Pequannock Township High School
Department of World Languages
Course description: Spanish V. This course is designed for those students who
accelerated in all previous levels. This course involves a survey of Latin American
culture, from politics to geography; to art and food. You will become familiar many of
these places and be able to use the Spanish you know in context. You will experience
this through film, documentaries, writing assignments in the target language for each
country studied, short stories and several excerpts also in the target language. This class
traditionally is not grammar based, but rather cultural and communicative, however we
will cover several topics and grammatical points that were not covered in Spanish IV.
Students will be required to use the target language as much as possible in the
classroom setting several oral assessments called conversaciones or conversations that
the students will be expected to have with me and others.
Profesor: Daniel J. Rodríguez, MAT
Room: 307
Required Text: none: all materials will be provided by the instructor.
Recommended Texts for personal use: Spanish -English dictionary and 501 Spanish
Verbs, By: Christopher Kendris and Theodore N. Kendris
Required Materials: A writing utensil, three ring binder with line paper in it, and a
positive open- mind to learn!!
Profesor’s Contact Information:
E-mail: daniel.rodriguez@pequannock.org
Office hours: The world language office is located directly across form the Library. I am
available after school Tuesday-Thursday from 2:55 - 3:45. Special appointments can be
made for the AM.
Student expectations
The general principles that apply in our class room are as follows:
1. Be prompted and prepared. Please arrive on time to class, and be ready to be
working. This includes the proper materials. Failure to do so will result loss of credit for
the day.
2. Be focused. Please give your full attention at all times in class, and be courteous when
another person is speaking.
3. Be respectful. Respect must be shown at all times to fellow peers, teachers,
administrators etc.
4. Always make your best effort. Learning a new language can be challenging, don’t be
discouraged about making mistakes, as is part of the learning process. ” Í don’t know or I
can’t say this/that” is not an acceptable answer.
Consequences
Anything that interrupts the flow of our class (arriving late, talking at inappropriate times,
etc) will yield the following consequences:
1st time: Verbal warning
2nd time: Detention
3rd time: Student referred to administration.
* I reserve the right to skip directly to a higher consequence if I feel it is
appropriate.
Grading system (subject to change)
The grading system will be based on a percentage system.
The following areas have the following worth. Grades are available via the internet
(Realtime). It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their grades and come for extra
help if needed. I will not chase you nor hunt you down to re-do a test or quiz. You will
see at the top of every quiz or test a message to “see me” if I have a concern and you
didn’t do well. At this time you may be asked if you would like a second opportunity to
rectify your grade.
Assignments
Assignments will be announced in class and posted on the teachers web page with
corresponding due dates etc. Please visit this page to obtain assignments,
announcements, and supplementary materials. Go to the schools website at
Pequannock.org. Click on the high school picture and it will take you to staff
directory. Find my name (Daniel Rodriguez) and you will bring you to my page.
*Late homework assignments and projects WILL NOT BE accepted. Special
circumstances will be considered.
* If you don't turn an assignment in on the date it is due it is a ZERO. I do not give
partial credit for late assignments. There are no extensions allotted for late work, unless
server circumstances.
Homework = 10%
Projects=20%
Classwork = 20%
Quizzes = 20%
Tests= 30%
Absences
Students are expected to adhere to the schools absence policy put forth by the BOE.
Students are expected to make up all work when absent in a timely manner. It is the
student’s responsibility to inquire on what they have missed during their absents i.e. class
work, homework and other assignments.
Example: If you are absent the day of a test or quiz you are expected to make it up on the
following school day. This also goes for turning in assignments.
**************************************************(detach & return)
I have read the following and fully understand what is expected of me, and agree to these
terms. (Spanish V)
Print name_______________________ Signature_____________________________
Date___________
Topics for Spanish V. Cultures of Latin America
Latinos in the US.
 What is racism? What are stereotypes and biases?
 What is a Latino or Hispanic?
 History of Latin music in America.
 Cajas de Cartón: Francisco Jimenez (Album)
 Immigration and first wave of Latinos in the US.
 Westside Story
Cuba
 El Voz del Negro en Cuba
 Cuban Revolution
 Biography of Fidel Castro
 Ernesto “Che” Guevara
 The works of Jose Marí (Mundo 21)
 “ Las herramientas todas del hombre”: Eliseo Diego (Dime)
Puerto Rico
 The Taínos and slavery in Puerto Rico
 Puerto Rico’s independence- Puerto Rico as a
commonwealth.
 Pedro Abizus Campos
 Raquelo tiene un mensaje “ OH, SEY CAN YU SI BAI
DE DON-SERLY LAI..”: Jamie Carrero García
La República Domincana
 The Trujillo era.
 In The Time of the Butterflies
 Racial tension with Haiti
 “ Juan Luis Guerra: el poeta que canta el mundo.”(Dime)
Argentina
 The Perón era.
 Evita
 The Dirty Wars
 Las Madres de la Plaza de mayo
 Continuidad de los Parques: Julio Cortázar (Album)
Guatemala
 The Maya
 Social Justice
 Rigoberta Manchú Tum
 When the Mountains Tremble
 El Norte
México
 The Aztecs and Maya
 Mexican Revolution
 Pancho Villa as Himself
 Diego and Frida
 The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
 Frida
 Una Carta a Díos: Gregorio López y Fuentes (Album)