7th Grade Spanish

Course Description

During this course, students will improve their vocabulary through small conversations and acting exercises. They will be able to practice Spanish daily in class and given the opportunity to work directly with Spanish language speakers. Total Physical Responses (TPR) is an innovative technique that we have taught at GMS for 7 years. By practicing TPR commands, stories, or telling stories, 7th Grade students will learn new vocabulary, act out and tell TPR stories, create a TPR cartoon, and even write and create their own stories. The entire TPR process happens in a fun and enriched learning environment. Students will learn basic grammar skills such as identifying and using verbs in the present tense by writing sentences and brief paragraphs, and in small conversations to develop these fundamentals during this year. Students will apply technology in the classroom to complete diverse Spanish projects and via Spanish Classroom Language Labs once a week, using the CD Rom, “Spanish Lab”, and by working on activities from multiple websites, previously supervised by the teacher. Each grammar or cultural unit is reinforced with educative videos and music to complement each topic. This course also includes a complete unit geared toward preparing students for the 8th Grade Mexico Trip during 8th and offers students the wonderful opportunity to participate in our GMS Spanish Poetry-Declamation Contest. In addition, each student will be asked to read two books and write subsequent summaries by following the TPR structure. At the end of this course, 7th Grade students will have a functional proficiency level in Spanish, including basic grammar structures and vocabulary usage they can make use of in oral conversations and TPR exercises. Student proficiency is linked with the units of study. The areas of focus in 7th Grade Spanish are: listening, speaking and writing proficiently in Spanish, observation of and appreciation for different cultures, and student attention and respect.

Philosophy

7th Grade Spanish is an interactive course that provides a rich learning environment where students engage in the exciting and fun process of learning a foreign language. It is important that each one of the students understands that learning Spanish requires practice, motivation, and a willingness to practice speaking Spanish on a daily basis. ?ree hours of Spanish class helps improve student language proficiency and language skills, it cannot provide enough practice time to become a fluent speaker. Students should practice using Spanish outside of the classroom. Learning Spanish requires a respectful and enriching class environment where it is safe to make and correct mistakes as they learn Spanish.

Course goals and objectives

Goals	Objectives
Improve oral, pronunciation, reading comprehension, and writing skills through technology integration	Reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation by using Spanish Immersion CDs read and listen to brief stories on the CDs
Appreciate Latino culture by being more in contact with the community. Students will interview Latino parents in class.Students will visit markets, taquerias, galleries to practice Spanish.	Interview Latino parents in class Visit markets, taquerias, and galleries to practice speaking and listening
Advance their acting, drawing, listening, oral, and writing skills by learning and practicing the Total Physical Responses (TPR) Technique	Learn a minimum of 16new works in every TPR Improve oral skills by telling a TPR in pairs and in front of the class Write simple sentences
Prepare for their Mexico Trip by learning key customs, phrases, and specific topics about the region	Review conversations including asking for food, shopping, discussion clothing, etc.

Students speak, sing, and tell stories in Spanish

180 North Rengstorff Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043 | Directions | Phone: 650.968.8338 | Fax: 650.968.4775