Spanish

Spanish I is an introduction to Spanish language and culture and provides students with an opportunity to gain access to one of the fastest growing and diverse cultures in the world today. Students will begin their journeys in second language acquisition not only by learning the Spanish language, but by studying the many treasures of Spanish-­‐speaking cultures including music, art, food, history, and pop culture.

Students in Spanish 1 will develop introductory proficiency in the Spanish language by participating in interactive and communicative classroom activities that focus on building and developing skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Spanish. Students will also develop cultural awareness and the ability to successfully participate in real life situations and scenarios likely to occur outside of the classroom environment through their learning and exposure to cultural customs and practices.

Spanish II students will build on content knowledge gained during the Spanish I course. Students will improve skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, understanding and interpreting the language and culture. Students will review and enhance vocabulary, formulate creative sentences, construct elaborate responses and write descriptive essays, short stories and summaries. Students will be expected to speak using complete sentences, engage in common discourse and display subject knowledge through a variety of activities including but not limited; to skits, role plays, translations, projects, and educational games. This course will prepare students for Spanish III as well as help them communicate with native speakers. There will be an emphasis on the Caribbean and North American Spanish speaking countries. Students will research various traditions and arts of Spanish speaking countries (will possible change each year) and will be introduced to various dialects. Grammar concepts include the present tense, irregular verbs, review of the reflexive, ser/estar, imperfect and simple future tenses of verbs. Vocabulary will include but is not limited to: expansion of weather, emotions, adjectives/personality, clothing, shopping, community, professions, directions, technology terms.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Spanish 1

Spanish III students will build on content knowledge gained during the Spanish II course. Students will enhance skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, understanding and interpreting the Spanish language while gaining a broad understanding of Hispanic culture. Students will explore the culture and literature with an emphasis on the “Americas”. Students will begin journal writing about a variety of topics including common Spanish idioms, personal experiences, future plans, and likes/dislikes. Students will also be required to summarize articles and research current events impacting the Spanish Speaking World. Throughout the course an emphasis will be placed on the 5 C’s of Foreign Language; Communication, Culture, Connection, Community and Comparisons. Students will engage in situational conversation preparing them for real life situations. Grammar topics will include but are not limited to, present tense irregular, past tense (imperfect and preterite), future, and conditional uses of verbs, as well as an introduction of the subjunctive mood, mastery of ser/estar. Students are expected to achieve mastery in prepositions (por/para, de, en, a, etc), indirect and direct object pronouns and definite articles. Students will be able to describe past events, future events and react in hypothetical situations.

Prerequisite: Successfully complete Spanish 2, with at least an 83% in Spanish 2 OR earning an 83% on an entrance exam. Instructor permission also required.

Spanish IV students will build on content knowledge gained during Spanish III. Students will enhance skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, understanding and interpreting the Spanish language while gaining a broad understanding of Spain and Latin America. Students will explore the culture, history and literature of Spanish speaking countries. Students will write journals and papers about a variety of topics including common Spanish idioms, personal experiences, future plans, hopes/desires and likes/dislikes. Students will also be required to summarize articles and research current events impacting the Spanish Speaking World. Students will engage in situational conversation preparing them for real life situations. Grammar topics will include but are not limited to; an in-depth knowledge of the gender of Spanish words, mastery of ser/estar , por and para, learn the differentiation between commonly mistaken words and verbs, mastery of the past tenses (imperfect and preterite), future, and conditional uses of verbs, past participles and the subjunctive mood. Students are expected to achieve mastery in prepositions, indirect and direct object pronouns and verb tenses. Students will read and interpret famous short stories, folk tales, songs and poems. They will learn about the different literary movements in Latin America, research various Hispanic artists, and discuss/research other topics such as: social movements, immigration and history. Students will write two research papers (one each semester) and present information about a chosen Spanish speaking country at the end of the year.

Prerequisite: Successfully complete Spanish 3 with a B- average. Students will also be asked to take an entrance exam if their grade is not high enough.