Español  2                                                      COURSE DESCRIPTION

Kelly Bates/kbates@smmusd.org           

(310) 395-3204  x71247

 

This course is intended to provide for students a continuation of the concepts begun in Spanish 1 and to expose them to most of the fundamental grammar of the Spanish language.  It is assumed that students entering this course have basic mastery of the following:

 

- use of common expressions in greetings, weather, time, date, use of numbers, etc.

- concepts of gender and number agreement among nouns, adjectives, articles, etc.

- present tense of -ar, -er, and -ir verbs including some irregulars (ser, ir, tener, venir, hacer, salir, dar, ver) and stem-changers (“boot” verbs)

- combination of verbs (voy a estudiar, tengo que salir, prefiero bailar, etc.)

- contrast of ser v.s. estar

- preterite (past) tense of regular verbs and a few irregulars

- use of pronouns (subject, direct object)

- knowledge of basic vocabulary taught in Spanish 1

 

HOW TO SUCCEED

 

HOMEWORK will be assigned nightly. Do it. Don’t copy or scribble words hurriedly. You’ll be so much happier down the road that you followed this advice.

 

PARTICIPATION

This class is taught mostly in Spanish. Oral participation is necessary for success and

is reflected in the grading structure. If you are absent frequently, you might find it difficult to keep up with oral comprehension and participation in class discussions.

 

QUIZZES will be given weekly. At the end of each grading period, I’ll drop your lowest quiz. If you are absent on the day of a quiz, that score will become your dropped one.

 

TESTS will be given at the end of each chapter. They will consist of listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, reading and culture. If you are absent on the day of a test, please be prepared to take it upon your return.

 

The FINAL EXAM is worth 20% of your grade, but will not affect it until the end of the semester. Keep in mind that cutting corners (copying homework, cramming for tests, etc.) might keep your grade artificially higher throughout the semester, but could result in a final exam grade that lowers your final grade by a letter or more.

 

GRADING POLICY

Grades will be determined in the following manner:

 

Tests =                      20%                     A=100-90

Quizzes =                 20%                     B=89-80

Oral participation =20%                    C=79-70 (answering questions, presenting dialogs, etc.)  

Homework =           20%                     D=69-60

Final exam =           20%                     F=59 and below

                                100%

 

CLASS RULES

• Late work is not accepted for credit. It’s your responsibility to copy the week’s assignments from the board on the first day of the week. If you are absent, you should have two assignments completed upon your return unless a lesson taught while you were absent prevents you from doing so.

• Please enjoy your food and beverages outside the classroom. Water is an exception.

• Use the restroom and take care of other personal issues between classes. Please don’t ask to go during class unless it’s a dire emergency.

• Copying work will result in zeros on both papers. Even if you “work together”, papers should not be identical.

• Cell phone use is not allowed in class. The first time, it will be taken away for the class period. Subsequent offenses will result in the phone being turned over to the House office. Cell phone use during testing periods will result in the above consequences and a zero on the test. 

• No, there is no extra credit in this class, except for a small amount offered for attendance on the day of a test only.

 

PROCESS FOR INTERVENTION

If you need academic assistance, want to discuss your grade, etc., or just want to talk please don’t hesitate to come by at break or lunch! 

 

If your classroom behavior in any way disrupts the educational process, I will attempt to resolve the issue with you outside of class. Mutual respect between teachers and students seems to promote satisfactory conclusions 99% of the time. If you and I cannot resolve the conflict,

I will contact parents, advisers and possibly an administrator, in that order, to help us reach resolution. Open honesty expressed in a courteous way almost always prevents the need for such steps.

 

Please help promote an enjoyable place to learn!