Periódicos en español	Actividades Culturales
Check your Grades	Comunicaciones por e-mail
Modern Language Program	Otros cursos de español

Course Description:
Descripción del curso:  (from Longwood University catalog):  Development of basic oral expression, listening and reading comprehension, and writing.  Prerequisite:  No previous formal instruction or a limited amount of previous formal instruction in Spanish.  Followed by SPAN 102.  Three classes, one practical reinforcement session, and language lab work.  4 credits.

Texts:
Textos:
Rosso-O'Laughlin, Marta, and Emily Spinelli.  Encuentros 4th edition.  Harcourt College Publishers, 2001.

Rosso-O'Laughlin, Marta, and Emily Spinelli.  Encuentros Student Activities Manual 4th edition.  Harcourt College Publishers, 2001.

Rosso-O'Laughlin, Marta, and Emily Spinelli.  Manual de Video to Accompany Encuentros 4th edition.  Harcourt College Publishers, 2001.

Encuentros en español:  An Educational Mystery Adventure.  CD-ROM to accompany Encuentros.  Harcourt College Publishers, 1997.
 

Course Objectives:
Objetivos del curso:

Objectives for this course are based upon the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning, which are grouped under 5 categories ("the 5 Cs") and on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Goal 1.  Communication (Communicate in Spanish)
1.1 Interpersonal Communication (four skills:  speaking, listening, reading, writing):
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions, speaking, reading, writing and understanding spoken Spanish at the Novice-High level, utilizing strategies such as circumlocution (speaking and writing), activating background knowledge, listening and reading for main-idea information, listening for details and for specific information, personalizing (listening and reading).  Students will be able to describe, narrate, and ask and answer questions in present time about everyday topics including greetings, addresses, introductions, health, information about college life, daily routines and activities, describing oneself and one's interests, family, expressing likes and dislikes, extending and accepting invitations, weather, and meals.

1.2 Interpretive Communication (listening and reading):
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
understand and interpret authentic written and spoken language on topics listed above at the ACTFL Novice-High level, utilizing the above strategies for listening, and reading strategies such as skimming, scanning, context clues, prediction, decoding and comprehension check.

1.3 Presentational Communication (speaking and writing):
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on topics listed above at the ACTFL Novice-High level.

Goal 2.  Cultures (Gain knowledge and understanding of Hispanic Cultures)
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Recognize and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of the products (books, tools, foods, laws, music, games, literature, art, etc.) and practices (patterns of social interactions) of Hispanic cultures to the perspectives (meanings, attitudes, values, ideas) of Hispanic cultures.

Goal 3.  Connections (Connect with other disciplines and acquire information)
3.1 Making Connections:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through Spanish.

3.2 Acquiring Information:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through Spanish and its cultures.

Goal 4.  Comparisons (Develop insight into the nature of language and culture)
4.1 Language Comparisons:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language through the comparisons of Spanish and English.

4.2 Cultural Comparisons:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
demonstrate understanding of the concepts of culture through comparisons of the Hispanic cultures studied and their own.

Goal 5.  Communities (Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world)
5.1  Classroom and Community:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
use Spanish both within and beyond the classroom setting.

5.2  Lifelong Learning:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
show evidence of becoming lifelong learners by using Spanish for personal enjoyment and enrichment and in professional endeavors, independently pursuing activities using Spanish throughout their lifetime.
 
 

Class Schedule:
Horario de Clases:

Semana 1 Introducción, Capítulo Preliminar	Semana 9 Descanso de Primavera
Semana 2 Capítulo 1	Semana 10 Cap. 3 («Actividades» due)
Semana 3 Cap. 1	Semana 11 Cap. 4
Semana 4 Cap. 1 («Actividades» due)	Semana 12 Cap. 4 («Actividades» due)
Semana 5 Cap. 2	Semana 13 Cap. 5
Semana 6 Cap. 2	Semana 14 Cap. 5
Semana 7 Cap. 2 («Actividades» due)	Semana 15 Cap. 5 («Actividades» due)
Semana 8 Cap. 3	Semana 16 Examen Final:  viernes, 4 de mayo 2-5pm

