Course Syllabus
Course Title: Spanish 1A
Teacher’s Name: Jennifer LeonardSchaffstein
Best way to contact email
Periods per week: 3
(Tues, Thurs, Fri)
Grade Level:7
Email:[email protected]
Telephone: 617 928 9100
Description of curricular objectives—skills, content, and major themes:
Students will be able communicate with authentic language around the themes of Hispanic culture and
geography, weather and calendar, friends and activities, school, food and hobbies/interests. Students
will learn vocabulary, phrases and grammar structures to discuss these themes as well as cultural
perspectives related to each unit. Key topics such as numbers, calendar, weather, present tense verb
conjugations and likes/dislikes are reviewed throughout the units.
Students will be able to:
⁃ understand spoken Spanish and will be able to answer questions about listening passages.
⁃ have short, open-ended conversations (asking and answering questions)
⁃ read short passages and answer questions
⁃ write short paragraphs
⁃ compare and contrast their personal experiences and Jewish and American cultures with
those of Hispanic countries.
Students will have a better understanding of the Spanish language and of the Spanish-speaking world
and will make connections to prior knowledge and to the community around them. They will also
research Jewish populations in Latin America and learn about their history and culture in different
countries.
Unit Name
Geography
of Hispanic
countries
Skills, Content, Learning Activities, & Learning Assessments
Become familiar with maps, capitals, geographical features, flags of
Hispanic countries
Assessment: Investigation of Jewish populations in Latin America and
their unique histories and cultures.
Para
• Learn and response to simple classroom phrases
empezar
• classroom vocabulary
(to begin)
• Describe and ask and answer questions about the calendar, weather,
seasons, numbers and time
• Greetings, salutations and common introductory phrases
• alphabet
• Body parts
Assessment: Summary project of countries' seasons and weather.
Mis amigos • Expressing likes and dislikes.
y yo
• Asking others about their likes and dislikes.
(My friends • Describe their favorite pastime.
Weeks Of
Study
2,
integrated
with other
units.
4
6
and I)
•
•
•
•
•
•
La escuela
(school)
La comida
(food)
Los
Pasatiempos
Listen to speakers from around the world talk about their likes and
dislikes.
Explore infinitives; e.g. to swim (nadar).
Negatives and how they are constructed (I don’t want to eat) “No, no
quiero comer”.
Introductions to definite and indefinite articles (the/a(n)).
explore the people, music and sites of the Caribbean.
Personality descriptions and matching adjectives with gender.
Assessment: Create a collage using personality descriptions and labeling
related activities with "me gusta”.
• Explain their school classes and schedule.
• Classroom objects
• Characteristics of schools in Spanish-speaking countries.
• Use subject pronouns “yo, tú, él, …”
• Introduction to the present tense of –ar verbs
• Introduction of some of the uses of the verb “estar” (to be)
• Importance of the accent
• Exploring people, food and sites of Mexico.
Assessment: Compare and and contrast schools in the United States and
schools in Mexico.
• Vocabulary representing food of Latin America.
• Present tense conjugations to advance sentence structure.
• Role play for shopping
• Cultural recipes and food traditions
• Explore the people, history and food of South America
• Introduction of the verb “ser” - the other form of the verb “to be”.
Assessment: Develop a culturally appropriate menu; create and present a
restaurant skit.
• Free time activities.
• Popular activities throughout Latin America.
• Frequency words.
• The verb “ir” (present tense).
• Use of interrogative words for asking questions such as “Where is
the bathroom?”
• Children rhymes in Spanish • Exploring culture and practice of native Spanish sounds
• Exploring the latino population in the US and Puerto Rico.
• Sports vocabulary.
• Popular Hispanic athletes.
Assessment: Investigate and present a culturally specific activity, sport
or athlete.
6
6
6
Skills Taught and Assessed:
By the end of the year students will be able to. . .
• Have authentic, 2-way, communication using vocabulary, phrases and appropriate grammar
structures.
• Understand authentic spoken Spanish from different areas of the Spanish-speaking world.
• Read and comprehend short passages.
• Write a 5 sentence/paragraph following proper grammar rules.
• Develop strong grammar skills to express oneself in the present tense.
• Discuss cultural themes of the Spanish-speaking world.
• Make connections between personal experiences and background and those in Hispanic
communities.
Big Ideas And Essential Questions Explored In Class:
• Learning another language allows for greater communication with others of different backgrounds.
• Studying other cultures broadens our perspectives and experiences.
• Learning another language facilitates the understanding of our first language.
•
•
•
•
How do our lives, backgrounds, languages and cultures connect to the Spanish-speaking world?
How can we compare and contrast our experiences with the cultures of Latin America and Spain?
What are the advantages of learning Spanish and about Hispanic culture?
How can we develop our communication skills to further interaction with the Hispanic world?
Major Papers / Projects / Learning Assessments: Each unit consists of at least one project-based
assessment as outlined above. Additional projects include the study of Jewish populations and other
cultural themes.
Homework Policy: All homework is due the day for which it is assigned. Homework correctly
completed on time is worth 10 points. Because we only meet 3x/week, homework completion and
practice outside the classroom is even more important. All assignments are posted on Haiku
Learning. If students are absent, they can check the website and can email with questions if needed.
How To Get Missed Work: Haiku Learning (email if needed); Make up policy: Please arrange a
time with me upon your arrive back to school. All make up work should be completed within a week
of returning.
Grading Criteria:
positive participation/effort/behavior: 10%
class work: 20%
listening comprehension and speaking: 15%
Homework: 15%
Quizzes and projects: 40%