SPRING 2018

Brandeis University

HISP 32: Intermediate Spanish Conversation.

Instructor:Mary Burstin

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursdays 2:00 -3:00PM.and by appointment.

Office: Rab 318

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
  1. María González-Aguilar, Marta Rosso-O’Laughlin. Atando CabosFifthedition.

  1. Viajes fantásticos: El último sol.

Intermediate Spanish Conversationis a course designed to help students achieve a higher proficiency level within the intermediate range. One of the main goals in the course is to increase fluency in communication. Through a variety of media and cultural and literary readings related to the culture of Spanish-speaking countries and Latin@s in the United States, class work will provide many opportunities for students to continue to develop the four skills –speaking, writing, listening and reading- in meaningful contexts to communicate specific language functions (*). A review of the grammar previously learned in elementary courses will enhance the students’ accuracy when using the language. New grammatical structures -the subjunctive, the future tense, the present perfect and the conditional will be introduced.

Success in this 4 credit hour course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 8 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, papers, films, homework, discussion sections, preparation for exams, etc.).

Course goals. HISP32 aims to:

- bring students to a higher language proficiency level.

- help students attain a higher cultural competence and understanding.

- strengthen the students’ ability to communicate effectively in Spanish.

- increase the student’s fluency and grammatical accuracy.

- review and expand the vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to perform specific language functions.

- help students achieve more cohesion in writing.

Learning outcomes. By the end of this course, students will be able to:

- function in Spanish at a higher level within the intermediate proficiency range.

- express their thoughts with more confidence in a variety of familiar topics.

- narrate events and experiences with a wider range of vocabulary.

- initiate, maintain and finish conversations of simple and familiar topics.

- write on a variety of familiar topics in a generally organized way.

- understand and interpret the main idea in written texts.

- understand the culture of various Spanish-speaking countries and communities.

(*) Language functionstargeted in HISP32

  • Describe people and places.
  • Narratepastevents.
  • Talk about daily activities.
  • Describe relationships.
  • Express agreement or disagreement
  • Compare and contrast.
  • Talk about preferences/likes and dislikes.
  • Ask questions.
  • Give orders.
  • Express opinions, wishes, emotions and feelings.
  • Make suggestions/recommendations.
  • Express doubt or certainty.
  • Make hypotheses.
  • Talkaboutfutureactivities.

Grading:

  1. Attendance, participation, preparation, and contribution to class 10%
  2. Group presentations 5%
  3. Short in-class written reactions 10%
  4. Compositions (2) 10%
  5. Quizzes 10%
  6. Exams (2) 20%
  7. Individual presentation 10%
  8. Final oral evaluation 10%
  9. Final exam 15%

Please be advised that I will not discuss grade related issues via email. If you have questions regarding your grades, make an appointment to meet during office hours.

Make-up evaluation policy: you will be allowed to make up one evaluation in case of sickness or other properly excused reason.

Grading scale:

94-100 = A 74-76 = C

90-93 = A- 70-73 = C-

87-89= B+ 67-69 = D+

84-86 = B 64-66 = D

80-83 = B- 60-63 = D-

77-79 = C+ 59 and below = F

Course Policies:

Attendance and participation:Attendance is crucial to language acquisition. If you miss classes, you will not be able to participate. If you do not participate, your skills will not improve. Your participation grade will be based on the quality and frequency of your participation in Spanish in class activities and discussions. You may miss 4 classes throughout the semester. If you miss more than 4 classes, excused or not, your grade will be lowered by 1/2 point letter grade for each additional absence.Your absences and tardiness will also have a negative impact upon your class participation grade.

8 or more absences will result in an F.
3 times late = 1 absence

.

Homeworkwill be posted on LATTE daily. You must complete the homework in order to be able to participate in class and continue to make progress in the language.

Exams and quizzes:

-Two quizzes that will assess vocabulary, listening comprehension and reading comprehension.

-Two exams that will assess vocabulary, grammar (language functions) and writing.

-A final exam will assess listening comprehension, reading section, vocabulary, grammar (language functions) and writing.

Specific guidelines about the topics/content, format and evaluation criteria will be provided by your instructor in due time.

Oral evaluations:Specific guidelines about the topics and evaluation criteria for the oral evaluations will be provided by your instructor in due time.

Writing: Students will write two compositions during class time. The first composition will have a rewrite option. The second composition will not have a rewrite option. Specific guidelines about the topics and evaluation criteria will be provided by your instructor in due time.

Students will write 4 short reactions throughout the semester.

Late work, if accepted, will not receive full credit.

If you are an athlete and need to be excused for competition, your coach must provide the dates when you will be absent. You are responsible for keeping up with the class material.

academic integrity:All students are responsible for following the university guidelines regarding academic honesty:

Academic integrity is central to the mission of educational excellence at Brandeis University. Each student is expected to turn in work completed independently, except when assignments specifically authorize collaborative effort. It is not acceptable to use the words or ideas of another person—whether that be a world-class philosopher or those of your classmate—without proper acknowledgement of that source. This means you must use notes and quotation marks to indicate the source of any phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or ideas found in published volumes, on the internet, or created by another person.

