Course Description
Advanced Spanish with Embedded Economics is a course that helps students learn Spanish by using it in meaningful, contextualized ways. This course will be conducted almost entirely in Spanish. Rather than using a textbook, the course is built around authentic materials. We use websites, infographics, videos, and other things produced in Spanish to help students learn about our weekly economics-related topics.
In this course, we will use materials from many different countries to study different aspects of economic growth and development on a personal, community, national, and international level. Throughout the year, we will look at posters, documents, and videos that teach about these different topics, and students will create projects each week and then share (in Spanish) what they have learned. In this way, students will get contextualized practice with reading, listening, speaking, and writing Spanish.
Course Structure
We begin the school year with a pretest and end with a post-test. Otherwise, each week of class follows a uniform format, which is as follows:
Each week has a topic related to the study of economics (for instance, a week’s topic might be supply and demand, or the origins and purpose of money, or the benefits of trade). Students are presented with a list of materials in Spanish about that week’s topic (videos, infographics, blogs, websites, etc.). Each student will spend time throughout the week reviewing those materials, and create and share a project in Spanish about the week’s topic. They are encouraged to be creative and have fun with their projects. Students will complete a brief speaking assignment related to each week’s topic. Additionally, students are expected to spend time doing things in Spanish at least five days each week, and they report their efforts on a weekly timesheet. The weekly timesheets, speaking assignments, and projects make up the bulk of their grade for the class.
Who should enroll?
Students who have had several years of meaningful exposure to Spanish, and are comfortable with the idea of a class that is conducted almost entirely in Spanish. Parents are welcome to contact David Nance with questions about the best placement for their student(s).
Prerequisite: There are no formal prerequisites for this class, but students should have already had significant, meaningful exposure to Spanish and should be comfortable with the idea of being in a class conducted almost entirely in Spanish. Parents are welcome to contact David Nance to discuss appropriate placement of their student(s).
Technology Requirements
- High speed, broadband Internet
- Microphone and Webcam (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures and other videos related to the course
Evaluation and Feedback
Students learn best when they are comfortable and engaged in the work that they are doing. Languages are learned through large amounts of exposure to engaging, comprehensible input, not through a strict grammar or vocabulary focus. Therefore, the focus of this class is not on the small details, but rather on the big picture – on understanding and making oneself understood.
Feedback on specific assignments tends to be supportive rather than corrective, but Mr. Nance does point out common and/or easily avoided mistakes. Students who complete their work in a timely manner and make a habit of active participation in the weekly live class sessions can expect to do well in the class.
Communication
Prior to the beginning of the course, Sr. Nance can be reached at dnance[at]aimacademy.online. After the course begins, students and parents are encouraged to use the Inbox in Canvas for all communication. Sr. Nance always tries to reply to messages within 24 hours.
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