SPRING 2014 Dr. Fernández-Medina
Spanish 202 – Intermediate Spanish IISection 02: MWF 9-9:50 am Capers 215
Section 04: MWF 10-10-50 am
Office: Capers 234-C
Email:
Office Hours: MWF: ; or by appointment
Required Textbook:Mundo 21. 4th edition, Boston: Houghton Miffin, 2011.
Course Description:
This course provides a review of basic structures, expansion of patterns, vocabulary and idioms through discussion, reading and writing. Through comparative analysis of selected literary works, the course develops an awareness of cultural and literary contributions from the 21 Spanish speaking societies. The course is taught in Spanish with emphasis on conversation as a medium of expression.
Course objectives:
● To improve communication skills with practical purposes by reading, writing, and speaking in Spanish
● To interact with real information and situation about topics of global concern in Spanish
● To gain deeper understanding and appreciation for the Hispanic culture; and make comparisons and connections to the students´own.
Course components:
(1) Participation, Preparation and Homework (20%)
For the class to be successful for both the individual and for the group each person must be fully prepared for each class session and willing to participate in each day's activities. The degree to which one meets this goal determines a large percentage of the final grade. Students are also expected to complete successfully the homework assigned by the professor. This is essential in order to meet the course objectives. Less obvious but more important is the daily study of the textbook. Assigned pages should be studied carefully. Grammatical concepts should be understood and learned, new vocabulary should be memorized, and practice activities should be reviewed. Preparation is a component of homework. ¨Winging¨and ¨snowballing¨ the professor during the review of assignments will not be tolerated. If a student has not prepared the assignment, s/he must inform the professor as soon as s/he is called in order to minimize wasting everyone's time. A student who has ¨forgotten¨ his/her Spanish textbook will be required to retrieve them (despite weather conditions). The textbook must be brought to class everyday. If a student´s book is stolen or lost, it is the student´s responsibility to photocopy the pages needed for class. Failure to do so is noted as “unprepared”: class grade of 0.
(2) Quizzes (Pruebas) (15%): There will 3 quizzes based upon material covered in class. Each quiz will cover approximately the content of two chapters, and each quiz is of equal value (5%).
(3) Exams (30%): There will be 3 exams, each covering multiple chapters, and each one of equal value (11%). Absolutely no make-ups will be given unless a student provides an excuse, deemed acceptable by The Citadel’s handbook, to Prof. Fernandez-Medina within 24 hours (before or after the date in question) of the scheduled exam.
(4) Diario (10%): Students are expected to write at least one full page (hand written, double space, approximately 300 words) about the countries covered in class. Topics will be given in advance, and grades will be assigned based on critical thinking and thoroughness with which students write about the topic. Topics that are descriptive and not critical will receive grade 0.
(5) Oral Presentations (10%): Each student is expected to give one presentation during the semester. The presentation will be on a specific cultural aspect of a chosen country. Students must sign up for a specific day. Each student is encouraged to discuss with the professor, at least three weeks before, the aspects of the culture he/she wants to talk about. PowerPoint is acceptable, as long as it is put together by the student. Writing on PowerPoint should be in Spanish and limited to a few phrases. The student must deliver the presentation orally in front of the classroom (no reading will be allowed). It should last 10 minutes. Six days before the due date the student should send the PowerPoint presentation to the professor in order to receive suggestions. The student is responsible of sending the Power Point to all the students in the class one day before his/her presentation. If a student misses his/her scheduled presentation, he/she will receive a grade of zero. Use of electronic translators or help from tutors, friends, classmates, acquaintances, etc. is strictly prohibited.
(6) Final Exam (15%): The final exam is cumulative and must be taken on the day and time specified on the exam schedule with your professor’s class. End of the semester travel arrangements are never exceptions.
Course Policies:
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required in this and all other courses in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures. Unexcused absences will result in a much lowered grade for participation. One is allowed excused absences with prior approval of the professor for certain occasions (i.e. course field trips, intercollegiate sports activities, anticipated personal health needs and family emergencies). Conflicting assignments, non-essential appointments, oversleeping, and the like do not qualify as excusable absences.
Missed and Late Assignments: Work is due on specified dates at the time of class. Missed and late assignments will not be accepted
Handwriting: Students should use clear handwriting. Unclear handwriting will not be evaluated. Consequently, the student will receive grade 0
Extra help: If a student has conscientiously followed the study guidelines as presented by the professor, and s/he is dissatisfied with his/her performance, s/he is responsible for addressing possible solutions directly with Prof. Fernandez-Medina. Absolutely no extra-credit is admissible. If the student is investing the necessary time for the course, he/she should not have time to realize extra-curricular, course-related projects!
Class interruptions: It is prohibited, except for a dire emergency, to exit the class while in session. Rest room visits are not to take place during class time.
