FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is your teaching philosophy?
- What is your grading system?
- How many tests, quizzes, and projects should the students expect?
- Are you available for tutoring?
- Are there any opportunities to earn extra credits for this course?
- How do you deal with minor discipline problems?
- What should I expect from you as a teacher?
- What is expected of the student?
- Do you have any helpful hints?
- What is this Spanish course exactly?
- Why should I learn Spanish?
- How to learn Spanish?
- What supplies and/ or equipment is (are) needed for this course?
- Are there scheduled field trips during this course?
- Will the students be required to maintain a notebook or journal?
- What items are kept in the notebook?
- What are the classroom rules, if any?
- What is your availability to meet and/ or talk to parents?
- Do you have a message for the students?
- Do you have a special message for parents?
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe in
- an eclectic style of teaching with a strong support of
methodology.
- creating a positive environment in the classroom.
- making students feel that they are part of the class.
- effective interaction student-student and with the teacher
without being intimidated.
- maintaining a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to
learning and encourages dialogue.
I believe that
- learning is an active process in which the student is an active
participant
- a class should not evolve into a teacher-dominated monologue.
- the use of technology in a foreign language class enhances the
student’s ability to learn. I use technology in the classroom as
it is an extremely important part of the learning process.
- in such a rapidly advancing society, it is critical for both,
the teacher and the student, to keep up to date on technological
developments.
The following is a summary of my teaching philosophy:
• Be fair.
I think it is really important for a student to feel that the
teacher is fair to all students and does not play favorites. I am
strict and very challenging, yet not unreasonable.
• Be respectful.
The affective filter is a very important factor in foreign
language learning, therefore, it is very important not to make
fun of students who mispronounce words or make mistakes. When a
student has difficulties pronouncing a word, I engage the entire
class in pronouncing the word in unison.
• Be accessible.
By accessible I mean both a) being there for the students, and b)
making the material accessible to them.
a) Many students do not make an effort to talk to the teacher
outside of class. That’s why I encourage students to come and see
me before and after school or make an appointment with me when
needed. I keep in touch with all students via email as well.
Students who make a C or lower on their tests are always asked to
see me. I think that with some students, one-on-one discussions
and going over their strengths and weaknesses help a lot.
b) As far as making the material accessible to students, I think
it is important to make things challenging while setting goals
that are reachable.
I use foreigner talk as needed, i.e. I use body language to
convey meaning, speak more slowly, am careful with word-choice,
and use exaggerated stress and intonation.
• Be dynamic, entertaining, and motivating.
I think it’s really difficult to teach a foreign language by
sitting at your desk during the entire class period. I rarely sit
while I teach. My moving around keeps the students more on their
toes and gives a certain dynamic to the class. Although I’m not
there to entertain the students but to teach them Spanish, I
think teaching can be done in an entertaining way. Motivation is
one of the most important factors linked to success in foreign
language teaching. Students need to be interested in the Spanish
language and culture. If they are motivated and interested, not
only will they do well in class, but they can also benefit from
the Spanish learning experience even beyond the classroom
environment. They will watch Spanish television programs and read
Spanish newspapers on the web even after they finished taking
Spanish in school.
• Use an interactive approach.
It is not enough to receive input in order to learn a foreign
language. Interaction is crucial in foreign language learning. In
my Spanish classes, I balance student-teacher and student-student
interactions. Although students hear more correct, authentic
Spanish from the teacher, they can also learn a lot from their
peers. The fact that their levels of competence are closer makes
students feel more comfortable when speaking in the new language.
• Give corrective feedback.
Though the teacher should not interrupt too much and thus
discourage students, it is still very important for them to hear
correct Spanish and have their attention drawn to their mistakes.
If somebody mispronounces a word, I repeat it correctly and have
the student repeat it, or often the entire class repeats the
word. I often use metalinguistic tools and contrastive grammar to
work on the students’ mistakes. When we talk about the texts,
culture, or just general things, I don’t put too much emphasis on
grammar, because I think it is much more important to get the
meaning across. I usually focus specifically on grammar only when
we talk about grammar. The majority of my feedback is probably
corrective recast. Sometimes I also ask students to repeat
themselves which oftentimes leads to self-correction without any
additional clues.
• Personalize teaching.
It is always easier for students to learn and remember new things
when they are linked to something familiar. Therefore, I keep
things in context by using examples that are relevant to the
students.
• Integrate technology.
A very effective way to motivate students of Spanish is to
integrate technology in the curricula. Exposure to authentic and
up-to-date material, allowing students to work at their own pace,
and reducing peer pressure are only a few of the advantages of
technology in the foreign language classroom. Technology not only
extends the walls of the classroom by reinforcing specific
grammar, vocabulary, and cultural knowledge skills, but it also
creates life-long learners as students learn to navigate and
comprehend Spanish language web sites.
