Course Name: Spanish level II (CPI) Teacher: Mr. Gustavo Benedetti, Mr. Alberto Delgado gbenedetti@moeller.org Voicemail: (513) 791-1680; ext. 1991 Extra help will be provided at room 232; however getting a tutor is highly advisable Please, check here the Spanish class web site: http://homepages.moeller.org/Gbenedetti/Las%20clases/Spanish%20II/Espa単ol%20II.htm Moeller High School, a Catholic school in the Marianist tradition developing leadership in young men My philosophy of teaching and learning a second language is very simple, a beginning second language student who can communicate orally and comprehend at his/her level what others say is a successful story; according to my experience and research in second language acquisition, teachers who can facilitate students' communication development opens the door for that student to continue mastering that language which should, after all, be the ultimate objective for both, the language program and the student. Oral communication development and listening comprehension should assure a positive attitude by a second language student toward the subject; eventually, this could keep the learner studying four instead of the two years that most students see themselves involved with when starting traditional language programs. Finally, I will conduct my classes in Spanish and students are encouraged to use it as the only communication tool during class. Gustavo Benedetti Academic Expectations You need in class: Your computer (Charged; a notebook, in case of computer problems) and your reading book. This school year you will be learning a second language (L2) and whether you have taken a Spanish class before or not, I am sure that this class will be completely different from what you have taken or expect to have. Why am I saying this to you? I don't mean to worry you because that is not what I have in mind. The point I am trying to address is that you will learn Spanish with a special method. Don't worry! It will be easy for you. At the beginning of the course and probably for two weeks, either I or your partner (s) will give you commands and you will perform them along with me; sometimes, you will perform these commands while I do nothing, and some other times I will give you commands and I'll do something different. Remember, do what you are commanded to do either by me or by a partner. If the period of pure commands sounds fun, the following step is even better. At this point students will begin developing stories and, in groups, they will need to act out these stories out (take a look on the following video clip from Spanish I students; they, like you, still didn't know Spanish at the time.) Reading is an important area in this class; you will have reading assignments almost daily from both your class books and from the internet. You need to keep your personal dictionary along with your notebook.