SPANISH 101: Elementary Spanish I

Section F01-Spring 2013

Mon & Wed 3:30-4:30 GRUE 206

Tues & Thurs 3:40-5:10 GRUE 204

Instructor: Michael McGillEmail:

Office: Gruening 606D Office phone: 474-5725

Office hours: MW 1:00-2:00

TR 1:15-2:15

COURSE MATERIALS

Required text and code:

Blanco, J.A., & Donley, P. R. (2012). Panorama: Introducción a la lengua española, Fourth Edition. Boston: Vista Publishers.

Maestro Web-SAM code (Supersite Plus code) is REQUIRED for this course. One copy of the textbook and a hard copy of the workbook are on e-reserve in the library. ERes:

Recommended :

Spanish-English dictionary (book form).

DESCRIPTION

¡Bienvenidos a Español 101 (Elementary Spanish I)! This course is designed for students who have never had previous instruction in Spanish (or minimal instruction). This semester we will focus on: basic vocabulary and grammar, speaking and pronunciation, listening and reading practice, and confidence-building in the use of Spanish in everyday situations in a comfortable environment.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Course goals
  • Build a solid foundation of Spanish grammar/vocabulary for real communicative purposes
  • Provide the opportunity for students to interact and use their Spanish
  • Improve listening and reading skills

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to describe their daily lives in Spanish
  • Students will be able to sustain a basic conversation in Spanish about a variety of topics
  • Students will be able to comfortably use both the present and past tenses in speech, writing and reading

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

This is a communicative language class, and as such, there will not be a significant element of lecture. Rather the instructor will act principally as a resource, and as a facilitator of interaction. There will be whole class interaction, small group interaction, and pair work. There may also occasionally be some (educational) games, films and music.

Language Lab. Gruening 609, hours TBA. There are computers with internet and printing access available for foreign language students. In addition there are language-specific tutors who can help you with your work, or act as conversation partners.

COURSE POLICIES

Student responsibilities
  • Preparation. Students must come prepared for every class. Your preparation will have a direct effect on your participation. Due to the intensive nature of this course, you will be expected to study two hours OUTSIDE of class for every one hour of class time (10 hours per week).This time should include daily practice of current material through the online workbook exercises, and previewing the material for the next class.
  • Attendance and participation. In-class interaction is required. Missed class: if you miss class, it is YOUR responsibility to check with the instructor or a classmate to see if you missed any assignment or schedule change. Attendance is taken daily. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you are considered absent.

Appropriate class behavior. You are welcome to bring a drink or snack to class, as long as you clean up after yourself. Side conversations are not acceptable. I expect you to be courteous to classmates and the instructor at all times. Cell phones must be turned off. Making and receiving cell phone calls, texting, or using other social media during class will result in a reduction orloss of that day's participation points. Class is for enrolled students only, so please don't bring friends, partners, or children to class, unless a prior arrangement has been made.

Tobacco policy: tobacco products of any type are not allowed in the classroom.

Students with disabilities. UAF makes appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities who have been documented by the Office of Disability Services (203 Whitaker Building, 474-7043). Students with learning or other disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to make an appointment to obtain the appropriate documentation if they do not have it. Please meet with me during office hours so that I can collaborate with the Office of Disability Services to provide the appropriate accommodations and support to assist you in meeting the goals of the course.

Student support services. UAF is committed to equal opportunity for all students. Students who are the first in their families to attempt a four-year college degree, or students whose incomes are low, have opportunities for tutorial and other forms of support from the office of Student Support Services.Please make an appointment with Student Support Services at 474-2644.

Student code of conduct. As a UAF student, you are subject to UAF's Honor Code:

"Students will not collaborate on any quizzes, in-class exams, or take-home exams that will contribute to their grade in a course, unless permission is granted by the instructor of the course. Only those materials permitted by the instructor may be used to assist in quizzes and examinations.

Violations of the Honor Code will result in a failing grade for the assignment and, ordinarily, for the course in which the violation occurred. Moreover, violation of the Honor Code may result in suspension or expulsion."

EVALUATION

To measure the expected learning outcomes, we will use the following resources:

A. Participation

Learning a language is not done in isolation. Speaking, listening, and interacting with others are essential parts of the learning process. Therefore you will be graded on your classroom performance—not on whether you get the right answer, but on whether you are in class, with your materials, prepared and willing to speak. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that you cannot participate if you are not present. You will be allowed 5 “free” absences before your grade will be affected. Each absence beyond 5 will detract from yourfinal grade. Missing 23 hours of class or more will result in an automatic “F”.

Standard Absence Policy for All Spanish Classes:

Number of Allowable Absences and Amount Grade is Lowered for Excessive Absences

3 credit classes / 5 credit classes
total # of contact hours in semester / 42 hrs / 70 hrs
# of hrs must be present to pass (2/3 of semester) / 28 hrs / 47 hrs
# of hrs absent that results
in an F (1/3 of semester) / miss > 14 hrs / miss > 23 hrs
How often class meets / 1 day/wk / 2 days/wk / 3 days/wk / 2 days/wk / 4 days/wk
# of missed days allowed / 1 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 5
% that final grade is lowered for each add. absence
(-1% for ea. hour missed) / 3% / 1.5% / 1% / 2.5% / 1% or 1.5%

B. Weekly quizzes

We will have a weekly ten-minute quiz, typically at the end of Thursday's class, covering new grammar and vocabulary. These will be multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching type questions. You may not make up the quizzes, but the two lowest grades will be dropped.

