ValenciaCommunity College
SPN 1120: Elementary Spanish I
Last Date Reviewed: Jan. 7, 2011 4 Credits
Spring 2011
(01/10/2011 – 5/01/2011)
COURSE INFO:ElementarySpanish I
Course Number:SPN 1120 CRN 24712
Days & Time:Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:20 - 9:00 pm
Building & Room:EC Bldg 1 Room 139
Credits:4 Credit hours
MSL Code:CRSCDK5-622676
Instructor:Elizabeth Z. Solis, I like to beaddressed as Señora Eli
Phone:(407) 923-5238 This ismycellphonesoplease I onlyaccepttext messages be sure to identifyyourself and the class you are in.
Email: , or through myspanishlab
Office hours:You can schedule meetings with me when it’s convenient for us to clarify any point you didn’t understand in class or to address any issue or concern. Please feel free to meet with me to talk about any assignment, or just to chat and practice some Spanish. We don’t have to wait to crisis to arrive to get together.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Elementary Spanish I is an entry-level course open to the student with little or no experience in this language. The course is designed to progressively introduce the student to Spanish grammar and culture. It emphasizes oral and written proficiency as well listening and reading comprehension. The emphasis is on everyday use of the language, integrating basic grammar, vocabulary, composition and culture through a conversational approach to Spanish. Not open to native speakers. A minimum grade of C is required to pass this course if being used to satisfy the General Education Foreign Language requirement.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
¡Anda! Curso Elemental by Heining-Boyton, Audrey L. & Cowell, Glynis S., Pearson/Prentice Hall. This textbook comes packaged with a code for My Spanish Lab, the course management system that you will use this semester in this course. You are required to have both, the textbook or ebook and My Spanish Lab to do your assignments. ISBN: 0205630189
Headset with Microphone (to complete audio recordings to be submitted online)Spanish –English dictionary, (Cuyás, Collins, Larousse, Oxford, or Vox).On-line requirements and proficiencies: Internet Explorer, file management, typing and word processor editing.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Our objective is for you to achieve a novice level of proficiency in the target language (in writing, speaking, reading, and listening) as well as some awareness of the Hispanic culture, which will allow you to continue to the next course.
Core Competencies:Value: Other cultures and peoples, as well as your classmates which you will be working closely with in comrade.Think: In new ways as you experience a different grammar, syntax, and phonologies.Communicate: With openness and respect in Spanish as you acquire language skills. Act: In a way that model respect and value to everyone known and foreign.
Clast Competencies: This course will develop your mastery in the following areas: Reading skills (literal/critical comprehension); listening skills (literal/critical comprehension); speaking skills (composing and transmitting the message, using oral skills suitable to topic, purpose and audience).
Expectations: What I expect from you is a friendly, respectful and positive attitude in class. We will be working in groups or with a partner almost every week to speak Spanish. I expect your full effort in this and not shift to speaking English. All conversations should be polite and appropriate. Everyone should participate actively. Students may collaborate in group assignments. This does NOT mean duplication of work. Collaboration should be used to edit or to clarify doubts.
The use of electronic translators is not allowed. If you must have your cell phone on please keep it in a silent or vibrate mode. If you must answer because of a excruciating circumstance, I expect you to remove yourself from the class to answer. Be aware that you might be missing important information or participation points. Please NO texting while in class. I consider this a very disruptive behavior.
VCC Expected student conduct:10-03Student Code of Conduct
Specific Authority: / 1006.60, FS.Law Implemented: / 1006.60, FS.
Valencia Community College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning, and to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules of appropriate behavior as articulated in the Student Code of Conduct. The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Faculty may direct students who engage in inappropriate behavior that results in disruption of a class to leave the class. Such students may be subject to other disciplinary action which may include a warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the college. Please read the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook.Here is the link to Valencia’s Student Code of Conduct website:
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: The course will be taught through a combination of lecture, hands-on classroomexercises and on-line homework assignments. Students should not assume that there will be class time to complete homework assignments.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Your score
Discussion Boards / 10% / / / / /Writing Activities / 10% / /
Speaking Activities / 10% / /
Chapter tests / 25% / / / / /
Homework from MSL / 20% / / / / / /
Attn / Participation / 10%
Final / 15%
Total / 100%
GRADING: Your grade will be calculated as follows:
90-100%450-500 pts / A
80-89% 400-449 pts / B
70-79% 350-399 pts / C
60-69% 300-349 pts / D
59 – 0% 348- 0 / F
Discussion Boards: There will be a total of ten discussion boards posted throughout the calendar on myspanishlab which you will respond to. You must read at least two responses from other students and post your reply. These are considered free writing activities in which context are more weighted than grammar.
Writing Activities:We will have two in-class writing assignments. I will give you the topics in class. We will first write a draft in class in which you can use aids. After revising your draft, we will write the final composition for grade without the use of dictionaries, text book nor electronic translator. Being absent to the day we write the draft does not excuse you from writing your final composition. I will not accept drafts written outside of the classroom. We will also have several on-line writing assignments in with which you will be able to use aids. You should complete all on-line assignments since they will prepare you for the in-class ones in which no aids are to be used.