Food, Tobacco, Gum, Candy: Under no circumstances may a student use any tobacco products, chew gum, snack on hard candy or any foreign matter during the class period. Although this is already a college-wide policy at The Citadel, it is necessary for the unhampered production of the spoken, target language. The professor therefore reserves the right to dismiss any student who violates this rule.
Posture, Consciousness, General Behavior and Seating: Because of the rigors of The Citadel experience and the subsequent mental and physical fatigue that are ever present, it is critical that a student assist his/her focus during the class period by sitting upright with both feet firmly planted on the floor and hands off his/her face and head. All students must sit behind a desk that is occupied. Sleeping is prohibited. Students who repeatedly ignore these rules will be dismissed from class by the professor.
Cell Phone Policy: If the professor catches you using your cell phone during class, it will be confiscated and delivered to the Department Chair’s office (CA 232-A). The student in question will receive a zero for participation that day and a white slip will be sent to the Commandant’s Office. In other words, NO cell phones are permitted to be used in class.
Grade Scale:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59
Course Grade Percentages: Course Grade Distribution:
20% Attendance/Participation/Homework
30% Exams (3)
10% Short Essays (‘Diarios’)
15% Quizzes (3)
10% Oral Presentations
15% Final Exam
The professor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time in order to accommodate better the learning needs of the students. During any class period, the professor also reserves the right to dismiss any student whose behavior negatively affects the learning environment of the classroom. The professor will record cases of dismissal as an absence "A" for the student. By remaining enrolled in this class, the student agrees to read carefully and subsequently accepts the professor's policies as outlined in this document.
*If a student is unable to meet his/her professor during office hours, you might contact me by e-mail—Profesora Hellín checks her messages from Monday to Friday
Use of Tutors: Student tutors in Spanish are available for consultation and oral practice and all language students are strongly encouraged to make use of this resource. If one seeks help with an assignment from a tutor all parties must be certain that the help be only of an instructional or advisory nature. That is, simple correction of mistakes by that person would be considered a violation of an implicit honor code and would be inappropriate and unacceptable. Advice and instruction while guiding toward improvement are more appropriate activities to have with an assistant.
Plagiarism: Related to the cautions stated above in the paragraph "Use of Tutors" is the topic of plagiarism. In addition to the topics covered elsewhere, using on-line and other computer-mediated translators might be considered a variety of plagiarism.
CALENDAR for Span 202
ENERO
15 miércoles / Introducción al curso Presentación: Los chicanos
Los hispanos en EEUU
17 viernes / Los hispanos en EEUU Presentación: Newyoricans
20 lunes / Martin Luther King (No hay clase)
22 miércoles / Los hispanos en EEUU Presentación: La salsa
24 viernes / Puerto Rico Presentación: Fiestas y celebraciones
27 lunes / Puerto Rico Presentación: La independencia Puerto Riqueña
29 miércoles / Puerto Rico Presentación: La santería y otras religiones
31viernes / Quiz 1
España Presentación: Los Sanfermines
3 lunes / España Presentación: Situación económica
5 miércoles / España Presentación: Fiestas y celebraciones
7 viernes / España Presentación: Flamenco
10 lunes / España Presentación: Terrorismo ETA
12 miércoles / Examen 1
14 viernes / México Presentación: Situación económica
17 lunes / México Presentación: Fiestas y celebraciones
19 miércoles / México Presentación: Mujeres desaparecidas
21 viernes / México Presentación: Carteles
24 lunes / Quiz 2
Chile/Documental: Las madres de la Plaza de Mayo
Presentación: Las madres de la Plaza de Mayo
26 miércoles / Chile Presentación: Situación económica
28 viernes / Chile Presentación: Fiestas y celebraciones
MARZO
3 lunes / Argentina Presentación: Los gauchos
5 miércoles / Argentina Presentación: Fiestas y celebraciones
7 viernes / Argentina Presentación: El mate y el Tango
10 lunes / Examen 2
12 miércoles / Colombia Presentación: FARC y Paramilitares
14 viernes / Colombia Presentación: Fiestas y tradiciones
17 lunes / Colombia
19 miércoles / Quiz 3
Venezuela
21 viernes / Venezuela
24-28 / SPRING BREAK (No hay clase)
31 lunes / Cuba Presentación: Fidel Castro
ABRIL
2 miércoles / Cuba Presentación: Música, tradiciones y fiestas
4 viernes / Guatemala
7 lunes / Guatemala
9 miércoles / Republica Dominicana
11 viernes / Republica Dominicana
14 lunes / Examen 3
16 miércoles / Nicaragua
18 viernes / Nicaragua
21 lunes / El Salvador
23 miércoles / El Salvador
25 viernes / Honduras
28 lunes / Repaso para el examen final
EXAMEN FINAL
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