DEPARTMENT OF MODERN & CLASSICAL LANGUAGES
/Course ID:NUSTESP SPA 103 (3 credit hours) / Course Name: Intermediate Spanish
High School: Holland Central
Instructor:Sra. Crowe / E-mail:
Office Hours:study halls and By appointment / Phone:716-537-8200 ext 7217
Office Location :Rm 217 / General Education Designation: AS
THIS NUSTEP COURSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO EARN CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT (HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE) CREDIT. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROGRAM
Department Mission Statement
The Mission of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages is to develop in all interested students the ability to communicate across national and cultural borders through linguistic proficiency and global awareness of other peoples and societies.
Course Description
In this first course of the Intermediate 103-104 sequence, students review and expand all communication skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) through grammar exercises and materials reflecting the history, literature, and cultures of the Hispanic world.
Method of Teaching
The class will be taught in Spanish, with emphasis on full emersion for Spanish language acquisition. Each aspect of grammar reviewed in class will be followed by exercises and activities in the classroom(again, speaking Spanish). These activities, along with cultural and literary readings, will help students practice with the grammar while improving their Spanish and learning about different aspects of Hispanic cultures. The nightly homework (2-3 hours for each class) --including reading and studying in the text, taking notes, and completing workbook exercises-- will complement that day’s lesson.
Department Objectives for the Spanish Major
Department Objectives for the Spanish Major:
Upon successful completion of all courses required for the Spanish major,
1. students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in oral communication in Spanish.
2. students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in written communication in Spanish, including
a. the ability to analyze a problem and synthesize a solution through appropriate research
b. the ability to integrate emerging technologies into research and communication.
c. the ability to demonstrate an understanding of core concepts and research methods.
3. students will demonstrate the ability to engage in critical thinking.
4. students will demonstrate a global awareness of the target culture's presence in the world.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
learning objective assessmentmajor objective
1. handle successfully, orally and in writing, mostexams; 1, 2, 3, 4
uncomplicated communicative tasks and socialsituations short papers;
dealing with: descriptions, perceptions, emotions, the family,class discussions;
relationships, immigration and exile;
2. initiate, sustain and close a general conversation in Spanishexams; 1, 3
with a number of strategies appropriate to a range of class discussions;
circumstances and topics;
3. meet most practical writing needs and limited socialexams; 2, 3, 4
demands, including the ability to describe and narrate in short papers
simple paragraphs, in the present, preterit and imperfect;
4. read consistently with full understanding of simple textsexams 3, 4
dealing with basic personal and social needs;class discussions
5. apply correctly, orally and in writing, all fundamentalexams; 2, 3
grammar points from SPA 101 through SPA 103 (page 9)short papers;
6. demonstrate continued progress in all of the above aspects,exams; 3, 4
as well as a developing understanding of the many differentshort papers;
Hispanic cultures through the literary and cultural readings.class discussions
Assessment (See “Major Assignments” for more detailed descriptions)
Participation:20%
Homework:20%
Compositions: 15%
Chapter Tests:15%
Midterm Exam:15%
Final Exam: 15%
Grade breakdown:Typical Characteristics to Achieve
100-98 (A+); 93-97.9 (A); 90-92.9 (A-);Student demonstrates extreme ability in TL
Student demonstrates outstanding effort and preparation of class content without exception.
88-89.9 (B+); 83-87.9 (B); 80-82.9 (B-); Student demonstrates excellent ability in TL.
Student comes in for extra help as needed and demonstrates excellent effort and preparation of class content.
78-79.9 (C+); 73-77.9 (C); 70-72.9 (C-); Student demonstrates ability in TL but does not always put in the extra effort and preparation for intermediate college level content. All assignments are turned in.
68-69.9 (D+); 63-67.9 (D); 60-62.9 (D-); Student struggles with TL.
Student chooses not to take advantage of help and support offered. Student often under prepares for class.
As student is underperforming, no credit will be earned from NU.
below 60 (F)Student does not work at college level in TL.
Student does not complete all assignments and/or makes use of online translators etc.
No credit earned from HCS or NU.
Requirements of Course
Textbooks
1) Pasajes(6thEdition)
Lengua Student Edition by Mary Lee Bretz, Trisha Dvorak, Carl Kirschner, RodneyBransdorfer
Paperback, 366 Pages, Published 2005 by Mcgraw-Hill Higher Education
ISBN-13:978-0-07-325497-5,ISBN:0-07-325497-5
2) Pasajes(6thEdition)
Cultura Student Editionby Mary Lee Bretz, Trisha Dvorak, Carl Kirschner, RodneyBransdorfer
Paperback, 366 Pages, Published 2005 by Mcgraw-Hill Higher Education
ISBN-13:978-0-07-325497-5,ISBN:0-07-325497-5
3)Pasajes(6thEdition)
Lituratura Student Editionby Mary Lee Bretz, Trisha Dvorak, Carl Kirschner, RodneyBransdorfer
Paperback, 366 Pages, Published 2005 by Mcgraw-Hill Higher Education
ISBN-13:978-0-07-325497-5,ISBN:0-07-325497-5
4) English Grammar for Students of Spanish, Ed. Emily Spinelli, Olivia and Hill Press, 2007.
