FALL 2016
Clayton State University, School of Arts and Sciences
Intermediate Spanish II (SPAN 2002 Hybrid)
CRN 80995, Section 90
3.0 semester credit hours (3-0-3)
M & W: 10 – 10:50 am (Room G129)
Instructor: Dr. Dennis Miller, Jr.
Office: Arts and Sciences, Room G105F
Email:
Office hours: M/W: 5:30 – 6:30 pm (face-to-face); T: 10: 30 am – 11:30 am; R: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm (face-to-face); F: 2 – 4 pm (virtual)
*********Clayton State University’s Center for Academic Success: It is strongly recommended that you take advantage of CSU’s free services offered in the Center for Academic Success, located in Edgewater Hall- Suite 276. For more information, please visit: http://www.clayton.edu/cas
******** Clayton State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services:
http://www.clayton.edu/counseling
**********Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact
the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, .
Required texts:
Philip R. Donley, et al. Vistas: Introducción a la la lengua española, 4th ed. (Boston: Vista
Higher Learning, 2012.) Student textbook ISBN: 978-1-60576-881-6.
WEBSAM (On-line Student Activities Manual: http: vistas.vhlcentral.com)
Recommended apps, websites, and texts:
Apps: dictionary.com; Dropbox; SpanishDict; Genius Scan; Genius Fax
Websites: www.studyspanish.com and www.conjuguemos.com
Highly recommended texts (*PDFs for both are found on Desire2Learn):
Kendris, C. Dictionary of 501 Spanish Verbs Fully Conjugated in All Tenses Alphabetically
Arranged.
Schmitt, Conrad. Schaum’s Outlines: Spanish Grammar.
Welcome to SPAN 2002! In this course you continue to develop the four basic language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. You will use these skills to expand your knowledge of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking peoples of the world. Moreover, the emphasis of this course is on spoken and written communication. This is the second part of a two-semester Intermediate Spanish course sequence.
Catalog Description: Grammar review and continued development of the student's reading, conversation and composition skills, with readings of a more difficult nature than those previously encountered by the student. Open to native speakers of Spanish only by permission of the Department of Humanities. Otherwise, native speakers must withdraw from this course.
GeorgiaVIEW Desire2Learn (Online Classroom):
On-line activity will take place in Desire2Learn, the virtual classroom for the course. You can gain access to Desire2Learn by signing on to the SWAN portal and selecting “GaVIEW” on the top right side. If you experience any difficulties in Desire2Learn, please email or call THE HUB at or (678) 466-HELP
A Note about a “hybrid” course:
The keys to success in this class are generally the same as those in any other class. However, given the nature of hybrid classes, in which you will meet less frequently (M/W) and will be responsible for covering a good deal of material on your own, there are some things that you should keep in mind this semester.
· Be very careful in managing your time. Set aside specific times each week to complete
class activities. It is your responsibility to cover all the required material before class, and
if you do not it is likely that you will not get as much out of the class meeting as you
should.
· Expect electronic glitches, power outages, or the like, and plan ahead. Don’t wait until
the last minute to submit your work. The deadline for all work to be submitted is 11:59
pm, and there are no exceptions. Any technological problems that cause you to miss a
deadline must be documented through tech support with an official case number before
your instructor can consider accepting your work late.
· It is especially important to be consistently prepared for and actively involved in all class meetings, since there are fewer of these than in traditional classes.
· Class time will be spent primarily on communicative activities, pair work, grammatical
explanations, taking tests and exams, etc.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the semester you will be able to communicate using basic Spanish for:
- greeting people and exchanging some polite questions and answers, exchanging phone numbers, talking about days and dates, etc;
- using simple vocabulary related to the classroom;
- talking about family;
- discussing typical activities related to traveling in a foreign country, including making hotel reservations, travel arrangements, getting around;
- talking about hobbies and sports.
