Spanish 150
Spring 2006
Profesora: Nilsa Lasso-von Lang
Tel. (610) 861-1393
Correo electrónico:: nilsa@moravian.edu
Oficina: Comenius 408
Office hours: Monday & Friday 10:20-11:20am, Wednesday 3:15-4:15pm or by appointment
Required textbook: Revista, Conversación sin barreras. Blanco, García, Aparisi. Vista Higher Learning, 2004.
Course description: An intensive Spanish conversational practice to develop an intermediate level of proficiency. Special attention will be paid to functional communication, and expressing opinions on daily life and current issues. It is expected at the end of the semester that students will be able to:
· Describe and narrate in major time frames (present, past and future)
· Get through simple tasks or social situations
· Participate actively in conversations on concrete topics, in most informal and some formal settings
· Sustain communication by using connected discourse of paragraph length
· Be able to express their own opinions and talk about themselves
· Be able to read and understand news articles and short stories
Course procedure: Given that this is a conversation class, it is expected that students speak in Spanish as frequently as possible in class and out of the classroom. A most effective way to improve your language skills is through intensive practice on speaking and reading. Therefore, the preparation for the conversations in the classroom will require the careful reading of materials in Spanish on the issues at hand. The assigned materials from the textbook, as well as other sources from the media and the Internet, will enrich the vocabulary and stimulate some ideas for conversation. Lack of preparation will be immediately noticeable. As a rule for this class no English will be accepted. If a student cannot express an idea, he/she can paraphrase or try again in Spanish only. Dictionaries are accepted, but at no time (even in whispers) should students use English. This practice will help them find ways to express themselves in Spanish.
Besides the readings, it is expected that students speak Spanish out of class. It is recommended that students spend at least 2 hours per week out of class in conversation on issues associated with the materials under discussion in class, and with a variety of projects for the class. The best recommendation is to find a
classmate to meet regularly (any fluent Spanish speaker willing to work with you is also acceptable).
Class attendance: Faithful attendance is expected, since continuous practice is needed in order to learn a language.
· Every student will be allowed to miss up to three (3) classes without losing points off their final grade (however, remember that your class participation grade will suffer beginning with the first absence, regardless of the reason for it).
· Every absence beyond three will result in a deduction of 1 point off the final grade. It is the responsibility of the student to reserve his/her 3 absences for those circumstances when missing class is unavoidable (i.e. illnesses, field trips, participation in sporting events, etc.) and to inform the professor as soon as possible about the reason for the absence.
· In case of extended absences the student should talk to Students Services or the Academic Dean who will contact the professor. Only if the Dean justifies the absences, they will be excused (and points will not be taken off).
· Remember: Requests to excuse absences at the end of the semester will not be considered. Students have the responsibility of keeping track of their own absences. No reminders will be given.
· Three (3) late arrivals to class (10 minutes or more) will be the equivalent of one absence and students will lose 1 point off their final grade. Please, be respectful to other students and the professor, late arrivals are disrupting.
Las faltas de asistencia no son excusa para no hacer el trabajo asignado. Es responsabilidad del estudiante que falta un día a clase hablar con la profesora o con otros alumnos de la clase para asegurarse que sabe lo que tiene que hacer para la siguiente clase.
Extra credit: Students who keep a personal dictionary and turn it in at the end of the semester will receive 2 extra points in their final grade.
Academic integrity: academic dishonesty, that is, cheating on exams, and plagiarism (using another person’s words and passing them off as your own) is a serious offense and will be handled according to the Moravian policy on Academic Honesty (please, see the Student Hand book). Make sure you cite ALL the sources you use for your work. It is your responsibility to avoid dishonest behavior.
EVALUATION:
1. Class preparation and participation: Students are expected to come to class having prepared the readings and exercises assigned by the professor (see “Programa del curso”).
