South Pasadena High School Teacher: Sadie Medina
Foreign Language Department Room: 425
Course Name: Spanish ½ E-mail:
(626) 441-5820 ex 2425
Conference periods: 5th + 7th
Text:¡Ven conmigo!, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
Additional Resources: All Spanish classes use the Destinos video series to supplement material learned in class. Songs are taught in class. Various other supplemental materials (cultural videos, etc.) are used as appropriate.
Course Description/Standards:
In addressing the five major skill areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and culture, the foreign language student shall, appropriate to his/her level of study, engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions. Students shall understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics. Students shall demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied and recognize and compare the distinctive viewpoints that are available through the foreign language and its cultures with the student’s own culture.
ESLR’S (Expected School wide Learning Results):
The Spanish language classroom endeavors to achieve the goal put forth in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century, 1999. This publication states that the United States must educate students who are equipped linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which all students develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other language. Additionally, students who come to school from non-English speaking backgrounds should have opportunities to develop further proficiencies in their heritage language and cultures.
All units of study involve all the SPHS ESLR’s, but the foreign language classroom most specifically addresses the ESLR’s “think and produce in a variety of ways,” “communicate effectively,” and “are resourceful.” Students must constantly think creatively and critically in order to solve problems of communication. Additionally, students use a variety of resources to attain the goal of effective communication by being able to recognize the cultural cues and gestures of the target language. The very nature of learning aforeign language lends itself to the implementation of the new common core standards for literacy. Students build knowledge about the world through various texts, from both literary and primary sources. We encourage students to use the target language to discuss culture based on texts and current videos. As Spanish is a Latin based language, students are constantly building transferable vocabulary that will help them access complex texts in English.
The very nature of learning a foreign language lends itself to the implementation of the new common core standards for literacy. Students build knowledge about the world through various texts, from both literary and primary sources. We encourage students to use the target language to discuss and write about the target culture and their own based on a variety of texts and current videos. As Spanish is a Latin based language, students are constantly building transferable vocabulary that will help them access complex texts in English.
Types of Assessments:
Written quizzes and tests (departmental), listening comprehension evaluations, extemporaneous and prepared (memorized) oral presentations, written compositions, original writing for oral presentations (group and individual), special art/language projects, departmental final exam to demonstrate proficiency (20% of semester grade)
Language Performance and Achievement:
The first-year foreign language student is primarily at the formulaic language level of learning of memorized words, phrases, and patterns. Often students move to the created level where these memorized elements are rearranged and recombined to form original sentences, which show more personal expression than do the standard formulas.
Regular attendance is important. Students must be in class. The constant explanation, exercises, and drills of the classroom cannot be made up! Language textbooks are not designed for individual studies.
Major Topics/Units:
Generally, students in the first semester cover the vocabulary, grammar, and cultural elements of Chapters 1-4 of the text. In the second semester, students cover Chapters 5-8. For a detailed listing of topics covered, see the Table of Contents of the text.
In addition, students watch videos from the Destinos video series. All foreign language classes also have a culture/values component. Students will do a variety of oral and written projects focusing on culture in the course of the semester .
Homework Policy:
Regular, daily practice with the target language is essential to working toward proficiency in a foreign language. Homework, usually written, is given nightly. On average, first-year students are expected to spend 20-30 minutes nightly doing homework. In addition to the assigned written/oral homework, students are expected daily to study vocabulary lists and other material in progress. If a student is absent, s/he is expected to pick up missed homework on the day following the missed day of class, which means, that s/he should stop by the classroom to pick up the missed assignment or get it from a reliable classmate. Homework will be posted in class, and on my website which can be accessed at As per SPHS policy, there will be no extra credit opportunities. Late homework will not be accepted unless the student has an excused absence verified by an admit. Generally, students will have one block to make up a missed assignment for each day of absence.
Grading Policy:
Scale Weighting
100%-90 AHomework 20% of total grade
89-80B Projects (oral and written)
and participation 20%
79-70CExams and quizzes 40%
69-60DFinal Exam 20%
59 and belowFTotal 100%
All grades will be posted on AERIES in a reasonable, appropriate, on-going and timely manner throughout the established five week grading period. It is highly recommended that parents/guardians acquire an AERIES account, from the front office, so that they can check their child’s grades and progress.
Tutoring/Extra Help:
A student who needs some extra help with material covered in class may find it in a variety of ways. I am available at varying times during the week: conference periods, before/after school, brunch, and lunch. Students may always make an appointment with me at a mutually agreeable time. Also, the Foreign Language Department has a list of adult tutors and students in upper level courses (third and fourth-year Spanish) that students may consultto get help. SPHS also has an after-school tutoring program. Parents and guardians may contact me by phone by leaving a message on my voicemail (there will be no direct contact to my classroom during the school day so that we can minimize disruption and maximize instruction in the classroom). You may also contact me at the above email.