What is your grading system?
Below is the grading system for the nine weeks and semester:
TEST GRADES 20%
Test grades include the following:
a. Chapter Test. This includes written, listening &
comprehension, and speaking exam.
b. Mid-term exam
c. Final Exam
d. Any test that is designated as a test grade
PARTICIPATION 30%
TASK GRADES 30
QUIZ GRADES 10%
Quiz grades include the following:
a. Announced quizzes
b. Unannounced quizzes
c. Any work that is designated as a quiz grade
PROJECT GRADES 10%
NOTE: Please understand that proper conduct and behavior are very
important to me; therefore, these areas are taken very seriously
and are evaluated in my classroom.
How many tests, quizzes, and projects should the students expect?
Students can expect to have a test and, at least, two quizzes per
chapter. A mid-term (1st 9-week test) and a final (2nd 9-week
test)will also be administered.
Some projects will be assigned throughout the semester.
Are you available for tutoring?
I'm available for tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays
(7:00-7:40AM and 2:50-4:00PM)
Are there any opportunities to earn extra credits for this course?
The following activities will give you the opportunity to earn
extra credits:
1. Notebook 5. Extra Homework/
Classwork
2. Projects 6. Exceptional behavior
3. Student of the week 7. “Puntos para tí” program
4. Student of the month 8. “Give me a break” program
How do you deal with minor discipline problems?
I believe in reinforcing positive behavior by rewarding good
conduct.
Positive reinforcement is a big part of my teaching. The
following is a guideline I use when dealing with issues that may
arise from time to time:
Late for class detention
Defiance/ Disrespect detention
Off-task detention
What should I expect from you as a teacher?
100% availability
Fair treatment
Respect
Corrective feedback
Interactive approach
Personalized and relevant instruction
100% (EVERY TIME, EVERY DAY)
What is expected of the student?
1. INTEGRITY, HONOR, AND CHARACTER. All students are expected to
abide by the MCSD Honor policy.
2. Always come to class prepared. Bring all your materials:
textbook, notebook, pen, pencil, AND A DESIRE TO LEARN!
3. Keep a well organized notebook. It will be graded throughout
the semester.
4. Ask questions, I WANT YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS!!! Your
contribution is important. You will be asked to participate;
therefore, be prepared to do so.
5. BE IN CLASS (ON TIME) DAILY!!! You are to assume the
responsibility of getting any make-up work. Absences and the
education process DO NOT MIX!!
Do you have any helpful hints?
Here are some helpful hints to get you through the semester:
1. Read every night – follow the syllabus
2. Check the website daily
(www.teacherweb.com/ga/shawhighschool/pichardo)
3. Don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated – take your time.
4. Ask for help
5. Form a study group
6. PRACTICE
What is this Spanish course exactly?
SPANISH I
It’s a course designed to prepare the student for intermediate
and advanced Spanish by making demands upon them equivalent to
those made by a full year introductory college courses. This
course should develop your ability to read, write, speak, and
understand basic terms and grammar concepts of the Spanish
language. You’ll also study the relevance of this language in our
society today.
SPANISH II
This course is a continuation of Spanish I. Students continue to
progress in the fundamentals of understanding, speaking, reading,
and writing the Spanish language. This course emphasizes the
development of reading skills through the study of enjoyable,
short, and timely articles on contemporary life and culture in
the Spanish-speaking world. The course covers more complex verb
and pronoun forms. Students also study the relevance of the
Spanish language in our society today.
Prerequisite: Spanish I
SPANISH III
This course is a continuation of Spanish II. It reviews the
fundamentals of the language and emphasizes conversational
Spanish. Students study the culture of the Spanish-speaking world
and current events through the use of newspapers and magazines
articles. Students form and use more complex verbs.
They also summarize talks given by the teacher, participate in a
variety of situational conversations, answer questions about
readings, and write an in-class composition about a topic studied
during the semester.
We’ll also study the relevance of this language in our society
today.
Prerequisite: Spanish II
SPANISH IV
This course is a continuation of Spanish III. It reviews key
points of the language and emphasizes conversational fluency.
Students engage in intensive oral practice through the reading
and discussion of well-edited texts in Spanish. Students
summarize a twenty-minute talk given by a native speaker, read
and answer questions on a magazine article, present a five-
minute talk on a chosen topic, and write a summary of the talk in
Spanish. We’ll also continue to explore and study the relevance
of this language in our society today.
Prerequisite: Spanish III
Why should I learn Spanish?
* To appreciate the importance of Spanish in the United States
* To connect with people from other cultures
* To help you in the future
* To be challenged
* To have fun
TOP TEN REASONS FOR LEARNING SPANISH
1. Learning Spanish is necessary to keep pace with popular
culture.
