Criteria for Excellence in Spanish

Criteria for Excellence remain the same across Division levels
In each Division students strive for understanding progressively more complex concepts and skills
with progressively more initiative, autonomy, and awareness.

A Holistic Rubric adaptable to all Divisions
appears  following the Criteria for Excellence.
Rubric elements covering content and concept understanding are added as appropriate for each assignment.

SPEAKING

Grammar

• Your language shows number and gender agreement.
• Your language shows subject and verb agreement.
• You use verb tenses appropriately.
• You use appropriate word order.

Content

• You speak about academic and non-academic topics.
• You express your opinions on a topic.
• You use vocabulary appropriate to the topic.
• You support your ideas using details and examples.

Pronunciation

• You pronounce all vowels and consonants in a way that a native speaker would understand.
• You speak clearly and audibly.
• You stress words appropriately.

Spontaneity

• You spontaneously create your own ways of saying what you mean.
• You find ways to say what you mean, even if you don’t know the exact vocabulary.
• You push yourself to speak.

Fluency

• You express your thoughts without pausing excessively to think.

Process

• You practice speaking.
• You show awareness of your own grammar.
• You reflect on your process and your work.
• You are prepared and you have all your materials.

WRITING

Grammar

• Your writing shows number and gender agreement.
• Your writing shows subject and verb agreement.
• You use verb tenses appropriately.
• You use appropriate word order.
• You use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and accents.

Content

• You write about academic and non-academic topics.
• You express in writing your opinions on a topic.
• You use vocabulary appropriate to the topic.
• You support your statements with details and examples.

Style

• You create your own ways of writing what you mean.
• You find ways to communicate what you mean, even if you don’t know the exact vocabulary.
• Your writing style suits your purpose.

Process

• You engage in pre-writing activities.
• You review past grammar and vocabulary.
• You draft work, seek feedback, and incorporate that feedback into your writing.
• You reflect on your process and your work.
• You follow deadlines.

READING

Comprehension 

• You restate or respond appropriately to the main ideas.
• You restate or respond to important details.
• You understand the vocabulary necessary to the text.
• You understand the grammar necessary to the text.

Analysis

• You identify and consider alternative interpretations of the text.
• You identify and consider how the background of the author might influence his or her ideas.

Process 

• You engage in pre-reading activities to prepare for the text.
• You infer meaning using a variety of clues.
• You ask questions or use language resources to clarify what you do not understand.
• You identify new vocabulary and grammar from the text.
• You reflect on your process and your work.
• You follow deadlines.

LISTENING

Comprehension 

• You restate or respond appropriately to the main ideas.
• You restate or respond to the important details.
• You understand the vocabulary necessary to the message.
• You understand the grammar necessary to the message.

Analysis 

• You identify and consider alternative interpretations of the messages.
• You identify and consider how the background of the speaker might influence his or her ideas.

Process

• You engage in listening activities.

• You infer meaning using a variety of clues.
• You ask for repetition or a slower pace when needed.
• You ask questions to clarify what you do not understand.
• You identify new vocabulary and grammar that you heard.
• You reflect on your process and your work.
• You follow deadlines.

CULTURE

Knowledge

• You accurately identify key characteristics (geography, history, literature, arts, traditions, social norms) of the country or group you are studying.
• You demonstrate an understanding of the Spanish-speaking culture’s norms.

Reflection 

• You make meaningful comparisons between the norms and characteristics of the country or group you are studying and your own experience.
• You identify ways that your own background and previous experience affect your understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures.
• You ask questions.
• You hypothesize answers.

Application and Participation 

• You act with sensitivity to the norms of the cultural setting around you.