HU 3293: Level 2C - Composition and Conversation

HU 3293: Level 2C - Composition and Conversation

(Fall 2015)

Professor: Marcelino Viera-Ramos

E-mail:

Time/Room: T & Th9:35 am – 10:50 am / Fisher Hall 0127

Office Hours: by appointment (Walker 321)

Course Description and Objectives

¡Bienvenidos a español 3293! The Spanish Conversation course is designed to help you perfect your knowledge of Spanish language and culture. This will be accomplished with intensive practice in oral expression and conversation based on assigned literary and cultural readings and films, with frequent assignments of written exercises. This class accounts for the MTU’s general education Global Literacy learning goal. Link:

Listening and Viewing: To be able to understand the main ideas of most speech in a standard dialect in a variety of contexts and topics.

Speaking: To be able to satisfy the requirements of everyday situations and routine school and work activities. To be able to narrate and describe with some details, linking sentences together. To be able to communicate facts and talk casually about topics of current public and personal interest, using general vocabulary.

Reading: To be able to read somewhat longer prose of several paragraphs in length, particularly if presented with a clear underlying structure. To be able to interpret texts that include descriptions and narrations such as simple short stories, news items, bibliographical information, social notices, personal correspondence, and simple technical material written for the general reader.

Writing: To be able to write about a variety of topics and to describe and narrate personal experiences using different styles and formats and with having good control of the morphology and the most frequently used syntactic structures. To be able to evaluate their own work and apply self-correcting strategies in order to improve their writing process.

Culture: To demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices, products, and perspectives of the Hispanic culture (greetings, formal and informal ways to address people, schedule, dress code, and family structure). To demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the Hispanic culture (holidays, family structure, food, music, and other cultural practices).

I am deeply committed to facilitating your learning process, but you are responsible for your own success in HU 3293. You are expected to come prepared and attend class everyday, to turn in assignments on time, and to study at least 3 hours for every hour in class. If you are absent from class for any reason, you are responsible for keeping up with the calendars, reading your textbook, and completing your homework. If you have specific questions and/or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me.

Students who PLACE into this class will receive SIX placement credits for intermediate level IIB Spanish HU3292 and HU 2292 after successfully completing the course with B or better. Students may continue with third-and fourth-year language courses in Spanish and count this course work toward the general education distribution requirement (i.e. at least nine, and up to twelve credit hours) and also earn credits toward a Minor or International Minor in Spanish.

For information about Placement credits, Minors, and Certificates make an appointment with Leyre Alegre (), Spanish Advisor, who will help you in taking a route.

Required Course Materials

-Blanco, José. Revista. Conversación sin barreras. 4th. Ed. Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2014

You will have access to on-line materials through this book.

-Any good Spanish/English dictionary.

Note: the instructor will provide additional materials in class or via Canvas. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources of the Humanities Digital Media Zone (Walker 120) such as books, films, videos, CD-ROMS, and Spanish-language TV channels.

Grading Distribution and Scale:

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

1. Participation 20%
2. Homework and assignments 20%
3. Compositions 15%
4. Final Exam 15% Mid-Term 15%TOTAL 30%
5. Presentations 10%
6. Oral (Quizzes) 5%

Grading scale:

A 93-100 C 74-77

AB 89-92 CD 67-73

B 84-88 D 60-66

BC 78-83 F 0-59

1. Attendance Policy and Participation20%

Regular attendance and punctuality are crucial to your success in this class and will be reflected in your class participation grade. Your instructor will check attendance and punctuality daily.

You are only allowed TWO unexcused absences during the semester. Each unexcused absence will lower your final grade by 10%. If you miss 30% of class your final grade will be an F.

What is an excused absence?

An excused absence is one that is authorized in writing by a doctor, another instructor, a coach (for UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED events only), a program director, a supervisor, or the Dean of Students. An excused absence will not be assigned with a simple email message to me. No excused absence will be assigned for NON-UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED events. NOTE 1: If you have flu-like symptoms with fever, stay home! Consult with a physician before returning to class with your note in writing. NOTE 2: Only students who have excused absences are permitted to make up graded work. If you know in advance that you will not be able to attend class or complete a quiz or exam on the date specified, it is your responsibility to make prior arrangements with me to complete the required assignment or exam.

In addition to attending class regularly, your final participation grade will be assessed daily based on the following aspects:

1. Use of Spanish in class. It is essential that you make the effort to express yourself at all times in Spanish, this includes during group work and chatting with classmates at any time while in the classroom.

2. Willingness to volunteer in whole class activities and to participate andcooperate in pair and group work.

3. Level of preparedness. It is mandatory that you come to class on time and prepared, with assigned pages read in advance and assignments completed.

ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES such as laptops, cell phones, blackberries, IPods, etc., MUST BE TURNED OFF in the classroom unless otherwise authorized by the instructor.

1. Homework 20%

Homework will be assigned on a regular basis. The work you complete in this category will serve as an important learning tool to practice grammatical functions and new vocabulary as well as to evaluate your reading comprehension.

There will be two types of assignments: (1) those that can be done online at the course website, and (2) those that are assigned by your instructor. In order to do the activities online, go to: You must create an account and enroll in your instructor’s online section. IMPORTANT: In order to do the online activities, you must use a personal access code that is provided in your textbook.Your instructor will also assign activities that are not online.

1. Essays Compositions15%

The purpose of the compositions is to develop your writing skills and to help you reflect on the material presented in class.