Speaking Activities: You will an on-line speaking practice in Spanish for every chapter covered. You will also have two in-class presentations. Details will be given throughout the course.
Chapter Tests: You will have a final comprehensive test as well as a test for every chapter covered in class. You should expect a test after the completion of each chapter with the exemption of Chapter PA or 6. All tests must be taken on or before dates assigned on this syllabus and myspanishlab calendar. No makeup tests are available without explicit consent of instructor. The final exam must be taken on the date published for final exams.
Homework from My Spanish Lab:
My Language Lab is the course management system that you will use this semester in this course. . Student Activities Manual (SAM) exercises to be completed and any other activities assigned are listed on My Spanish Lab calendar. The activities represent extensive grammar-driven practice that will assist the student in internalizing.Homework will be completed by the dates that appear in the calendar in My Spanish Lab. In order to receive credit, you must receive an average score of 80% per chapter on the Student Activities Manual assigned exercises. Other assignment might be graded differently; depending on the activity.
Attendance/Participation: Students are expected to attend class regularly to derive the highest benefit from instruction. Failure to attend class always results in missed opportunities to hear and speak Spanish. If you are not in class, you cannot participate, therefore loosing points from attendance/participation. You have to be willing to participate and ready with your work every day. This is not the place to sleep or to do other classes’ homework. Students who do not maintain regular attendance MAY be withdrawal by the instructor. In this course you are allowed to miss 3 days in the semester before you lose any attendance points. After 3 days missed 3 percentage points will be deducted for each day you missed from your attendance grade. Also, after five days of missed classes you MAY be dropped by the instructor. Students will receive a W if withdrawn by March25, 2011. No WP nor WF (withdrawn passing/failing) will be assigned. W not be counted in the grade point average.
Final Exam: You will take one final comprehensive exam. Do not make other plans for that day and time. THE FINAL EXAM IS 15 % OF YOUR GRADE.
Atlas and MLL: We will use get familiar with ATLAS, and My Language Lab, if you are not yet so. I will encourage learning how to use all the features this program offers. I will be using MLL as the main via to communicate with you regarding course content. Any personal matter that affects you academically must be communicated through VCC mail. You should check announcements and e-mails regularly.
Students with Disabilities: Studentswho qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first week of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The goal at the OSD is to open doors, remove barriers and assist you in any way the can. The key to success is matching your needs to the services provided. Please contact Dr. Acosta to discuss your individual needs.
Here is the link to Valencia’s OSD website:
Tentative course program:
This program may be modified according to the needs of the course. All changes will be announced in class.Read the listed sections below before coming to class each week. You are responsible for keeping up with the reading and homework assignments.
Semana-Week of / Lección-Lesson Tarea-HomeworkSemana del 10 de enero / Introducción al curso A-01,2,3,6,8
Preliminar A p 2-10
Semana del 17 de enero
(Martin Luther King) / Preliminar A p11 –16,23-24 Grammar tutorials on MLL
A-17,18,19,23,24,25,2,6,27,28,29
Semana del 24 de enero / Capítulo PA p 17-27 A-34,35,36,39,42,47
48, prac. oral
Semana del 31 de enero / Capítulo 1 p30-38 1-1,3,4,8,9,10,14,15,17,18
Semana del 7 de febrero / Capítulo 1 p 39-53 19,20,23,26,27,29,32,38
Presentación 1 47, prac. oral
Semana del 14 de febrero / Capítulo 2 p60- 70 Ex 1 2- 1,2,9,10,11,12,13,14,
Composición 1 2-03,
Semana del 21 de febrero / Capítulo 2, p71-91 2-19,26,29,31,32,34,38,50
Prac. oral
Semana del 28 de febrero / Capítulo 3 p98-103 3-1,2,4,10,11,13,15,17,19
Ex 2 handout
Semana del 7 -13 de marzo / Receso de primavera-Spring Break
Semana del 14 de marzo / Capítulo 3p112-127 3-22,23,27,28,30,31,32,42
43, prac.oral
Semana del 21 de marzo / Capítulo 4p136,140,147-150 Ex 3 4-1,2,26,27,30,31,11
Composición 2 12,13
Withdrawal Deadline is March 25.
Semana del 28 de marzo / Capítulo 4 p 142146,154-163 4-14,15,16,17,18,22,,23,24
Capitulo 5 p. 182 38,40,41,42,47,48,49,prac. oral
5-25,26
Semana del 4 de abril / Capítulo 5 p172-179 Ex 4 5 -2,14,15,16,18,19
Semana del 11 de abril / Capítulo 5 p410-419 5-28,29,40,45,5-09,prac. oral
Presentación 2
Semana del 18 de abril / Capítulo 6– Repaso Ex.5 6-1,4,5,12,13,20,24,27,28
26 de abril de 2011 / Examen Final 7:45-10:15
Los exámenes finales comienzan el 25 de abril hasta el 1 de mayo.
Tips for Success
* Perform the Browser Tune-up in MyLanguageLab. Performing this tune-up ensures optimal performance.
* Print a copy of the course syllabus and calendar. Keep it by your computer.
* Check the course email regularly.
*Set aside specific times each week to complete class activities. If not, your other work will expand to fill all the time you have.