Universitat Pompeu Fabra Course Descriptions

Universitat Pompeu Fabra Course Descriptions

Description of Spanish Language, Beginner Level

1. Characteristics of this Course

INTENSIVE COURSE = MODULE I

GENERAL LANGUAGE COURSE = MODULE II

The beginner level course is based on an integrated development of the fundamental linguistic skills: oral and reading comprehension, written and oral expression. In this way, we will emphasize the teaching of vocabulary and grammar, while always responding to the academic and communicative needs of the students.

The beginner level course has 90 contact hours total and is equivalent to 6 credits. Module I is the Intensive Course and has 45 contact hours, or 3 credits. Module I is 15 days long, during which students have class Monday through Friday. After the Intensive Course, students will go on to Module II, which is the general Spanish Language course. Module II also has 45 contact hours, or 3 credits. Module II lasts for 12 weeks and is not as intensive as Module I, as students meet just twice a week.

1. Prerequisites

In order to continue with Module II, you must have completed Module I at least at the beginner level. There will be a placement exam given at the beginning of the course.

1. Assignments and Homework

Students will gain the most from this course through regular class attendance and class participation. Students are encouraged to spend at least ½ hour per day studying for class. During this time, professors will give assignments, tests and a final exam.

1. Grading System

20%Homework

10% Punctuality and class participation

15% Test 1

15% Test 2

15% Test 3

25% Final Exam

During the duration of the course, the professor will expect a minimum of 6 assignments to be turned in by each student. These can be a variety of things: compositions, activities completed in class, quizzes, oral presentations, group work, etc.

Punctuality and class participation are both very important for all students. These also count toward your final grade. After each class session, the professor will give each student a class participation grade from 0 – 5 points. The following criteria will apply:

Excellent = 5 points

Student is punctual.

Student speaks only Spanish during the entire class and during group activities.

Student participates in class discussion and answers questions in class.

Student participates in all activities, shows initiative and a positive attitude, contributing to group communication.

Student actively participates in group activities.

Good = 4 points

Student is less than 5 minutes late for class.

Student speaks mostly Spanish during class, using English only rarely during group activities.

Student’s participation is limited to sometimes answering questions during class.

Student participates in all activities and normally shows initiative.

If the student is not actively participating, he/she listens closely to the class discussion and other students.

Fair = 3 points

Student is less than 5 minutes late for class.

Student speaks mostly Spanish during class, using English during group activities.

Student’s participation is limited to sometimes answering questions during class.

Student participates in all activities and normally shows initiative.

Student generally listens closely to class discussion.

Poor = 0 points

Student does not attend class or arrives more than 5 minutes late.

Student speaks mostly in English with the professor and with classmates.

Student does not participate in class discussion.

Student does not participate in group activities.

Student does not pay attention in class or negatively interferes with group dynamics.

At the end of the course, all of the daily participation grades will be averaged and will count for 10% of the final grade.

Tests

Over the course of this class, students will take three tests, given during class time. Each test lasts about 45 minutes and will evaluate students’ knowledge acquired up to that point. The first test will be at the end of Module I, while the second and third tests will take place during Module II, during the 4th and 8th weeks.

Final Exam

The final exam is 2 hours long and will be given during the last day of class of Module II (the general Spanish course). This will cover everything learned during Module II. This exam contains a section on each of the fundamental linguistic skills (oral expression, written expression, oral comprehension, and reading comprehension). It will contain the following sections: 1) Grammar and vocabulary, 2) Composition, 3) Reading Comprehension, 4) Listening Comprehension, 5) Oral Expression.

Attendance Policy

Three unexcused absences are permitted without affecting your final grade. After three unexcused absences, each subsequent unexcused absence will lower the student’s final grade by 3 tenths. In this way, a student whose grade is 7 (B) and has missed 4 classes without justification will receive a grade that is 3 tenths lower than a 7, which would be 6.7 (B-). If this student has 6 unexcused absences, the grade would be a 6.1 (C+).

An excused absence is an emergency that can be documented by submitting a letter from a doctor within seven days of the absence.

