About Survivor

Credited to Mr. and Mrs. Lyons. Spanish teachers at Greensburg Salem High School

Described by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania's College of Humanities and Social Science as "Revolutionizing" in the teaching and learning of a second language.

Rules and Procedures for Survivor in Spanish:

1. What exactly is "Survivor"?

"Survivor" is a method used in my class that requires students and teacher to converse while only using the Spanish language. The "game" is the constant process of the implementation of this method during class.

The teacher and students are required to conduct the entire class (every class) while only speaking Spanish.
At any time during any class, should a student speak English they would be given a warning. After the warning, should they speak English again, they would be fined Dolares.
All students participate in the game, and those that do not receive fines are eligible to receive certain prizes and classroom perks. Those that owe fines do not have the opportunity to receive the perks and prizes. The game is specifically played in order to simulate an immersion atmosphere.

2. What students need to do:

Do not, under any circumstance, use English during Spanish class. Students will get one warning before being eliminated and only one warning. Students may ask to speak English by using Spanish, but I must agree to allow them before they speak English.
Students may be able to ask for one word in Spanish, and only one word at a time! Anything more than one word will be considered speaking English and they will be fined.
Students may not under any circumstance use what is considered " Spanglish ", if it is not Spanish they will be fined.
Students must keep their participation grade at a passing level.

3. What students will receive:

Students will have the opportunity to buy an upgrade at the end of the nine weeks.
Students can take any two questions off of any test while they are still in, even the final.
Students will have the opportunity to use their classroom notes on most exams.
Students will be eligible to play in weekly or bi-weekly competitions.
Students may use "Dolares" earned by participating and competing in competitions to "buy" other classroom perks and privileges.
They will receive more Dolares for participation that is more complex.
One word answer or simple sentence 5 Dolares, complex sentences 10 Dolares, paragraph type response with multiple verb tenses 15+ Dolares.
Students will receive Dolares for participation in through Email, Twitter (@flrimmer), flipgrid, canvas chat conversations.
Most importantly, if students quit relying on English to learn Spanish, they will learn Spanish!

4. Warnings and fines:

When a student does speak English he or she is given “Aviso” (a warning).

-The second warning is a fine of $10.

-Final warning is a fine of $50 and the student’s name will be on the board.

-During that time the student is not permitted to use the “Survivor” store for a week or be

worthy to Spin the wheel if student’s name was selected at that time.

Students will receive penalty checks for every time that they speak English after being fined.

Students will not be eligible for certain games.

Students are not eligible to "buy" any classroom perks or privileges.

Students will lose 100 "Dolares" towards their Survivor participation grade.

5. What happens when they speak English after they are fined:

Students will receive a penalty check for every instance.

Students will lose 100 "Dolares" toward their Survivor participation grade for every check.

They may have to do an extra negative point assignment during the competitions and/or games.

6. Answers to common questions:

Can I get checks taken off and/or can I get back in?

-Yes, you can earn opportunities to lose checks by "buying" them back in the "Survivor Store"

-Yes, you can "buy" you way back into the game!

Why do we have to do this?

-There is no better way to learn Spanish! If you give true effort in this game you will succeed and you will learn to speak Spanish! How do I know for a fact that everyone can do it? Because you all learned English in this manner! If you can learn English you can learn Spanish!! It is as simple as that.