1. Final Exam & Mid-Term30%

There will be two examsduring the semester, one mid-term and one final, based on the topics covered in class. Exams will normally require the full class period to complete.

1. Oral Presentation10%

Depending on class size, oral presentations will be done individually or in groups of 2. This oral exercise should last a minimum of 20 minutes and must be delivered in Spanish. In their presentations, students are expected to expand on the readings and/or major cultural topics discussed in class based on their particular interests and in consultation with the instructor. A written outline of the main points discussed is due the day of the presentation.

1. Oral Quizzes5%

Each Unit has an Oral test you will have to record on-line. Deadlines are indicated in the syllabus and this is a take-home-activity.

Grading Policy

Late homework and assignments, without a valid excuse, will not be accepted.

Other important information

Academic integrity

Students suspected of cheating, plagiarism, or aiding others in dishonest academicbehavior can receive sanctions ranging from warning to special failing grade to expulsionfrom the university depending on the severity of the offence. Cases of plagiarism will bebrought to the Dean of Student’s Office. You are responsible for reading and understanding the Michigan Tech’s academic integrity policy at

***MTU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regardingdiscrimination, including the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA). If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to educational services at MTU, please call Dr. Gloria Melton, Associate Dean of Students, (2212). For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department head, or the Affirmative Action Office (3310). ***This syllabus is subject to change at any time for pedagogical research.

Student work products (exams, essays, projects, etc.) may be used for purposes of university, program, or course assessment. All work used for assessment purposes will not include any individual student identification.

HDMZ: The Humanities Digital Media Zone (Walker 120)

The Humanities Digital Media Zone (HDMZ) is available to Modern Language students for a variety of resources.

Student consultants who are able to help you with your Spanish homework and activities are identified on the consultant schedule, available at:

Feel free to drop by and ask them for help. Any consultant can help you check out materials and the general hours are available at this site as well.

There are also other resources available to you such as DVDs, Spanish-language games, and Dictionaries that you can check out and use in the HDMZ. If your instructor is offering you credit for doing work in the HDMZ, please ask a consultant for a sign-in sheet for your class and sign in and out. You'll be asked to provide your language, instructor, course number, and a brief description of what you worked on.

La Peña, the Spanish language conversation and activity hour, is also held in the HDMZ. Look for announcements about dates and time from your instructor.

Please note:You are automatically charged a lab fee upon registration for a language class! Put this money to good use by taking full advantage of the Spanish consultants, state-of-the art equipment, and varied materials available in the HDMZ.

Tentative schedule

TRABAJO EN CLASE

Septiembre
Semana 1
Martes 01 / Introducción al curso
Jueves 03 /

Lección 1

Cortometraje: Viaje a Marte
Semana 2
Martes 08 / Lectura: Celebración de la fantasía
(Los verbos ser y estar)
Jueves 10 /

Lectura: El otro círculo

(Las preposiciones)
(oral test 1 deadline Domingo)
Semana 3
Martes 15 /

Lectura: La poesía al alcance de los niños

Tira cómica: Viaje especial
Composición 1
Jueves 17 / Lección 2
Cortometraje: Diez minutos
(Narración en el pasado I)
Semana 4
Martes 22 / Lectura: Las cuatro formas científicas de la felicidad.
(Narración en el pasado II)
Jueves 24 / Lectura: Tres microcuentos de Carmen Cecilia Suárez
Lectura: No hay que complicar la felicidad
Semana 5
Martes 29 / Lección 3
Cortometraje: Nada que perder
(Pronombres de objeto directo e indirecto)
Octubre
Jueves 1 / Lectura: Tengo un carácter fuerte y me gusta que me desafíen
(Adjetivos)
(oral test 2 deadline Domingo)
Composición 2
Semana 6
Martes 06 / Lectura: Cara y cruz de las tecnologías de la información
Jueves 08 / Lectura: Cine Prado
Semana 7
Martes 13 / Lección 4
Cortometraje: El ojo en la nuca
Jueves 15 / Lectura: La tortilla
(El subjuntivo I)
Composición 3
Semana 8
Martes 20 / Lectura: Carta abierta a mi nieto
(Pronombres relativos)
Jueves 22 / Lectura: Oda a un millonario muerto
Tira cómica: Inseguridad
(oral test 3 deadline Domingo)
Semana 9
Martes 27 / Composición 4
Prepararse para el MID-TERM EXAM
Jueves 29 / MID-TERM EXAM
Noviembre
Semana 10
Martes 03 / Lección 5

Cortometraje: La Aventura de Rosa

Jueves 05 / Lectura: Drácula y los niños
(oral test 4 deadline Domingo)
(subjuntivo II)
Semana 11
Martes 10 / Lectura: Lo que dure el amor

(Usos del “se”)

Jueves 12 / Lectura: Cine y malabarismo
Tira cómica: ¡Alerta roja!
(Usos de se I)
Composición 5
Semana 12
Martes 17 / Lección 6
Cortometraje: Ella o yo
(Oraciones condicionales con si)
Jueves 19 / Lectura: Ni coja ni madre
(oral test 5 deadline Domingo)
Semana 13
Martes 24 / Thanksgiving
Jueves 26 / Thanksgiving
Diciembre
Semana 14
Martes 1 / Lectura: Padre, papá, papi
Lectura: Dos vidas
(Usos de se II)
Jueves 3 / Presentaciones orales
(oral test 6 deadline Domingo)
Composición 6
Semana 15
Martes 8 / Repaso y conclusiones
Jueves 10 / Segundo Examen

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