Douglas County High School School Year 2018-2019

Señora Elizabeth Berry Room: 205

Email: Phone Number: 770-651-6609

AP® Spanish Language and Culture Course

Course Overview

The AP® Spanish Language and Culture course is a rigorous course taught exclusively in Spanish that requires students to improve their proficiency across the three modes of communication. The course focuses on the integration of authentic resources including online print, audio, and audiovisual resources; as well as traditional print resources that include literature, essays, and magazine and newspaper articles; and also a combination of visual/print resources such as charts, tables, and graphs; all with the goal of providing a diverse learning experience. Students communicate using rich, advanced vocabulary and linguistic structures as they build proficiency in all modes of communication toward the pre-advanced level. Central to communication is the following premise from the Curriculum Framework: When communicating, students in the AP Spanish Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the culture(s), incorporate interdisciplinary topics (Connections), make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures (Comparisons), and use the target language in real-life settings (Communities).

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. 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.

Student Assessment

Formative Assessments:

To address simulated interpersonal writing, students will discuss topics on an online forum. These are graded weekly. Scoring considerations focus on improvement, word choice (dictionaries are allowed), and control of grammatical structures. The topic will pertain to the current unit of study.

Debates are an engaging activity to get AP students tospeak interpersonally in the classroom. Controversial topics usually spark conversation. While most of the more interesting topics will not appear on the AP exam due to their sensitive nature, students enjoy discussing issues related to world events, politics, social problems and teen culture.To begin, students start in groups of 4 or 5 in which they discuss different facets related to a more global debate topic. After ten minutes, each group reports out to the entire class the opinions expressed in the small groups inviting others to share the ideas by agreeing, disagreeing or asking questions. Each student has two index cards with name on each of them. When a student contributes significantly to the debate, I collect a card discreetly as the conversation continues. In general, students earn an “A” on the debate for my collecting both cards, a “B” for one and a “C” for passive listening or no cards. This strategy has been effective for getting reticent students to speak. Additionally, it’s clear at the end of the debate who has in fact contributed to the debate.

Students will then write short reflections in journalsonce a month on the “temas” learned in class and then present them to the class informally.

There will be weekly vocabulary quizzes in order for students develop essential vocabulary for each of the six major “temas”.

Lastly students will read and/or listen to authentic texts and answer multiple choice questions similar to the AP test. They are responsible for completing one each week.

Summative assessments:

Formal writing assignments are done in class to simulate the exam conditions. Students will write in-class, per theme, a formal email in order to prepare them for the interpersonal writing email reply portion of the exam.

Students will also writepersuasive essays using authentic materials. In class, we practice formal register, business correspondence, etc, to simulate the interpersonal tasks on the AP exam. The topic pertains to one of the units of study and no outside resources can be consulted. The best practice for meeting the expectations of the exam is to practice in a testing environment. Therefore, students write these argumentative essays in the 55 minutes allotted for this task.

In addition to presenting their articles to the class to practice presentational skills, they also will present an extended cross-cultural presentation up to 10 minutes in which they compare a cultural topic to their own community as a test grade. Generally, students use powerpoint or prezi to do this; the presentations are done without notes.

Lastly, students will participate in a variety of simulated conversations to prepare them for the interpersonal speaking portion of the exam.

Students are regularly assessed using the rubrics from the latest AP Reading. When a student receives a grade of 1 to 5, on a particular assessment, for example, he/she can then interpret the rubrics to refocus and improve. To do this, I use a “sliding scale” to transfer the rubric score into a number grade. This allows me to take the students at the level they are at in the beginning of the year, but also rewards improvement.

5=100 (A+)

4=91 (B+)

3=84 (C+)

2=77 (C-)

1=70 (D-)

Grading Plan: The course grade will be determined as follows:

Summative assessments (AP performance tasks, Projectsetc)50%

Formative assessments (quizzes, forum, debates,journal, participation, etc.) 30%

Final Exam20%

Academic Credit: Being an AP class, students will earn five extra points as honors credit towards their overall grade. However, please be reminded that ONLY THREE of these extra points will count towards the overall Georgia HOPE Scholarship GPA.

Academic Honesty:Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity at all times. Therefore any student caught or suspected of cheating on assignments or assessments will earn an automatic zero on that assignment or assessment. For the purposes of this course cheating is defined as but not limited to copying another student’s assignment or test, using outside resources during a test or using an electronic translator either hand held or internet based.

The Douglas County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, disability or age in educational programs or activities, or employment practices.

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Classroom procedures

Materials: I expect all students to come to class with the following items:

  • Three ring binder with paper
  • Composition Notebook
  • Dry erase Marker
  • Spanish-English Dictionary
  • 501 Spanish Verbs (Optional)
  • ¡Por favor, unlapíz!

No English: To learn a foreign language, you must use the foreign language. Immersion is important for the acquisition of a second language. Therefore students will be completely immersed in the language 100% of the time. Students are only allowed to speak Spanish.

Participation: The grade participation grade is given by a “puntos” system. “Puntos” are rewarded to students who speak up in class to answer questions or to students who are clearly participating in class work. “Puntos” can be lost to students who break the rules.

Passes: Students are allowed only 3 passes outside of the class each semester to an appropriate location such as the bathroom, office, etc. Students are not allowed to leave the class during the first or last 15 minutes of class. Students are given their pass at the beginning of each semester must ask in Spanish to use a pass. Passes are not given during instruction or for students who are not completing assignments and are on task. It is the responsibility of the student to keep up with their passes. No replacements are given. If a student needs to use the restroom and they do not have a pass, they must write out a pass to be signed and serve a 15 minute detention.Any unused passes at the end of the semester will be added as 2 points per pass to a major assignment (not CDAs) for a maximum total of 6 extra credit points.