ISBN: 0934034362
4) Cuaderno de Practica, Expresion Oral, Comprension, Composicion(6thEdition)
by Andrew S. Grove, Carl Kirschner, Mary Lee Bretz, RodneyBransdorfer, Trisha Dvorak
Paperback, 328 Pages, Published 2006 by Mcgraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Langua
ISBN-13:978-0-07-305174-1,ISBN:0-07-305174-8
Also Highly Recommended
5) Kendris, et al, 501 Spanish Verbs: With CD Rom. 6th Edition. Hauppage, NY: Barron’s Educational
Series, Inc., 2007. ISBN:0764179845
6)The Concise American Heritage Spanish Dictionary: Spanish/English – Inglés/Español.2nd
Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. ISBN: 0618117695
Major assignments
Participation in class discussions and activities, in Spanish,is the single most important aspect of the course, and this grade must be earned on a daily basis. English is not allowed unless permission is asked in Spanish, as one of our primary goals is for each student to improve his or her oral communication skills in Spanish. At the end of class each day, a participation grade will be given for each student based on the following: timely arrival to class, preparation for the day’s lesson/conscientious completion of homework, conscientious participation in Spanish in all activities, and contributing to a positive classroom atmosphere(late arrival to class, the refusal to participate in Spanish, disrupting the class in any manner, not paying attention, speaking while the professor is speaking to the class, being disrespectful, using a cell phone in any manner, sleeping, leaving class, packing up early, etc., will all result in a participation grade of half or zero for that day). Merely showing up for class does not give you full credit for this grade, rather it must be earned each day.
Students are expected to spend two to three hours on homework and studying for each class. Students will demonstrate in each class whether or not they have conscientiously completed the homework assignments. Homework will consist of: reading and studying in the text, taking notes on those readings, followed by written exercises in the workbook and completing tasks on MySpanishLab; grammar review; cultural and literary readings; compositions; and film viewings. Homework will be assigned at the end of each class, and is due at the beginning of the following class. In the event of an absence, students are still responsible for anything covered in that class, as well as that night’s homework assignment. Students must contact a fellow student to get that information and any photocopies.Late homework will not be accepted, no exceptions.
There will be two brief compositions of two versions each. I will mark the errors on the first version of each composition using abbreviations that will indicate the type of error made. Each essay is graded according to: (1) meeting minimal requirements: title, length, timely submission; (2) content: clarity and relevance to the thesis question; (3) organization: structured in a logical and coherent manner; (4) expression: verbal accuracy and use of Spanish structures; and (5) grammatical correctness, especially on certain featured grammar points. The second versions will be assessed differently, focusing on the corrections made to improve on the first version. Students must do their own work on these compositions, without the help of a native Spanish speaker or any sort of computer translator. However, I encourage that you help one another by proofreading each others’ papers whenever possible. Late compositions will receive a deduction of 10% for each class day it is late.
Exams: There will be fourchapter exams, a midterm anda final exam. The chapter exams will cover each chapter, but each exam will essentially be cumulative, including information from the previous chapters. The final exam is on all the material covered in chapters 1-6,the firsthalf of the Atando cabos text. Students will be expected to master allthe material covered, including all of the vocabulary, readings and grammar points. Students will also be expected to have memorized all verb forms covered, and they should be able to critically discuss any supplementalreadings and film viewings.
Binder/Folder: Students are strongly encouraged to keep an organized folder or binder for all materials for this class, with separate sections for writing assignments, study of vocabulary, grammar review, etc.
Attendance Policy
Attendanceis mandatory for this class, and the policy is intrinsically included in the participation grade; simply put, a participation grade cannot be earned without attending class.Furthermore, if a student has more than three unexcused absences, his or her final grade will be reduced by 5 % for each additional absence (for example, with 7 absences, the final grade will drop by 20%, which is two full letter grades).An absence is only considered excused if it is accompanied by a letter from the dean (for medical reasons or a family emergency), the department of athletics, or the department of theatre.In the event of any absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get the class notes and the homework assignment for the next class, including any photocopies, from a fellow student, not from the professor.
Essential Websites
[diccionario]
[preguntas de vocabulario/expresiones/gramática]
[práctica de gramática]
[pronunciación española]
[cultura]
digital en español]
[escuchar y leer noticias, práctica de gramática, y mucho más]
[Yahoo España]
[música]
[música]
[música, video, con letras]
[radio española]
[todo sobre el aprendizaje del español]
Outline of Course-
****Please note that we are offering SPA 103 as a full year course for Juniors. This may result in changes in syllabus as year goes on. This is a tentative schedule of major grammar and vocabulary topics covered. We will be adding cultural units and content.
