the topic is something you know or are interested in. Your understanding gets a
bit shaky, however, when you read material that is written in more complex
language and/or is a topic about which you are less familiar. Several rereadings
seem to increase your understanding of these passages.
Units of Study:
We will beging with a review of the material from Spanish I and II. In the fall we will
explore units on childhood, interpersonal communication, and travel. In the spring we
will explore giving opinions, the arts and the future and careers.
We begin to use advanced grammar and vocabulary to delve into the lives and cultures of
the Hispanic countries. Additional authentic sources will be used to aid student fluency
and immersion in the culture. Our grammar at this level specifically focuses on
incorporating multiple tenses and forming longer more complex sentences using material
taught in class and learned in independent study. Assessments will begin to utilize basic
AP formats and will be discussed extensively in class. Vocabulary test are still a part of
each lesson. At this level we will incorporate current events into the daily routine through
event journaling and class discussion. Listening, pronunciation skills and non-verbal
cultural understanding are enhanced by regular viewing of different video segements,
movies, and radio broadcast.
Because simply speaking a language does not ensure communication, we include maps
test and current events in our curriculum. These will be explained in separate handouts as
they become pertinant.
Projects and presentations (group or individual) will be assigned with units where they
are appropriate. Evaluation rubrics will be explained at the time of the assignment.
Because this is a college prep/ college class, we will stress the importance of
organization, preparation and planning. These will come about through such
requirements as notebooks, long-range scheduling and the frequent use of agendas.
Since Level III is the Pre-AP course and regular practice becomes critical, there is a
summer participation and communication requirement that should be complete before the
course begins.
Writing Component: BCHS has a school-wide writing program which will include
Porfolio and On-Demand writing grades as explained in class.
Classroom Rules: There is one and only one rule in this classroom, but I believe in it
and enforce it strongly.
SEA RESPETUOSO Y CORTÉS
BE RESPECTFUL AND COURTEOUS
This is an important part of the Hispanic culture and I want it to become ingrained in
your subconscious to the point that when you speak Spanish, you will only be able to do
so in this manner. I do not give an itemized list of “thou shall not’s”; any action that does
not fit the description of courteous and respectful is breaking the one and only rule.
Consequences:
Visual or Verbal Warning
Teacher /Student Conferences
Parent Contact
Office Referral
Grading Policy:
BCHS: The quarter grades in this class are calculated by using the Total Points Earned
Divided by the Total Points Possible formula. Different types of grades will have
varying point values depending upon length, difficulty and importance of the assignment.
Students are strongly encouraged to check their grades each week on-line. A Grade
Sheet is available on-line to record grades.
Grades include vocabulary test, verb builders, current events, projects, notebooks, maps
test. Refer to handouts and class information about specific assignments. Bonus points
are pre set and may be earned for a variety of extra efforts during the quarter.
To calculate the BCHS Spanish III grade at the end of the year: 1st and 2nd quarters are
averaged together to find the 1st Semester grade. 3rd and 4th quarters are averaged
together to find the 2nd Semester grade. Each Semester Grade is 40% of the final with the
Final Exam as the last 10% of the BCHS grade.
WKU Spanish 102 and 201. To calculate the semester grade for each WKU course,
you should add the total points earned in the two quarters of the semester divide this by
the total points possible in the two quarters of the semester. This is 90% of the semester
grade. The WKU final exam is the remaining 10%. The two semester grades have no
relationship with each other nor are they used to calculate the BCHS grade although they
utilize the same assignments.
Academic Integrity: In accordance with university policy, an “F” is given on any
portion of the course work in which cheating is detected. The case may also be presented
to the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Acts of academic dishonesty include the use of
a translating device/program to complete writing assignments and failure to turn cell
phones and electronic devices off before taking an exam. Student work may be checked
using plagiarism detection software. For additional information, refer to the Student
Handbook available at http://www.wku.edu/handbook/2009.
(See the sections on Student Code of Conduct and Academic Offenses.)
Attendance Policy: I will abide by the computer information about the identification
of excused and unexcused absences. These are the procedures for absences.
--Unexcused absences-- grades will receive a 0 as per school rules.
--Excused absence known in advance-- the student either completes the
assignment before the absence or creates a plan with me to do so upon their
return to class.
--Unexpected excused absence--a pre-assigned test/project/event is due the day of
return (use the Lonely Only folder or stay after school to make up tests and
quizzes).
--Unexpected excused absence-- newly assigned items be given one day for each
missed day to be completed. A few items may be deleted from the grade
depending upon their learning purpose. Check with the teacher to determine
which applies. If the schedule is not met, then the grade remains a 0.
Students are be given the opportunity to share study buddy contact information with their
classmates. When they are absent for any reason, they are to make contact through text,
facebook, e-mail, phone or by checking their table of contents to find out what was
missed during that time. My time between classes is used up to complete those “outside
of class” conversations about student grades, missing work, make up dates etc.
Remember to contact your study buddy to get the information.
Semester Test Policy: All students are required to take the semester and
final exams.
Plagiarism / Academic Dishonesty Policy: Plagiarism and academic dishonesty
are serious offenses. The academic work of a student is expected to be his/her own effort.
Students must give the author(s) credit for any source material used. To represent ideas or
interpretations taken from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a
borrowed passage after having changed a few words, even if the source is cited, is also
plagiarism. Students who commit any act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing
grade in that portion of the course work. Acts of academic dishonesty will be reported to
the administration.
Optional: May be used as first grade or extra credit if returned promptly.
I have read the Spanish course syllabus and I understand the expectations and
requirements for this course.
Parent Signature: __________________
Student Signature: __________________