sr.klose@gmail.com CAS website: www.cas.bhs.berkeleypta.org

Course Description:
This course is designed for students who are new to the Spanish language. I expect students to have fun with the language while mastering fundamental vocabulary and expressions, and to gain an appreciation of different cultures. Students will learn and practice Spanish through a variety of scaffolded and open-ended activities that require the use of multiple intelligences. Music is a big part of our class. In addition to playing the guitar and singing, we will experience Flamenco, Salsa, Mariachi, Afro-Cuban, Bachata, Reggaeton, Merengue, Folk, Religious, and Classical Music from the Hispanic world.

Skill Objectives and Outcomes:Since learning a foreign language is impossible without the willingness to speak up and take risks, daily participation is essential to success in our class. Throughout this course students will be able to:
-Engage in conversations, understand and interpret written and spoken language and present information to an audience.
-Use critical thinking to examine the relationship between their culture and Spanish-speaking cultures.
-Recognize distinctive viewpoints and life opportunities that are available through the study of Spanish and its cultures.
-Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language through comparison of Spanish and English.
-Use Spanish within and beyond the school setting.

Suggestions for independent work:-Watch a Spanish language movie or TV program
-Listen to Spanish language radio
-Read a Spanish magazine or newspaper
-Make friends with a native Spanish speaker and practice
-Visit a museum exhibit that focuses on Spanish-speaking cultures

Course Content:Fall Thematic Units:
Theme Chapter
Introduction:
At school
The weather
In the classroom
1: My friends and I 1A: What do you like to do? 1B: What are you like? How are you today?
2: School 2A: Your school day 2B: Your classroom
3: Food 3A: Breakfast or lunch 3B: Health
4: Hobbies 4A: Where are you going? 4B: Do you want to go with me?

Spring Thematic Units:

Theme Chapter
5: Celebrations and family 5A: A birthday party 5B: Let's go to a restaurant
6: At home 6A: In my bedroom 6B: What is your house like?
7: Shopping 7A: How much does it cost? 7B: What a gift!
8: Experiences 8A: On vacation 8B: Helping in the community
9: Media 9A: Movies and TV 9B: Technology

Instructional Materials:The textbook, Realidades 1, begins with an introductory section followed by nine thematic chapters. The text will be supplemented by a workbook, activities, and projects. Textbooks will stay in the classroom throughout the year.
** You are expected to use a separate binder for Spanish that includes places to keep handouts as well as notepaper or notebook for taking notes and doing the warm-ups, homework and quizzes. This binder will be checked periodically.

Grades/Credit:
Students and parents are expected to monitor progress online at mygradebook.com, the site where I keep grades and attendance. Each student will receive a password from me. Assignments and projects will periodically be posted to the CAS website. Distribution of grades is as follows:
40% Daily Participation and Classwork
* Students will earn participation points each day by being cooperative and trying their best. Students who are unprepared or unwilling to participate will receive a ZERO for that day.
20% Dialogue Journals and Homework
* Students are expected to communicate regularly (minimum once every two weeks) with me by email (sr.klose@gmail.com) in the form of a confidential dialogue journal. This is a very important vehicle for teacher-student communication. Your feedback on what´s going well and what can be improved in the class will help to make this year fun and successful for all of us. Homework will be assigned occasionally.
20% projects and portfolios
* Throughout the year, students will create projects based on their own interests related to the curriculum. These will be collected in a portfolio.
20% tests and quizzes
* Quizzes will be bi-weekly, generally reviewing one section of a chapter in the textbook. Tests will be cumulative, given once per quarter.

Basic Requirements
1. Attend class and be on time.
2. Have all necessary materials ready (every day).
3. Be present in every class and participate daily.
4. Respect all in the classroom.
5. It is expected that you will make mistakes when speaking-this means you are learning!

Late Policy: Major Assignments will be downgraded a full letter grade each day after the due date and will not be accepted after three days without an excused absence. Extensions for excused absences must be arranged with the teacher immediately upon return.

Work missed due to excused absences needs to be made up as soon as is reasonably possible, including quizzes and projects. Late (unexcused) work receives 1/2 credit.