Course Syllabus

Back To School Night Video

Bienvenidos A La Clase De Español 3

Mr. Travers

Office: 144

traversm@wellesleyps.org 

Office Hours: Thursday/Friday during Grey Block, Mondays after school by appointment

Our course goals:

  • Speaking- Engage in and maintain conversations on all different topics with the goal of getting your idea across
  • Reading/Listening- Understanding the main idea of readings, videos and audios and finding some of the smaller details
  • Writing- Write about different topics using personal experiences and opinions and connected sentences
  • Cultural Awareness- Show an understanding for the Spanish speaking world including its people, what they do and what they value

What are we studying this year?

  • Unit 1- What's the purpose of a house?
    • Parts of the house in the US vs in Peru
    • What people in the US and Spain did in their houses during quarantine
    • Homelessness in the US and in Argentina
  • Unit 2- How can I make a difference in the world?
    • Environmental problems facing the US and South America
    • Creative environmental solutions in the world
  • Unit 3- What does it mean to live a healthy life?
    • Healthy and unhealthy habits in the US and in the Spanish speaking world
    • Diets, exercise, school schedules and stress in the US and in the Spanish speaking world
    • The role of mental health in the US and in the Spanish speaking world
  • Unit 4- What is art?
    • What do different people consider to be art
    • Famous artists from Latin America and Spain
    • Music, dance and architecture as art form

How do grades work:

  • 100%- Communication (Performance Assessments- These are tasks where you actually use the language.)
    • Examples could include:
      • Interpretive Reading/Listening (reading an article/watching a video and answering questions)
      • Interpersonal Speaking (a conversation with a small group)
      • Presentational Writing/Speaking (writing an essay/making a short presentation)
  • Grades- On a performance assessment students can receive one of 4 grades:
    • A grade of A means you show consistent evidence of leveling up with more advanced language
    • A grade of B+  means you thoroughly meet the targeted standard
    • A grade of C+ means you are approaching the targeted standard
    • A grade of I (incomplete) means you are showing partial ability or incomplete work and can redo the assignment at a later date  

FAQs:

  • How will we be assessed?
    • You'll always get a rubric with a set of expectations. We'll go over it in class and make sure you're really prepared
  • What should I bring to class?
    • Remote- Your laptop and a notebook/pen
    • Hybrid- Your laptop, headphones, a notebook/pen, any materials from class
  • Do we actually speak Spanish the whole time?
    • Yes. Our goal is to be 90% or more in Spanish. This becomes easier over time and in hybrid we will be able to do it easier.
  • How do I know if I'm doing well in class?
    • You're always welcome to write drafts, ask me questions, do a practice assessment or anything to get extra help. My goal is just for you to do well in this class
  • What are the remote expectations in terms of behavior/attendance?
    • Show up a few minutes before the Zoom call is expected to start. We will start with a question of the day and a warm up each day. You should be in a space where you can do some work and have access to the internet and a notebook to keep track of words/ideas. 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due