C. Tests

There is a test after chapters 1-6. Chapter 7 test will be a take-home, due on the last day of class. Each chapter exam will also have a graded oral component. Exams may not be made up without advance accommodation. This does not mean you e-mail and tell me you can't make it to class.

The final will be comprehensive, but more heavily weighted on chapters 4-7.

D. Homework

Your written homework assignments will be done online through the Panorama website: You should have received a Web-SAM code with your textbook when you purchased it. You will need to activate your code and register online for the class. Be sure that you register for the correct section for this class-F01. I have attached printed instructions for registering on the site. If either you do not have a computer at home or your computer does not have the capability to do the workbook, you may use the computers in the Language Lab. (GRUE 609). Homework is due on the Sunday prior to the Monday exam for each chapter (dates listed in calendar below). Late homework will not be accepted.

E. Oral Exams

As part of each chapter test,studentswill be expected to answer simple questions using that chapter's themes, grammar structures, and vocabulary. Additionally, there will be an oral final in my office on May 6,which may not be made up. The oral exams are 10% of your chapter test grades and 20% of your final exam grades.

F. Final Exam: The final will be comprehensive, though weighted more heavily on the last few chapters.

Components of the final grade and weight by percentage

Participation25%

Homework (Web-SAM)25%

Weekly quizzes10%

Chapter tests30%

Final exam10%

Departmental grading scale

A+97-100
A93-96
A-90-92
/ B+87-89
B83-86
B-80-82
/
C+77-79
C73-76
C-70-72
/
D+67-69
D63-66
D-60-62
/
F0-59

Drop dates:

February 1 is the last day to drop a course, receive 100% refund of tuition and fees and not have it appear on your academic record.

March 21 is the last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade on record.

Class Schedule, Quiz & Test dates (may be amended if needed).

I will pass out a chapter schedule of specific dates/topics covered before each new chapter, as well as the exercises to be completed online.

1/17: Introduction and syllabus review

1/21- Alaska Civil Rights Day- no class

1/22-1/31 Chapter 1

1/24: Quiz

1/31: Quiz

2/3: Ch. 1 Web-Sam exercises due. Even though the site says the deadline is midnight of the given due date, students have been cut off on the site about two hours prior to that, so do not wait until the last minute to finish!

2/4: Chapter 1 test

2/5-2/14:Chapter 2

2/7: Quiz

2/14: Quiz

2/17: Ch.2 Web-SAM due

2/18: Chapter 2 test

2/19-2/28:Chapter 3

2/21: Quiz

2/28: Quiz

3/3: Web-SAM due

3/4: Chapter 3 test

3/5-3/21:Chapter 4

3/7: Quiz

March 11 -15 Spring Break- no classes.

3/21: Quiz

3/24: Web-SAM due

3/25: Chapter 4 test

3/26-4/4: Chapter 5

3/28: Quiz

4/4: Quiz

4/7: Web-SAM due

4/8 : Chapter 5 test

4/9-4/18: Chapter 6Topics for oral finals will be given out , time slots chosen.

4/11 Quiz

4/18- Quiz

4/21:Web-SAM due

4/22: Chapter 6 test

4/23-5/2: Chapter 7

4/25: Quiz

4/27: Review for final exam. Ch 7 test given as a take-home. It is due when you come in for your oral final, or placed in my mailbox prior to that.

5/5: Web-SAM due

5/6: Oral finals on prepared topics in GRUE 606D

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 3:15-5:15

Setting up your PANORAMA Supersite account and enrolling in your Instructor's course. In order to see and submit your assignmentsyou will need to set up an account on the PANORAMA Supersite, and then enroll as a registered student in your instructor's course.

Step 1 - Go to VHLCentral

To begin, go to vhlcentral.com (the link will open in a new window).

Step 2 - Create an Account

  • In the "Login Information" section of the account creation page, enter a username of your choice.
  • Enter the email address you would like to associate with your account.
  • Enter and confirm a password of your choice.
  • In the "Personal Profile" section, enter your first and last name as you wish them to appear in your Instructor's roster.
  • Select the year of your birth from the drop down list.
  • Enter a student ID (optional).
  • In the "Security Information" section, you will provide the answer to a secret question, which may later be used to help you access your account if you forget your password.
  • After you enter all of the information, click "create an account."
  • Click "agree." (Before your account is created, you must agree to the terms and conditions of use policy.)

Step 3 - Activate Code

  • On the code activation screen, enter your Supersite code.
  • Click "activate code" to continue.
  • Look for a flash alert confirming that the code was successfully redeemed.

Step 4 - Select a School

Locate your school by typing your school’s name. To narrow the search results, include the city and state (or country, if outside of the USA) in which your school is located.

  • Click "find." If the terms you entered did not result in a successful search, follow the on-screen tips to revise your search.
  • Select your school from the list by clicking the radio button next to the school name.
  • Click "select school" to add the school to your account.
  • Look for a flash alert confirming you successfully added the school.

Step 5 - Select a Course/Class

  • From the list of available classes at your school for your textbook's Supersite, look for Instructor "McGill, Michael" and the course "Spanish 101" taught between January 17, 2013 and May 10, 2013.
  • Click the radio button for the course section "Section 01." If more than one class is listed for your Instructor, click the information icons in the class listings until you locate the section.
  • Click Save. You should see a confirmation that you successfully enrolled in your instructor's course.

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