Course Syllabus
Spanish Level 1
Federal Way Public Academy
Instructor:
Renan E Serrano
Telephone 245 945 3291
Welcome to Spanish level 1. This class is designed to introduce you to the basics skills
of acquiring this language. During this year, we will be learning the mechanics of the
language with concentration on the following components: vocabulary – which allows
us to learn the meaning of words. Grammar-this is a very important element that will
allow you to write properly. Reading - comprehend meaning of the written Spanish
form. Speaking – you will be able to express thoughts in contexts. Listening – to
hear and interpreted the spoken language. Students will be encouraged to practice
inside and outside the classroom In order to prepare them to meet standards.
Power Standards:
1. Interpersonal speaking & listening: Students engage in conversation, provide and
obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
2. Interpersonal writing& reading – Students engage in written communication,
provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
3. Interpretive listening – Students understand and interpret spoken language on
many topics.
4. Interpretive reading – Students understand and interpret written language topics.
5. Presentational speaking - Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an
audience of listeners, on a variety of topics.
6. Presentational writing – Students present information, concepts and ideas to an
audience of readers on a variety of topics.
7. Culture – Students demonstrate an understanding of the practices and perspectives,
and products and perspectives of the cultures studied.
8. Connections – Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines
such as history and geography through the world language and its cultures.
9. Comparisons – Students demonstrate understanding of the culture and recognize
distinctive viewpoints through comparisons of the culture studied and their own.
10. Communities - Students use the language both within and beyond the typical
classroom for a variety of purposes.
Book: Exprésate!
In order to be consistent with the curriculum established in Spanish level 1, this book
will introduce the learner to a sequential language skill to practice speaking, writing, and
reading and at the same time, provides plenty of opportunities to pass the FWPS
Standards and learning targets. Due to the amount of books students carry, the teacher
use the book Exprésate as guidelines but students must have a journal to copy all the
information required to pass the course.
Other helpful materials:
1. Larousse Spanish-English Dictionary
2. Internet, Learnspanish.com, Conjuguemos.com, Tacobuilder.com.
3. “Sendas” Reading, Anaxágoras, México 12, D.F.
4. “Better Reading Spanish” Jean Yates, McGraw-Hill.
.
Classroom guidelines:
1. Be on time. Be respectful to others. Be on task all the time.
2. Always maintain an environment conducive for learning.
3. Always communicate with the teacher about absents, school work, etc.
4. Don’t forget the basic learning tools, a journal, pencils, Spanish dictionary and paper.
5. All assigned reports must be typed using appropriate report format. Use font # 12.
6. Borrowing, copying, sharing answers to assignments will be costly. Avoid it!
7. When absent, it’s your responsibility to find out missing work.
8. Discipline will be dealt between students, teacher, parents and the School Principal.
9. Follow procedures when moving in the classroom, fire drills, and dismissal.
10. Confiscated electronic devises will be turned in to the School Principal
Attendance:
Be on time and ready to participate every day. There are many ways to find out about
assignments for the week. Considerer these:
1. Check the white board in the classroom.
2. Classmate.
3. The teacher during planning (second period) or after school.
Journal:
1. A 100 pages notebook required to take notes in the Spanish class only.
2. This journal must be organized and ready to show your work.
3. Do not ripe pages off this notebook.
4. Wait for teacher’s instructions to proceed with the proper formatting of this notebook.
5. You must keep this journal for the entire school year. Do not misplace it!
6. Students will be introduced to other resources to practice grammatical and
conversational skills.
Tutoring:
I am available to provide extra help to students every Wednesday from 3:15 - 4:00 P.M.
Forms of assessment:
Assessment is an ongoing process and is used to help students understand where
he/she is on the road of mastering skills. The assignments and activities given to the
students are designed to help students meet the course Power Standards. As students
engage in multiple non graded formative practice opportunities they will give and
receive feedback on how their work compare to the power standards. Summative
assessment will occur when the students demonstrate readiness to take the end of a
unit test. Projects will allow the students to research topics related to the Hispanic
culture. Oral presentations will be evaluated by using rubrics. Daily quizzes provide
immediate feedback in vocabulary and verb conjugation. The teacher will be observing
and listening conversation, reading and presentations.
Rubrics and Checklists:
There are rubrics for each Power Standards identified in this course. Each rubric
includes a checklist of skills and knowledge that students will need to learn in order to
meet each power standards.
 An “A” means the student has met or exceeded on at least 90% of the power
standards that has been assessed.
 A “B” means the student has met or exceeded on at least 80% of the power
standards that has been assessed.
 A “C” means the student has met or exceeded on at least 70% of the power
standards that have been assessed. The student will receive credit for the
course. The student can continue to the next course but may need additional
support.
 An “I” or “Incomplete” means the student has met standard on “60” to “69” % of
the power standards that have been assessed. The student is at significant risk
of not being successful in the next course in the sequence. The student will have
the option to repeat the course or work with school officials to develop an
“achievement” contract for the successful accomplishment of the standards
required for passing grade. The student will not receive credit for this course until
the contract is fulfilled or the course is retaken and the standards are met.
Projects:
The following is a list of cultural projects that students will be doing during the year. All
are related to culture, history, geography, and holydays of the Hispanic world.
a. La quinceañera
b. La cultura Hispano americana
c. Comparisons of Latinos in the USA.
d. Tales and traditions in Latin America.
e. National festivities and celebrations.
f. Adopt a Latin American country.
g. “Las bebidas”. Drinks around the world.
Skills: The following is a list of skills students will study and learn.
1. Phonic system
2. The alphabet
3. Nouns (M/F/S/P)
4. Definite articles
5. Indefinite articles
6. Adjectives
7. Prepositions
8. Interrogatives
9. Greetings
10. Personal “A”
11. Writing sentences
12. Possessive adjectives
13. Demonstrative adjectives
14. Personal pronouns
15. Adverbs
16. Direct object pronouns
17. Basic expressions
18. Basic commands
Vocabulary
1. The numbers
2. Telling time
3. The weather
4. Days, month of the year
5. The colors
6. Fruits and vegetables
7. Family
8. Transportation
9. The school
10. Clothing
11. Body parts
12. Travel
13. The house
14. Animals
15. Toiletry
16. The kitchen
17. La fiesta
Reading
1. La familia Marin
2. Senda
3. Basic Reading in Spanish
4. Dialogues (topic related)
Writing
1. How to write a sentence in Spanish
2. How to write questions.
3. How to change a questions
4. Write paragraphs
5. Write a simple story
Conjugation of verbs
1. Present tense
2. Past tense
3. Imperfect
4. Future
5. Conditional
6. Progressive
Verbs
1. Gustar
2. Ir a
3. Ser and estar
4. Regular –ar, -er, ir
5. Irregular (most common)
6 Tener, Haber
7. Stem changing verbs
8. Reflexives
9. Saber and conocer
10. Usage of ser/estar
11. The meaning of “hay”
12. Idioms with tener/ser
Culture
1. Historical events
2. Traditions
3. Celebrations
4. Entertainment