Spanish III College Preparatory 2010-2011
Loyola Blakefield
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Telephone:
Office Hours:
Class Schedule:
Classroom:
Profesora Elayne Melanson
Modern Languages, 2nd floor of Wheeler
emelanson@loyolablakefield.org
443-841-3622
Periods 2, 4, 7, and 9 (Appointments are encouraged.)
Periods 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8
Wheeler 202
Introduction
Spanish III is a college preparatory course that fulfills your foreign language requirement.
The hope is for you to continue to study the Spanish language and Hispanic culture at Loyola
Blakefield beyond the required three levels. The expectation is that you will be prepared upon
graduation with a solid foundation on which to further develop your proficiency at the college level.
When foreign language is learned in the classroom, the development toward proficiency
entails the acquisition of the basic building blocks of language which include pronunciation,
vocabulary, and grammatical structure. Remember that learning a language is a gradual and
cumulative process. Each level of study is designed for progress toward the goal of proficiency.
In Spanish I, you built a foundation in your studies of Spanish. In Spanish II, you strove to
strengthen and solidify that same foundation, while increasing your vocabulary base and adding
more complex grammatical structures. Spanish III will provide you with the opportunity to review
what you have learned, build a higher structure upon that base, and begin to synthesize what you
have learned toward developing proficiency.
Course Objectives
This course is designed to further your knowledge of and familiarity with Spanish and the
Hispanic world by building on what you learned in Spanish I and II. You will continue to acquire
the four basic skills of language learning: listening, speaking, reading, and writing to build a solid
foundation toward the goal of proficiency. Be prepared to spend the first quarter reviewing what
you learned during the second semester in Spanish II and the remaining three quarters advancing in
the study of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.
Required Materials
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Donley and Blanco. Vistas: Introducción a la lengua española. 2nd edition. Boston, MA:
Vista Higher Learning, 2005.
Moltz and Claerr. Compañeros Spanish for Communication Book 2. New York, Amsco
School Publications, Inc. , 1998
Spiral notebook (just for Spanish)
Pocket folder (for Spanish handouts)
Pens (black or blue ink only) / pencils/ highlighter
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Required Topics for the Spanish III CP Curriculum (as mandated by the Department)
First Quarter (September 7, 2010 - October 29, 2010)
Review of grammar and vocabulary from Quarters 3 and 4 Spanish II CP (Vistas)
Vocabulary from Vistas
Lesson 9
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Lesson 12
Grammar
Las Fiestas (p.296)
En el consultorio (p. 328)
La tecnología (p.360)
La vivienda (p. 394)
Irregular preterit
¿Qué? vs. ¿Cuál?
Pronouns after prepositions
Imperfect tense
Preterit vs. Imperfect
“Se” constructions
Adverbs
All command forms
Por and Para
Reciprocal Reflexives
Stressed possessives
Past participles
Haber
Present perfect
Vistas 9.1
Vistas 9.2
Vistas 9.4
Vistas 10.1
Vistas 10.2
Vistas 10.3
Vistas 10.4
Vistas 11.1 /12.2/14.2
Vistas 11.2
Vistas 11.3
Vistas 12.1
Vistas 14. 3
Vistas 15.1
Review of indicative tenses:
present, future, preterit, imperfect
Conditional (regular and irregular)
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Vistas 17.1
Second Quarter (November 2, 2010 – January 12, 2011)
Vocabulary from Vistas
Lesson 13
Lesson 14
La naturaleza (p.424)
En la ciudad (p.452)
Grammar
Relative pronouns
Vistas 12.1
Present subjunctive
Clauses of will and influence
Clauses of emotion
Clauses of doubt, disbelief, denial,
possibility
Vistas 12.3
Vistas 12.4
Vistas 13.1
Vistas 13.2
Cultural readings in Spanish, as appropriate
Discussions in Spanish of cultural topics
Third Quarter (January 24, 2011 – March 24, 2011)
Vocabulary from Vistas
Lesson 15
Lesson 16
El bienestar (p.480)
El mundo de trabajo (p.510)
Review of past participles (regular and irregular)
Review of present perfect tense
Introduction to other perfect tenses
Pluperfect
Future perfect
Conditional perfect
Vistas 14.3
Vistas 15.1
Vistas 15.2
Vistas 16.2
Vistas 17.2
Passive voice
Review of passive “se” idiom
Actual passive (ser+ past participle + por + agent)
Cultural readings in Spanish, as appropriate
Discussions in Spanish of cultural topics
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Fourth Quarter (March 28, 2011 – May 25, 2011 except for seniors on May 18, 2011)
Vocabulary from Vistas
Lesson 17
Lesson 18
Un festival de arte (p. 540)
Las actualidades (p.568)
Grammar
Formation of imperfect subjunctive
present perfect subjunctive
pluperfect subjunctive Vistas
Vistas 16.3
Vistas 15.3
Vistas 17.3
Sequence of tenses
Conditional sentences (clauses with “si”)
Vistas 18.2
Vistas 18.1
Cultural readings in Spanish, as appropriate
Discussions in Spanish of cultural topics
Student Expectations and Requirements
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Participate in all class discussions, exercises, and activities.
