Course Description Textbook Course Assignments Grading Standard Course Calendar
Class Location:
This is a totally online class. There will be no face-to-face meetings. See below for more information on accessing the course.
Instructor:
Teresa Borden
Contact Information:
Email: bordent@yosemite.edu Telephone: 209-754-0151
Instructor Communication Policy:
Expect replies to email queries or phone messages within 24 hours, unless I inform you that I won’t be available on certain dates. The quickest way to get an answer to a question is to post in the Preguntas (or Q & A) Discussion Forum on Blackboard.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
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: On the web at Columbia College DSPS Web Site or by telephone: 209-588-5134. Your notification will remain confidential.
Online Office Hours:
Tuesdays, 12 Noon to 3 pm via Blackboard IM (Instructions for downloading Blackboard IM are in the Start Here First! Learning Module in BB.) Other times by individual arrangement.
Fundamentals of spoken and written Spanish with an emphasis on acquiring communicative skills while developing an awareness and appreciation of Hispanic cultures. This beginning-level course introduces students to basic vocabulary and grammatical structures by developing listening, reading, writing and speaking skills through a variety of interactive, audio and video activities, and writing and oral exercises . This course is not intended for native speakers of Spanish.
This is a completely ONLINE course delivered via two different web sites: Blackboard (weekly learning modules) and Quía (the interactive e-text—see below under Textbook for more information.) You must have a computer with internet access to log in and you will need a headset or speakers and a microphone for the oral and listening activities. Broadband or satellite internet speed is recommended. Computers are available on the Columbia College campus for student use, as well as at local libraries and community centers.
If you’ve never taken a completely online course before, complete a quick Technical Skills Quiz and Student Skills Quiz to assess your own readiness for online education. Contrary to what many beginning online learners think, an online class requires more work and more of a time commitment than a face-to-face class. If you have difficulty sticking to a regular study schedule and pacing your own learning, you may want to think again about taking an online class.
To get started with Blackboard, go to the college home page: Columbia College Home Page Web Link Under Distance Learning, click on the Blackboard link. [ Note: When logging in from your home computer, you will need to FIRST do a Blackboard 9.1 Browser Compatibility Check located underneath the log-in field. Click on the link and follow the instructions to make sure your computer has the necessary software for Blackboard to function properly.] After logging in, click on this class, Spanish 1A, Section 1291. You will find all the information you need for the class in the Start Here First! Learning Module—the first item in the BB Course Menu on the left.
There are additional student resources on the Columbia College Home Page under Distance Learning. About a week before classes begin, I will send out an email to your student email accounts with important class information and dates for Blackboard orientation trainings at the college and/or online.
Class Philosophy
This class is a community. We all have the same objective: to learn. Online students often feel isolated but it’s important to know you are not in this alone! I need each of you to approach our online class with a great attitude and a willingness to help each other. Many problems and questions can be resolved by asking a fellow student. I am always here to help you but I truly believe your experience will be better if you communicate with your fellow students throughout the semester. Let’s work together to make this semester great for everyone!
The online textbook for this class is: En linea 3.0 Companion Edition, Volume 1 (Lecciones 1-6) + En linea 3.0--6-month access (a package.) You will need to buy the loose-leaf paper companion and online access directly from the publisher: VHL Direct Web Site but it will not be available until sometime in August. The ISBN # for the companion text and the online access is: 978-1-61767-594-2 and the cost is $74.75. If you are in a program that purchases your textbooks, you will need to contact the Columbia College Bookstore ASAP.
En linea 3.0 is an interactive textbook based on Vistas. Your pass code will give you access to the site for 6 months. To access En linea 3.0, go to the Quía Login Web Site for Vista Higher Learning and create an account. You will need a book key (that will be provided to you when you purchase En linea 3.0) and the Course Code for this class: GRRE339 . [ Note: Access to this course on Quía begins on August 22th, 2011 for the Fall Semester.) More information about registering on Quía is in the Start Here First! Learning Module in our Blackboard class.
I will post a link to the En linea Student Guide on BB when it becomes available.
Recommended Reading:
Each week you will have a new Learning Module on Blackboard that will contain that week’s online activities. Though you will have the flexibility to do your work at the times you choose, this is NOT A SELF-PACED COURSE. There are weekly deadlines for submitting your work that will be posted in each week’s Learning Module on Blackboard.