Learning Spanish will enable you to keep pace with Hispanic
influence on culture which is strong and getting stronger. For
example, do you remember that Taco Bell commercial with the
little dog? Did you know that his motto, "Yo quiero Taco Bell" is
actually a play on words? In Spanish, "yo quiero" means both "I
want" and "I love." So, that cute little dog was actually pulling
your leg as he said both: "I want Taco Bell" and "I love Taco
Bell."
2. Learning Spanish is actually a medical device!
Research indicates that knowing and using two languages reduces
your chances of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's
Disease. The scientists who studied this were motivated by
earlier studies which showed that bilingualism enhances mental
abilities in both children and older adults.
Other studies show that studying languages can improve your
memory and slow age-related decline in mental acuity. And
studying another language makes you smarter! Your critical
thinking skills will be improved as you learn to view things
through a different lens. Learning a second language stimulates
creativity!
3. For many, learning Spanish is rapidly becoming a business
necessity. Spanish is becoming more and more important with
regards to business. Learning Spanish will enable you to better
communicate with Spanish speaking employees or co-workers.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to offer your product or service
to the 350 million people whose mother tongue is Spanish?
In North America, Hispanic consumers are the fastest-growing
market segment.
As for job opportunities, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have
Spanish on your résumé. In the United States, knowing Spanish can
be particularly helpful if you work in healthcare or education.
Increasingly, the building trades are employing more and more
Spanish speaking workers. One thing is certain. If you are
bilingual, you will be more marketable and have more career
choices than your monolingual counterpart. Globalization, with
it's accompanying free trade agreements is shrinking the business
world, and those who know more than one language will definitely
have the edge.
4. Spanish, Spanish everywhere.
With well over 35 million Spanish speakers in the United States,
and with over 40% of the population growth being among the
Hispanic people, the stage is set for an enormous increase in
Spanish usage in the United States. This has sparked a lot of
interest among US citizens, a group not particularly known for
their multilingualism. This interest will only increase as the
Hispanic population of the US approaches 80 million by the year
2015. But it's not only in the US where Spanish is popular. In
Europe, Spanish is the second most popular second language, after
English. With some 400 million speakers, Spanish is the fourth
most commonly spoken language in the world.
Only Mandarin, English and Hindi have more speakers. If you count
only native speakers, Spanish outranks English. Spanish is an
official language on four continents and is the mother tongue in
21 countries. The sheer number of Spanish speakers and their rate
of growth makes learning Spanish a smart choice.
5. Learning Spanish will (truly) expand your universe.
According to Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, "the
limits of my language are the limits of my universe." There is no
doubt that learning Spanish will expand your own personal
universe. As the Hispanic population continues to grow at a
disproportionate rate, it becomes more and more likely that you
might marry into a Spanish speaking family, have Spanish
speaking neighbors or encounter Spanish speaking people in your
daily rounds. No longer are the Spanish speakers in the US
confined to the border states and big cities. Today, nearly all
areas have some sort of Hispanic population. Wouldn't it be nice
to say hello and chat with your fellow paisanos (countrymen)?
6. Knowing Spanish will completely transform your travel
experience. While it is certainly possible to travel to a Spanish
speaking country without knowing any Spanish, your trip will in
no way compare with the incredible adventure that awaits the
traveler who speaks Spanish. If you only speak English, you will
be forced to confine yourself to popular tourist resorts where
nearly everyone speaks some English. But if you want to explore
the area and get to know the local people, you need to know
Spanish. Even simple things, such as reading signs and menus,
asking directions or telling a cab driver where you want to go
requires some knowledge of the language. Hispanic people are
amazingly generous, and if you speak Spanish you will find
yourself being welcomed in a way that would never happen if you
spoke only English. Simply put, when you travel to a Spanish
speaking country, knowing the language will allow you to move
from the role of observer to that of an active participant.
7. Knowing how to speak Spanish will enable you to help others.
If you are the type of person who likes to help others, learning
to speak Spanish will put you in a postion where you can help
both Spanish speakers who don't speak English and English
speakers who don't speak Spanish. Now that's what we like to call
a "win-win" situation.
Unfortunately, the standard of living in many Spanish speaking
countries is rather low by normal Western standards. Sometimes,
it is appalingly low.
Without stereotyping Latin America as a poverty stricken region
(in many cases that simply is not true) there are nonetheless a
lot of people in serious need.
Learning Spanish will prepare you for taking the next step, ---
actually going there and making a difference!
8. There are reasons to learn language for language's sake.
While Johann Wolfgang von Goethe may have been exaggerating when
he said, "he who knows no foreign language, knows nothing of
his own," it cannot be denied that by studying Spanish you will
without doubt gain a better understanding of English. Spanish is
what we call a "Romance" language, meaning that it is based on
Latin, the language of the ancient Roman Empire. Many English
words are also of Latin origin, and so when you learn vocabulary
in Spanish you will simultaneously be expanding your English
vocabulary. You will also find that your understanding of the
deep meaning of these Latin based English words is greatly
enhanced.
