A distance education course is not the typical classroom experience. To ensure a successful learning experience, students enrolled in the SVS High School Spanish course should be chosen carefully.

Spanish I student characteristics

There are no course prerequisites for students enrolling in Spanish I, however, a number of characteristics can help you identify those students who would best adapt to the new environment of a distance learning classroom.

We’ve found that our most successful students:
• have a record of cooperation within a classroom setting
• are recommended by other teachers, who attest to the student’s ability to be self-motivated
• have a genuine interest in learning a foreign language
• have an above-average academic record in core subject areas

Spanish II student characteristics

Spanish II students must have successfully completed a Spanish I course and should demonstrate the same characteristics as Spanish I students.

Schools are required to provide the following:

• DVD player television monitor (27” recommended)
• CD player
• telephone with speakerphone
• student and teacher curricular materials

Class size limitations

Due to the unique delivery of the course and the demands placed on the Teaching Partner, we suggest an enrollment limit of 15 students* per class section. Schools are encouraged to enroll students who have demonstrated the greatest chance for success, based upon the student characteristics listed. Field research indicates that a class size of 15 or less creates an environment that nurtures a learning team approach. Larger classes tend to fractionalize focus and can affect the success of the SVS delivery model. Comments from Teaching Partners overwhelmingly support this policy.