Reading and Culture
Spanish 155
Profesora: Nilsa Lasso-von Lang
Tel. (610) 861-1393
Correo electrónico:: nilsa@moravian.edu
Oficina: Comenius 408
Office hours: Monday & Wednesday 11:30am-12:30pm, Friday 2-3pm or by appointment
Book required: Perspectivas, Kiddle, Wegmann, Schreffler. 7th Edition.
Objectives of this course: The aim of Spanish 155 is to help students improve their Spanish language skills, and their knowledge of the culture of the Spanish-speaking world through readings, exercises, oral presentations and class discussions. In order to achieve this goal we will use our textbook as a reading guide. Every day, students will have a section of a chapter to read. These chapters offer information about different aspects of the Hispanic culture. A videocassette (Videomundo Segments) will be used in class and will function as an adjunct to the chapters. In class we will discuss the assigned materials and practice with exercises based on them. At the same time, students will be working on research in the Web, compositions and music to expand their study of the Hispanic culture. The class will be conducted in Spanish in order to give the students more opportunities to develop the communicative function of the language.
Requirements:
One major composition: Each student will write a 3 page, double-spaced composition. Both the first draft and final copy must be handed in on the date indicated on the syllabus (late compositions will automatically receive a lower grade, and they will not be accepted after 1 week). The grade of the composition will be based on the content and grammar. The professor will mark all the errors (without correcting them) on the first draft; then the student will have three weeks to make all the necessary corrections before handing in the final version. A final version with more than 15 grammatical errors is unacceptable and will automatically receive an F. The topic for the composition will be announced in class by the professor.
Each student will do a detailed Internet search about one topic related to the Spanish- speaking world. The results of this search must be in Spanish and the student will present them to the class (each student will have about 10 minutes for his/her presentation). Possible topics to choose from: política, reunions socials, museos, gastronomía, costumbres tradicionales, ecoturismo, pasatiempos y deportes, teatro, cine, fiestas religiosas, festivals, arqueología, arquitectura, etc. The selection of a topic should be consulted with and approved by the professor at least one week in advance of the presentation date.
Music: reports on CDs: Students will find several audio CDs on reserve at Reeves Library. Each student must take out 3 CDs throughout the semester and listen to them.
Then, he/she will write a brief report on each CD (about 15 lines) expressing his/her opinion about the musical styles and the lyrics of each CD. These reports will be handed-in printed (not hand-written).
Class attendance: Faithful attendance is expected, since continuous practice is needed in order to learn a language. The learning of a language is a cumulative process, and it is not easy to make up for several missed classes.
Every student will be allowed to miss up to three (3) classes without losing points off their final grade (however, remember that your weekly class participation grade will suffer beginning 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 (deduction of 1 letter grade). It is the responsibility of the student to reserve his/her 3 absences for those circumstances when missing class is unavoidable (i.e. illness, 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 Student 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.
Class preparation and participation:
Active class participation is essential to be successful in this course. Students are expected to come to class having prepared the readings and exercises assigned on the syllabus. In class, students must participate actively sharing their answers, speaking in group activities and class discussions. Missing class (independently of the cause) will prevent you from participating in class and will lower your participation grade for the week.
Class participation and progress evaluation:
Students will be evaluated by the teacher twice during the semester. This evaluation will be done in a Mid-term personal interview. Students can set up the interview at their own convenience before Spring Recess. For the second, students will visit the professor individually and talk about their progress. It is recommended that students self-evaluate their performance weekly so they can improve their general performance by the time when the teacher does her evaluation. This grade will take in account the following:
Comprensión del texto 5 puntos
Hace conexión con información ya conocida 5 puntos
Trae el libro a clases siempre 5 puntos
Colaboración con los colegas 5 puntos
Disposición a hablar en grupo y 5 puntos
en parejas
Rapidez en respuestas 5 puntos
Riesgo al tartar de expresarse 5 puntos
Cooperación con el entusiasmo de la clase 5 puntos
Preparación fuera de clase 25%
Exams: There will be a total of 3 exams, 2 during the semester and one final. Unauthorized absence from an exam will result in a grade of zero for that exam.
Final grade distribution:
2 exams 20% (10% each)
1 WWW oral presentation 10%
1 composition 15%
3 CD’s reports 5%
Final exam 20%
Letter grade will be assigned as follows:
93-100 A
92-90 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
Academic Honesty at Moravian College: Plagiarism or any other inappropriate behaviors won’t be tolerated. Please see Students handbook.
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.
PROGRAMA DEL CURSO- PRIMAVERA 2005
Enero
10 Introducción
12 Capítulo 1- p. 4-11
14 p. 15-19
17 Martin Luther King Day
19 21-29
21 35-37, poema de Castellanos (p.38-39)
24 45-51
26 Video- segmentos culturales
28 Día de investigación para Pres. PP
31 Día de investigación para Pres. PP
Febrero
2 Presentaciones en Power Point
4 Presentaciones en PP
7 Presentaciones en PP
9 Presentaciones en PP
11 Capítulo 2: p. 56-62
14 64-71
16 82-86, 87-88
18 88-96
21 96-107
23 Video- Segmentos culturales
25 Composición (borrador- peer editing)
28 Capítulo 3: 110-117
Marzo
2 118-126
4 Poemas 145-148, Conectémonos p. 149
5-13 Spring Recess
14 150-160
16 Video- Segmentos culturales
18 Examen 1 (incluye Capítulos 1-3)
21 Capítulo 4: 184-190
23 191-204
25-28 Easter Recess
30 p. 204-210 Entregar composición (versión final)
Abril
1 Capítulo 5: 216-224.
4 225-233
6 Video- segmentos culturales
8 Capítulo 6: 274-289
11 289-293
13 294-300
15 Examen 2 (capítulos 4-5)
18 306-318 Entregar reportes de CD
20 318-327
22 327-332
25 Video- segmentos culturales
27 Arte, música y religión- discusión
29 Repaso para examen final.
Mayo
2-7 Final Examinations