Course Requirements:
Requisitos del curso:

10% Participación.  You are expected to actively participate in class activities.  It is recognized that there are many different kinds of personalities represented among students in a class, and that some are more outgoing than others.  People who normally speak a lot find it easy to participate in these activities, while more quiet personalities sometimes hesitate to join in.  This is quite natural and you are not expected to try to change your particular comportment.  Nevertheless, it is necessary to make every effort to join in the activities, and you will find that the more you do so, the easier it becomes to speak Spanish, and as Spanish begins to become easier to speak, the more you will want to join in.  There will be a lot of partner and group conversation activities; you will not be asked to get up in front of the class until later in the semester, after everyone is comfortable with one another, when you will do a short (2-3 min.) show and tell presentation.  Some class activities will be listening activities, some speaking, some short grammar discussions, but we will concentrate mostly on speaking and listening in our class activities, reserving reading and writing activities for homework assignments.  You will receive a criteria sheet for grading your participation.

25% «Actividades».  This portion of your grade is based on «Actividades» which you do outside of class.  To achieve a satisfactory grade in any college-level class, one should expect to spend at least two hours outside of class for every hour spent in class.  Therefore, you should expect to dedicate six hours per week outside of class in homework and other activities.  The following are the components which make up this part of your grade.  As we conclude each chapter of the textbook, you will turn in a packet of your «Actividades» (A-H below), with a cover sheet you will fill out.

 A.  Deberes:  Your daily homework will consist of specific assignments in reading, writing and listening, taken from the textbook, the Manual de Video and the Activities Manual and other resources.  The assignment will be made near the end of every class period.  In addition to specific assignments, you should spend time in vocabulary practice for the current lesson.  Homework will not usually be collected, but will be "gone over" in class, and you will include them in your "Actividades" packet.  Be prepared or you will not be able to participate (see Participación above).

 B.  Cassettes and CD:  There are two different listening programs which accompany this textbook and this course.

  1.  One audio CD comes packaged with your textbook when you buy it.  It is to be used with the "A Escuchar" and "Sonidos" sections of the textbook itself.  Usually these will be assigned specifically as homework; if they are not specifically assigned, you should do those sections on your own anyway.

  2.  Cassettes in the Language Lab (Grainger 208) accompany the "Manual de laboratorio" section of the Student Activities Manual.  You may listen to these in the Lab or you may have them recorded on your own blank cassettes to listen wherever you like.  There is an in-box in the Lab where you may leave your cassettes overnight with a slip identifying what you want recorded.  Specific assignments will not be made regarding these cassettes; during the approximately two weeks which we will spend on each chapter, you should listen and complete lab manual exercises for the corresponding cassette for that chapter.  It will take you about two sessions of ½-hour each to get through a chapter lesson on the cassette.  Although it is not required, it never hurts to go through a lesson more than once, especially one which is giving you trouble.  You must use the appropriate section of your lab manual with each cassette; there are accompanying exercises, pictures, pre-listening questions, etc., in your manual, which will help you in understanding the cassettes.  Many of these exercises are authentic conversations, so you must not expect to understand every word; you will be trained to listen for the gist and to get the main ideas.  When you complete the listening section of each chapter, tear out the pages which you have filled in to include with your packet of «Actividades» for the chapter.

 C.  Manual de Video:  This workbook is to be used with the Video program in the language lab.  For each chapter of the textbook, you will watch the corresponding segments of the video, using the "A Plena Vista" sections in the textbook and the Manual de Video, and the "Panorama Cultural" sections of the Manual de Video.  Write answers to the textbook exercises on your own paper, and tear out the pages of the Manual to turn in with your «Actividades».

 D.  Encuentros en español CD-ROM:  This is a serial mystery adventure that you will solve using the language and cultural information of each chapter.  It also contains exercises for vocabulary and grammar in each chapter.  You will turn in your scores with your «Actividades».