Semana / EN LA CLASE1, 2, y 3 / Tipos y estereotipos (pp 4-39 Lengua)(pp 6-19 cultura)(pp6-27 Literatura)(pp 1-24 wkbk)
4 / Repaso Examen 1 – Capítulo 1
Examen 1 – Capítulo 1
Semanas
5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 / Capítulo 2 La comunidad humana (pp 40-75 Lengua)(pp20-37cultura)(pp28-41Literatura)(pp25-50 wkbk)
10 / Repaso Examen 2 – Capítulo 2
Examen 2 – Capítulo 2
semanas
11, 12, 13,14, 15 and 16 / Capítulo 3 Costumbres y tradiciones (pp 76-109Lengua)(pp 38-57 cultura)(42-55Literatura)(pp 51-71 wkbk)
17 / Repaso para el Examen Parcial – Capítulos 1-3
Repaso para el Examen Parcial – Capítulos 1-3
18 / el Examen Parcial – Capítulos 1-3
19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24 / Capítulo 4 La Familia (pp 110-137Lengua)(pp 358-81cultura)(56-73Literatura)(pp 73-94 wkbk)
25 / Repaso Examen 3 Capítulo 4
Examen 3 – Capítulo 4
26, 27, 28, 29, 30 / Capítulo 5 Geografía, demografía, tecnología. (pp 138-169Lengua)(pp 82-103 cultura)(74-93Literatura)(pp 95-122 wkbk)
31 / Repaso Examen 4- Capítulo 5
Examen 4 – Capítulo 5
32, 33,34,35,36 / Capítulo 6 El hombre y la mujer en el mundo actual (pp 170-195Lengua)(pp 104-125 cultura)(94-115Literatura)(pp 123-145 wkbk)
37 / Repaso examen final capítulos 1-6
38 / Examen final
Academic Integrity
Academic honesty – being honest and truthful in academic settings, especially in the communication and presentation of ideas – is required to experience and fulfill the mission of Niagara University. Academic dishonesty – being untruthful, deceptive, or dishonest in academic settings in any way – subverts the university mission, harms faculty and students, damages the reputation of the university, and diminishes public confidence in higher education.
All members of the university community share the responsibility for creating conditions that support academic integrity. Students must abstain from any violations of academic integrity and set examples for each other by assuming full responsibility for their academic and personal development, including informing themselves about and following the university's academic integrity policy.
Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to the following categories: cheating; plagiarism; fabrication; falsification or sabotage of research data; destruction or misuse of the university's academic resources, alteration or falsification of academic records; academic misconduct; complicity; and copyright violation. Use of an online translator is a violation of academic integrity .This policy applies to all courses, program requirements, and learning contexts in which academic credit is offered, including experiential and service-learning courses, study abroad programs, internships, student teaching and the like.
Please refer to the undergraduate catalogue for Niagara University’s policy on academic integrity or access the policy online,
Students with disabilities
Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of an evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible in the semester, preferably no later than the first week of the semester. Students must also register with Diane Stoelting, Coordinator, Disability Services (286-8076, ) in order to facilitate the provision of needed accommodations.
Counseling Services and Academic Support
The strains and workload of student life can sometimes feel overwhelming and it is easy to lose perspective when faced with academic, social, and personal demands. The staff of the office of counseling services in the lower level of Seton Hall and the Academic Support staff in the Learning Center in Seton Hall are here to help students manage the stresses of university life. All private consultations are confidential and free of charge. Appointment can be scheduled by calling 286-8536 (Counseling) or 286-8072 (Office of Academic Support).
Grammar Points to Be Mastered By the End of Each Level
SPA 101
1. Gender and number of nouns
2. Basic patterns of adjective agreement
3. All forms of the present indicative and uses of the verbsser and estar
4. Subject pronouns
5. All forms ofthe present indicative
6. Expressions with the verb tener
7. All forms and uses of the verbs saber and conocer
8. Direct objects, the personal “a”, and direct object pronouns
9. Interrogative words and the formation of yes/no questions
SPA 102
10. Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
11. Reflexive constructions: pronouns and verbs
12. Comparisons of equality and inequality; the superlative
13. The present progressive with the verb estar
14. All forms of the present indicative of the verbs decir and dar
15. Indirect objects and indirect object pronouns
16. Double object pronouns
17. Gustar and similar verbs
18. A basic understanding of the preterit and imperfect tenses
SPA 103
19.All forms of the preterite (regular and irregular)
20. The imperfect indicative
21. Preterite/Imperfect contrast
22. The verb hacer in expressions of time
23. No-fault se constructions
24. Por vs. para
25. The subjunctive mood: Concept; forms ofthe present subjunctive
26. Uses of the subjunctive in noun clauses: Persuasion, certainty versus doubt; emotion
27.Imperatives: Formal and informal direct commands
SPA 104
28. Impersonal se
29. Uses of the subjunctive: Noun clauses, adjective clauses, adverbial clauses
30. The imperfect subjunctive
31. Future and conditional
32. If clauses
33. The present perfectand the present perfect subjunctive
34. The pluperfect and the pluperfect subjunctive
35. The passive voice with ser and the passive se
36. The other perfect tenses
1