Preparation and attendance: It is essential that students come to class well prepared, having read the assigned material. Attendance and active class participation is necessary to succeed in this class. The professor will assign a daily grade for the level of preparation and participation of each student.
The daily class participation grades will be assigned as follows:
A=95 Excellent participation (the student answers questions and offers interesting comments without the need of the professor or the debate leader calling on him/her. The comments and answers show that the student has thoroughly prepared the reading and has done the necessary background research to understand the reading).
B= 85 Good participation (the student answers questions and offers interesting comments whenever the professor or debate leader calls on him/her. Sometimes, the student participates without being asked. The comments and answers show that the student has prepared the reading and has done the necessary background research to understand the reading quite well).
C=75 Fair participation (the student answers questions and offers comments only when the professor or debate leader calls on him/her. The comments and answers show that the student has prepared the reading, but has not done much necessary background research to understand the reading).
D=65 Poor participation (the student answers questions and offers very brief comments only when the professor or debate leader calls on him/her. The comments and answers show that the student has a poor preparation of the reading and has not done the necessary background research to understand it).
F=55 Lack of participation (the student does not answer questions and does not offer any comments in the class or group discussion. The lack of comments and answers, as well as incorrect answers, show that the student has not done the reading or, if he/she has done it, it has been in a careless or incomplete way).
See “Participación – Hoja de Progreso” for more detail.
No attendance, no participation at all: When a student is not in class, he/she gets a 0 for that day regardless of the reason for that absence.
More than three absences will affect the participation grade. Every absence beyond three will result in a deduction of one point off the participation grade. It is the responsibility of the student to reserve his/her 3 absences for those circumstances when missing class is unavoidable (i.e. illnesses, field trips, participation in sporting events, etc.). In case of extended absences the student should talk to Students Services or the Academic Dean who will contact the professor.
Remember: Requests to excuse absences at the end of the semester will not be considered.
Students have the responsibility of keeping track of their own absences. No reminders will be given.
Three (3) late arrivals to class (10 minutes or more) will be the equivalent of one absence and students will lose 1 point off their participation grade. Please, be respectful to other students and the professor, late arrivals are disrupting.
2. Oral exams and presentations:
There will not be any written exam. The evaluation of this course will be based on oral performance. There will be one oral exam recorded on tape and one power point oral presentation in class (Pres. PP). Also, there will be one oral interview (OPI) at the end of the semester.
· The oral exam recorded on tape will concentrate, but not exclusively, on expressing opinions and developing topics orally. This exam will consist on a recorded presentation on specific topics which the student will develop as a speech. A guide will be provided in advance. On the designated date, students will hand in their cassette which the professor will evaluate according to the rubrics provided by your professor.
· Throughout the semester, each student will make one Power Point oral presentation (Pres. PP) in class (10-15 minutes long). The selection of each topic should be consulted with and approved by the professor at least one week in advance of the presentation date. This can be done by e-mail. A guide and rubrics will be provided by your professor.
· The final evaluation will be an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in which the student must demonstrate progress in his/her language skills from the beginning of the semester.
Taped oral exams and oral presentations must be handed in or done on the assigned date (see “Programa del curso”). Important note: For every late day that a taped oral exam is handed in, one letter grade will be deducted from the grade; for example, an exam due on a Monday that would receive a B if handed in on time, will automatically receive a D if handed in on Wednesday. Saturday and Sunday count as two days.
3. Class debates: Students must actively participate in 6 class debates on the short films (cortometrajes) included in each "lección." Questions for the debates are provided in the first "análisis" section in each chapter.
Electronic devices: When preparing work for a grade, you are prohibited from using electronic translation services. Electronic dictionaries, used for single word inquiries or for short idiomatic expressions are acceptable. If you are unsure about how you are using an electronic source, please contact your professor.
