Class Meeting: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00—3:25 PM
Class Location: Main Campus: CSUG 126
Instructor: Teresa Borden
Contact Information: Email: bordent@yosemite.edu Phone: 209-754-0151
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, before or after class in CSUG 126. Online via Blackboard IM Tuesdays 12 noon to 3 pm. Other times by individual arrangement.
If you have a disability that affects you as a student in this class, please notify me and/or the Disabled Students Programs and Services Office in Manzanita 18-D--Phone: 209.588.5134. Your notification will remain confidential.
Fundamentals of spoken and written Spanish with an emphasis on acquiring communicative skills while developing an awareness and appreciation of Hispanic cultures. This course is not intended for native speakers of Spanish.
Vistas 4e Volume 1 (Chapters 1-6) Loose-leaf + free 6-month Supersite access
ISBN: 978-1-61767-266-8
Blanco, José A.
Vista Higher Learning, 2012
A. 501 Spanish Verbs
C. Kendris, Barron’s Educational Series
OR
The Big Red Book of Spanish Verbs:555 Fully Conjugated Verbs
R. Gorden & D. Stillman, McGraw Hill
B. A good Spanish/English dictionary
C. Immerse yourself in anything Spanish: Spanish language television, radio, newspapers, advertisements, magazines or other authentic material, from your telephone or electric bill to your DVD player instructions.
There will be daily homework, including in-class and online activities , reading, writing and/or grammar assignments, basic research, project development and preparation for oral presentations.
You are expected to log-in to this class online on Blackboard at least once a week to review your in-class and online assignments. You’ll also find helpful links to Spanish resources, can post questions and communicate via Blackboard IM with your classmates and instructor. Computers are available on the Columbia College campus for student use, as well as at local libraries and community centers.
To get started on Blackboard: From the Columbia College Home Page, click on the Distance Learning Heading and then on Blackboard 9.1. Follow the instructions to log in. When logging in from your home computer, you will need to first perform a browser compatibility check (see link beneath log-in field on the Blackboard log-in page) before logging in. Once you’ve logged in, CLICK on the link for this class: 2011CFA-CSPAN-1A-1976.
You will see a Getting Started link in the menu on the left that will provide you with all the information you’ll need to be successful in this class.
I will be sending out an email to all student emails (be sure you have your student email activated!) about a week before class starts with information about on-campus BB tutorials/trainings, which will earn you some extra credit in the class as well!
Language learning for real communication is based on four integrated skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Grades are based on your participation and skill demonstration in class and online , as well as on quizzes, chapter exams, and written and oral assignments. Please note that in order to participate and demonstrate your Spanish communication skills, you must be in class and you must participate in online activities.
Students are expected to arrive on time, come to class fully prepared and stay throughout the class period with the intention of learning and participating (and with cell phones, MP3 players and other electronics turned off during class.) Students who are absent for any reason more than five full class periods during the semester limit their opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency and should, therefore, anticipate a reduction in grade, regardless of grades on written assignments and exams.
Students are expected to work courteously and collaboratively with classmates, submit assignments on time, and take responsibility for their own learning, including finding out from classmates and/or checking the weekly Blackboard Learning Module assignments page about material missed due to absence.
No makeup work will be accepted after one week of assignment . There will be no opportunity for makeup of quizzes, oral presentations/projects or of oral portions of chapter exams unless previously approved by the instructor.
Grading Sample
(Points may vary.)
In-class skill demonstration/daily participation: 150 points
Chapter exams (6 @ 50 points each) 300 points
In class quizzes and assignments (15 @ 10 points each) 150 points
Online Blackboard and Supersite assignments: 200 points
Oral Presentations/Projects (2 @ 25 points each) 50 points
Final Cultural Presentation 50 points
Total possible: 900 points
810 – 900 = A; 720 – 809 = B; 630 – 719 = C; 540 – 629 = D; 539< = F
V. Course Calendar
All six chapters of the text will be covered this semester. Each lesson will be introduced with contextualized thematic vocabulary, followed by communicative guided drills, individual, small group and full group practice and activities, video, cultural readings and web research. Reading, writing and project assignments will be made from the text, worksheet handouts or web materials.
At least six hours of preparation time outside of class is anticipated each week.
Week 1: Introduction to course: syllabus, foreign language learning tips and a look at the Spanish you already know. Begin Lección 1: Hola, ¿Qué tal? : Greetings and Introductions; Pronunciation: the Spanish alphabet; Culture: Greetings and kisses in Hispanic countries; Nouns and articles.
Week 2: Continue Lección 1: Numbers 0-30; the verb ser; telling time. Reading strategies: recognizing cognates. Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura videos. Review for Prueba de Lección 1 (chapter test); Culture: Latinos in the United States.
Week 3: Prueba de Lección 1. Begin Lección 2: En la universidad : Classroom vocabulary, fields of study, academic life and subjects; days of the week; class schedules; Pronunciation: Spanish vowels. Culture: Choosing a major in the Spanish-speaking world.
Week 4: Continue Lección 2: Regular ‘ar’ verbs; asking questions; the verb estar; numbers 31-100. Reading strategies: Using format.
Week 5: Continue Lección 2: Writing: self-description. Listening: cognates; Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura videos. Review of Lección 2; Culture: Spain. Prueba de Lección 2.
Week 6: Begin Lección 3: La familia: Identifying people; occupations and professions; Pronunciation: Diphthongs and linking; Culture: ¿Cómo te llamas? ; Descriptive adjectives; possessive adjectives.
Week 7: Oral Presentation/Project #1: Yo y mi familia; Continue Lección 3: Verbs ending in ‘ir’ and ‘er’; the verbs venir and tener; Reading strategies: context. Listening: asking for repetition; Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura videos; Review of Lección 3; Culture: Ecuador; Prueba de Lección 3.
Week 8: Begin Lección 4: Los pasatiempos : Pastimes, places and activities in the city. Pronunciation: Stress and accentuation; the verb ir; stem-changing verbs.
Week 9: Continue Lección 4. More stem-changing verbs; verbs with irregular form in first person; Reading: predict content from visuals; Listening: general idea; Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura videos.
Week 10: Culture: Mexico. Review of Lección 4. Prueba de Lección 4.
Week 11: Begin Lección 5: Las vacaciones : Travel and vacations; weather expressions. Culture: Las cataratas del Iguazú.The verb estar with conditions and emotions; present progressive verbs; verbs ser and estar.
Week 12: Continue Lección 5: direct object nouns and pronouns; numbers 101+. Reading strategies: scanning; Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura videos; Review of Lección 5; Culture: Puerto Rico. Prueba de Lección 5.
Week 13: Oral Presentation/Project #2: Las vacaciones ideales. Begin Lección 6: De compras: Clothing; prices; buying; colors. Culture: Los mercados al aire libre. Verbs saber & conocer; indirect object pronouns.
Week 14: Continue Lección 6. Preterite tense of regular verbs; Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Reading strategy: skimming. Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura.
Week 15: Finish Lección 6: Culture: Cuba; Review of Lección 6. Prueba de Lección 6/Final Exam.
Week 16: Final Cultural Project Presentations. Class assessment and La fiesta!
