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Spanish 203Course Goals and PoliciesSpanish 203Intermediate SpanishDepartment of World Languages and Cultures Fall 1999 Samford University 726-2747 The textbooks for this course are ¡Dímelo tú! 3rd. ed., Cuaderno de actividades y manual de laboratorio,3rd. ed., and Civilización y cultura, 6th ed. Programma as a Word Document Complete "Goals and Policies" as a Word Document Course description:This accelerated four hour semester course is designed to develop crosscultural understanding of Spanish-speaking people, as well as proficiency in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing within the target language's geographical and cultural context. Learning activities in our interactive and target-language dominated classroom and laboratories will create a milieu for mastery, enabling you to attain functional, intermediate-mid + level competence*, as outlined by nationally normed guidelines, and linguistic proficiency that will enhance your personal and professional lives.!!!According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), an intermediate-mid + level student can successfully:
For a more detailed description of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines, please see your instructor. COURSE GOALS:Students will demonstrate:1.Knowledge of: a.the phonology, orthography, morphology, vocabulary, and syntax of the target language. b.the target language by listening to and understanding a proficient speaker speaking at a normal conversational tempo, reading and comprehending general materials, and writing general, non-technical prose. 2. Ability to: a. use appropriate phonology, orthography, morphology, vocabulary, and syntax. b. listen to, read, and comprehend main ideas and most details in connected discourse in the target language; speak proficiently; and write general non-technical prose. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:Students will:1. demonstrate progressive acquisition of the basic language skill of speaking, in accord with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) proficiency guidelines.* 2. demonstrate progressive acquisition of the basic language skill of listening, in accord with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines.* 3. demonstrate progressive acquisition of the basic language skill of reading, in accord with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines.* 4. demonstrate progressive acquisition of the basic language skill of writing, in accord with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines.* 5. demonstrate the ability to manipulate high-frequency vocabulary and structures in the target language. 6. demonstrate knowledge of the target country (or countries)--its geography, history, social organization, and cultural manifestations (art, music, literature and way-of-life culture.) 7. demonstrate aspects of Critical and Creative Thinking: the ability to organize, compose, and express their ideas and perceptions in a foreign language, resulting in an enhanced understanding of their native language. *For a more detailed description of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines, please see your instructor. Grades and policies:The semester course grade will be a composite of the following:6 exams on the ¡Dímelo tú! material (100 points each), 5 exams on the Civilización y cultura book (100 points each), 1 language laboratory grade (combined audio/video and computer labs - 100 points), 2 activity grades (class participation, quizzes, and homework - 100 points each), and 1 oral interview grade (100 points). There are opportunities to make-up some coursework in case of illness or excused absences (see below). When the participation grade is determined, the lowest 10 point grade will be dropped for each term. (No major grade will be dropped.) Daily routine:203 Spanish students meet five times a week, three times a week for classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, once a week for Audio/Video lab, and once a week for computer lab.On Tuesdays you will attend the Audio/Video laboratory. This portion of your course is conducted by the lab director, Professor Barbara Crider. You will receive instructions at the beginning of lab for that day's lab activities. On days designated "Lab DT/CA," be sure to bring your Cuaderno de Actividades with you to lab. The "Videos culturales" are video presentations designed to stimulate your cultural knowledge of the Hispanic world as well as your listening comprehension. Attendance and participation are required, and brief quizzes and worksheets help assess your comprehension abilities. For the Thursday Computer lab, report to the Chapman computer laboratory. Computer activities will include writing practice in Spanish and a review of structures and vocabulary with designated software. Detailed instructions for this part of the course will be explained to you in the computer lab. On Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays participation grades are based on your class attendance, oral participation, and quizzes over the assigned material. Éach ¡Dímelo tú! assignment is indicated by the «Paso» to be covered. For each «Paso» (1, 2, 3), you should do the following: 1) Read and study carefully the grammar explanation on the green pages at the end of the chapter. 2) Write (on separate paper*) the exercises under the ¡A practicar! section for that «Paso», also on the green pages). 