Also, as you study the grammar of Spanish, you will notice how it
is similar to English, as well as how it is different. This will
raise your awareness of the grammar of your native language.
Because Spanish is very nearly phonetically perfect, you can look
at almost any word and immediately know exactly how to pronounce
it. This characteristic makes Spanish one of the easiest
languages to learn. And, when it comes to learning a third
language, such as French or Italian, already knowing Spanish will
be a huge advantage because these languages, too, are Romance
Languages.
9. Learning Spanish will allow you to better appreciate Hispanic
cultural contributions.
For many people, developing a deeper understanding of Hispanic
culture is becoming more and more important. There is no more
certain way to gain this insight than to learn to speak Spanish.
Reading Latin American or Spanish newspapers and magazines will
open a window into the Hispanic mind. Knowing the language will
prepare you to better appreciate some of the great Hispanic
modern and classic cultural contributions. From Miguel
Cervantes to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Hispanic literary
contributions are monumental. From the royal portraits of Goya to
the surreal depictions of Picasso, Spanish influence on the fine
arts has been substantial. And let's not ignore gastronomy!
Learning Spanish can be the perfect excuse for enjoying the
cuisine of Spanish speaking peoples. Burritos, tamales, paella,
papusas, arroz con frijoles, ceviche, --- the list goes on and
on, and is a delicious indicator of the vast diversity of
Hispanic culture. Is it any wonder then that more and more people
want to partake of these cultural delights?
10. Learning Spanish is fun!
Learning Spanish opens up lots of opportunities to have more fun.
Who doesn't enjoy reading a good book or watching a good movie?
Music? You bet! Food? The best! The satisfaction of
accomplishment? It's there waiting for you to grab it! For all of
the reasons mentioned above, and a whole lot that haven't been
mentioned, learning Spanish can be one of the most enjoyable
things you will ever do. Whether your motivations are practical,
intellectual or sentimental, learning Spanish is something that
will benefit you for the rest of your life!
How to learn Spanish?
* Use study hints and strategies given by the teacher
* Build your confidence
* Listen to Spanish inside and outside of class
* Take risks
* Have fun
What supplies and/ or equipment is (are) needed for this course?
You will need the following items for class:
1. Three-ring binder
2. Notebook paper
3. Black ink pens
4. #2 pencils
5. Highlighter markers
6. 3" x 5" cards
7. A mind open to knowledge
Are there scheduled field trips during this course?
We will have field trips to some of the annual hispanic cultural
events taking place within the tri-community of Fort Benning,
Columbus, and Phenix City. Parents' permission will be requested
prior to a field trip.
Will the students be required to maintain a notebook or journal?
Students will be required to maintain a notebook during this
course. Keeping a daily journal is also a requirement for this
course.
What items are kept in the notebook?
The notebook will be divided in four sections. The following
items will be part of the notebook:
1. Bellringer section (this is the warm-up or “do now” assignment
to begin the class).
2. Assignment section (all assignments and class work as well as
homework)
3. Note section (any notes taken in class or any computer work
and quizzes)
4. VIP section (Very Important Papers such as syllabus, class
procedures, etc.)
What are the classroom rules, if any?
We have three rules in the classroom.
1) Follow directions the first time they are given.
2) Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3) Treat others with dignity and respect.
What is your availability to meet and/ or talk to parents?
I'm always available. My e-mail address is
myspanishteacher@bellsouth.net
You may also contact me at the school during my planning period
and lunch (11:20AM - 12:20PM)
The best way to communicate with me is by e-mail.
Do you have a message for the students?
GIVE - KNOW - DO
You will be a very successful person If you remember to always
GIVE the best of you, KNOW what's expected of you (then strive to
meet or exceed those expectations), and DO the right thing.
Make it happen! Enjoy the class, expand your mind, and challenge
yourself.
You will find that you like the challenge and that you can
actually do it!!!
Do you have a special message for parents?
Parents,
I look forward to having your child in Spanish this semester.
It's going to be a great journey. I encourage you to contact me
at your convenience to discuss this and any other matters
concerning your child’s education. My phone number at the school
is (706) 569-3638. The most effective way to contact me is by
sending an e-
mail to myspanishteacher@bellsouth.net
Please remember that, if we are to be successful, we must work
together. Visit my website periodically:
www.teacherweb.com/ga/shawhighschool/pichardo
or visit the school website, click on "faculty and
staff," look for the foreign language department, and click on my
name. You will be automatically redirected to my Spanish class
website. On this website, you can see current information on what
we are doing in the classroom. My classroom is always open. You
are welcome to visit with us anytime.