Spanish for Spanish

Speakers 1

Course Information

Your Spanish Teacher Mrs. Villamarín & Family

Hi, I'm Mrs. Villamarín, your Spanish 1 teacher.I will share with you a little bit about myself. I've been a teacher since 1998, I taught in the traditional classroom setting for ten years. I have been with FLVS since 2008. I love teaching Spanish because it allows me to help students to learn a magnificent language that will help them become more productive in their future careers. I live with my husband and our two children Sofía and Gabriel. I was born in Ecuador and came to the U.S.A when I was twelve years old. I got my B.A. from Queens College and my Masters at Albany State University, both in Spanish Literature. I lived in Queens N.Y. for eighteen years and moved to Florida in 2003. I love to cook, travel and spend time with my family. I also participate actively in my local church.I hope you enjoy the class!

Where Do I Begin?

Please go to http://www.flvs.net/quickstart to watch the FLVS Quick Start (New Student

Orientation) Video.

How Do I Log On?• You can log on at www.flvs.net.

Enter Username and PasswordYou will need your username and password to log on each time.If you forget your username or password, contact me as soon as possible.

Your VSA (Virtual School Administrator) Dashboard

• Scroll down to the bottom to see which courses you are enrolled in. Click on Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 to enter the class.

Educator Dashboard• You will find the course announcement on the right side of the

screen, there you’ll see my contact information. On the left side you’ll see different tabs that will help you navigate throughout the course.

Course Information• Click on the Course Information tab for information about Voice

Activity Directions, Pace and other important details about the course.

There are 4 different pace options. If you want to submit the least amount of work each week then you will do Traditional; it will take you 16-18 weeks to complete each segment. Accelerated and Individual Pace Planner is for those students that want to complete the segment in less time. You may complete a segment in a little as 2 weeks!

Important: Please note as per FLVS policy students are expected to continuously work in a segment for at least two consecutive weeks in order for me to issue their grade, there are no exceptions.

Pace

Before you start click on the tab Lessons then “Empieza Aquí” ….

Empieza Aquí

Make sure you read the information in “Empieza Aquí”, it contains many important information about the course.

In “Empieza Aquí” you will find instructions for accent marks.

Where Do I Find My Lessons?• Click on “Lessons” on the left side of the screen to begin working.

After you click “Lessons”, click on the module you are working.

Always work in order!

Next, click on the lesson you are ready to work in.

Use the Previa and the Próxima arrows to scroll through your lessons.

You may also use the arrows at the bottom of the page to scroll through your lessons.

Before you start with a module please print “Tabla de Asignaciones”, here you’ll find all the assessments that you need to complete in the module.

Where Are the Directions For My Assignments?• You will find the directions for assessments in the “Evaluación”

section of each lesson. • Click on the red hyperlink to bring up the directions. You will get a

pop up box with the assignment.

How Do I Turn In An Assignment?• Once you have your answers for an assignment, click on

“Assessments” on the left side of the screen; then click on the assignment you want to submit.

Please type in your answers in the Student comments section. Then check off the Submit for Grading box and click submit.

At the beginning of every module you will find the assessment:“Evaluación de Conocimientos Previos” don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers, it’s only worth 1 pt.

Evaluación de Conocimientos Previos

Actividades de PrácticaPlease note that you will not get any points for “Actividades de práctica”, they serve as practice and to prepare you for your assessments.

What Is My Grade?• Click on “Gradebook” to see your grades and check on your

progress in the course. Here you may also access the assessments you want to resubmit. Just read my feedback, make the necessary changes and resubmit them for a better grade.

• You may use a microphone headset to record yourself in ACTIVIDADES ORALES (VOICE ACTIVITIES).

Directions on how to complete these are found under COURSE INFORMATION.

• If you don’t have a microphone you may use Audiopal. For instructions on how to use Audiopal to record these assessments please go to my announcement page then click on the New Students tab.

• Here’s a tutorial on how to use Audiopal:  http://www.screencast.com/users/jackielewis/folders/LEWIS/media/e99ca175-7dfa-47ef-8fd4-7ffa9b3bc7eb

• If you are having technical difficulties with your audio recordings, or with the course please call Technical Support at 866-322-8324.

