Brandon High School Sra. Page AP Spanish Syllabus
E-mail: Phone: 601-825-2261
Organization
The course is divided into thematic units, which are further based on recommended contexts and guided by essential questions. Corresponding cultural elements are integrated into the study of the units, and activities are directed with those cultural connections in mind. Discussion of the topics completely in Spanish is a requirement for this course. It is assumed that students have previously been exposed to advanced language structures in the courses leading up to the AP Spanish Language and Culture course; however, review of the mechanics is done within the contextual framework of each unit as needed.
Real-Life Language and Culture [CR9]
Students are required to engage in real-life activities outside the classroom to enrich their Spanish language and culture experiences. They complete entries that interest them throughout the year for their Language and Culture Portfolio. Options include but are not limited to: attending an art exhibit, musical show or play; preparing a meal while following recipes written in Spanish; regular correspondence through email, Skype or Face Time with heritage speakers in a Spanish-speaking country; viewing of important events involving target language speakers, such as a president’s acceptance speech or a national celebration of a country’s independence; and visits to university campuses for special events, hosting a student from a Spanish-speaking country; visiting area businesses and learning about opportunities with Spanish; teaching Spanish to other students, area EMS/firefighters as part of their service for the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, and more.
Course Description:
The AP* Spanish Language and Culture Course, which is conducted exclusively in Spanish, is designed to help students become proficient in the Spanish language (CR1), and to also successfully complete the AP* Spanish Language and Culture Exam. Students demonstrate their proficiency in the modes of communication from the Intermediate to the Pre-Advanced range, as defined in the learning objectives in the Curriculum Framework. Students will aim towards this proficiency through communicative activities, using authentic materials, a thematic approach, and the practice of the 3 modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational.
Course Objective:
Ø Review material learned in previous levels (First, Second, Third and Fourth Year Spanish)
Ø Understand the spoken language both formally and informally through conversations, oral presentations, lectures, and other authentic material delivered in a variety of regional dialects.
Ø Understand newspaper, magazine articles from the Internet and the media, as well as selected literary works, through the study of vocabulary, synthesis strategies, the use of context clues, and other reading strategies.
Ø Review, correct and use grammar appropriately,
Ø Read works of authors from different countries and different time periods.
Ø Learn to interpret and apply rubrics of the AP exam to all work.
Ø Speak fluently in Spanish by participating in class activities and in the real world.
Ø Write essays, letters, e-mails, and other creative writing exercises accurately using synthesis strategies and other writing methods.
Course Text and Supporting Materials
Ø AP Spanish Preparing for the Language Examination (4th edition) Pearson
Ø Abriendo Paso Textbooks: Temas y Lecturas and Gramatica (digital edition) Pearson
Ø Triangulo Aprobado. 5th edition Wayside publishing
Ø Three ring binder with 5 dividers: Vocabulary, note taking, writing…
Ø Blue / black ball point pen and pencil for writing.
Ø Dry erase markers (any color), yellow highlighters.
Grading Policy:
• A 90-100 60% Summative grades (tests)
• B 89-80 40% Formative grades (quizzes, homework, class activities…)
• C 79-70
• D 69-60 •F 0-59
Course Activity:
Ø Keep a running list of vocabulary in a notebook titled “Mi vocabulario” with definitions, root words, synonyms, antonyms and linguistic comparisons between Spanish and English.
Ø Present a relevant news story at least every two weeks and keep a journal of the news presented in class, which includes the student’s own viewpoint and a cultural comparison.
