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Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
LOTE Department
Laurie León
[email protected]
Room 308 / Conference period: B1
Tutorials: Wednesdays from 3:35 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
AP Spanish - Fall Semester 2015
Edmodo Class Code: pbgk9h
COURSE OVERVIEW *
The AP Spanish Language and Culture course is a rigorous course taught exclusively in Spanish that requires students to
improve their proficiency across the three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational).
The course focuses on the integration of authentic resources including online print, audio, and audiovisual resources, as
well as traditional print resources that include literature, essays, and magazine and newspaper articles with the goal of
providing a rich, diverse learning experience.
The ultimate goal of this course is to prepare students to take the AP Spanish Language Exam on Tuesday May 3rd,
2016, to score 3, 4, or 5 and, as a result, earn credits towards the College/University level.
IMPORTANT: The AP Spanish class is not a grammar class; by the time students begin this course they should have
already mastered the grammar concepts taught in Spanish1, 2 and 3 and have an advance level of fluency in the language. A
diagnostic test will be administered during the first week of classes to determine the student readiness for this course. If the
student score is too low, the teacher will recommend that the student will be transferred to another course, and take the
time to prepare before enrolling in the AP Spanish Course again.
Organization
In the duration of this course, all lessons are designed with a variety of interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational
activities as well as assignments and projects based on six thematic units and their recommended contexts.
AP Thematic Units
Thematic Unit 1: El individuo y su identidad
Theme: Personal and Public Identities / Las identidades personales y públicas
Contexts Covered:
• Alienation and Assimilation / La enajenación y la asimilación
• Heroes and Historical Figures / Los héroes y los personajes históricos
• National and Ethnic Identities / La identidad nacional y la identidad étnica
• Personal Beliefs / Las creencias personales
• Self-Image / La autoestima
Thematic Unit 2: Los efectos de la tecnología
Theme: Science and Technology / La ciencia y la tecnología
Contexts Included:
• Access to Technology / El acceso a la tecnología
• Effects of Technology on Self and Society / Los efectos de la tecnología en el individuo
y en la sociedad
• Health Care and Medicine / El cuidado de la salud y la medicina
• Innovations / Las innovaciones tecnológicas
Natural Phenomena / Los fenómenos naturales
• Science and Ethics / La ciencia y la ética
Thematic Unit Three: El valor de la familia y la comunidad
Theme: Families and Communities / Las familias y las Comunidades
Contexts Included:
• Customs and Values / Las tradiciones y los valores
• Education Communities / Las comunidades educativas
• Family Structure / La estructura de la familia
• Global Citizenship / La ciudadanía global
• Human Geography / La geografía humana
• Social Networking / Las redes sociales
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Thematic Unit 4: Global Challenges / Los desafíos mundiales
Contexts:
• Economic Issues / Los temas económicos
• Environmental Issues / Los temas del medio ambiente
• Philosophical Thought and Religion / El pensamiento filosófico y la
religión
• Population and Demographics / La población y la demografía
• Social Welfare / El bienestar social
• Social Conscience / La conciencia social
Thematic Unit 5: Contemporary Life / La vida contemporánea
Contexts:
• Education and Careers / La educación y las carreras profesionales
• Entertainment / El entretenimiento y la diversión
• Travel and Leisure / Los viajes y el ocio
• Lifestyles / Los estilos de vida
• Relationships / Las relaciones personales
• Social Customs and Values / Las tradiciones y los valores sociales
• Volunteerism / El trabajo voluntario
Thematic Unit 6: Beauty and Aesthetics / La belleza y la estética
Contexts:
• Architecture / La arquitectura
• Defining Beauty / Definiciones de la belleza
• Defining Creativity / Definiciones de la creatividad
• Fashion and Design / La moda y el diseño
• Language and Literature / El lenguaje y la literatura
• Visual and Performing Arts / Las artes visuales y escénicas
*Source: The College Board. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com
Supply list
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One Binder (1 ½ inches)
3 tab dividers
Loose Leaf paper
Pencils (regular or mechanical).
Leads (if using mechanical pencil).
Blue or black pens
Closed personal sharpener (if using a regular pencil)
Eraser
English-Spanish Dictionary (to keep at home)
Diccionario de sinónimos y antónimos (pocket size, to keep at home and bring to class
when required).
Diccionario de Español (pocket size, to keep at home and bring to class when required)
Binder organization:
Tab 1: AP Exam guides & Rubrics
Tab 2: Class work / assignments
Tab 3: Grammar packets
Textbooks (available for use in the classroom)
 Triángulo Aprobado. Barbara Gatski & John McMullan.
 Una vez más: Un repaso completo de gramática española. Couch, McCann, Rodríguez-Walter,
Rubio-Maroto.
 AP Spanish-Preparing for the Language and Culture Examination. José Díaz.
 Barron’s AP Spanish. Alice G. Springer.