Basic activities each week will generally include:
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 online in Blackboard and in the online text, En linea, as well as on quizzes, chapter exams (Pruebas) and written and oral assignments in either BB or En linea.
Students are expected to: log in to Blackboard at least three times a week, participate in weekly Discussions, complete all assigned exercises in En linea, work courteously and collaboratively with classmates and take responsibility for their own learning, which includes checking the weekly assignments due on Blackboard, completing assignments in a timely manner and maintaining communication with the instructor in case of difficulties or issues that affect your participation in the class.
Oral proficiency: In addition to practicing and recording conversations with classmates on En linea or VoiceThread, you will be required to call the instructor three times during the semester to demonstrate your oral proficiency. There will be detailed instructions and due dates posted on Blackboard with plenty of time for you to practice and prepare for these oral assessments.
No makeup work will be accepted after one week of assignment. There will be no opportunity for makeup of oral telephone assessments unless previously approved by the instructor.
Grading Sample (Points may vary.)
En linea (E-text) Language & Cultural Assignments 400 points
Chapter tests or Pruebas (6 @ 50 points each) 300 points
Weekly BB Discussions and Journal Entries (30 @ 5 points each) 150 points
Weekly BB Quizzes (15 @ 10 points each) 150 points
Oral Assessment Telephone Conversations (3 @ 25 points each) 75 points
VoiceThread Oral Assessment Activities (3 @ 25 points each) 75 points
Final Cultural Project 50 points
Total Possible 1200 points
1080-1200 = A; 960-1079 = B; 840-959 = C; 720-839 = D; < 720 = F
[IMPORTANT NOTE: The En linea assignments show on Quía as being worth a lot of points (over 600 points per Chapter (or Lección.) Twice per semester I will average those points to give you a percentage of 200. Thus, at the end of the semester, the En linea portion of your grade will be a percentage of 400 points. HOWEVER, successfully completing and understanding those assignments will affect your grade in other ways, such as your ability to do well on the Chapter tests and the Oral assignments.]
All six Chapters, or Lecciones in the online text, En linea, will be covered this semester. Not all of the interactive activities will be assigned, though you can still complete them for extra practice. There will also be weekly written Discussions on Blackboard. Each week there will be a Learning Module (LM) posted on Blackboard with the details of that week’s assignments. It is important to go through the LM page by page to review your weekly tasks.
At least four and a half hours of weekly preparation time (studying and completing assignments), in addition to at least four and a half hours of weekly online work in Blackboard and the e-text, En linea, are anticipated in this course . Be prepared to commit yourself to about 10 hours a week for successful language-learning in this class. REMEMBER, this is a 5-unit class equivalent to the face-to-face class that meets 5 hours per week plus homework requirements.
Week 1: Introduction to course: online navigation, syllabus, foreign language learning tips and a look at the Spanish you already know. Getting to know each other online. Begin Lección 1: Hola, ¿Qué tal? : Greetings and Introductions; the Spanish alphabet; Culture: Greetings and kisses in Hispanic countries; nouns and articles.
Week 2: Continue Lección 1: Numbers 1-30; the verb ser; telling time. Reading strategies: using cognates. Language comprehension/culture: En pantalla & Flash cultura videos; VoiceThread Greetings Oral Activity; Review for Lección 1 Prueba (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; FIRST telephone oral assessment with Profesora Teresa; 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; VoiceThread Family Oral Activity.
Week 7: Continue Lección 3. Verbs ending in ‘ir’ and ‘er’; the verbs venir and tener; Reading strategies: context; Writing: Letter describing family and friends ; 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. SECOND telephone oral assessment with Profesora Teresa. 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; VoiceThread Ideal Vacation Activity.
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: Begin Lección 6: De compras: Clothing; prices; buying; colors; Culture: Los mercados al aire libre; Verbs saber and 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 videos.
Week 15: Finish Lección 6: Culture: Cuba; Review of Lección 6. THIRD and last telephone oral assessment with Profesora Teresa. Work on Final Cultural Project.
Week 16: Prueba de Lección 6. Final Cultural Project Presentations. Class assessment and Virtual fiesta.