3) Read the selections related to ¿Eres buen observador? and ¿Qué se dice? at the beginning of «Paso» in the white pages. Listen to your student CD for¿Qué se dice? 4) Write (on separate paper) any exercises assigned under ¡Ahora a hablar! for the appropriate «Paso» 5) Write the grammar and vocabulary exercises for each «Paso» in the Cuaderno de actividades in the workbook. Using the answer key at the back of the workbook, check your responses and correct with a contrasting color ink. 6) Begin to study the words and expressions in the vocabulary list at the end of the white pages. Written homework may be checked periodically to help determine your participation grade. *All textbook exercises must be written on separate paper for credit, and all workbook exercises must be checked and corrected in contrasting color ink for credit. On the class sessions for Vocabulario you will take a quiz over the vocabulary list in the chapter studied. It is important that you study vocabulary with each «Paso» and then review the entire list for the quiz. The Civilización y cultura (CC) chapters will give you some knowledge and insight into Hispanic history and culture. On the CC assignments, study the vocabulary list, read the «Enfoque» section, complete the reading for the chapter, answer the «Comprensión A» questions under each secion, and the «Preguntas Extras» on the handout, and complete the «Práctica I» exercises at the end of the chapter. You will need to prepare thoroughly in order to perform well in class.. Grading scale:93 - 100 = A; 90 - 92 = A-; 88 - 89 = B+; 83 - 87 = B;80 - 82 = B-; 78 - 79 = C+; 73 - 77 = C; 70 - 72 = C-; 68 - 69 = D+; 63 - 67 = D; 60 -62 = D-; 59 or below = F. The total points earned in the 203 course will be distributed as follows: 1395 - 1500 = A 1350 - 1394 = A- 1320 - 1349 = B+ 1245 - 1319 = B 1200 - 1244 = B- 1170 - 1199 = C+ 1095 - 1169 = C 1050 - 1094 = C- 1020 - 1049 = D+ 945 - 1019 = D 900 - 944 = D- Below 899 = F Half points are recorded. When calculating the semester grades, fractions are rounded off if above 1/2, but points are never added when the average is close. All exams are filed in the offices of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. You are welcome to study these exams in the presence of your instructor. Under no circumstances are these exams to leave the office or the classroom. If you wish to discuss your grade, tests or progress, please feel free to talk with your instructor. Make-up policies:There is no written comprehensive midterm or final exam required for students who take all major exams as scheduled. A comprehensive, cumulative make-up exam will be offered at midterm and at the end of the course for any student missing one of the major exams. There is a separate comprehensive exam for the Dímelo tú, another for the Civilización y cultura books. If you miss a daily quiz, the exam grade on that particular unit may be used to fill in that missing grade.There are limited opportunities to make up class work because there is no way to recoup one's oral practice in class. If class is missed, it is the responsibility of the student to seek out the information missed and hand in the appropriate written work for partial credit. If a Dímelo tú «Paso» assignment is missed, the student may write out all the exercises from that section and hand them in to receive half credit. If a Civilización y cultura chapter is missed, the student may write out all answers to all assigned exercises and turn in for half credit. All make-up work must be turned in prior to the exam on that respective unit, (except in the case of hospitalization or an extended illness.) Cultural enrichment opportunities:One of the objectives of this course is to deepen your understanding of Spanish and the Spanish-speaking world. Cultural enrichment opportunities are outlined below. The course instructors would rather have you spend your time on the work assigned in class; however, we realize that some of you may have talents or interests in related areas, so we are willing to reward you for your efforts outside of class. You may receive an additional 2 points for these projects; these points are added to your final point average in the course. Cultural Enrichment projects must be turned in to the instructor within one week of the event reported. All efforts will be filed along with your exams in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. All projects must be clearly labeled, identifying the student, the project, and the number of points solicited. A list of acceptable projects follows:Outside class activities such as Spanish Club meetings, community events, movies and television programs about Spain, Latin America or the Hispanic culture. These activities must have the preapproval of the instructor to receive credit. If you hear of events or programs, share this information with us, so that we can announce it to the class. All activities must be written up (1/2 to 1 page in Spanish) and include your impressions as well as a summary of the event. Each activity viewed, written up and turned in will be worth 1/2 point added to the semester average. Additional policies and requirements:1. Positive classroom attitude: Because the course methodology is student-centered, students are expected to come to class prepared to participate actively in discussions, drills, role-play, oral and written presentations, and group activities. Daily class participation and a positive classroom attitude will play a major role in successful completion of the course and attainment of desired competency levels.2. Absences: Because language acquisition success is directly proportionate to the consistency of daily practice, students are expected to be present, unless officially excused or providentially hindered, at all class and laboratory sessions. Absences in excess of either 6 in class or 4 in lab will result in severe academic penalties in the course. Tardiness in 3 class periods will be counted as 1 absence from class. See separate sheet on departmental absence policy. 3. Responsibility for satisfactory academic progress rests with the student. Students must maintain an awareness of their status in class by careful review of returned tests and graded activities, as well as ongoing communication with the instructor. In the event of an absence, it is the student's responsibility to find out information or announcements missed. 4. Academic Integrity: Samford students are expected to maintain high standards of scholarship and integrity. Any student found quilty of dishonesty in academic work as described in the Student Handbook will be subject to the process outlined in the Value Violation Procedural Guide published by the University. Schedule, requirements, policies, and procedures are subject to change upon written notification. Be sure to keep these pages for future reference. Thanks for studying Spanish with us. We're looking forward to a great semester! |