 E.  Revistas:  The library subscribes to several Spanish language magazines, which are found in the Periodical room on the first floor of the library, and are shelved in alphabetical order.  A list of the titles is at the top of the worksheet you will fill out for
each article you read.  If you have trouble finding them, please ask for help.  You may read them in the library or photocopy articles to read at your leisure, and you may choose any article on any subject from any magazine, as long as it is in Spanish.  You must read at least one article during the time we are spending on each textbook chapter, and turn in the worksheet with your «Actividades» packet.

 F.  Noticias:  You will be responsible for bringing news of the Hispanic world to class several times during the semester.  You will find internet links to newspapers from many countries on the course web site; print out your news item and be prepared to explain it briefly in simple Spanish.  Include the printed news in your «Actividades».

 G.  Computerized grammar practice:  The tutorial software to accompany our textbook will be available in the language lab soon.  Once it is available, you will complete the exercises corresponding to each chapter and turn in the scores with your «Actividades».

 H.  Writing:   Microsoft Word in Spanish [with spell-check and thesaurus in Spanish] is available in all of the computer labs on campus.  If you are interested in using it, pick up a copy of the keyboard layout in each lab.  Ask for help if you need it.  It will help if you are already familiar with Word.  Try doing your homework on the computer, if you like--it will print accent marks, and all of the other diacritical marks [¡¿ñÑáéíóúü])--and just think what you can do with the thesaurus.

50% Pruebas y presentaciones orales:  There will be many short 5-10 minute quizzes.  None of these are "pop" quizzes; they will all be announced.  Some will be written, dealing with grammar, some will be listening quizzes (so make sure to keep up with your cassette listening outside of class), a few will be vocabulary quizzes.  There will not be any chapter tests.  Two or three times during the semester there will be speaking quizzes (you will speak to a partner, not in front of the class).  You will do a show-and-tell presentation towards the end of the semester.

10% Examen Final:  The final exam will be a communicative test of the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, and will have the same format as many of the quizzes, so by the time you take it, you are familiar with how you will be tested.  If you are keeping up with homework, activities, and participation, you should not need to "study" for the final.  We are building skills, not accumulating knowledge, so it is important to keep pace with your assignments.  We will review before the final exam and discuss the format of the test.

5% Actividades Culturales:You must attend at least four approved cultural activities which will be anounced in class and on the course web site.  You must speak Spanish during these activities.  You will write a paragraph about each experience to turn in immediately after the event (not at the end of the semester).
 

Grading:
Calificaciones:

90-100 A Excellent (given only to students of superior achievement)
80-89 B Good (given only to students who perform well above the average)
70-79 C Fair (average range of achievement)
60-69 D Poor (below average; not recommended to continue to the next level)
59 F Failing (may not continue to the next level)
 

Attendance Policy:
Asistencia:  The attendance policy for this course is the same as the policy in the Longwood University Catalog and the Student Handbook.  To clarify some of the points in the policy, please note:
 There are 43 class meetings.  If a student misses 10.75 classes, whether excused or unexcused, he/she will have missed 25% of the scheduled class meeting times, and will receive an F in this course.
 If a student misses 4.3 classes for unexcused reasons, his/her final course grade will be lowered one letter grade.  In addition, please note that if a student is not in class, he/she can not participate in class activities, which will affect the "participation grade."
 Please note what constitutes "excused absences" as defined in the University policy.  I will require, in most cases, written documentation to excuse an absence.  Your best chance for success is through 100% attendance:   ¡Por favor!   ¡Asistid a clase!
 

Honor Code:
Código de Honor:  Students are expected to live by the Longwood University Honor Code.  All work done for this class must be pledged:  "Yo, ___________________, juro que no he dado ni recibido ayuda en este trabajo ni he notado ninguna infracción del Código de Honor."  If you would like to abbreviate this, you may write, "Juramento," and sign your name.
 

Bibliography:
Bibliografía:  There are no suggested supplementary readings for this course, other than the assignments described above.