Q: How many students do I need to form a team?

 

A: A team consists of anywhere between 1 to 16 students.  The maximum number of students allowed per team is 16.

 

Q: Do we need to participate in every academic event?

 

A: No.  The only mandatory academic event for all team members is the Impromptu Speaking.  All other events can have no participants, a few or the maximum number permitted.

 

Q: Is there a specific list of prescribed poems and plays?

 

A: No. The only requirements are: meet the time limits for the event and be an authentic piece written by a Hispanic poet or playwright.  Teachers may make adaptations as needed to fit time constraints and/or appropriateness of 

student level.  All competitions must be delivered in Spanish.

 

Q: How long does the play need to be?  How many students can participate?  What kind of play can be used?

 

A: The minimum length of the play depends on the number of characters: 6 mins. for 2-3 characters; 8 mins. for 4 or more characters.  Anywhere between 2-16 students can participate in the play.  Plays can be from any genre.  Plays must be delivered in Spanish and represent the Hispanic culture.  The maximum length of time is 15 minutes including set up and take down.

 

Q: Do we have to stay at the conference hotel?

 

A: YES. The By-laws stipulates that all participating schools must stay at the hotel for security reasons and also to ensure that we meet contract.

 

Q: Are all the competitions held at the hotel?

 

A: Yes, the competitions take place at the hotel’s conference center.

 

Q: Are the non-academic competitions mandatory?

 

A: No.  The non-academic competitions do not factor in the overall points for team placement.  They are scored for culture and creativity and awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place per each category.

 

Q: What/Where are the guidelines for each event?

 

A: You will find a brief description for each competition, for both academic and non-academic, as well as a sample score sheet used by the judges to evaluate the student under “How it works” link.

 

Q: Can students who take Spanish online participate?

 

A: The ONLY circumstance for online students to attend are those students who have exhausted all Spanish courses at their school and are obligated to continue advanced Spanish online to compete at the FSSC as long as they are full-time students at a high school. For verification purposes, when the school enrolls for the competition, send current class schedule and online enrollment with the student questionnaire. 

 

Q: How are students placed in A, B, C, D category?

 

A: The A-D categories are determined according to the student’s experience in the 

Spanish language.  The Student Questionnaire form has questions to help determine their correct placement.  In short:

 

• (A) Students who have ONLY learned Spanish exclusively in the classroom

• (B) Students with limited outside experience at home or in a Spanish-speaking environment

• (C) Students with extensive outside experience at home or in a Spanish-speaking environment

• (D) Students reared and educated in a Spanish-speaking environment

 

Q: What is my school number?  How is it assigned?

 

A: School number is assigned once all forms and monies have been submitted and verified.  Numbers are assigned in the order in which complete registration forms and monies are received by us.  We will notify you of your school number once it is assigned.

 

Q: Is there a dress code for competitions?  Is there a dress code for the banquet and dance?

 

A: Students should dress smart.  They need to remember that they represent their school and should dress appropriately.  They may wear costumes to enhance their poem presentation and, of course, for the play.  Dress for the banquet should be in good taste for a “night out”.  According to the By-laws, the dress for the dance is according to school dress code.  Each teacher is responsible to enforce the school’s dress code with their students.