Forsyth County Course Syllabus s2

FORSYTH COUNTY COURSE SYLLABUS 2011-2012

COURSE TITLE: AP Spanish Language TEACHER NAME: Amy Harris EMAIL: [email protected] ROOM #: 1212 PHONE: 770-781-2264 EXT. 101212

Course Description: This course focuses on the preparation for the Advanced Placement Exam in Spanish language. This course will be taught predominantly in Spanish. English will be used for clarification of complex grammar topics. It is expected that students will speak Spanish at all times during the class period. This course is comparable to a fifth or sixth-semester college or university Spanish language course. It encompasses aural/oral skills, reading, comprehension, grammar, and composition. The course seeks to develop language skills that are useful in themselves, and that can be applied to various activities rather than the mastery of any specific subject matter.

Standards: This course combines the Georgia Course Standards that can be found at www.georgiastandards.org , the AP College Board Standards at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_spanlang.html?spanlang , and the following National Foreign Language standards:

 Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions  Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics  Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.  Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied  Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied  Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language  Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures  Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own  Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.  Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting  Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

Textbooks: We will use the following texts in this course: 1) Triángulo: A propósito, Gatski and McMullen, Wayside Publishing, 2006. Fourth Edition: Chapters 1-7 2) AP Spanish, Preparing for the Language Examination, Díaz, Leicher-Prieto y Nissenberg, Pearson Prentice Hall, Third Edition, 2007. 3) AP Test Prep, Duhl and Mercado, EMC Publishing, 2008. 4) Abriendo Paso Lectura, Diaz and Collins, Prentice Hall, 2001. *Additional handouts and authentic resources will be supplemented.

R equired Assignments: Throughout the year the students will be required to complete the following: 1) Aprendiario: A monthly form to be turned in that reflects the student’s out-of-class exposure to the language. (listening and reading authentic sources) 2) Journal: 5 monthly journal entries to be written at home 3) Various in class essays throughout the semester 4) Various oral assessments including debates and oral presentations 5) Unit tests that mirror parts of the AP exam and regular vocabulary and grammar quizzes. 6) 2-3 full length AP Spanish Language Practice Exams

Tutoring for upper level Spanish courses will be offered daily by upper level Spanish teachers. Please check the announcement board for the upcoming schedule. Please don’t hesitate to talk to me if you need extra help.

Retake policy: Formative assessments may be retaken once in preparation for the summative assessment of the unit and must be completed prior to the summative assessment of the same unit. Formative assessment retakes will only be allowed if a student has attended a minimum 30 minute tutoring session. Retakes of summative assessments will not be allowed.

Makeup Work: All missed work and assessments are the responsibility of the student when they are absent from school. A student who is absent on the class day before a regularly scheduled assessment will be responsible for completing the assignment on the regularly scheduled day and time. Students who have been absent more than two consecutive days (including the assessment day) will be given five (5) school days to make up the assessment and/or other assignments. This does not include major projects, research papers, etc., where the deadline has been posted in advance. The teacher has the discretion to grant a longer period of time to make up work if there are extenuating circumstances.

Grading Calculations: Course Average = 50% First Semester Course work + 50% Second Semester Course work Course Work = 75% Summative + 25% Formative

Grading Policy: A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 – 79 Failing = Below 70

*Formative Assessments include, but are not limited to homework, class work, practice tests, rough drafts, and sections of projects/ research papers/presentations.

*Summative Assessments include, but are not limited to unit tests, final projects, final essays, final research papers, and final presentations.