Students further their understanding of Spanish by focusing on the four key areas of world language study: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each unit consists of a new vocabulary theme and grammar concepts, reading and listening comprehension activities, speaking and writing activities, multimedia cultural presentations, and interactive activities and practices that reinforce vocabulary and grammar. These activities teach students to communicate with others through informal speaking and writing interactions and to express their thoughts and opinions in both formal and informal spoken and written contexts. Students should expect to be actively engaged in their own language learning, use correct vocabulary terms and phrases naturally, and incorporate a range of grammar concepts consistently and correctly while speaking and writing. They should also expect to participate in conversations covering a range of topics; respond appropriately to conversational prompts; analyze and compare cultural practices, products, and perspectives of various Spanish-speaking countries; read and analyze important pieces of Hispanic literature; and take frequent assessments so that their language progression can be monitored. The course is conducted almost entirely in Spanish. The course has been carefully aligned to national standards as set forth by ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). Students explore verbs, false cognates, nature, vacation, music, technology, measurement, clothing words, work, shopping and money words, expressions with por and para, relationship, love, social issues, and idioms and expression words.
