Foreign Language Department
At Midwest Central High School, the Foreign Language Department consists of one language, Spanish, and one teacher. Four years of Spanish are offered with the fourth year including preparation for the Spanish Language AP exam for those who wish to take it. Please see the course offerings link to read more about our course descriptions. Because Spanish is the only language offered at Midwest Central, we have a very large and fairly active Spanish Club. Check out the link to clubs.
Grades are determined in Spanish classes in weighted categories. Following are the categories and weights for each course:
Spanish I and II: Culture Credits – 10%; Oral participation – 10%; Homework – 20%; Quizzes – 20%; Tests – 40%.
Spanish III and IV: Oral participation – 20%; Homework – 20%; Quizzes – 20%; Tests – 40% (culture projects fall into this category).
What can students expect to do in Spanish classes? Let me give you a quick overview of each course.
Spanish I and II: Using our textbook, Ya Verás Gold, we will be learning vocabulary and grammar appropriate to each level. We practice what we learn through drills, skits, partner work, and workbook homework assignments. We will also learn culture via projects, videos, slides, singing, dancing , and readings. In level I, we will also learn a lot of geography about the Spanish-speaking world, sometimes learning in a unique way. In level II, we will begin to do some oral practice of the type seen on the Spanish language Advanced Placement exam.
Spanish III: We will continue in the same textbook series, but we will be adding more outside readings and culture. We will use the internet lab more for culture research and do some cooking in and out of school. More AP practice activities will be added involving writing, reading, speaking, and grammar.
Spanish IV: We will finish the textbook shortly after the start of the second semester and spend the rest of the year preparing for the Advanced Placement test in May. There will be a great deal of practice writing, reading, speaking, and doing grammar exercises. We will also use the internet lab for culture research as an extension of the textbook and for independent projects.
Each quarter all Spanish classes have special projects due in addition to the regular class work. Below you will find deadlines for the projects. If you want to know more about each project, please e-mail me at barnes@midwestcentral.org
Spanish I and II: Culture credits are due twice per quarter. Students are given a list of 15 projects worth varying amount of points from which they must choose so that their total culture points for the quarter is 100. I do allow extra credit in this area, up to fifty extra points per quarter. Fourth quarter deadlines are as follows: 1st. 50 points or more are due no later than Thursday, April 21; 2nd. 50 points are due no later than Fri., May 27. No late projects will be accepted, so students who are absent on due dates must have either turned them in early or must make arrangements for someone else to bring in their projects for them. Culture Credits count 10% of a student’s quarter grade.
Spanish III: During the fourth quarter, Spanish III students will be working in groups of two or three and researching and then orally presenting a travelogue about a Spanish-speaking country. This will count as two test grades.
Spanish IV: During the fourth quarter, Spanish IV students will be researching the life of a famous Hispanic writer. At the end of the semester, they will present themselves to the class as that writer and answer questions in a talk show format. This will count as two test grades.