· Nota Final: The final course grade will be calculated as follows:
1 taped oral exam --------------------- 10%
1 Power Point presentation --------- 10%
Final OPI ------------------------------- 15%
Letter grade will be assigned as follows:
95-100 A
94-90 A-
89-87 B+
86-83 B
82-80 B-
79-77 C+
76-73 C
72-70 C-
69-67 D+
66-63 D
62-60 D-
59-0 F
PROGRAMA DEL CURSO
Enero
16 Introducción
18 Lección 1: Realidad o fantasía (2-7) Cortometraje 1
20 Debate: análisis del cortometraje 1 (8-9)
23 Lección 1 Estructuras y Ensayo (10-15)
25 Opinión y Cuento (16-22)
27 Análisis del cuento, tira cómica y tertulia (23-27)
30 Lección 2: Cuestión de personalidad (28-33) Cortometraje
Febrero
1 Preparar debate: análisis del cortometraje (34-35) Estructuras (36-37)-
3 Artículo (38-42) Pres. Power Point
6 Cuento (43-47) Pres. PP
8 Obra de Teatro (48-57)
10 Tira cómica y Tertulia (58-61) Pres. PP
13 Trae tu música favorita para compartir (Walkman/CD player)
15 Lección 3: Prohibido pensar (62-67) Cortometraje 3
17 Debate: análisis del cortometraje (68-69) Estructuras (70-71)
20 Entrevista (72-76) Pres PP
22 Opinión (77-81) Pres PP
24 Taped oral exam due
27 Cuento (82-87) Pres PP
Marzo
1 Tira cómica y tertulia (88-91)
3 Lección 4 : Poder, quiero más poder (92-97) Cortometraje 4
Marzo 5-13 Spring Recess (Begins Sunday, noon – Ends Monday, 7:30am)
13 Debate: análisis del cortometraje (98-99) Estructuras (100-01)
15 Opinión (102-105) Pres PP
17 Experiencias (106-110) Pres PP
20 Cuento (111-121) Pres PP
22 Tira cómica y tertulia (122-125)
24 Presentaciones Power Point
27 Película para debate
29 Película para debate
31 Debate en clase
Abril
3 Lección 5: El laboratorio de la literatura (126-131) Cortometraje 5
5 Debate: análisis del cortometraje (132-33) Estructuras (134-35)
7 Experiencias (136-39) Pres PP
10 Artículo (140-44) Pres PP
12 Cuento (145-49) Pres PP
14-17 de abril: Easter Recess
19 Tira cómica y tertulia (150-53) Pres PP
21 Lección 6: Modos de vivir (154-59) Cortometraje 6.
24 Debate: análisis del cortometraje (160-61) Estructuras (162-63)
26 & 28 OPIs (entrevistas orales)
Mayo 1-6 Final Examinations
NOTE: a) The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus.
You will be notified within a reasonable period of time.
b) You will be expected to devote at least two hours in preparation for
every hour in class
Participación- Hoja de Progreso
1. Uso del lenguaje 30%
Pronunciación /5 puntos
Entonación /5 puntos
Dicción general /5 puntos
(suena como nativo o como angloparlante, etc.)
Vocabulario variado /5 puntos
Uso de la circumlocución /5 puntos
Uso de conectores /5 puntos
2. Diccionario/vocabulario personal 15%
Selección de palabras útiles /5 puntos
Contextualización apropiada /5 puntos
Calidad general del vocabulario /5 puntos
(presentación, organización, etc.)
3. Actividad en la clase 30%
Actitud /5 puntos
Colaboración con los colegas /5 puntos
Disposición a hablar en grupo
y en parejas /5 puntos
Rapidez de respuestas /5 puntos
Riesgo al tratar de expresarse /5 puntos
Cooperación con el entusiasmo
de la clase /5 puntos
4. Preparación fuera de clase 25%
Trae materiales preparados /5 puntos
Practica fuera de clase /5 puntos
Trabaja con sus compañeros /5 puntos
Ofrece idea que ha pensado /5 puntos
Mira las películas asignadas /5 puntos