Western Mennonite School
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Spanish III
Instructor: Mrs. Sommer
Grade Level: High School
Course Description:
The Spanish program is designed to enhance student knowledge of Spanish language and
culture by making comparisons and connections to students’ backgrounds and experiences. In Spanish
III students will reinforce what they already know about speaking, reading, writing and listening by
scaffolding even more vocabulary, grammar and cultural knowledge. Additionally, students will study
Spanish-speaking countries using authentic materials to learn about the differences between them, and
to develop an appreciation and understanding for the way that others live. The class will focus on
conversation skills and incorporating other content areas into the curriculum.
Goals and Objectives:
1. Understand and respond to what others say in Spanish.
2. Comprehend verbal language from authentic and other sources.
3. Comprehend print materials from a variety of authentic and other sources.
4. Write to communicate meaning.
5. Speak to present rehearsed information.
Course Content:
Throughout the year we will cover the following topics:
1. Childhood
2. Family Relationships
3. Love
4. Friendship
5. Careers
6. Traveling
7. Health & Exercise
8. Food/Cooking
9. Present perfect tense 10. Formal/Informal commands
11. Hace + Que
12. Subjunctive tense
13. Reciprocal verbs
14. Conditional tense
15. Pronoun “se”
16. Future Plans
17. Imperfect tense
18. Indicative tense
Materials:
Provided by school:
Juntos Tres. USA: Prentice Hall, 1997. Print.
Juntos Tres Activity Book
Curland, David. La Catrina. La novela. USA: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc.,
1998. Print.
De Cervantes, Miguel and Andrade, Marcel C. Don Quijote de la Mancha. USA: American
Eagle Co. Inc., 1996. Print.
Glue, markers, scissors, tape, etc.
Provided by student:
Two different colored highlighters
One dry erase marker and eraser (a sock can work as an eraser)
Pencil, pen, etc.
September 1, 2011
Grading:
Grading will be based on the total points available from the six weeks. The following
categories will be a part of the grade: participation, homework, projects, tests and quizzes. It is in your
best interest to keep all your work until the end of the semester to use a resource when studying.
A = 90-100% B = 80-89 C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 59 & Below
Attendance
The best way to learn Spanish is to be immersed in a Spanish environment. This means that the
best way for you to learn is to be in class. Although the textbook is helpful, and I can give you
assignments that you missed if you were absent, there will be many things that we do in class that
cannot be reproduced outside of the classroom. If you know ahead of time that you are going to miss
class for sports, choir, etc. you need to let me know at least the day before so that I can give you what
you will be missing. If you do not let me know beforehand, come talk to me and I will give you the
homework you missed, and expect it to be turned back in by the date that we agree upon.
Specific Class Rules / Behavior Expectations:
Above everything else, I expect the following things from my students:
 Respect
o for myself: for example, if I ask you to please stop talking, I don’t expect to have to ask
you twice
o for other students: you will be working in partners and/or groups and I expect you to act
responsibly and appropriately while in these groups
o for class materials: the books, textbooks, and other materials are valuable and I expect
you to treat them as such
 Effort – even if you don’t know how to say something correctly, or don’t know all the words in
Spanish, I will expect you to make an effort, and at least attempt to ask and answer
questions in Spanish
Food and Drink
Food and drink will be allowed until it becomes a problem. Any drinks must have a screw-top
lid, and drinking water is strongly encouraged.
Cell phones & iPods
Cell phones, iPods and MP3 players are not allowed. The use of iPods/iTouch, etc. is not
allowed even if using it as an English-Spanish translator. There are plenty of dictionaries and other
resources in the classroom, and you do not need your iPod for any reason in class. If I see any of the
previously mentioned items, they will become mine for at least the rest of the day.
Late Work Policy
Homework assignments may be turned in by the end of the day unless told otherwise. If you
do not turn it in when it is due, it will be considered late and points will be withheld as follows: for
each day that an assignment is late (up to 5 days), 10% will be deducted. After 5 days late, the best
score than can be earned is 50%. For larger projects, the weekend counts as one day. For example, if
an assignment was due on Thursday but wasn’t turned in until Monday, the best score that could be
received is 70% (10% off for Friday, the weekend, and Monday). I will accept late work until a
designated date towards the end of each 6 week period.
September 1, 2011
Cheating
Cheating will not be tolerated. If you have cheated on an assignment, you will receive a zero
for that assignment, a conversation with the vice-principal, and a phone call home. If cheating occurs
again, more serious actions will be taken. I consider copying and pasting from a Spanish-English
translator to be cheating. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether or not you are cheating,
or simply using your resources. If you are unsure, please talk to me about it.
Borrowing Resources
The Spanish-English dictionaries, verb books and verb wheels are to be left in the room unless
you talk to me about checking them out.
Contact Information: Kelsey Sommer
Email: [email protected]
Telephone Number: 503-363-2000 Ext. 221
Please detach from course syllabus and return by Tuesday, September 13th, 2011.
We have read the course syllabus, and understand its contents and requirements.
Student name & signature__________________________
________________________
Parent / Guardian & signature_______________________
________________________
Phone number
E-mail
The best way to get ahold of the parent/guardian is by__________________.
September 1, 2011