Español 5 AP

Syllabus - Spanish 5 AP (Advanced Placement)

(YAAG is embedded below within the syllabus)

Lima, Perú (2016)

[Gaining fluency in another language helps you to better understand your first language, builds cultural knowledge and empathy, helps to protect against Alzheimer’s and dementia, helps you connect to new people, broadens your employment opportunities, and much more.]

Wondering about some of the differences between AP and IB? The graphic to the right explains some of the basics.

SIGNUP INFO: (please make sure you are signed up for both Remind, and our Google Classroom asap)

For remind texts (used for testing announcements or reminders/last minute changes, etc.):

TEXT to this number: 81010
With THIS message [for 2nd hour AP]: @2ndapspand
With THIS message [for 7th hour AP]: @7thdut

For our Google Classroom (where daily homework assignments and support material will be posted, as well as where you find what you missed if you are ever gone - mandatory signup):

Use your school Google account to sign in @ https://classroom.google.com, then use the class joining code to join our class:
- - - 2nd hour AP: y77oqbzy
    - 7th hour AP: abwro54f
COSTS/Supplies needed: You need either a DEDICATED Spanish 5 notebook, or section of your binder that you will keep organized! You MUST bring your charged chromebook to class each day.

I am so pleased you have chosen to take the AP Spanish course! I hope that you will have an amazing year of growth in your Spanish - both in cultural and linguistic fluency. The AP class is very demanding, because even though we are always growing and changing, the difficulty level of the curriculum is close to constant the entire year. In a class that is this challenging, it is especially important to remember that we are not in competition with one another. We are each on a unique journey towards higher fluency. We never finish languages, and we can all have a different pace with different landmarks along the way.

What grammar is reviewed and learned for the first time in Spanish 5 AP?

Remember: Grammar is not the "goal" or "end" we have in mind, but a tool to improve our understanding and communication. Improved COMMUNICATION is the main goal.

In AP, more so than the other classes, grammar stays in the background of the different tasks we work on in the class. We always go over grammar points in the structures of their full-sentence context. We look more at the bigger picture structures ("How would I phrase this?" Or..."How do different grammar structures combine in common or academic dialogue to communicate different ideas?")

NOTE: Whether you are coming straight from Spanish 3 (and haven't even had some of the grammar you need to utilize this year), or you had Spanish 4 IB or pre-AP - it could be helpful to familiarize yourself with all the grammar covered before the AP level. Additionally, I will meet with students during our FLEX time period and 4th hour (by appointment) to support your growth and needs in the course. Here are a few of grammar review sites you could utilize:

https://www.spanishdict.com/guide

https://personal.colby.edu/~bknelson/SLC/

https://conjuguemos.com/activities/spanish/grammar/1

https://studyspanish.com/grammar

If communication is the goal, what does that look like in the class?

There are three basic modes of communication:

interpretive communication (Reading or listening to understand text/audio/visual)
interpersonal communication (written or spoken interchange with others)
presentational communication (preparing writing or speaking for one-directional presentation

*Often, activities will incorporate more than one of these modes.

ap-spanish-language-and-culture-course-overview quick guide.pdf

(Above): Details about the course and the elements of the exam (click to open)

(Below): Additional resources

5 steps to a 5 p 293-319.pdf

Language Apendices p 225-230 from AP Spanish TEMAS exam preparation book.pdf

COMBINADO - AP los consejos y trucos para el examen de AP p VII y VIII - y AP Exam Instructions Handout p VXIII - XXI.pdf

Common errors.pdf

AP ojo expre 1.pdf

(Above): Lima, Perú (2016)

(Below): Pottery in David, Panamá (2010)

Proficiency Levels and Comprehensible Input:

AP is an extremely rigorous course, and if you pass your AP exam in May, you will have shown a very strong to advanced proficiency. This can yield college credit. Due to College Board expectations, we regularly interact with real-world texts, audios, videos, culture, vocabulary which may be very challenging to many students. Remember that perfection is NOT the goal. I will work to make as much as possible comprehensible for all students. AND, it is the students' responsibility to help the teacher to know when a text or activity is just too hard to understand at this time. We are always changing, always growing, and there are many different levels of comprehension in AP. Don't hesitate to tell me something is a big challenge for you, even if others around you seem to be understanding. Help me to help you have success in the course and beyond!