Speak Spanish in (and hopefully out of) class, as much as possible.
Complete all assignments carefully, neatly, and on time.
Come to class prepared and on time.
Take responsibility for seeking extra help, if needed.
Take responsibility for making up missed work in a timely manner.
Show respect for the instructor, fellow classmates, and any guests.
Be honorable in all that you do and say.
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Class Comportment and Participation
All students will be seated at their assigned desks quietly and in proper dress code (ties up,
shirts tucked in, pants at the waist, all buttons buttoned, and jackets on). After the prayer, jackets
may be removed.
If a guest enters the room, students will stand and put on their jackets. They will remain
standing until asked to sit.
As a general rule, once a student is in the classroom, he remains in the classroom until
dismissed by the instructor. Early dismissals with prior approval from the instructor should quietly
leave the room at the designated time. Students should plan to visit the lavatory before entering the
Spanish classroom.
At the start of class, students must have the text books and spiral notebook for Spanish class
on the desk in order to earn daily points. Students will not be permitted to go to their lockers to
retrieve books.
Any student who causes a disturbance or detracts from the learning atmosphere will be
subject to disciplinary action, including detention (JUG) and possible dismissal from class. In order
to earn daily points for behavior and participation, the student must be well-behaved and focused on
the classroom task.
Academic Integrity
As members of a college preparatory, Jesuit institution, students will be expected to
maintain the highest level of academic integrity at all times and in all aspects of this class. Cheating
includes, but is not limited to copying another student’s homework, discussing test questions with a
student who has not yet taken that test, or plagiarizing on a writing assignment or presentation.
Cheating also includes receiving unauthorized help from friends, family members, or even other
teachers on any assignments.
The use of electronic translators or translation software to render word-clusters, phrases,
whole clauses, sentences, etc. is considered cheating, and thus is strictly prohibited. (Because of its
extreme limitations, the use of such software even to translate individual words is greatly
discouraged). However, if you must use an on-line dictionary at home, please
usewww.wordreference.com.
Cheating on an exam, test, quiz, or assignment will result in a grade of zero (0) for that
assignment. Also, in accordance with school policy, the Assistant Principal will be notified of any
academic dishonesty.
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Grading System
The letter grade equivalent to the numeric value will be in accordance with the standard
Blakefield scale:
A
≥ 93
C+
81-82
A91-92
C
77-80
B+
89-90
C74-76
B
85-88
D
70-73
B83-84
F
≤ 69
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The first semester grade consists of the following:
1/5 midterm examination
2/5 first quarter average
2/5 second quarter average
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The second semester grade consists of the following:
1/5 final examination
2/5 third quarter grade
2/5 fourth quarter grade
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(20%)
(40%)
(40%)
(20%)
(40%)
(40%)
The final grade is the average of the first and second semesters.
First semester
Second semester
(50%)
(50%)
Please be aware of the school’s policy about the second semester grade. Any student, who
fails the second semester, automatically fails the course for the year, regardless of the first semester
grade.
Profesora Melanson rounds all grades to a whole number at the end of each marking period.
When a grade has a decimal of .5 or higher, it is rounded up. If the decimal is .4 or lower, the grade
is rounded down. (i.e. 90.4 = 90 = B+ but 90.5 = 91 A-)
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The quarterly grade is calculated by dividing the number of points earned by the total
number of points possible. The following categories will comprise each quarter grade based on the
total point system:
Tests
(At least two per quarter on either A or D day, announced in advance)
Quizzes
(Announced at least one day in advance, assigned a point value, and
usually given on a daily basis.)
Assessments
(Graded listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities in class
that are announced in advance, assigned a point value, and are not
part of a test)
Homework
(Assigned a point value, collected, and graded)
Daily
(Each class day is worth at least five points. Students have the
opportunity to earn up to five points daily. These points will
significantly impact your grade directly, not to mention the negative
impact that non-compliance will have on your ability to learn the
material.)
1 pt. Required books on the desk at the start of class
1 pt. Spanish notebook and folder on the desk at the start of class
1 pt. Ungraded homework completed and ready for review in class
1 pt. Participation (If the instructor finds you doing work for other
classes, doing Spanish homework in class, or engaging in any other
task that is not focused on the lesson, you will not earn the point for
the day.)
1 pt. Comportment (If the instructor needs to address your behavior
during class, you will not earn the point for the day. This includes but
is not limited to talking out of turn, eating and drinking in the
classroom, distracting other students, and interrupting class in any
inappropriate manner.)
No grades will be dropped. If a student misses class due to an excused absence, four points
for the daily grade (books, notebook/folder, participation, and behavior) will not be forfeited.
However, to earn the homework point for that day, the student must present the instructor with the
completed assignment at least one day following his return to school. If the homework assignment
is to study with no written requirement, no daily point will be forfeited for homework. If a student
misses class due to an unexcused absence, he will forfeit all five daily points for that day.
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Homework
This course will require you to spend no less than thirty (30) minutes each night on Spanish
homework, which will include written work and active study.
Written homework that is reviewed in class accounts for one point of the daily grade.