The Spanish Division’s Goal:
The exchange of ideas is the basis of all societies. Each culture has its own form of expressing thoughts. Communication is the act or process of transmitting information about ideas, attitudes, emotions, or objective behavior through a common system of signs, symbols, or conduct. According to the Communicative Approach, the emphasis on communication ensures that second language learners will be able to exchange their thoughts in a way that is comprehensible to the educated native speaker. Our emphasis on written communication is because we believe that a strong lexical and syntactical foundation is the basis for all communication exchange at a level expected from students at the higher education level. Therefore our expectation is that upon completion of the exit courses of their foreign language sequence, students will be able to produce short, comprehensible written pieces of increasing complexity based on the course and content presented at each level. It is our goal that each student will be at the 70th percentile or above in the areas of language (syntax) and vocabulary (lexicon) on a written composition.
Specific Student Learning Outcomes for SPAN 2002:
In the target language, by the end of the semester the learner will be able to:
- describe how s/he can improve the environment;
- compose a short composition describing his/her hopes and wishes for both him/herself and for friends/family;
- recognize the usage and verb conjugations for the perfect tenses;
- identify the usages of the present subjunctive;
- recognize the differences between the subjunctive and the indicative;
- write a composition describing one’s hopes and wishes for the future using the present subjunctive;
- describe the advantages and disadvantages of living in an urban metro area like the Atlanta metro area;
- compare/contrast a list of professions students can pursue with at least a BA/BS along with their pros/cons;
- write compositions that demonstrate greater assimilation of syntactical and grammatical materials appropriate to fourth semester students;
- prepare a list of recommendations on how to begin/continue an exercise regimen;
- compare/contrast common employment benefits in the United States with those in Latin America;
- write a paragraph in Spanish convincing your friends what they could enjoy at some of the most famous spas in Latin America;
- list what things/activities you have done lately;
- describe what your life will be like in ten years using the future tense;
- predict what you will have realized by the time you graduate from Clayton State;
- compose an oral presentation on a complex subject (a cultural aspect, specific country, historical movement, etc.);
- compare/contrast his/her values with those of Spanish speakers, specifically to those in Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, as well as the various Hispanic groups in the United States;
- use technology and other resources in the target language to practice language skills, research, discuss, collaborate and build communities with other second language learners as well as heritage speakers at a level appropriate for fourth-semester learners.
Class Format: SPANISH 2002 is a hybrid, blended course: 2/3 of the course is face-to-face, and the remaining 1/3 is the online component.. The format of this class is based on the premise that the best way to learn another language is through repeated, meaningful exposure to the language as well as for opportunities to interact with others. For this reason, class time will be dedicated to communicating in Spanish using structures and vocabulary that you have practiced by doing your homework prior to class. Please note that this is a university setting. As a result, formal, academic Spanish is most appropriate in this particular context.
Course Policies
General Policy: Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.
University Attendance Policy: In order to meet the course goals and objectives, you must attend and actively participate in class. Participation is an important component of your final grade. You are expected to participate consistently and audibly in all class activities. Students who do so with good grace and visible commitment will receive high grades for participation. Please note Clayton State’s official policy regarding attendance:
“Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.”
Assessment of Student Learning:
1. EXAMS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES: 80%
Open Syllabus Quiz (taken online, on Desire 2 learn, 15 pts); Exams (4, 100 pts each); Homework (25 pts each lesson); Oral Exam (50 pts); Supersite Activities; Hybrid Activities
****Note: Exams #1 and #3 will be taken online, on Desire2Learn.
Exam #2 will be a take home exam
Exam #4 will be taken in class, closed books, closed notes.
2. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE: 10%
3. FINAL EXAM: 10%
TOTAL: 100%
Notes:
****Extra credit will be available each lesson (5 pts added to each exam); these activities are found on Desire2Learn
****ALL GRADES WILL BE POSTED ON DESIRE2LEARN!
Grading Scale:
A 100-90% D 69-60%
B 89-80% F 59-0%
C 79-70%
(1) EXAMS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Open Syllabus Quiz: This open syllabus quiz is available on Desire2Learn until Sunday, September 18 at 11 pm. It consists of 15 multiple choice questions based on the syllabus and has unlimited attempts.