¡Sí, se puede!

¡¡Hola, amigos!! I hope everything is going great for you! The vast majority of you I'm sure I already know through IB or pre-AP Spanish 4, or through Spanish club/SHH. Sometimes we have new students to the school coming straight into the AP level. And sometimes, if you came through Native Speaker classes, I might not have known you prior to AP. But, for the most part, we all know each other, and what the expectations in class will be. Many of the syllabus details in AP Spanish 5 are the same or similar to those in the other levels.

As you will remember, although speaking a language is often expressed as something you “know” or “don’t know” (how to do), the reality is that we never “finish” learning a language. Even your first language has not “ended” for you. There are undoubtedly thousands of words you still do not know in your first language. There are also expressions or slang which can be specific to regions, countries, and even age groups. Even standardized words can actually mean totally different things in different countries. Not to mention all the cultural knowledge in music, literature, entertainment, food...and the specifics and nuances of government, history, interactions with pre-European (but still active) Indigenous cultures, etc. Even spending years “learning a language” will only permit you to scratch the very surface of these things.

(Above): Día de los niños, Crystal Bridges, Bentonville, AR (2017)

For the students coming straight from Spanish 3 to Spanish 5 (AP), I highly recommend that you commit to come for extra support once a week or so in FLEX (the entire year) to have your best opportunity for success on the AP exam and in the class.

YAAG

These are the major themes we will investigate during the year. We'll spend more time on some themes and less time with others. Emphasis will be placed on exploring the realities of many people around the world, making cultural comparisons, and improving writing, speaking and listening.

We will have some support/review of specific grammatical structures, but grammar is very much in the background during this course. If you would like to see a list of grammar you might need to review - check out the YAAG section on the Spanish 4/IB page of this site.

Content: What are we going to communicate about?

Themes and Recommended Contexts

Theme: Global Challenges / Los desafíos mundiales

Recommended Contexts:

• Economic Issues / Los temas económicos

• Environmental Issues / Los temas del medio ambiente

• Philosophical Thought and Religion / El pensamiento filosófico y la

religión

• Population and Demographics / La población y la demografía

• Social Welfare / El bienestar social

• Social Conscience / La conciencia social

Theme: Science and Technology / La ciencia y la tecnología

Recommended Contexts:

• Access to Technology / El acceso a la tecnología

• Effects of Technology on Self and Society / Los efectos de la

tecnología en el individuo y en la sociedad

• Health Care and Medicine / El cuidado de la salud y la medicina

• Innovations / Las innovaciones tecnológicas

• Natural Phenomena / Los fenómenos naturales

• Science and Ethics / La ciencia y la ética

Theme: Contemporary Life / La vida contemporánea

Recommended Contexts:

• Education and Careers / La educación y las carreras profesionales

• Entertainment / El entretenimiento y la diversión

• Travel and Leisure / Los viajes y el ocio

• Lifestyles / Los estilos de vida

• Relationships / Las relaciones personales

• Social Customs and Values / Las tradiciones y los valores sociales

• Volunteerism / El trabajo voluntario

Theme: Personal and Public Identities / Las identidades personales

y públicas

Recommended Contexts:

• Alienation and Assimilation / La enajenación y la asimilación

• Heroes and Historical Figures / Los héroes y los personajes históricos

• National and Ethnic Identities / La identidad nacional y la

identidad étnica

• Personal Beliefs / Las creencias personales

Theme: Families and Communities / Las familias y las comunidades

Recommended Contexts:

• Customs and Values / Las tradiciones y los valores

• Education Communities / Las comunidades educativas

• Family Structure / La estructura de la familia

• Global Citizenship / La ciudadanía global

• Human Geography / La geografía humana

• Social Networking / Las redes sociales

Theme: Beauty and Aesthetics / La belleza y la estética

Recommended Contexts:

• Architecture / La arquitectura

• Defining Beauty / Definiciones de la belleza

• Defining Creativity / Definiciones de la creatividad

• Fashion and Design / La moda y el diseño

• Language and Literature / El lenguaje y la literatura

• Visual and Performing Arts / Las artes visuales y escénicas

POLICIES:

TARDY: Refer to BHS Handbook for school policies. Generally speaking, I DO mark tardies, but if you are coming from a class that is far away - talk to me about it and we will work something out.
ABSENCE: Again, refer to BHS Handbook for school policies. Spanish 5 is an AP class, and [for most students] will be your most concentrated practice time with the language - our daily interpersonal conversation time may be something you cannot recreate outside of class. It is in your best interest to be physically and mentally present in class almost every class day.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I HAVE TO MISS A DAY?
- Inevitably, you will have a school field trip, be out sick or have a family emergency at some point. When that happens, communication with me is important, but there are things you should do for yourself as well. On Google Classroom, you will find the lesson plan of what activities you missed that day, and what homework was assigned. If you have to miss, it is recommended that you use this resource, and go ahead and do the homework to be prepared for the following class day. Please do not come into class the following day asking what you missed/need to do. (If you do, I will simply ask you to go look at Google Classroom). *If you have an internet issue, of course - you may ask me in person.
LATE WORK:
- Please make every effort to turn work in on time. It is in your best interest to be prepared for class (by doing your work on time). It also shows respect to your peers to come prepared for class (and when you are not prepared, it can cause us delays in class as we try to make the lesson still work for you). Sometimes, things will happen - I understand. Generally speaking, make every effort to get late work turned in by the following class period. However, the latest you can turn in an assignment in for credit is one month after it is assigned. We are typically done with that unit by the end of one month. If you need a little extra help/time for an assignment (for example: two class periods instead of one class period), that is acceptable, but you need to be seeking help actively during FLEX. DO NOT WAIT!
- There are some exceptions to the one month deadline - such as a pre-unit self-evaluation (Periodically we may do evaluations of our knowledge at the very beginning of a unit. In this case, I will give you a very strict deadline for when you must have it completed - because it is only valid before we work on the concepts in class). Additionally, if you have ANY ZEROs in the gradebook at the end of a semester - you lose your semester exam exemption.

Cerro Puerco, Panamá (2008)

TECHNOLOGY:
- We are fortunate to use chromebooks. Bring them charged each day.
- Every day, as per the state law and school policy, we should not access our cellphones, smartwatches, other bluetooth technology or wireless ear buds/headphones, etc. They should be powered off and in our backpacks.
- Any time you leave the room (restroom/water/etc), the phone stays at the sign out station. Phones to NOT go to the bathroom.
- There is no free time/down time to dedicate to other things. There is always something you can (and should) be doing in our class for SPANISH. If you think there is nothing for you to do, ask me - I will help you figure out what you need to be doing. No gaming.
- We will not work on anything for any other class or outside need during our Spanish class time!
- FOOD/DRINK:
  - THIS YEAR, In OUR class, you may consume a snack/drink responsibly. Be respectful of technology, our environment, and others' space.

RETAKE POLICY

<<The students are permitted a maximum of 2 retakes in one week. The goal of a retake is to show higher master of the material. The change in the grade is merely an added benefit. You may NOT retake anything if you have missing work from that unit. The new grade WILL REPLACE the original grade - even if it is lower.>>

Most students who are taking Spanish 5-AP are likely to also go on to take more Spanish at the college level, and/or use it in their lives after school!

While that is not the right path for every student, it makes sense for us to aim high in our speaking, listening, reading and writing of the language. The expectations continue to get higher and higher in the upper levels and in college. We should prepare well for success!

Part of this is really stretching ourselves to utilize Spanish almost exclusively [in the class time] and as much as possible [outside of our school day]. With all of this in mind, here are some expectations in our class:

We will come into class with all necessary materials, assigned homework (on time!!) and a positive and encouraging attitude every day.
We will NOT make negative or disparaging comments about speaking Spanish, having homework completed, having studied for a test, trying hard in general, nor for any personal reasons outside of Spanish. We recognize that we are a community, and ALL of our comments and actions have real, measurable effects on those around us. BE POSITIVE ALWAYS!!
Racist, or derogatory comments from anyone to anyone (even as a joke) are unacceptable in our class. This includes self-deprecating comments.
We will use the Spanish language outside of class above and beyond any outside Spanish immersion which is assigned because we are trying to increase our fluency in the language.

What is "Español en acción"?

Español en acción is the name of the record of your immersion/fluency practice you are required to complete outside of the class time.

Just like with your first language - a crucial factor to your growth in fluency is simply to have as much authentic native-level immersion in the language as possible. This record is meant to be detailed and considered one of your main on-going tasks this year. Please take it seriously, and as always - be honest. Do not falsify or embellish your record. From time to time if you don't complete it - it is not the end of the world - but always plan responsibly to make sure you complete each month requirement by the deadline.

