Class Description

(Span. I & II are prerequisites) In the third year of Spanish, students will experience continued learning of the Spanish language through conversational issues, more intensive reading and writing activities, and the refinement of grammar topics. Videos about various Spanish-speaking cultures done in the target language aid the student at this level to compare Spanish dialects from region to region. The students will also work together to complete some unit projects over the course of the year. The emphasis in this year is to make the student feel confident in his or her speaking ability.

Class Expectations

In the third year of Spanish, students will be challenged more and more in their understanding of the language. The focus will be less on building vocabulary and more on using the vocabulary they've already learned in meaningful ways. An emphasis will be placed on improving speaking ability.  Students are expected to only use Spanish in class.  About 90% of all instruction will be in Spanish.

Students' grades in Spanish III will be based on the following structure:

* Daily assignments: 35% of total grade
* Unit tests: 30% of total grade
* Vocabulary quizzes: 20% of total grade
* Class participation: 15% of total grade

The semester exam will be worth 20% of the students' grades also.

Since daily assignments are the most heavily weighted category, a large emphasis is placed on staying current on daily work. Spanish is a building-type of discipline and many of the concepts in the first semester repeat themselves in the second semester or are built upon throughout the year. Please encourage students to stay up on the material. Playing catch-up is very difficult.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the class requirements.

Class Outline

A. Vocabulary building -- New vocabulary is introduced through reading and discussion.

B. Grammatical Structures -- We will review many previously learned structures.

1. Review of present tense
2. Review of "gustar" verb
3. Review of agreement
4. Review of direct/indirect object pronouns
5. Reveiw of preterit past tense
6. Review of imperfect past tense
7. Review of future tense
8. Review of present perfect tense
9. Review of commands -- all forms
10. Past perfect tense
11. Conditional tense
12. Present subjunctive
13. Present Perfect subjunctive

C. Listening Enhancement and Cultural Education

1. "Destinos" -- Students will watch the first half of a video series with native speakers and cultural and historical lessons.
2. Daily speaking/listening in class
3. Reading literature that deal with issues in Hispanic culture
4. Art projects discovering Hispanic art and artists

D. Class projects -- Students will present various projects throughout the year to enhance the learning done in cumulative weeks