Students without completed homework will not earn the daily point. Homework that is collected
will be assigned a higher point value in advance. Unless otherwise indicated, is to be handed in at
the beginning of the next class meeting after it is assigned. Late, incomplete, sloppy, or carelessly
completed homework will not be accepted, and the student will receive a zero for the assignment.
Students will not be permitted to go to their lockers to retrieve assignments.
Absence is not an excuse for not completing homework assignments. Any student who
misses class is responsible for getting the assignment either from Net Classroom or from a
classmate. If a student is absent the day that homework is assigned, he will still be held accountable
for that assignment the day after returning to school. The student should make an appointment to
meet with the instructor during a mutual free period or after school to review the missed material
that will prepare the student to complete the homework. Students absent more than one day should
meet with the instructor to work out a schedule for extra help to catch up and to make up missed
assignments.
Tests, Quizzes, Assessments, and Exams
Quizzes will be given frequently and will always be announced the previous day. They will
be assigned a point value. Students should expect a quiz everyday except for the class immediately
following a test. Quizzes (unless otherwise indicated) will cover vocabulary and/or grammar.
Tests may be given on A or D days. They will be given a point value and announced in
advance. At least two tests, but possibly more, will be given each quarter. Although each test will
focus on specific information covered during a period of time, previous grammatical structures and
vocabulary may also make an appearance. This is due to the fact that learning a language is
cumulative. A student cannot forget how to speak in the present just because he recently has been
taught the past tense.
The mid-term examination and the final examination will include listening and speaking
components, as mandated by the department. These components of the examination will be
administered during class time, prior to taking the written portion on the designated examination
date.
If a student misses a quiz, test, or assessment due to an excused absence, he should e-mail
me and arrange to meet me in order to take a make-up. A student has one cycle to make up either a
quiz or a test. If the test/quiz is not made up within a cycle of the student’s return to school, a grade
of zero (0) will be issued for that examination. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the
instructor for extended, excused absences. If a student misses a quiz, test, or assessment due to an
unexcused absence or unexcused lateness, a grade of zero (0) will be issued for that examination.
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Class Conflicts (athletics, extracurricular activities, etc.)
Students who leave class early, arrive late, or miss class due to athletics or other
extracurricular activities must ask permission prior to being absent. They are responsible for all
missed assignments and notes. If they miss a quiz, test, or assessment, they have until the end of the
following school day to make up that assignment to avoid a grade of zero (0). No exceptions will
be made. If an assignment is due the day a student misses class, he must show me the assignment,
e-mail it to me, or place it in my mailbox in the main office before leaving school.
If a student misses a test because of a sporting event or other extracurricular commitment, he
must speak with me ahead of time and schedule an appointment to take the test within 24 hours. If
he fails to schedule the appointment or misses it, he will receive a grade of zero (0) for that
examination.
Extra Help and Extra Credit
If any student feels that he is falling behind or is becoming increasingly confused, he should
see me during a mutual free period or after school. I am available during periods 2, 4, 7, and 9. It is
best to make an appointment. I coach Mock Trial on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Therefore, the best
days for after school help are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If for some reason a student is
unable to find me, then he should e-mail me as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day before
the test to ask for help! As was already mentioned, language learning is cumulative, and even the
slightest confusion can have devastating effects further down the line.
We will not go over tests, quizzes, and assessments during class time. It is the student’s
responsibility to make an appointment for extra help, regarding specific concerns about the results
of tests, quizzes, and assessments.
Extra credit questions may be given on some tests and quizzes. There may be occasional
opportunities to earn bonus points for certain in-class activities. However, additional extra credit
assignments, such as projects, will not be given because they may excuse a poor effort on a main
assignment or may detract time and effort from current work.
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Net Classroom and E-mail
Net Classroom is the life-line to success in this course. Profesora Melanson posts
Assignments daily. You will find class notes, PowerPoint presentations, study guides, and
other pertinent information on the Documents page. Students should check the
Assignments page each day. All pertinent information will be posted no later than5:00 p.m.
daily. Students should also check the Documents page daily, as well as print out notes that
have not been distributed in hard copy. Technical difficulties are often inevitable, and the
system may malfunction. Therefore, students should not wait until the night before a test to
obtain the class notes.
If there is a discrepancy or a question regarding the posted grades, please inform the
instructor by e-mail, during a mutual free period, or after school. In addition to posting
grades on Net Classroom, Profesora Melanson keeps a hand-written grade book. Should
students or parents have any questions or concerns regarding grades posted on Net
Classroom, a double-check can be done to assure the accuracy of the grades.
I normally check my e-mail several times a day. However, I cannot guarantee that I
will check it after 9:00 PM. Therefore, if a student needs to get in touch with me by the next
school day, he should e-mail me before that time in order to be certain that I get the
message.
It is assumed that each student has read and understands thoroughly the
aforementioned course expectations, requirements, and guidelines. Ignorance of any of the
above will not be considered a valid excuse in any case. This document will remain posted
throughout the 2010-2011 school year. See Profesora Melanson immediately with any
questions or concerns.
The instructor reserves the right to modify this plan in order to better suit the class, should
the need arise.
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