Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
¡Bienvenidos a Español 3! (Welcome to Spanish 3) I look forward to being your teacher this semester as you continue studying the Spanish language. It may seem a bit intimidating to learn a new language or get deeper into it, but I hope to make your experience a good one. You will need to keep up with your homework assignments, listen and participate in class, as well as open up your mind to learn about the many different countries and cultures that speak Spanish. Keeping up with your work on a daily basis is essential to your success in this class. Do not forget to take notes! This is VERY helpful when studying at home.
Course Description:
The Level III language course focuses on the continued development of communicative competence in the target language and understanding of the culture(s) of the people who speak the language. It assumes that the students have completed a Level II course or are at a Novice-Mid to Novice-High level of proficiency. Students use basic language structures with accuracy and recombine learned material to express their thoughts. They are exposed to more complex features of the language, moving from concrete to some abstract concepts. Because students may begin formal language learning at various stages of development, teachers must adjust vocabulary and content to reflect developmentally appropriate interests. This course may be taught over one year (e.g., traditional high school programs) or during one semester (e.g., 4 x 4 block schedule). An important component of language classes is the use of the language beyond the classroom in the real world. The integration of technology is an important tool in accessing authentic information in the target language and in providing students the opportunity to interact with native speakers. By the end of Level III, students will exhibit Novice-High level proficiency in speaking and writing and Intermediate-Low proficiency in listening and reading (ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, 1999).