Decree 40/2007 (Castilla y León)

Foreign Language

Objectives

1. To listen to and understand messages in varied verbal interactions, using the transmitted information to carry out specific tasks related to one’s experiences.

2. To recognize and use basic strategies of (verbal and non-verbal) communication and the social norms that regulate the participation in tasks that require oral exchanges.

3. To express oneself and interact orally in habitual communicative situations, following the appropriate intervention script for each particular discourse, using verbal and non-verbal procedures of communication in accordance with the text and specific context, and adopting a respectful and cooperative attitude.

4. To plan, organize and write diverse texts for specific purposes, using the most appropriate structures depending on the types of discourse, and employing different means and sources of information.

5. To read comprehensively different types of texts related to one’s experiences and interests (extracting general and specific information in accordance with a previously-stated purpose) so as to develop one’s autonomy and reading pleasure.

6. To learn how to use (with increasing autonomy) all the media within reach, including information and communication technologies, in order to obtain information and communicate in the foreign language.

7. To vale the foreign language, and languages in general, as a means of communication and understanding between people with diverse origins and cultures, and as a tool to learn different contents.

8. To show a receptive and confident attitude in one’s capacity to learn and use the foreign language, by reflecting upon and appreciating the progress made in one’s communicative competence by means of carrying out self-evaluation process and analyzing the contrast between one’s acquisition and the European reference levels.

9. To use previous knowledge and experiences with other languages for a faster, more efficient and more autonomous acquisition of the foreign language, by means of reflecting upon the most effective and useful strategies to develop one’s capacity to learn how to learn.

10. To identify phonological aspects, rhythm, stress and intonation, as well as linguistic structures and lexical aspects of the foreign language, and to use them as basic elements of communication.

Assessment criteria (1st cycle)1. Participate in very controlled oral interactions about familiar topics in face-to-

face and widely contextualized communicative situations.

2. Understand the global idea and identify some specific elements in oral texts about familiar or school topics related to common classroom tasks or everyday-life tasks, with the help of linguistic and non-linguistic contextual elements in either face-to-face or audiovisual and computer communication.

3. Read and identify words and simple sentences in narrative, descriptive and informative texts (about familiar and interesting topics), provided that they have been previously worked with in class orally and with the help of visual support.

4. Write simple texts for specific purposes. These texts will be contextualized within an oral communicative situation and will require the use of strategies such as completing information, selecting, drawing, or sequencing pictures, and adopting words, well-known expressions and phrases from textual models.

5. Recognize and reproduce sound aspects, rhythm, stress, and intonation with a great rhythmical basis in expressions that are present in habitual communicative situations and in role-playing tasks.

6. Use basic learn-to-learn strategies, such as reflecting upon acquired knowledge, planning, asking for help, using gestures to facilitate communication, using visual communication and movements, setting small goals, using visual dictionaries and identifying some personal aspects so as to learn better and to value one’s progress, both in the use of language and in the development of one’s autonomy.

7. Identify some cultural aspects and characteristic features of the countries where the foreign language is spoken, such as traditions, behaviour and good manners, games, rhymes and legends.

8. Show interest and curiosity in learning the foreign language and recognize linguistic and cultural diversity as an enriching element.

Assessment criteria (2nd cycle)1. Participate in controlled oral interactions about familiar topics in contextualized

communicative situations, for specific purposes, in accordance with basic norms of oral exchanges (such as listening to and looking at the speaker), and observing some of the most common and obvious linguistic and social conventions.

2. Understand the global sense and identify specific information in oral texts about familiar and interesting topics, produced in a variety of formats and for different purposes (describing, informing, illustrating or narrating), in which strategies such as segmentation and identification of words can be applied, and in which linguistic and non-linguistic communicative elements will support understanding.

3. Read and understand the global sense and some specific information of texts about familiar topics, selected in accordance with their communicative competence, and for a particular purpose.

4. Produce written texts for different purposes using familiar and common sentences to be found in everyday-life and school situations, based on previously-introduced models and in a specific format, both printed and digital.

5. Use in a meaningful way typical forms and structures of the foreign language as regards sound aspects, rhythm, stress and intonation in different communicative contexts.

6. Use some learn-to-learn strategies, such as: asking for clarification, using gestures to facilitate communication, inferring meaning, deducing rules; predicting, selecting, organizing information; verifying the appropriateness of the text, task, and situation; using visual dictionaries and resources; recovering, searching for, and compiling information about familiar topics in different formats; and identifying some personal aspects to improve learning.

7. Value the foreign language as an instrument to communicate with other people. Show curiosity, interest, respect, and tolerance towards people who speak the foreign language, appreciating linguistic diversity as an enriching element of society.

8. Identify traditions, customs and everyday-life aspects (associated to games, rhymes, and songs) of the countries where the foreign language is spoken.

Assessment criteria (3rd cycle)1. Have everyday and familiar conversations about well-known topics in

contextualized communicative situations, in accordance with basic linguistic and social norms and conventions that rule oral exchanges, such as listening to and looking at the speaker, and respecting turn-taking.

2. Understand the global sense and identify specific information in varied oral texts about topics related to their interests and experiences, produced in different communicative situations and in different formats, and in which essential oral comprehension skills and strategies, as well as general and cultural knowledge about the content and textual aspects, can be applied.

3. Interpret and understand diverse written texts to obtain global and specific information, to carry out a specific task or for a playful purpose, provided that iconic or graphic support is given. Their knowledge on textual, contextual, and cultural resources can be used to infer meaning and predict content.

4. Elaborate written texts for different purposes and in different formats (both printed and digital), following previously-introduced models, putting into practice textual coherence and cohesion rules, taking into account different types of addressees, texts, and purpose, and becoming familiarized with the use of some literary writing techniques.

5. Use in a meaningful way basic forms and structures typical of the foreign language, including aspects related to rhythm, stress and intonation, in different communicative situations.

6. Use some learn-to-learn strategies, such as: asking relevant questions to obtain information; asking for clarification; using bilingual and monolingual dictionaries; using gestures to facilitate communication; searching for, compiling, and organizing information in different formats; using information and communication technologies to contrast and check information; and identifying some aspect that can favour learning.

7. Value the foreign language as an instrument to communicate with other people and as a learning tool. Show curiosity, interest, and respect towards people who speak the foreign language.

8. Identify and value some aspects, customs, and traditions typical of the countries where the foreign language is spoken. Establish connections between these foreign sociocultural aspects and one’s own so as to develop an intercultural awareness.