Two years of Spanish B. This course will focus on proficiency and acquisition of Language B. It will also develop the listening, speaking, writing and critical thinking and international perspective of the language learner. The students will use a variety of materials ranging from international exams, authentic texts, literature and film, to develop, via reading, speaking, writing and listening, a more international perspective of the language and the people, globally, who use it.

Year One
During the first semester this class will focus on grammar, listening and speaking. Because of the need for a proficiency in grammar for any success in higher-level language learning, grammar will be taught, via reading and listening, to the students in this class. At the end of the first six weeks, an assessment will be given to ensure that the students are up to speed in the areas necessary to continue with elevated and rapid language acquisition. The rest of the first semester will focus on vocabulary acquisition. As grammar is important to the content standards, vocabulary is a necessary function of advanced communicative abilities. If the students do not have the vocabulary to place in their newly acquired grammatical structures, their ability to communicate will not advance beyond the most basic of levels. Through a range of activities, such as reading authentic texts, viewing culturally relevant films the student’s vocabulary and cultural knowledge will be enhanced.

By the end of the second semester, students will be expected to have acquired a 1,500 word vocabulary and the structures in which to use them correctly and spontaneously. The third and final six weeks of the first semester will be devoted to applying the students’ newly acquired skills in appropriate and “authentic” situations. During the second semester, students will be required to apply what they have learned. Using varied media, including but not limited to, authentic literature, skits, film, and popular media the students will be expected to create a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability to communicate orally, to write letters, dialogues, stories, and papers of varying lengths as well as a culture project that gets them into the community and helps them understand how a “global” or “international” world works. All of this work will be amassed, collated, and presented by the student in a final presentation that sums up the work they have done thus far. This presentation will provide the final assessment for the year.

Year Two
Year two will start much like year one, but with more advanced grammar skills being acquired. Now that the students have a base of 1,500 words and an understanding of basic grammar constructions in which to put them, it is time to take them to the next level. While there will still be a focus on grammar and the more advanced constructions necessary for social communication, we will begin using the target language to think, create and communicate at a more advanced level while approaching the language from a perspective of internationalism. The first six weeks the focus will again be on grammar acquisition. During the second six weeks of the first semester of year two the class will read a novel, write chapter book reports and a larger, more comprehensive “book report” upon completion of the book. Each chapter review will be considered and internal assessments with a consistent rubric so that the students will be aware of what is expected of them. Because the text or novel will be an authentic Spanish language text, they will also be gaining cultural or international awareness from this endeavour. Students will be required to write a five chapter “novel” of their own in order to demonstrate their vocabulary and grammar acquisition. This will be done in the third six weeks and will provide an internal semester assessment.

International mindedness: During the second semester the focus will again emphasise internationalism. What is internationalism? How does internationalism affect me and my daily life and, conversely, how do I affect internationalism? During these six weeks the class will compile a newspaper or publication. Each assignment will be geared towards grammar and vocabulary acquisition with an emphasis on opening the world of the student and shifting their perspective from limited and national to international. The final six weeks will focus on preparations for the external assessment. Students will be required to complete a semester long project that both prepares them for the exam and, at the same time continues to provide enough class work to meet the school established grade requirements. The project will be a compilation of the entire year and must demonstrate that the student as met or exceeded the expectations of the class. If they have done so they will be able to do the following correctly and spontaneously:

• Communicate in Spanish spontaneously at a level that demonstrates proficiency towards a variety of audiences and in a variety of social situations.
• Students will be aware of and able to discuss a variety of local, national and international levels in the target language without hesitations or discomfort.
• Students will also be able to communicate via a variety of media such as writing, video, song, poetry or journalistic.
• Students will have expanded their perspective to include an idea of internationalism in their day to day activities and critiques.
• Students will be prepared to continue on to an even higher level, such as collegiate, without hesitation.
• Students will have expanded their cultural repertoire to include an understanding of Spanish speaking cultures throughout the world.
• Students will have greatly expanded their understanding of the “popular culture” of Spanish speakers via cinema, cultural projects and popular media.