Violation of University policies on academic integrity, described in Section 3 of Rights and Responsibilities, may result in failure on the assignment or failure in the course, and could even end in suspension from the University. Remember that tutors or study leaders, including those sanctioned by Brandeis University, are not authorized to complete homework or any other assignments for you. If you have questions about the type of help you can receive, please ask your professor before you receive help.

If you are working in a group that I authorized, I will expect your answers to resemble those of your partners. Otherwise, I expect you to do your work separately from your friends, classmates, family members, tutors, and so on. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask your professor before you receive help.

notice to students with disabilities:If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see the professor immediately. Retroactive accommodations cannot be provided.

Study abroad:You are highly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad to continue to improve your skills, and broaden your knowledge of the culture of Hispanic countries; for more specific information, please contact the Office of Study Abroad: 169 Usdan Student Center, tel.781-736-3483.

Representatives:

Scott van der Meid () Director of Study Abroad

Darren Gallant () Assistant Director of Study Abroad

Alisha Cardwell (), Study Abroad Advisor

Additional help:The Brandeis University Group Study (B.U.G.S.) offers students free language practice outside of class. Take advantage of this service. The group study leader will be Caroline Kriesen, nd her hours for Spanish will be announced in class and available at the B.U.G.S. website. The Office of Student Enrichment Services is in Usdan Student Center 130.

-Programa de clase semanal-

Semana #1: enero 10-11

Miércoles10

Clase 1Introducción al curso. Presentaciones y expectativas.

Jueves 11

Clase 2Capítulo 1,Hablemos de nosotros.

La descripción. Palabras descriptivas

Ser y estar.

El presente indicativo, pp. 14-16

Semana #2: enero 15-18

Lunes 15Martin Luther King day: No university exercises

Martes 16

Clase 3Capítulo 1,Hablemos de nosotros.

La descripción. Adjetivos descriptivos

Ser y estar, pp. 18-19;

El presente indicativo, pp. 14-16

Miércoles 17

Clase 4 Capítulo 1, Hablemos de nosotros.

La descripción

Lectura: Amistad

Jueves 18

Clase 5 La familia española de hoy

La descripción. Ser y estar.

Reciprocalactions p.388

Semana #3: enero 22-25

Lunes 22

Clase 6 Capítulo 2, Hablemos de viajes.

Verbslike gustar p.381-391

Viaja más (Video youtube)

Martes 23

Clase 7Capítulo 2, Hablemos de viajes.

En contexto:Un viaje por Latinoamérica: pp. 32-33

Narración: Pretérito: Repasemos 1, Preterite, pp.379-382

Miércoles 24

Clase 8: Capítulo 2, Hablemos de viajes.

El imperfecto, pp. 379-382

Repasemos 2, Hace withpreterite to express 'ago', p. 383

Jueves 25

Clase 9Capítulo 2, Hablemos de viajes.

Repasemos 3, Imperfect, p. 44, Cs, pp. 378-380.

Semana #4: enero 29 - febrero 1

Lunes29

Clase 10Capítulo 2, Hablemos de viajes.

La narración.

Verbs that change meaning in the preterite, pp. 50-51.

*Organizar Skits

Martes 30

Clase 11 ** Prueba #1

Miércoles 31

Clase 12 Capítulo 3, La interculturalidad.

En contexto:Romper las barreras interculturales p. 64

Jueves 1 de febrero

Clase 13Ventana al Mundo, p.68: “La población de los EE.UU.”

Ventana al Mundo, p.83:” Los chicanos”

Comparar y Contrastar

Aprendamos 1, Comparisons of inequality, pp. 77

Aprendamos 2, Comparisons of equality, pp. 80-81.

*Mira la película en LATTE: María llena eres de gracia.

*Prepara las actividades asignadas. Para el jueves 8 de febrero

Semana#5: Febrero 5 - 8

Lunes 5

Clase 14Capítulo 3, La interculturalidad.

Lectura:No Speak English. Sandra Cisneros. Vocabulario y comprensión.

Hablar de las actividades diarias y las relaciones personales:

ReflexiveVerbs, p. 386-387

Martes 6

Clase 15Lectura:No Speak English. Sandra Cisneros. Discusión.

Ventana al Mundo, P.71”Las remesas”

Video, YouTube:”Las remesas en cifras”

Miércoles 7

Clase 16Capítulo 3, La interculturalidad.

