• La clase de español

    Curriculum, Procedures and Expectations

    Maestra Berlage

    “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”

    Ludwig Wittgenstein

     

    ¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español!! I extend a big welcome to the beginning rigors of this Tempe Union High School Spanish 1-2 equivalency course!  Throughout this year and next, you will learn communication skills, vocabulary, grammatical structures, and aspects of culture that meet Arizona’s World and Native Language Standards.  These standards are organized into nine skill strands:

    • Interpersonal Communication,
    • Interpretive Reading, Interpretive Listening,
    • Presentational Writing, Presentational Speaking,
    • Cultures, Cultural Comparisons, Cultural Connections, & Community Usage.

    The nine strands are not intended to be taught separately, so they, in conjunction with our internationally-minded IB focus and MYP Phase 1 and Phase 2 Language Acquisition Criterion for comprehending and communicating in response to spoken and written texts, will be interconnected during instruction and assessments.  WITH PRACTICE, these skills can be functionally applied at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) “Novice Low, Mid, High” to “Intermediate Low” levels of communication in the following Spanish language/cultural situations:

    • Interpersonally communicate information about names, how to spell them, colors, numbers, weather, seasons, dates, time, classes, people, and things that are liked
    • Interpersonally communicate introductions and simple phone greetings
    • Interpersonally communicate information about meals, family, clothing and gift purchases
    • Interpersonally communicate wants and needs (to do).
    • Interpersonally communicate information about one’s mood & physical well-being, about what one does in general, what one is doing right now and will do in the future, and about activities that one did in the past.
    • Interpret & analyze short readings and listening opportunities
    • Write and present messages related to everyday life (e.g. describing family)
    • Recognize basic practices, products, & perspectives of cultures where Spanish is spoken
    • Reinforce prior knowledge & make connections to new knowledge in other content areas

    Related to this are the IB Phase-specific language acquisition objectives that students will:

    • Objective A: Comprehend spoken and visual text
    • Objective B: Comprehend written and visual text
    • Objective C: Communicate in response to spoken and/or written and/or visual text
    • Objective D: Use language in spoken and/or written form

    An overarching aim of teaching and learning languages is to enable the student to become a critical and competent communicator. The aims of the teaching and learning of MYP language acquisition are to:

    • gain proficiency in an additional language while supporting maintenance of their mother tongue and cultural heritage
    • develop a respect for, and understanding of, diverse linguistic and cultural heritages
    • develop the student’s communication skills necessary for further language learning, and for study, work and leisure in a range of authentic contexts and for a variety of audiences and purposes
    • enable the student to develop multiliteracy skills through the use of a range of learning tools, such as multimedia, in the various modes of communication
    • enable the student to develop an appreciation of a variety of literary and non-literary texts and to develop critical and creative techniques for comprehension and construction of meaning
    • enable the student to recognize and use language as a vehicle of thought, reflection, self-expression and learning in other subjects, and as a tool for enhancing literacy
    • enable the student to understand the nature of language and the process of language learning, which comprises the integration of linguistic, cultural and social components
    • offer insight into the cultural characteristics of the communities where the language is spoken
    • encourage an awareness and understanding of the perspectives of people from own and other cultures, leading to involvement and action in own and other communities
    • foster curiosity, inquiry and a lifelong interest in, and enjoyment of, language learning.

    Demonstrating proficiency: In order to receive the Tempe Union High School Spanish 1-2 credit for this course, you need to minimally earn a Novice High ACTFL/APPL Proficiency score on their final exam.  To help keep you on that track, you need to regularly complete homework, including O.L.E.’s (Outside Learning Experiences), and continually practice vocabulary, grammar, speaking and listening skills.

    Standard Grading: Your grades are weighted and will be based on the following:

    80% = Assessments & Projects

    10% = Class Participation 

    10% = Homework (including at least 20 mins/week of “Outside Learning Experiences”-“O.L.E’s”)

    • Please note: As an IB school, IB MYP progress reports may also be generated 

     Expectations: Proteger nuestro NIDO

    • No chicle (Refer to Sr. Wooley’s video if you are unclear on this one!)
    • Insistir en hablar en español (Persist in & out of class with as much Spanish as possible.)
    • Demostrar respeto (for yourself, others, & materials)
    • Obedecer las normas de KMS (Including celebrations!)

     

    Materials: You minimally need a SPANISH-ONLY notebook, folder, loose leaf paper, sharpened pencils, white board  and marker. You have an on-line textbook entitled ¡Qué Chévere 1! You can access it anywhere with an internet connection via the following path:

    1. On the Kyrene Home Page, Click on “STUDENTS” & then click “EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES”
    2. Scroll down to the “PASSPORT” icon at the bottom
    3. Follow the directions provided to open your textbook. You may need to click “ACTIVATE”

    *home logon: ksd\student#
    Student User Guide
    At Home Directions

    Homework: We will complete cooperative learning activities in class almost every day.  It is your homework after every class to take home whatever skill/paperwork was to be completed, turn the material into a study aid, and to memorize and/or practice the skill in order to be prepared for an assessment of the material.  Learning another language takes A LOT of practice and reinforcement. Since we are covering a high school curriculum, you are expected to study daily. One of your assignments will be an O.L.É. (Outside Learning Experience). This assignment will be done weekly and involves using Spanish outside of the classroom (for 20 minutes each week). As part of the OLÉ, you will reflect on how the activity is helping you to achieve your learning goals. O.L.E.s will be further explained in class.

     Absences: If you are absent, it is your responsibility to e-mail me and/or check and complete your Google Classroom assignments.

    Thank you for your support! I’m looking forward to working with you and your child! 

    Sincerely,

    Maestra Berlage

    bberlage@kyrene.org

    (480) 541-6723