Exams: Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability and progress in the language on each exam. The skills areas of listening, reading, and writing will be tested on each exam along with grammar. The exam begins at the start of class time.
Make-ups: No makeup exams are permitted unless your professor has approved the makeup and the student can provide a verifiable documented excuse for the absence. Missed assignments are to be made up as soon as possible. Make-up tests will not be the same tests taken by the class; they will be more difficult in an effort to dissuade students from missing exams. For example, on make-up exams there will not be a word bank, they will focus on exceptions, and no partial credit will be given. Class work/participation cannot be made up. **Makeup exams for online exams will be made up face-to-face, closed notes/books (without the aid of technological devices).
Homework/Class Preparation and Participation/Assignments: You are responsible for all material covered in class on days that you are absent. It is also your responsibility to be aware of changes made regarding the syllabus. Having missed the previous class is not an excuse to come to class unprepared.
Most grammar is studied before and outside of class so you come to class prepared to practice it. Written practice activities are to be completed before the class meets on a separate sheet of paper in case the professor collects it. These assignments are to be prepared for the day that they appear on the syllabus, prior to coming to class. Each lesson’s homework assignments, all indicated on the syllabus, will be handed in the date of the corresponding exam. Each chapter’s homework will be worth 15 pts; homework points (5) will be deducted if the homework is handed in after the date of the exam.
Oral Exam: Information regarding the oral exam can be found on p. 8 - 9 of this syllabus. Oral exams will be done in class on Monday, November 28, 2016, and Wednesday, November 30, 2016.
Hybrid Activities: For the hybrid component of our course, there will a total of twelve hybrid activities throughout the course all indicated on the syllabus. They will be available from Thursday – Sunday of the week indicated. Please note they will be untimed, you will have unlimited attempts, and they will all reinforce the vocabulary, grammar, and/or cultural points being studied at that particular moment.
(2) ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Each day your instructor will make a mark in his grade book regarding your participation and will assign you a daily grade. If you miss a class, no participation points can be awarded for that day. There is NO make-up for participation points. Daily participation will be graded according to the following scale:
SUPERIOR: (2 points) Used Spanish consistently in class with professor and peers; was listening attentively when others spoke; showed respect and displayed a positive attitude toward professor, peers, and subject; actively participated in all activities; came to class prepared.
AVERAGE: (1 point) Used Spanish sufficiently in class with professor and peers; got somewhat distracted, not always listened attentively when others spoke; showed some respect and an agreeable attitude; showed some interest in class activities and discussions, passively participated in activities speaking when called upon; came to class somewhat prepared.
UNSATISFACTORY: (0 points) Poor/rude/uncooperative attitude; did not pay active attention during class (i.e., sleeping, reading newspaper, talking about unrelated subjects, surfing online, Facebook, twittering, etc.); unprepared for class by either doing work assigned or did not bring the proper materials for class; used English, did not respond when called upon; inconsiderate of others (interrupts class, cell phone, etc.); absent.
(3) FINAL EXAM
Final Exam: The final exam, worth 10% of your final grade, will be comprehensive, ALL students, regardless of their average, MUST take the final exam. No expectations! If you do not take the final exam, you will receive a ZERO (0).
Extra credit: There will be an extra credit opportunity for each lesson. At the end of each week, your professor will email you a link to take a practice online test for each of the lessons we will cover. Each practice lesson test will consist of 50 multiple choice questions. As long as you complete it by 11 pm the evening of each exam, you will receive five extra credit points on that week’s lesson test.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Mid-term Progress Report: The mid-term grade in this course, which will be issued by September 28, reflects approximately 30% of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on October 7. Instructions for withdrawing are provided at this link.