1. Grading Scale

NOTA PEI / CALIFICACIÓN
PEI / EQUIVALENCIAS SISTEMA NORTEAMERICANO /
* For students taking PEI courses pass/fail:
A+ through C = Pass;
C- through F = Fail
10 / Matrícula de honor / A + / Excellent Performance
9,5 / Matrícula de honor / A +
9 / Sobresaliente / A
8,5 / Sobresaliente / A-
8 / Notable / B+ / Good Performance
7,5 / Notable / B+
7 / Notable / B
6,5 / Notable / B-
6 / Suficiente / C+ / Adequate Performance
5,5 / Suficiente / C
5 / Suficiente / C-*
4 / Insuficiente / F / Unsatisfactory Performance
3 / Insuficiente / F
2 / Insuficiente / F / Failure to complete course requirements
1 / Insuficiente / F

Each student will receive a certificate of attendance (transcript) after the course is over. It will show the level of the course (beginning, intermediate, etc.), the number of contact hours during the course, and the grade.

1. General Objectives of the Beginner Level Course

--Give students the basic linguistic, social and pragmatic tools that will allow him/her to integrate into the country as quickly and meaningfully as possible. The Intensive Course (Module I) works as a platform for linguistic and personal reference, the goal being for students to leave the class with a strong knowledge base about Spanish culture that will be useful for them throughout their stay in Spain

--Another objective is for students to be able to participate orally in both casual and formal conversation, being able to use the correct expression for different situations.

--Comprehend the general sense and details of written text.

--Develop techniques and basic strategies for writing that will allow students to create texts of different types

--Learn grammatical structures and vocabulary that is appropriate for his/her level

--Familiarize students with the essential elements of Spanish culture, such as historical, sociological and political events in modern society. Understand the customs of Spanish-speaking countries, with Spain being the main focus

--This intensive course should give students skills that will allow them to better comprehend and learn from other classes that are taught in Spanish, such as Module II and other university classes

1. Specific Objectives of the Beginner Level Course

Oral Comprehension

--Understand common questions about subjects of general interest

--Comprehend the main idea and details of an everyday conversation

--Understand beginner level oral narratives

--Understand the specific information given during a conversation, in the media through radio or television, and public announcements in train stations, airports, and stores

Oral Expression

--Exchange basic information about facts, events, and subjects of general interest in an everyday conversation

--Express personal opinions, feelings, desires, and physical states in a succinct way in a conversation

--Express orders, goals, and instructions

--Ask what something is called, ask for clarification and exlpanation about the meaning of a certain word or expression

--Express oneself with enough speed and grammatical accuracy so your message is understood in a conversation

Reading Comprehension

--Be able to locate and understand key information in texts

--Comprehend publicity text, advertisements, and written public announcements/warnings in both colloquial and formal language

--Comprehend literary texts, such as stories, songs, or poems at a beginner level

--Comprehend everyday communication, such as personal notes, email, mail, etc.

--Understand academic texts at the beginner level, such as syllabi, articles, notes, and readings

Written Expression

--Write dialogues that are typical of daily life

--Write texts for communication between people, such as email, notes, letters, postcards

--Write descriptions of people, objects, and places

--Write brief narrations

--Reproduce different types of texts from the urban setting, such as announcements, warnings, instructions, etc.

1. Content of the Intensive Course (Module I, Beginner Level)

This class will teach students about:

Everyday Functions

--Spelling

--Greetings and introductions

--Express habitual actions and frequency

--Answering the phone and asking for someone

--Making appointments

--Showing agreement or disagreement

--Shopping: how to ask for something, ask about its characteristics and price

--Congratulate, praise, and thanking/showing appreciation

Grammatical Functions

Phonics

--Pronunciation and interpretation of sounds of the Spanish alphabet

--Introduction to basic tonal schemes

--Separation and compounding of syllables

--The strong syllable

Syntax

--Definite and indefinite articles

--Adjectives and nouns: gender, number, and agreement

--Personal subject pronouns

--Forms of addresses “you”: tú/usted, vosotros-as/ustedes

--Present indicative verbs: regular and irregular verbs

--Expressions of frequency

--Interrogatories and indefinites

--Numbers

Vocabulary

--Greetings, farewells, and forms of address

--Countries, nationalities and languages

--Studies and professions

--Habitual activities

--Time, dates, days of the week, months of the year

--Furniture and everyday objects

Culture

--Famous people and places of the Spanish world

--Social habits

--Customs re: time, schedules, etc.

