1) When does Spanish start and end; when are the Fridays that are holidays?
The pre-set holidays are November 28, December 26, Jan 2, April 3, and 10th, or 10th and
17th. The other days off will be scheduled once the HOPE calendar is confirmed for next year. I try whenever possible
to work around ACSI, Choir, Academy Days and Field Trip events. I do not set the holiday schedule until I know how I
can best help families to manage around other HOPE commitments.
2) I noted the Home Tutor and Report Card...does this mean that they do the
class work on the Home Tutor, which gives exams, hence the grades?
The HomeTutor is an interactive, online addition to daily homework. It is done on the computer
and the results are sent to me via email. This is my gauge for how the kids are doing on a daily basis. If
they are all struggling, I will send immediate help before the week is out. Other times, I use what I see coming
in to design my class lecture for Friday.
The report card is a benefit I offer for parents. I grade the homework, gauge classroom participation
and attendance, give quizzes, tests (oral and written), and give extra credit assignments which all count toward the course
grade.
3) How does the grade system work...do we take the grade it gives and
put it on the ISP report card or do you give the grade or do we give the grade?
Grades are provided based on a typical scale (e.g. 90-100 =A; 89-80 =B, etc) based on points earned in the above categories.
I provide parents with quarterly report cards as well as periodic progress reports as needed. Although the grade
reflects the work done under my tutelage, it is possible for parents to give their children something different on the report
card. A parent may, for example, have a child do more than I require and thus add that to the grade somehow.
I do not report my grades to anyone other than the students and their parents.
4) Your brochure said this is equivalent to half of the senior high class.
What happens when they get to senior high...do they take the same class again or do you have a different track for them?
Spanish 1a and Spanish 1b (which I will teach next year) are equivalent to High School Spanish 1. Students
would NOT take this course over again. After completing Spanish 1 (in 2 years) they will be well equipped for Spanish
2. The goal, God willing, is to also do Spanish 2 in two years. After that, students who
are willing can continue with Spanish 3 and 4 in High School. Given that most competitive colleges are beginning to ask
for 4 years of Foreign Language, this is the best way to do it without too much pressure. My daughter is starting
Jr. High this year, and it is primarily for her benefit that I designed this program.
5) Do the kids need to have had exposure to Spanish prior to the class?
No
prior knowlege is expected or required.
6) Will the kids be able to do some conversational Spanish speaking by the end of
the classes?
Absolutely! This is a thorough approach to learning Spanish. I believe that it is important
to learn vocabulary but it is also imperative that the students learn grammar --how to put the words together in a meaningful
way. We'll go slower than a High School class, but the content will be practical and quite valuable.
My ultimate goal is to glorify God in everything I do. I believe that teaching Spanish is not
just about academics and grades, but it is about preparing future men and women of God to be useful for whatever He calls
them to do. In our demographic, I think speaking Spanish is one of those things our Christian children need to do if
they want to be fully equipped for the Master's service.