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Ms. Leon’s AP Spanish class Grading Plan
Evaluation will be conducted by using different methods and techniques that will reveal students’ strengths and
weaknesses. Some of them will include multiple choice quizzes and tests, written essays, sentence completion essays, oral
presentations, projects, final exams, etc. The percentages are as follows:
Oral participation* 20 %
Class work / homework 20 %
Quizzes/special assignments/minor projects 25 %
Major Tests/major Projects 35 %
____________________
100%
*Oral participation will be graded based on the Oral participation Rubric (provided separately to students and available at
Ms. Leon’ class at DeBakey HSHP web page). Student is required to communicate with his peers and with the teacher
exclusively in Spanish, and will only speak in English when the teacher allows it. The teacher will make corrections
during student oral participation. The student will take notes of these corrections and avoid repeating the same mistakes in
the future. As the year progresses, student is expected to show notorious improvement in his/her oral skills.
Re-Take Policy
• If a student receives a failing grade on a major test, he/she may request a re-take of that test. Re-take policy is for major
tests only; it does not include quizzes or projects.
• Re-takes are NOT allowed on common assessments or final exams.
• The re-take grade will be the average of the two scores, the original and the re-take, unless the average is higher than a
70. If the average is higher than a 70, the grade defaults to a 70. The highest grade a student can receive on the retake test
is a 70%.
• The re-take must be completed within 2-5 school days after receiving the first graded test.
• Re-take opportunities must be scheduled outside the regular class time. Before school, during lunch, and after school
(Monday-Thursday) are options.
Make-Up Policy:
Student is expected to turn in every assignment (class work, homework, special assignments, and projects) on the due date
unless he/she has been absent (excused absences only). A missed assignment must be turned in within three school days
counted from the day the student has returned to school. After five school days, the student will receive a zero for each
missed assignment. Student is responsible to find out what assignments/assessments he/she has missed during his absence
by contacting the teacher by email [email protected]; checking the Edmodo class page; or talking to the teacher
during Study Hall or tutorial time.
Also, if a student has questions about the completion of any assignment, homework, or project, he/she is responsible for
contacting the teacher as soon as possible to get the help he/she needs.
NOTE FOR PARENTS: If there is any condition temporary or permanent that interferes with your child’s learning,
please make sure to notify me as soon as possible in writing at [email protected]
Monitor your child’s grades weekly through Gradespeed, and make sure to communicate any concerns promptly via email
to [email protected] or in person by scheduling a conference with me. Please do not send me messages via
Gradespeed, use my email address instead.
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CLASSROOM RULES
SPANISH CLASS
MS. LEÓN
1.
Be on time.
2.
Be prepared.
3.
Follow instructions at once.
4.
Ask for help if you are having difficulties.
5.
Keep your area clean. Refrain from bringing food or drinks to class.
6.
Be respectful.
7.
Be honest.
8.
Take care of your restroom /water needs during passing time. Restroom /water passes will be given on
emergency basis only. Any medical condition that causes a student to go to the restroom frequently, should be
reported the school nurse who will issue a special note to the teachers).
1.
Study Spanish every day for at least 10 minutes.
2.
Refrain from using electronic devices (cell phones, cameras, CD players, mp3 players, tablets, etc.) unless your
teacher allows it. Unauthorized electronic devices will be taken up and turned in to the administration according
to the DHSHP policy.
3.
Always follow the DeBakey HSHP Student Code of Conduct.
By signing this paper, you are indicating that you have read and understood Ms. Leon Spanish class syllabus, rules and
grading plan. In the event of any change to Ms. Leon’s syllabus, grading plan or classroom rules; students and
parents/guardians will be notified in writing by the teacher.
____________________________________
Student printed name
______________________________
Student signature
____________________________________
Parent or Guardian printed name
_____________________________
Parent or Guardian signature
This paper should be signed and returned to Ms. Leon by :___________________
Date
_____________________
Date
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Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
LOTE Department
Teacher: Laurie León / Room 308
[email protected]
AP Spanish Language Contract
Placement in AP Spanish Language is a privilege that requires a superior sense of responsibility and
performance. Students in AP Spanish Language must understand and agree to the following (please initial):
_______ I will use only Spanish to communicate in the classroom, even if I am talking to my peers.
_______ I know I will have daily practice work, even over weekends. I will complete each task to the best of my
ability.
_______ I recognize that the quality of my education depends on the quality of my effort. I understand that
academic integrity is imperative. I will not copy, or provide for copying, practice work, essays, projects, tests, or
any other work. I will use technology appropriately.
_______ I am responsible for my make-up work when I am gone. I will complete all work before I leave for a
planned absence, and I will complete all make-up work by the deadline when I am gone because of illness or
emergency. If I must, I will arrange an alternative with my instructor prior to the deadline.
_______ I will seek opportunities to participate actively in class.
_______ I will take a positive leadership role in the class.
_______ I am responsible for my education and my understanding. If I am confused or unclear about an
assignment, discussion, or activity, I will ask for help.
_______ I am responsible for knowing my grade in the class. I know that I will be able to check my grade online. I
will reconcile any discrepancies immediately.
_______ I understand that if my effort, participation, behavior, or performance ever falls below the standards of
an AP course, I will receive at least one of the following consequences: a warning, loss of credit on a task, a
conference with my parents and the instructor, or a transfer from the AP course to another course.
Student PRINTED name and Signature ______________________________________________________
Parent PRINTED Name and Signature _______________________________________________________
Date:___________________
Please return this page only to class by __________________.