La narración: Thepresentperfect

Jueves 8

Clase 17*Actividades: película: María llena de gracia eres

Semana#6: febrero 12 – 15

Lunes 12

Clase 18Asignar Composición#1 (entregar después del receso febrero 26)

Skits

Martes 13

Clase 19Skits

Miércoles 14

Clase 20 Repaso para el examen #1

Jueves 15

Clase 21 ** Examen #1

Semana#7:

Midtermrecess: febrero 19 - 23

______

Semana #8: febrero 26 – 28

Lunes 26

Clase 22 Capítulo 4, Hablemos de donde vivimos

En contexto: El Congreso de Protección del Medio Ambiente, pp. 96

Martes 27

Clase 23 Capítulo 4, Hablemos de donde vivimos

Repasemos 2, Direct Object Pronouns, pp. 104-106, Cs, pp. 392

Ventana al mundo, p. 105, "Costa Rica".

Video-YouTube –Costa Rica TravelGuide

Miércoles 28

Clase 24 Capítulo 4, Hablemos de donde vivimos

Repasemos 1, The personal a,p. 103, Cs, pp. 391--392

Repasemos 2, Indirect Object Pronouns, Cs, pp. 394-395;

Ventana al mundo, p.107,”las islas Galápagos”

Jueves 1 de marzo

Clase 25Ventana al mundo”Energíaaalternatina o verde”

Aprendamos 1, Double Object Pronouns, pp. 109-110.

Semana #9: marzo 5 - 8

Lunes 5

Clase 26Ventana al mundo, p. 116, "México, y el medio ambiente."

Aprendamos 3, Por vs. Para, pp. 114-116;

Martes 6

Clase 27Lectura: “Nuestra huella ecológica”pp.120-122

Los usos de Por vs. Para, pp. 114-116

Miércoles 7

Clase 28Capítulo 5, Hablemos de los derechos humanos

En contexto: La importancia de la tierra,pp. 128

PresentSubjunctive of regular verbs, pp. 137-138; Cs, pp. 396-397;

Jueves 8

Clase 29Prueba#2

Semana #10: marzo12 - 15

Lunes 12

Clase 30Capítulo 5, Hablemos de los derechos humanos

En contexto: La importancia de la tierra,pp. 128

PresentSubjunctive of regular verbs, pp. 137-138; Cs, pp. 396-397;

Martes 13

Clase 31 Capítulo 5, En contexto: La importancia de la tierra,pp. 127-129

PresentSubjunctive of regular verbs, pp. 137-138; Cs, pp. 396-397;

PresentSubjunctive of irregular verbs, p. 139; Cs, pp. 398-399.

Miércoles 14

Clase 32 Capítulo 5, En contexto: La importancia de la tierra,pp. 127-129

Ventana al Mundo, p. 131: “La Pachamama.”
PresentSubjunctive of irregular verbs, p. 138; Cs, pp. 395-397.

Repasemos 3, Present Subjunctive after impersonal expressions, pp.139-140; Cs.400-401

Jueves 15

Clase 33 Ventana al Mundo, p.136:El pueblo quiché

Canción: Latinoamérica. Calle 13 (Puerto Rico)

Expressing feelings and emotions: Subjunctive, p.141

*Asignar película “La historia oficial” para EL miércoles 21 de marzo.

Semana #11: marzo19 - 22

Lunes 19

Clase 34 Hablemos de los derechos humanos

Ventana al Mundo, p138,”Declaración de los derechos humanos”

Así se dice, p.135: “Cómo influir y convencer a otros”

Aprendamos 2, Giving advice, suggesting, requesting: Subjunctive in noun clauses, pp. 142-144.

Martes 20

Clase 35 Future tense, .Cs p.409-410

Expressing doubt, denial, and uncertainity: Subjunctive, pp142-143

Miércoles 21

Clase 36 Ppelícula: “La historia oficial

Jueves 22Ppelícula: “La historia oficial

Clase 37 *Asignar composición #2 para el lunes 26

Semana #12: marzo26 - 29

Lunes 26

Clase 38 Composición #2

Empezamos Novela: “El último sol”

Martes 27

Clase 39El último sol

Miércoles 28

Clase 40 El último sol

Jueves 29

Clase 41*Examen#2

Passover and spring recess: No university exercises

Marzo 30 – abril 6

______

Semana #14: abril 9- 12

Lunes 9

Clase 42El condicional

El último sol

Martes 10

Clase 43 El último sol

Miércoles 11

Clase 44 El último sol.

Jueves 12

Clase 45 El último sol.

Semana #15: abril 16 -19

Lunes 16

Clase 46El último sol.

Martes17

Clase 47El último sol.

Miércoles 18

Clase 48 El último sol. Evaluaciones orales

Jueves 19

Clase 49*Final exam – onlythelisteningcomprehensionsection

Semana #16: abril 23 -26

Lunes 23Evaluaciones orales

Martes 24Evaluaciones orales

Miércoles 25 Brandeis Friday

Jueves 26 Evaluaciones orales

Viernes 27Studyday

Lunes 30Final examination period