Ø Write persuasive essays using the 6 themes in class, as well as the platform of http://storybird.com/
Ø Practice speaking, listening, writing, and reading in the real world through the completion of journal-type entries titled the “Lista de actividades” (log of time), which also includes a comparison of the activities done with the student’s family, friends, community and/or country. The log of time requires 9 hours of outside practice in Spanish each quarter. Students can use on- line websites for practice, as well as apps such as: studyblue.com
Course Outline:
The AP Spanish Language course uses Abriendo Paso@ 2014: Temas y lecturas y Gramática digital Edition (Prentice Hall), AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Examination, 4th Edition (Prentice Hall), and Triángulo Aprobado 5th Edition (Wayside Publishing) Abriendo Paso: Gramática will provide students the guidance to continue discovering grammar in a meaningful and contextual manner. Students will work on the exercises in this book either in class or for homework. Grammar explanations are given in order to frame the unit, review concepts and point out common errors. Temas y Lecturas / AP Language and Culture will provide students the guidance to continue discovering language in an authentic manner. This book includes short stories, printed media articles selections by writers from Spain, Latin America and the United States. The four skills are integrated. Students will use critical thinking skills and higher order thinking skills. Students will engage in conversations about the readings, formulate their own questions and ask their classmates questions. Writing exercises will include expressing opinions, synthesizing information and correlating life experiences.
Ø Students also will listen to authentic selections to practice their auditory comprehension. AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Examination and Triángulo Aprobado provide students the opportunity to practice tasks appearing on the AP Spanish language exam. Students will practice these tasks as homework and in the classroom under timed circumstances to model their experience for the exam.
Ø Exam Administration: Students will be well versed on the format or the exam throughout the course. A complete description of the exam can be found at www.collegeboard.com
Language Skill Development
Listening Skills
Students will be exposed to songs, narratives (short and long), dialogues, videos and interviews from speakers of varying accents. In class, students will work individually, in-pairs and in-groups to practice their comprehension. While listening, students will listen to stimulus and listen for details prompted before listening to the selection. After listening, they will answer questions, check work, discuss and organize information, prepare mini presentations or take part in activities such as “participación oral” where students have a set amount of time to share their answers.
Reading Skills
Students will conduct the majority of the reading through our text: Temas y Lecturas. They will engage in pre-reading strategies for preparation. Examples will include vocabulary building, oral discussion framing the reading and graphic organizers. Students will read authentic sources and then partake in post reading strategies to check for understanding. These will include multiple-choice questions that model the AP exam, true/false statements, and sentence completion exercises. Students will formulate questions about the readings. After each reading section students will answer questions about the readings, write informally about the reading, and discuss the reading.
Writing Skills:
Students will practice their writing skills on a daily basis. Typically, each class will end with a written homework assignment due the next class meeting. During the course of class meetings, students will develop their writing skills through note-taking, activities provided by the text books and supplemental materials, translations, open- ended questions, partner interviews, informal written pieces such as emails and post cards, and formal written essays up to and exceeding 200 words. Finally, they will peer edit, apply scoring rubrics and rewrite essays to improve skill.
Speaking Skills:
Students will learn quickly that Spanish is to be spoken at all times. They will learn to use circumlocution by playing games, oral participation, skits and formal and informal presentations. Sometimes, students will do these activities under strict timelines. Each class will begin with a student and/or teacher directed question and answer forum. Homework and all in-class written activities will reviewed orally daily in target language. Students will be expected to address the teacher in target language outside of class when appropriate.
Homework: Any assignment (worksheets, writing activities, etc.) that students work on in class or at home that is collected for either an accuracy grade or “spot checked” for completion. Homework is completed at home. Students should also study Spanish AT LEAST 30 minutes each night. (Visit apcentral.com). Work missed because of excused absences will be accepted for full credit, but you will have the number of days you are absent plus one to make it up.
Students should take initiative to determine what assignments or tests have been missed to schedule a time to take missed tests or quizzes. Missed quizzes and tests should be taken within 1 week of the date of such assignment.
Participation: Points will be given to students as oral participation points during class, therefore attendance impacts participation points. Students will show abilities in comprehension by participating in class activities, groups or individual. Participation means more than simply answering teachers’ questions- it also includes:
Ø Asking thoughtful and appropriate questions
Ø Communicating in the target language: Spanish
Ø Involvement in whole class, small groups, and individual activities
Ø Completing in-class projects and tasks
Ø Maintaining a cooperative and positive attitude
Ø Show respect for the classroom and people around you
Ø AP Spanish Participation rubric (attached)
Assessment/Projects/Quizzes: A variety of assessment strategies will be used. Assessments include tests, oral exams, individual oral presentations, writing assessments, etc. Tests/Exams will be announced at least a week in advance. Projects are individual or group project based assessments done partially in class and primarily at home. Quizzes can be announced or unannounced at various times throughout the semester.