BYOT: Technology is allowed and encouraged in the classroom at the appropriate times. The following is my technology policy:

When devices are NOT permitted:

  • Devices are either off or in silence.
  • Devices are either in backpack/purse or face down/closed on desk.
  • Device will be taken up and the student will be given a Club 15 if these rules are not followed.

When devices ARE permitted:

  • Devices remain in silence or use headphones.
  • Student is using device for an educational purpose unless permitted otherwise.
  • Device will be taken up and the student will be a Club 15 if these rules are not followed.

Expected behavior: Each student is expected to:

  1. BE PREPARED and come to class with completed homework, book, notes and notebook, pen, paper and any needed supplies. Students who show up tardy to class must come to class with a pass.
  2. DEMONSTRATE COURTESY and respect to teacher(s), students and guests. This includes (among other things) raising his/her hand and waiting to be called on if there is a question, and remaining seated in his/her assigned seat unless given my permission to do otherwise.
  3. RESPECT the PROPERTY of the school, the teacher and other students.
  4. BE HONEST and RESPONSIBLE for his/her own work and only his/her own work.
  5. NOT bring anything to EAT or DRINK into the classroom. Water is permitted. It is difficult for the mouth to learn to imitate the Spanish accent if it is occupied with something else.
  6. FOLLOW THE SCHOOL RULES.

Tardies: For each tardy up to 3 tardies, a student will receive a before or after school detention of 15 minutes, “Club 15”. The student must schedule the detention BEFORE showing up.If detention is not served on the assigned date or within a week of being assigned, there will be an automatic discipline referral to the office. Every tardy after 3 tardies is a referred to administrator for ISS as per school policy.

Consequences for inappropriate behavior: Minor offenses will result in losing participation points. According to the severity of the offense, the student may or may not be warned before being disciplined. The discipline policies of this school and the Douglas County School board will be followed. I take the well-being of each of my students seriously. Therefore any interference with the teaching and learning of another person cannot be tolerated. Depending on the severity of the offense, the following steps may be taken:

  1. Give either a nonverbal warning, or, if necessary, a verbal warning.
  2. Have a private conference and/or change the student’s assigned seat, and call parents.
  3. Assign after school detention to be served with me. If detention is not served on the assigned date or within a week of being assigned, there will be an automatic discipline referral to the office.
  4. Give a written referral to the office.
  5. Cheating will not be tolerated. All persons involved will receive a zero for the assignment or exam and their parents will be contacted.

Non-negotiable (No warnings are given; automatic administrative referral):

  1. No disruptions in the classroom.
  2. No frequent hall passes.
  3. No revealing clothing.
  4. No vulgar or demeaning speech.

Absence policy and Make-up Work: The absence and make-up work policy coincides with the school wide absence policy. Students are allowed to complete make-up work for excused absences only. Excused absences include the following:

Personal illness or injury.

Serious illness or death in the immediate family.

Religious holiday.

Extremely bad weather or road conditions.

An absence is not excused until the student/parent brings or emails a note from the parent/doctor giving the date and reason for the absence. This written excuse must be presented to each teacher within three (3) days after returning from the absence. The make-up work must then be completed within the assigned amount of time originally granted to the rest of the class. School business is not considered an absence and make-up work will be arranged.

Late Work: Homework will only be accepted for half-credit or another pre-determined deduction of points the next class day. A class day is defined as a day in which the student comes to the class. Each class day a project or test is late, a letter grade is dropped (10 points). If the assignment is submitted electronically (email, edmodo, etc…) late is considered each day it is not submitted.

Extra Credit: At least ONE extra credit assignment is offered per semester. Under no circumstances is extra credit given on an individual circumstances because of this opportunity.

Website and Teacher Contact:

Students will be using the website edmodo to access class information, documents calendar, and some assignments. Students will sign up for the site at the beginning of the year. Once a student has access to the site, parents will also receive a code to be able to access the site as well.

In addition, students will use the website Pearson Realize to access their textbook and complete their weekly reading.

Parents,

  • I urge you to discuss this plan with your son or daughter and encourage them during the course of this class. Each student should study at least 15 – 30 minutes outside of class every day. I hope you will help your child to attain the worthy goal of being able to communicate in another language.
  • Note that as a part of instruction, some foreign language movies will be shown in class. Most movies will be rated G, PG or PG-13. All movies, including foreign films that are appropriate for the classroom, will be carefully monitored by the teacher.
  • PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING POLICIES AS LAID OUT IN THIS SYLLABUS WITH YOUR CHILD:
  • No English
  • Participation
  • Passes
  • BYOT
  • Tardies
  • Absences and Make-up Work Policy
  • Late Work
  • Extra Credit
  • Website and Teacher Contact

(Student: Keep this syllabus in the very front of your notebook. Return the last paragraph signed by both you and your parents to Sra. Berry. Promptness counts. This is your first grade.)

This affirms that I (parent) have read the syllabus with my child, will encourage daily practice, give my permission for him or her to see classroom movies, and I agree to follow the guidelines laid out in this syllabus.

Parent Signature: ______Print name: ______

Date: ______

Best phone number to be contacted at: ______

Email: ______

AND I (student) understand what is required of me and I agree to follow the guidelines laid out in this syllabus.

Student Signature: ______Print name: ______

Date: ______