World Language
lorussodo@watertownctschools.org
Bienvenidos!
Welcome to Spanish I! You are about to experience an exciting and challenging adventure as you learn a world language! Did you know that:
1. As of the year 2000, the US had 35.6 million Hispanics. That number has grown to 41.3, as of 2005.
2. New York, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona have cities with populations that are more than half Hispanic.
3. The number of radio stations broadcasting in Spanish in the United States is approximately 700.
4. Hispanic Americans are mostly from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
5. About 55% of Connecticut Latinos are from Puerto Rico. Close to 30% of Waterbury's population is Hispanic. Immigrants from the Dominican Republic have significantly increased the Hispanic population.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1. You must come to class prepared with your Spanish textbook workbook, notebook, and agenda.
2. Homework must be written in pen, or you may type your assignments on the computer. Neatness counts!
3. Class participation is one-third of your grade average! Remember, when learning a world language, you have to speak it. Raise your hand to participate. Don't be afraid of the new sounds and unusual pronunciations.
4. There will be many activities involving group or paired work. Be respectful of each other!
5. Remember, learning a world language requires diligence and effort so you should study your notes and vocabulary every night (even on those nights when you don't have written homework). Your reward will be the excitement you will feel when you can communicate in another language. Buena suerte! Good luck!
Students in Spanish I use the Ven conmigo series. A useful link for obtaining information on Spanish grammar, Spain, and Mexico is www.gohrw.com. Click on world languages, Spanish, then scroll down to Ven conmigo, Level 1.
Grade Expectations
The student's average is based on the following components:
85%:
1. Unit (chapter) assessments
2. Major performance tasks: essays, oral presentations, lab experiences, projects, teacher written assessments
3. Quarterly assessments
15%:
Entrance and exit quizzes, notebook checks, class participation
5%:
Homework that is not assessed, but checked for completion
Homework Assignments
Nov.17 - After taking the quiz on the Primer Paso of Chapter 2, the students will start learning the Vocabulario of the Segundo Paso, En el cuarto (in the bedroom). This vocabulary is on page 52 in the textbook.
Nov.18 - Crimson team and Evergreen team field trips
Nov.19 - Students will learn the remaining words of the Vocabulario En el cuarto. Tonight's assignment is to complete page 14 in the workbook and the Segundo Paso practice/activity sheet.
Nov.20, 21 - Students will use these two days to learn how to describe the contents of their bedrooms. Some examples: ¿Qué hay en tu cuarto? Hay una silla y una cama. ¿Qué tiene Débora en su cuarto? Ella tiene una lámpara y dos carteles.
Friday night's assignment is on page 53 in the textbook, Actividad 18, and an original sentence activity: writing a paragraph that describes your bedroom.
Spanish I Class Information
As its main objective, Spanish I is designed to help students attain the novice level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Varied exercises and activities are provided in the textbook, the workbook, and the technology program. Through the use of video, CD, and other multimedia materials, students will achieve a basic working knowledge of the language and culture. The following is a basic course content.
1. Hispanic population in the United States
2. Basic sentence structure with proper verb and adjective agreement
3. Spain and Mexico "location openers"
4. Cultural topics on customs, traditions, and lifestyles of Spanish-speaking people
5. Major themes: greetings, school supplies, the home, telling time, free-time activities, family
6. Preliminary lessons on numbers, colors, the alphabet
Course Syllabus
Chapter 1: "It's nice to meet you."
The students will:
1. Give greetings and farewell, make and respond to introductions, and inquire how someone is doing.
2. Ask and give their ages and origins.
3. Talk about likes and dislikes.
Grammar covered: Spanish punctuation marks, pronouns I and you, use of the verb to be, forming questions, singular definite articles, noun gender and agreement
Chapter 2: "Get organized."
The students will:
1. Talk about what they want and need.
2. Describe the contents of their rooms.
3. Talk about what they want and need to do.
Grammar covered: indefinite articles, plural of nouns, use of mucho and cuanto, pronouns he and she, -ar, -er, -ir infinitives
Chapter 3: "New classes, new friends"
The students will:
1. Talk about class schedules, sequence events, and tell time.
2. Tell at what time something happens and talk about being late and in a hurry.
3. Describe people and things and explain why they like certain things.
Grammar covered: plural definite articles, forms of the verb to be and using it to tell time, adjective agreement, possession
Chapter 4: "What are you doing this afternoon?"
The students will:
1. Talk about what they like to do and what they do during their free time.
2. Tell where people and thing are located.
3. Talk about where they go during their free time.
Grammar covered: present tense of regular -ar verbs, the preposition with, present tense of estar and ir, subject pronouns, use of articles with days of the week
Chapter 5: "The Rhythm of Life"
The students will:
1. Discuss how often they do things.
2. Talk about what you and your friends do during a typical week, and what you and your friends like to do together.
3. Give the date and talk about the weather.
Grammar covered: negation, use of interrogative who, present tense of regular -er, -ir verbs, giving the date
Chapter 6: "Family Life"
The students will:
1. Identify their family members.
2. Describe their family members and discuss things a family does together.
3. Discuss problems and give advice.
Grammar covered: possessive adjectives, present tense of the verbs hacer, salir, deber, poner