Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

This course will encompass the five world-readiness standards identified by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages); which include: Communication; Cultures; Connections; Comparisons; and Communities. Students will be able to communicate interpersonally in common; daily situations by acquiring frequent expressions as well as basic grammar and vocabulary. This course will balance speaking; comprehension; reading; and writing skills. At DRHS; this will replace Spanish I FL109 A & B.
Talking Points

Desert Ridge High School wants to become a magnet school for what we will call the “Language Academy.” Next year we will start with our level one students in Spanish; re-evaluate halfway through the year; and ascertain any necessary modifications. We will eventually transition all levels of all our languages to this new curriculum.

Currently; many students finish 2 years of high school Spanish with an appropriate knowledge of Spanish grammar; vocabulary; and procedures; but they have minimal skills when it comes to communication. Spanish Communication I intends to change that by shifting to a task-based curriculum.

The goal of the Language Academy is to prepare students to be effective communicators in Spanish in common; day-to-day scenarios. This will require a change in RIGOR (increase in communication skills) and it will provide a daily RELEVANT experience for our students; while teaching them how to develop RELATIONSHIPS through effective communication and cultural sensitivity.

It is commonplace that public high schools across the nation; and all Arizona universities; follow the Standards and Procedures of ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages). Their methodology is based on an approach that focuses on all areas of language communication: speaking; interpreting; reading; and writing. All areas carry equal weight of importance.

The Spanish Communication I course follows this model.

Arizona universities (and many around the nation) follow the same model. Through this transition; our students will be prepared for college-level language courses.

Desert Ridge Junior High School currently has a Spanish teacher that is quite successful at preparing students for high school Spanish. This will also facilitate the shift in curriculum.

Spanish Communication I (FL709A & B) Course Goals & Objectives
(ACTFL and AZCCRS Standards in parentheses)

Goal 1: The students will be able to communicate effectively at a novice level in Spanish in order to function in a variety of common; daily situations; and for multiple purposes.
ACTFL World-Readiness Standard for Learning Languages: Communication; AZCCRS 9-10.RI.1-4; 10; AZCCRS 11-12.RI.1-4; 10; AZCCRS 9-10.W.2-6;10; AZCCRS 11-12.W.2-6; 10; AZCCRS 9-10.SL.1; 4-6; AZCCRS 11-12.SL.1; 4-6; AZCCRS 9-10.L.4-6; AZCCRS 11-12.L.4-6)

Objective 1: The students will acquire skills in order to communicate via interpersonal and presentational formats—as well as interpret—tasks that include: self-introductions; talking about family; important family events throughout the year; chores; free time activities; and school activities and plans. Through these tasks; the students will interact and negotiate meaning and share feelings.

Goal 2: The students will be able to interact with cultural competence and understanding. The students will also be able to develop insight into the nature and sociology of Spanish in order to interact with cultural competence.
(ACTFL: Cultures; Comparisons; and Communities; AZCCRS 9-10.RI.1-4; 10; AZCCRS 11-12.RI.1-4; 10; AZCCRS 9-10.L.1; 4-6; AZCCRS 11-12.L.1; 4-6; AZCCRS 9-10.L.5; AZCCRS 11-12.L.5)

Objective 2: The students will investigate and reflect on practices and perspectives of various Spanish-speaking cultures. They will use Spanish within and beyond the classroom in order to interact in their community and in a globalized world.

Goal 3: The students will be able to connect with other subject areas and acquire diverse perspectives so they can use Spanish to function academically and vocationally.
(ACTFL: Connections; AZCCRS 9-10.RI.1-4; 10; AZCCRS 11-12.RI.1-4; 10; AZCCRS 9-10.SL.1; 4-6; AZCCRS 11-12.SL.1; 4-6; AZCCRS 9-10.L.5; AZCCRS 11-12.L.5)

Objective 3: The students will build and reinforce their knowledge of other subject areas and will evaluate diverse perspectives through language and cultures.

School country

School state

School city

High school

School / district Address

School zip code

Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• LNG1
• 1st year of Foreign Language

Approved date

Online / Virtual