Spanish

The Foreign Language Department develops the skills needed for effective communication in the targeted language. The courses increase the student’s ability to understand, speak, read and write the language with increasing accuracy, and bring about a better knowledge of the people, geography, culture, and literature of the countries that speak the language. Since a very high percentage of the top American colleges and universities require three years of one language or two years of two foreign languages for admission, R-MA requires the same for its Advanced College Prep Diploma. At R-MA we offer a language seal to recognize advanced language students who complete five years in one language or a combination of six years in two or more languages.

Spanish I

This course covers basic geography of the Spanish-speaking countries, alphabet, numbers (0-2000), expressing time, tú vs. usted, and basic expressions. Vocabulary topics include: days and months, weather and seasons, school subjects and vocabulary, hobbies and activities, around town, house, food meals/restaurant, family, sports, airport, clothing, colors, body parts, doctor visits, and transportation. The grammar topics covered are: definite and indefinite articles with singular and plural nouns, adjectives, demonstrative and possessive adjectives, the two verbs for "to be" and the two for "to know," regular, irregular, stem-change and reflexive verbs all in the present tense, the "tener +…" and "ir + …" concepts, and the "I like…" concept. Other varied cultural, vocabulary and grammar topics may also be discussed. 

Spanish II

Students continue the study of basic grammar and vocabulary. Vocabulary topics include: transportation, traveling, foods, eating in restaurants, computer, Internet, e-mail, telephone, fax, shopping, clothing, jewelry, hobbies, parks, amusement parks, staying in a hotel, and airport and geographic terminology. The principal grammar topics include a review of all of the present tenses, coverage of the two past tenses (imperfect and preterit), the future and conditional tenses, passive voice with "se," comparatives and superlatives, and direct, indirect and double object pronouns. Students continue to study more culture, geography, history and persons of Hispanic countries. 

Honors Spanish III

This course is taught on the advanced-intermediate level, with emphasis on the student mastery of the fundamentals taught in levels one and two. The vocabulary topics include: body parts, hospital visits, city and country life, animals, cars, gas stations, driving, hair, bank, post office, holidays and family celebrations, professions, job applications and interviews, and washing clothes. The principal grammar topics covered are the formal and informal commands, present subjunctive, past progressive, present perfect, comparisons, direct and indirect object pronouns, adjectives and demonstrative pronouns as well as their uses and applications. Students are required to write short papers in Spanish throughout the course related to the cultural, geographical and historical aspects of the Hispanics countries, events, persons and issues studied. The students are encouraged to attempt the SAT II Spanish. The students are introduced to some literature and art in preparation for Honors Spanish IV. 

Spanish IV (College)

This is an Advanced/Honors-Level course with a heavy emphasis on reading, writing and speaking proficiencies through the study of Hispanic/Latino art, history and literature as well as many contemporary issues, events and persons. Within the curriculum is a two-week preparation unit for the SAT II Spanish, which students are required to take. The course extensively explores the geography, history and culture of the Spanish-speaking countries. The principal review grammar topics include: preterit vs. imperfect, nouns, demonstrative and possessive pronouns, present subjunctive, ser vs. estar, future and conditional tenses, all object pronouns, present perfect, commands, progressive tenses, reflexive, comparative and superlatives, and passive voice. New grammar topics include: affirmative and negative words, reciprocal verbs, "if" clauses, special uses of definite articles, pronouns and prepositions, por vs. para, the "ago" concept and "ly" adverbs. Students study the culture through literary figures such as Cervantes, Borges, and Neruda, and through principal artists such as Picasso, Dalí, and Goya. Written and researched assignments are completed and presented regularly throughout the course. Course instruction and conversation are conducted principally in Spanish. Acceptance into the course is contingent upon authorization/recommendation from the Spanish III instructor.  Some students may qualify for college credit.  Students crossed enrolled with Shenandoah University may earn three college credits at the end of the school year.

AP Spanish V

The purpose for AP Spanish Literature is to prepare students for college work and the AP Literature Exam that gives students the opportunity to receive college credit. The curriculum for this course prepares students in both content mastery and test strategy skills to enhance successful test performance. This AP course is taught with college curricula and college-level materials. Other characteristics of this course include content depth, a faster pace, and performance evaluated on the basis of higher-level thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation).
 
While continuing to stress the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, the course introduces selected literary masterpieces that cover the Medieval Ages through the Twentieth-Century.
 
The AP Spanish Literature course will prepare students to:
1.  Understand a lecture in Spanish and to participate actively in discussions on literary topics in Spanish.
2.  Examine in detail literary texts of all genres and time periods in Spanish; and
3.  Analyze critically the form and content of literary works (including poetry) orally and in writing using appropriate terminology.