“Actividades Orales”& Technical Support

• Some Spanish words have special symbols called accent marks (áéíóú) or tildes (ñ). There are also two Spanish punctuation marks you will need to learn: ¡¿

• You will need to learn to make these. • Directions on how to do this can be found in “Empieza Aquí”.

• You may also change your keyboard to US International. Here’s a tutorial on how to change your keyboard to US International:

http://www.screencast.com/users/jackielewis/folders/Jing/media/28739c2a-56a1-45da-8e8e-cf258e521ae0

• In order to get full credit for your work please use proper capitalization and answer in complete sentences.

Accents, Punctuation, & Capitalization

Discussion Based Assessments (DBA)• You will complete a Discussion Based Assessment (DBA) at the end

of every module, BEFORE taking the module exam.

• When you get to the end of a module you will be directed to call me to complete the DBA. A Discussion Based Assessment is the speaking portion of the module exam. It’s a phone call between you and me. We will discuss the lessons and the work you have submitted to test your knowledge. It is also an opportunity to clear up any questions you may have with me. After completing a DBA you will be provided with a password that will allow you to take the module exam.

• Students will be suspended from the course if a DBA or Module Exam is not completed and the student is submitting work in the next module.

Please contact me Monday-Friday to complete DBA’s.Make sure you review before you call, you may use your notes if you feel necessary. You are not allowed to be in front of the computer when you call for a DBA.

Tips for Success…

• Contact me whenever you have questions.

• Keep your work simple! Use only what you have learned in the course to complete assignments.

• Print out your pace chart and mark off assignments as you complete them.

• Work EVERY week!

Once you get activated your 28 day grace period begins. The grace period is your time to make sure you want to continue the course. If you decide to drop the class, please let me know BEFORE your 28 days are up. 

If you are inactive and do not meet the traditional pace chart goals (completing 15 assessments by the end of the grace period), you will administratively withdrawn without any penalty on your transcript.

Welcome to Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1!

• Semester 1 consists of modules (chapters) 1, 2, 3, and 4. After you complete all coursework, you must take and pass the semester final exam. 

• Semester 2 consists of modules (chapters) 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.  After you complete all coursework, you must take and pass the semester final exam.

Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1

Before I issue your semester grade you need to have passing scores on module exams, the project and the Segment Exam.

Students are required to submit a minimum of 5 assessments on a weekly basis.

Students may complete more than 5 assessments each week and finish the segment sooner than 16 weeks.

Students have till Sunday midnight to submit work.

Students that fail to submit the required assessments for two consecutive weeks will be placed in the withdrawal process and possibly get an F in the segment.

Assignments are graded within 48 hrs.

Students are encouraged to get a notebook to take notes on the vocabulary, verbs and cultural information for each module. This will allow you to review the material presented in previous modules.

About Your Work

Academic IntegrityAcademic Integrity means...

• Your work on each assignment will be completely your own. • You will not practice plagiarism in any form. You will not

allow others to copy your work and you will not misuse/copy content from the Internet.

• A dictionary may be used to look up the correct spelling or words you come across in Spanish.

• Translator services are not allowed. • Use the vocabulary and expressions from the lessons

on the computer scored questions. Otherwise it will mark them wrong every time.

• Please use the content and vocabulary from the course.• For more information: review academic integrity under

Course Information.

Communication

Consistent work and communication are the keys to success! Be sure contact me if you have questions or need help. Also, if you’re away from the computer for more than 5 days, please call or email me to let me know your situation.  Students are expected to submit work on a weekly basis.

If you have vacation plans or know in advance you’ll be away from the computer, please call, email or text me as soon as possible. A monthly contact with teacher and parent is due each month. I will send progress reports via email or text to parents that have agreed on communicating by these methods.

• Call and text: 561-692-3361. • Texting is the preferred method for exam resets, or quick

questions.• If you get my voice mail, make sure to leave a complete

message… otherwise there’s no way for me to return your call. Calls are returned within 24 hours.

• If you want to email me please do so within the course/Educator.• E-mails are answered within 24 hours.

How to Get Help!

What do you do next?

• Call me to verify your contact information 561-692-3361.• FLVS Counselor Information: http://www.flvs.net/areas/studentservices/advisement/Pages/default.aspx

• I look forward to working with you this year!!!

Please contact me whenever you have questions. I am here to ensure that you have a successful and happy experience at FLVS!