Absences affect grades tremendously. Every day out means missing information that will be covered in assessment materials. However, when students miss school, they should get all missed homework from the missed work box once they return. Make-up quizzes and tests will NOT be given during class. Students can come before or after school and should be completed within a week.
First Semester (Tentative)
Month / Abriendo Paso: Gramática / Temas y Lecturas /AP Language and Culture Triángulo AprobadoSeptember / Unidad 3 / Pasos
El presente y El progresivo / los sustantivos y articulos / Tema 3: Las familias y las comunidades
October / Unidad 1
El pretérito, El imperfecto, El presente prefecto y El pluscuamperfecto / Tema 1: Las indentidades públicas y personales
November / Unidad 2
Los adjetivos, los adjetivos y pronombres demonstrativos, los adjectivos y pronombres posesivos, y las comparaciones. / Tema 2: La Vida contemporánea
December / Unidad 5
El future, El futuro perfecto /
Tema 5: La ciencia y la tecnología
January / Unidad 4
El imperativo, El presente de subjuntivo y el presente perfecto de subjuntivo / Tema 4. La belleza y la estética
Second Semester (Tentative)
Month / Abriendo Paso: Gramática /Temas y Lecturas /AP Language and Culture Triángulo Aprobado
February / Unidad 4
El imperativo, El presente de subjuntivo y el presente perfecto de subjuntivo / Tema 4: La belleza y la estética
March / Unidad 6
El imperfecto de subjuntivo, El pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo, El condicional y El condicional perfecto / Tema 6: Los desafíos mundiales
April / Unidad 6 El imperfecto de subjuntivo, El pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo, El condicional y El condicional perfecto /
Tema 6: Los desafíos mundiales
April/May / Pasos: Gramática / Appendices / Practice Examen de AP
Curricular Requirements / Page(s)
CR1 The teacher uses the target language almost exclusively in class and encourages students to do likewise. / 1
CR2a Instructional materials include a variety of authentic audio and video recordings. / 15, 17
CR2b Instructional materials include a variety of authentic nonliterary texts such as newspaper and magazine articles. / 17
CR2c Instructional materials include a variety of authentic literary texts. / 10, 17
CR3a The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in Spoken Interpersonal Communication in a variety of situations in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range. / 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
CR3b The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in Written Interpersonal Communication in a variety of situations in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range. / 3, 5, 13
CR4a The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability in Interpretive Communication to understand and synthesize information from a variety of authentic audio, visual, and audiovisual materials. / 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16
CR4b The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability in Interpretive Communication to understand and synthesize information from a variety of authentic written and print resources. / 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16
CR5a The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in Spoken Presentational Communication in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range. / 2, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15
CR5b The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in Written Presentational Communication in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range. / 3, 4, 6,7, 8, 16
CR6a The course explicitly addresses the Global Challenges theme. / 12
CR6b The course explicitly addresses the Science and Technology theme. / 4
CR6c The course explicitly addresses the Contemporary Life theme. / 14
CR6d The course explicitly addresses the Personal and Public Identities theme. / 2
CR6e The course explicitly addresses the Families and Communities theme. / 7
CR6f The course explicitly addresses the Beauty and Aesthetics theme. / 9
CR7 The course provides opportunities for students to demonstrate an understanding of the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures. / 3, 4, 10, 13, 14, 15
CR8 The course provides opportunities for students to make comparisons between and within languages and cultures. / 4, 11, 15
CR9 The course prepares students to use the target language in real-life settings. / 1,6
Unit One: El individuo y su identidad Theme: Personal and Public Identities / Las identidades personales y públicas [CR6d]