FAQs - Students
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about our Spanish class:
What supplies do I need for class?
Blue or black ink pens; #2 pencils
Three-ring loose-leaf binder (not a three-ring spiral notebook)
Loose-leaf paper
Highlighter
Your charged and ready-to-use Chromebook
Earbuds or headphones for use in class, as directed by the teacher
What are our course expectations?
We expect a meaningful, productive, enjoyable, and successful learning experience in Spanish class. Always remember that we must work together to attain mastery of the goals of our Spanish course. Your responsible actions will allow you to develop a strong foundation in Spanish and ensure a greater level of language proficiency development (i.e. better results) in the more advanced levels of Spanish. Also, learning how to learn a foreign language through the study of Spanish will guarantee your increased success in learning other languages in the future.
What are we going to learn?
You are going to learn how to communicate in Spanish! SUCCESS is our number one goal!
How are we graded in Spanish class?
Here are the Greenville County Schools High School Grade Weightings and Assessments.
These assessments are based on the following tasks:
Interpretive Tasks
These are one-way listening or reading activities in which students must demonstrate an understanding of what they have heard or read.
Interpersonal Tasks
These are two-way interactive activities that require students to communicate in a spontaneous manner without the use of a written script.
Presentational Tasks
These are prepared, generally formal speaking or writing activities involving one-way communication to an audience of listeners or speakers.
Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs)
The Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) is a cluster assessment featuring three tasks, each of which reflects one of the three modes of communication--Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational. The three tasks are aligned within a single theme or content area, reflecting the manner in which students naturally acquire and use the language in the real world or the classroom. Each task provides the information and elicits the linguistic interaction that is necessary for students to complete the subsequent task. IPAs are designed for students at the novice, intermediate, and advanced levels of proficiency. They are standards-based, performance-based, developmental in nature, and integrative (Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, 2021).
What are my responsibilities?
I am responsible for my 100% best effort to instruct you at all times; you are responsible for your 100% best effort to learn at all times. Remember, we are all about RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESULTS - not excuses!
It is important that you as students have opportunities that promote your development of a strong sense of self-discipline and responsibility as you prepare for the roles you will have in society and the fulfillment of your dreams. You are expected to complete all assignments. All work must be turned in on time. Failure to meet an assigned deadline will result in a lower grade per the Hillcrest High School Late Work and Makeup Work Policy.
I am currently a student in one of your classes. If I have a question about an assignment or need to contact you, what is the class procedure for this?
If you have questions about an assignment, turn in an assignment past the due date or the date it was collected, and need to contact me before or after class, you must send me a private comment, not a class comment, on that particular assignment in Google Classroom. Being proactive and making this communication is your responsibility.
When you send me a private comment, I automatically receive an email letting me know that you have sent a comment. I will then address and respond to your comments by responding to you during school hours through Google Classroom.
Keep in mind that it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to read everything carefully, be proactive, ask questions as needed, check your Google Classroom post thread or the assignment instructions for the day to find the responses to your questions, and meet your obligations for this course.
Thank you!
I am or will be absent from school. How do I get my assignments?
All required coursework is posted on Google Classroom.
How far ahead of time will I know about upcoming tests, projects, presentations, reports, and other major assignments?
You will have at least a one-week test date notice for every major assessment. You will also receive a very detailed test agenda at least one week before every major assessment. All other task completion deadlines will always be given to you in a very clear and organized way.
Is it OK to ask questions?
All questions, respectfully asked, are good questions.
When will I find out my test results, etc?
You will receive your checked classwork, homework, test papers, and test results in a timely fashion.
What is the policy regarding acts of dishonesty?
Cheating will not be tolerated. An act of dishonesty will result in an automatic, irrevocable score of zero. The Hillcrest High School Honor Code will be enforced.
What is the policy regarding school rules?
All school rules are enforced.
What class-specific learning resources will we use in our Spanish class?
We will use Google Classroom and other technology resources as required and as needed.
What are the class rules?
General Rules
PREPARAR - Prepare for class, including bringing what you need to class.
RESPETAR - Respect others and yourself; be mindful of what you say and do.
PARTICIPAR - Participate in class, especially by speaking in Spanish.
Specific Rules
1. Bring all necessary books and materials to class.
2. Sit in your assigned seat daily.
3. Stay in your seat during class unless you have permission to do otherwise.
4. Follow directions the first time they are given.
5. Keep a positive attitude!
Positive Rewards:
I, as well as the administration, will keep a detailed disciplinary record of each of you as members of the student body at Hillcrest High School. The record I keep will be a record of your behavior in Spanish class; the administration keeps your complete disciplinary record. This is a great resource for us as we write job, college, and scholarship recommendations.
Negative Consequences:
In the event that you choose to not comply with a required behavioral expectation, you will receive the following consequences in accordance with the Disciplinary Plan. Your record will contain a record of the offense, the date the offense occurred, and the action taken.
What are our class routines regarding attendance, homework, and note-taking?
Attendance is checked at the beginning of the class period.
Homework is checked at the beginning of the period and marked in the gradebook.
All notes are placed in a looseleaf binder and arranged in chronological order.
All notes are identified with the date and the source reference. Unless otherwise stated, all work that is handed in contains the following heading; for a Google doc, on the left side of the page, and for looseleaf, on the right side of the page.
First line -full name
Second line- Spanish __, Period ___
Third line- identification of task
What are some additional reminders?
1. Continue to work hard - choose to be successful in life!
2. Practice thinking, speaking, reading and writing Spanish!
3. Continually review your vocabulary
4. Extra help in Spanish is always available during the school year. Please let me know ahead of time when you plan to attend the tutorial session.
What books do we use?
Texts, workbooks, media, websites, etc.
Spanish 1 - Auténtico 1
Spanish 2 - Auténtico 2
Spanish 3 - Auténtico 3
Spanish 4 - Abriendo paso, Realidades
Spanish 5 - Una vez más, Abriendo paso, Temas, AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Exam
AP Spanish Language and Culture - Una vez más, Abriendo paso, Temas, AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Exam
AP Spanish Literature and Culture - Azulejo, Abriendo puertas
What other resources do we use?
All levels - Perfection Learning (Amsco) workbooks, etc.