--Geographical layout and politics of Spain

--Architecture and monuments of Spain

1. Content of the General Spanish Language Course (Module II, Beginner Level)

This class will teach students about:

Grammar

Phonics

--Strong and weak syllables

--Identification of similar words

--Contrast of sounds

Syntax

--Contrast of Hay/Está(n)

--Prepositions and adverbs designating location

--Estar + gerund

--Comparatives

--Pronouns and possessive adjectives

--Pronouns and demonstrative adjectives

--Contrast Ser/Estar

--Expression of the future: ir a + infinitive

--Verbs like gustar, encantar

--Affirmative imperatives

--Pronouns CD and CI, placement

--Form and use of the Past Perfect tense: regular and irregular participles

--Introduction to the form and use of the Indefinite Past tense: regular and irregular verbs

Vocabulary

--the house

--the city

--locations

--description of places

--vocabulary to describe the material and functioning of things

--family

--adjectives to describe how people look and what they are like

Culture

--Types of homes

--Eating habits: tapas and typical dishes of Spain

--Young people in Spain

--Gestures and their communicative value

--Holidays and local celebrations: la Diada, la Mercé, All Saints’ Day, Christmas, las Fallas, Holy Week, Feria de abril, la Verbena de San Juan

Catalan Language and Culture, Beginner Level

Grading will be based on class participation and a final exam.

Teaching System:

The class is comprised of blocks of linguistic and socio-cultural themes of general interest to the students. We will also study basic grammatical aspects, comprehension skills, and oral and written expression.

Objective:

The objective of the course is to introduce students to Catalan language with a mainly communicative focus that will give students a level of Catalan that will allow them to do two things: 1) communicate and involve themselves in Catalan society, and 2) understand university classes in Catalan. We will work on six main aspects of language: 1) phonetics, 2) orthography, 3) grammar, 4) communication, 5) vocabulary, and 6) sociology/culture.

Content:

Part 1. Who am I and where am I from?

Part 2. How do I get to Plaza Catalunya? Getting around, asking for directions

Part 3. Housing: hotels, apartments, residences

Part 4. What do you do for a living?

Part 5. At home

Part 6. Going to the doctor

Part 7. The weather

Part 8. Going shopping

Part 9. Going to the zoo

Part 10. The media and communication

Part 11. Going to the movies

Part 12. Family

Part 13. Traveling/ Going on a trip

Part 14. Sports

Part 15. Slang

Part 16. In the kitchen

Bibliography:

At the beginning of the course, students will be given the basic bibliography for their reference. The bibliography consists of different thematic aspects that the course will cover. We will select some works from the bibliography that are of interest to the students.

Grammar:

Badia, A. (1995) Gramàtica de la llengua catalana. Barcelona, Proa.

Giner, R.; Pallicer, J. (1992) Sinopsi de Gramàtica Catalana. Barcelona, Teide.

Xuriguera, J. (1993, 30a ed.) Els verbs catalans conjugats. Barcelona, Claret.

Dictionaries:

Monolingual

Enciclopèdia Catalana (1998) Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana.

Institut d’Estudis Catalans (1995) Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana.

Bilingual

Enciclopèdia Catalana (1995, 5a ed.) Diccionari Català-Castellà.

Enciclopèdia Catalana (1995, 5a ed.) Diccionari Castellà-Català.

Enciclopèdia Catalana (1993) Diccionari Anglès-Català, Català-Anglès.

Enciclopèdia Catalana (1993) Hiperdiccionari català-castellà-anglès en CD-Rom.

Manuals

Castellanos, J-A. (1991, 4a ed.) Quadern: normativa bàsica de la llengua catalana amb exercicis autocorrectius. Barcelona, Institut de Ciències de l’Educació.

Costa, M. Sabater, M-L. (1993) Curs de català per a estrangers Digui, digui... Barcelona, Generalitat de Catalunya.

Fargas, A.; Guasch, O.; Tió, J. (1981) Pont I i II. Llengua catalana per a no-catalanoparlants. Vic, Eumo.

Puig, T; Puig, J. (2000) Curs de català inicial. Barcelona, UB.

Exercise Workbooks

Badia, D. i al. (1985) 1a Llibreta autocorrectiva de vocabulari. Vic, Eumo.

Badia, D. i al. (1985) 2a Llibreta autocorrectiva de vocabulari. Vic, Eumo.

Badia, D. i al. (1985) 3a Llibreta autocorrectiva de vocabulari. Vic, Eumo.