What do we actually DO for Español en acción?

The four major skills are what you practice (Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing). While you should vary the skills and practice all of them - I may give you some guidance on what you need to focus on. For example, most native or heritage speakers of Spanish generally struggle much more with reading and writing. However, most non-native or heritage speakers of Spanish generally struggle much more with listening and speaking. Whatever the case is for you - you should be heavier on that which you need to practice the most.

Examples:

Speaking: having phone/skype/face-to-face conversations with family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, Sr. Dutton, etc. *Note, this speaking only counts if you are speaking with someone of a HIGHER fluency than you - so not a classmate. Be brave!
Listening: Attending an event or religious service in Spanish, watching shows/movies in Spanish, watching news in Spanish, listening to Podcasts in Spanish, watching YouTube videos in Spanish, etc. The internet is busting at the seams with opportunities for listening.
Reading: Children's books, Young Adult - novels (depending on your level), online stories, online news, poetry, etc. (Anything in full, authentic contexts).
Writing: Practice writing different formats (email, article, etc.), Journaling in Spanish, Meeting with Sr. Dutton to practice write, writing a pen pal, etc.
Invitations: From time to time, Sr. Dutton will announce various local festivals or events in NWA. If he specifies that the event counts as "Español en acción" - you can count that time (even if you are not technically speaking/writing Spanish continuously during the event). Details will be provided as needed.
*SOME* targeted linguistic practice. Something that supports an isolated skill (such as Duolingo, Conjuguemos, etc.) may be counted in your Español en acción, but it should be a very minor part of your log. Ideally, you would read articles/short stories, watch YouTube videos/etc. to help support the isolated grammar points/vocabulary within a natural (authentic) context. Working on out-of-context practice repetitions are good supports which you might do - but are NOT truly what you would count in your Español en acción. (Example: practicing your vocabulary in Quizlet a few minutes every other day can help with your memory, but is not supposed to be on your Español en acción. Looking up articles or videos with the target vocabulary WOULD count in your log AND would help you with the memory portion. There are many things we study/work on for our classes which do not show up in the Gradebook. Make sure your Español en acción includes a variety of authentic immersion (only).

How much am I supposed to do?

Spanish 5 AP completes 8 hours per month typically

What does NOT count in my Español en acción?

Speaking with a classmate, or someone whose fluency is actually lower than yours. (For instance, with a younger sibling).
"Tutoring someone" - whatever the skill is - tutoring is not counted in Español en acción - only when you are immersed in a higher fluency scenario. We also complete a Tutoring Log each semester which is separate (does not count) from your Español en acción.
Listening to music in the background while working on something else. This is supposed to be immersion. Whatever it is (music, shows, etc.) - if you are not focused on it, it is in the background, you are actually working on something else - then it does not count. If you are paying attention to it...thinking about or writing down words/phrases you are learning...interacting exclusively with that medium, then YES, it counts! :) Generally speaking you will grow more in fluency from hearing Spanish spoken (rather than sung).
TAREA. Unless I specify in the homework directions, nightly homework assignments will NOT count in your Español en acción Log. I generally do not assign very lengthy nightly assignments in order for you to have the time to focus more on your fluency growth (Español en acción).
Flashcards/Quizlet/Conjuguemos/Memory practice - Doing these types of memory activities is not bad...However, it is not the same thing as immersion. The memory practice is something you'll likely do as a support to your learning and fluency growth - but, the immersion practice is MUCH more impactful in your actual fluency growth. Your Español en acción requirement averages about 16 minutes per day, so you should have no trouble getting in this time outside of memory practice or homework assignments. You don't have to do 16 minutes per day. You can split it up however you like. However, you will have the MOST success if you have Spanish immersion every day (or almost every day), rather than doing hours of practice on certain days - and then not immersing yourself for days at a time. Make it a part of your everyday life!!!

Recursos para el Español en acción

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XgKO8dOuiyid8-V1Qx9E62O0FOxqfakEdb347dC4XiM/edit?usp=sharing

This link takes you to a list of resources. Below is the actual record you will use (click to open and view if needed. I will also have paper copies in the classroom). If you need help to understand anything - Email me!