Spanish
Spanish 1
Santa Teresa High School's Spanish 1 class is an introductory course designed for students who have little or no background in the study of Spanish. In this course, you will be introduced to the Spanish language through the three modes of communication: listening, reading, and responding to questions in Spanish. You will acquire high-frequency Spanish structures through lots of repetition, which will help you to understand and communicate in real-life situations.
Throughout the course, you will interpret and communicate about a variety of authentic resources, such as articles, songs, and videos, to develop your listening and reading comprehension skills. This course follows the 6 AP Spanish Language & Culture themes and is guided by essential questions. Corresponding cultural elements are integrated into each unit, and activities are directed with cultural connections. Explanation of grammatical concepts is done within the contextual framework of each unit.
Successful completion of Spanish 1 satisfies the first year for the biliteracy seal, which recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. Additionally, this course satisfies 1 unit of the World Languages requirement at the University of California and California State University, which can help you meet your college admission requirements. No prior knowledge of Spanish is necessary for this course.
At a glance:
Santa Teresa High School's Spanish 1 class is an introductory course that teaches Spanish through the three modes of communication: listening, reading, and responding to questions in Spanish.
The course uses a variety of authentic resources, such as articles, songs, and videos, to develop students' listening and reading comprehension skills, and integrates cultural elements into each unit.
Successful completion of Spanish 1 satisfies the first year for the biliteracy seal and 1 unit of the World Languages requirement at the University of California and California State University, making it an accessible option for students with no prior knowledge of Spanish.
Spanish 2
Santa Teresa High School's Spanish 2 course is designed to further develop students' skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. This course builds upon the foundation laid in Spanish 1, with an emphasis on the use and understanding of more complex and sophisticated grammar structures.
Students will continue to develop their oral communication skills, while also increasing their proficiency in reading and writing Spanish. The course is structured around the 6 AP Spanish Language & Culture themes, with essential questions guiding each unit. Cultural practices, products, and perspectives from the Spanish-speaking world are integrated into each unit, with activities directed towards making cultural connections.
Successful completion of Spanish 2 satisfies the second year for the biliteracy seal, and satisfies 1 unit of the World Languages requirement at the University of California and California State University. A prerequisite of a C or higher in Spanish 1 is recommended for this course.
At a glance:
The course is designed to further develop students' skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish with an emphasis on more complex grammar structures.
Each unit is guided by essential questions and integrated cultural practices, products, and perspectives from the Spanish-speaking world.
A prerequisite of a C or higher in Spanish 1 is recommended for this course.
Spanish 3
Santa Teresa High School's Spanish 3 class is designed for students who have completed Spanish 2 with a C or higher. This course aims to expand and strengthen the students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills acquired in prior levels. The course also focuses on developing the ability to communicate fluently with accurate pronunciation and intonation using advanced level grammar in a variety of authentic contexts. Students will learn and discuss current events, as well as interpret and communicate about a variety of authentic resources.
The course continues to follow the 6 AP Spanish Language & Culture themes and is guided by essential questions. Cultural practices, products, and perspectives from the Spanish-speaking world are integrated into each unit, and activities are directed with cultural connections.
Successful completion of Spanish 3 satisfies the third year for the biliteracy seal. This course also satisfies 1 unit of the World Languages requirement at the University of California and California State University. Students who complete this course will have a solid foundation in Spanish and will be well-prepared to continue their studies in advanced Spanish courses or to use their language skills in real-world settings.
At a glance:
Designed to expand and strengthen students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills acquired in prior levels, with a focus on communicating fluently with advanced level grammar in authentic contexts.
This course continues to follow the 6 AP Spanish Language & Culture themes, with cultural practices, products, and perspectives integrated into each unit.
This course provides students with a solid foundation in Spanish and prepares them for advanced Spanish courses or real-world language use.
AP Spanish Literature
AP Spanish Literature is an advanced course that provides students with a comprehensive exploration of literature written in Spanish. Equivalent to a college-level introductory survey course, it offers a rigorous study of diverse literary works from Spain, Latin America, and the United States authored by Hispanic writers.
Throughout the course, students will further develop their interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills in the Spanish language. They will engage in critical reading, analysis, and discussion of a variety of literary genres, including short stories, novels, plays, essays, and poetry. In addition to the required texts, students will also have the opportunity to explore other non-required texts that deepen their understanding of the rich literary traditions in the Spanish-speaking world.
AP Spanish Literature aims to prepare students for success on the AP exam, which assesses their knowledge and comprehension of the course content. Students will engage in exam-focused preparation and targeted review of key concepts and literary terms.
At a glance:
AP Spanish Literature offers a rigorous exploration of literature in Spanish, covering diverse works from Spain, Latin America, and the United States by Hispanic writers.
Students develop their interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills in the Spanish language through critical reading, analysis, and discussion of various literary genres.
The course prepares students for the AP exam, focusing on exam-specific skills such as practice exams, analysis of sample responses, and targeted review of key concepts and literary terms.
AP Spanish Language
This course satisfies 1 unit of the World Languages requirement at the University of California and California State University.
The course is designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam, which assesses their ability to understand and communicate in Spanish at an advanced level. The exam consists of multiple-choice and free-response sections, and it evaluates students' skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Throughout the course, students will develop a deeper understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, including its history, literature, art, and social and cultural practices. They will also learn to analyze and interpret different types of texts, including advertisements, speeches, and political cartoons.
By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate fluently and effectively in Spanish, both in speaking and writing. They will have developed a high level of proficiency in the language and be well-prepared to pursue further study of Spanish language and culture in college and beyond.
At a glance:
The course satisfies 1 unit of the World Languages requirement at the University of California and California State University level.
The course prepares students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam.
Students will develop a deep understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, including its history, literature, art, and social and cultural practices, and will be able to communicate fluently and effectively in Spanish by the end of the course.
Spanish for Heritage Speakers
This course is specifically designed for students who have grown up speaking Spanish at home or have had long-term exposure to the language. Students need to be able to write a paragraph in Spanish with accuracy, detail and moderate vocabulary as well as read and comprehend literary works.
The course is focused on the three modes of communication and the six AP Spanish Language & Culture themes, as well as developing skills and strategies to communicate effectively in Spanish. Emphasis is placed on culturally authentic communication and language acquisition skills, strategies, and grammatical structures.
Students will expand on their heritage language skills and progress along the third stage of the World Language Continuum. Successful completion of this course satisfies the third year of World Languages/Fine Arts requirement of the East Side Union High School District, as well as 3 years of the UC and CSU “E” requirement.
At a glance:
This course is designed for heritage learners or students with long-term exposure to Spanish who need to develop their reading and writing skills.
Students will deepen their understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures, focusing on the three modes of communication and the six AP Spanish Language & Culture themes.
Emphasis is placed on culturally authentic communication, language acquisition skills, strategies, and grammatical structures, and successful completion of the course satisfies multiple graduation and college requirements.