Carreras, J.; Comes, J.; Pi, J. (1992) Fonètica catalana. Barcelona, Teide.

Other

Servei de Llengua Catalana (1998) Guia de conversa universitària anglès-català. Barcelona, Publicacions UB.

CD: Divercat. Barcelona, les Universitats Catalanes, Direcció General d’Universitats i la Direcció General de Política Lingüística de la Generalitat.

CD: Diàleg multimèdia. Barcelona, Consorci per a la normalització lingüística.

Writing Workshop, Beginner Level

Objectives:

The main objective of this workshop is to develop and improve the writing skills, reading comprehension, and written expression through the production of a final project. There are two other fundamental objectives: to learn to use certain grammatical structures and textual schemes, and to increase the vocabulary of students using both active and passive grammatical voices.

Procedures:

The final project of this writing workshop is the production of a Travel Diary. The professor will furnish various materials about traveling and its significance. Each student will write a 200-300-word text whose content will vary according to the session and level of the student. These texts will be corrected in class, and students will participate in activities in revision, transformation of expressions, and comprehension of texts. Together as a group, students will resolve comprehension problems orally using related linguistics and internal references from the text. We will also consider the documents’ different linguistic resources provided by the professor, such as texts written by the students. All of this will culminate in a workshop for creating the Travel Diary, which will be a personal project taken on by each student on an individual basis.

Grading:

There will not be a final exam. In the last session, each student will present his/her final written work with all the corrections that have been made over the course of its composition. Given the character of the class sessions and the methodology of the class work, the final grade will be based on class participation, the final project, and the overall progress made by the student, as observed in class by the professor.

Bibliography:

GÓMEZ TORREGO, Leonardo: Ortografía de uso del español actual, Madrid, Ediciones SM, 2000.

MARTÍNEZ DE SOUSA, José: Manual de estilo de la lengua española, Gijón, Ediciones Trea, 2000.

MATTE BON, Francisco: Gramática comunicativa del español, Madrid, Difusión, 1992.

Real Academia Española.: Ortografía de la lengua española, Madrid, Editorial Espasa, 1999.

Film Workshop, Beginner Level

Objectives:

To gain a general vision of the evolution of Spanish cinema from the 1980’s to present-day. We will anayze its most outstanding representations by watching several films and through lectures by the professor on theoretical explanations.

1. The years of transition: (1977-1982): The end of censorship, the appearance of new filmmakers, realist film, social film, avant-garde film, the comedy in the beginning of the 1980’s.
2. The socialist period (1982-1995): The new legislation, new visions of the war and post-war, “recuperated” and new filmmakers.
3. Film in the recent years (1995-2003): The definitive generational renovation. The consecration of Spanish cinema on an international level. Present-day situation.
4. Genres and their development in Spain: the comedy, the melodrama, social film, avant-garde film, horror film and their representative authors.
5. Cinema from the different autonomies of Spain: Catalunya, Basque Country, and others.
6. The most significant Spanish filmmakers: Pedro Almodovar
7. Other authors and their influences: Fernando Trueba.
8. Other authors: José Luís Garci, Víctor Erice.
9. The most recent Spanish film: Alejandro Amenábar, Fernando León de Aranoa, Isabel Coixet, Alex de la Iglesia y otros.
10. The documentary in Spain: consecration and most important authors

Grading:

Students will write an analysis paper of a filmmaker’s work, the subject to be chosen by the student. The paper should include a general review of his/her filmography and a detailed analysis of one of his/her films.

Brief Bibliography:

- CUADERNOS DE LA ACADEMIA: Un siglo de cine español.

Academia de las Artes y las ciencias cinematográficas de España, septiembre, 2000

- Historia del cine español.

Romà Gubern. Ed Cátedra

- Diccionario de cine español.

Jose Luís Borau. Ed Alianza

- El cine español.

Varios autores. Ed Larousse, 2003

- Pedro Almodovar

Antonio Holguin. Ed Cátedra

- Victor Erice

Carmen Arocena. Ed Cátedra

- 20 nuevos directores del cine español.

Carlos F. Heredero. Ed Alianza

- Hipótesis de la realidad. El cine de Fernando León de Aranoa.

Paula Ponga, M.A. Martín, Mirito Torreiro.

Spanish Culture in Texts, Beginner Level

Objectives: