BEGINNING SPANISH 1A HYBRID (5 units)

Fall 2009 SYLLABUS

 

Class Meeting:  Wednesdays, 6:00—9:05 PM plus 3. 29 hours of online instruction.

Class Location:  Main Campus: Aspen 1

Instructor:  Teresa Borden

Contact Information:

Email: bordent@yosemite.edu We will use the email feature in Blackboard/WebCT email for communication purposes, but you can use the college email as backup.

Phone: 209-754-0151

Office hours: F2F: Wednesdays, 5:15-5:45, Aspen 1. Online: Tuesdays 11 a.m. to 12 noon, via email or chat in Blackboard/WebCT.  Other times by individual arrangement.

Course Description:

Fundamentals of spoken and written Spanish with an emphasis on acquiring communicative skills while developing an awareness and appreciation of Hispanic cultures.

As a HYBRID course, 51% of the instruction, assignments and activities will be delivered online in Blackboard/WebCT and 49% will be delivered F2F (face-to-face.) You must have a computer with internet access to log in and you will need a headset or speakers and a microphone for the oral and listening activities. Broadband or satellite internet speed is recommended.  Computers are available on campus for student use.

You will be enrolled on Blackboard/WebCT about 5 days before the 1st day of classes (for late enrollment, about a day after adding.) To get started with Blackboard/WebCT, go to the college home page at http://www.old.gocolumbia.edu/  Click on the Blackboard logo on the upper left and follow the instructions for logging in.

[Note: Before logging in from your home computer, you will need to do a Browser Check, clicking on the link and following the instructions on the login page, to make sure your computer has the necessary software for Blackboard/WebCT to function properly.]

After logging in, you will then click on the link for this class: SPAN-1A (HYBRID) – Section (1291) FA 2009.

 

I.  Required reading:

    A.  Arriba: Comunicación y cultura, Brief Edition

E. Zayas-Bazán, et al.,

Pearson-Prentice Hall World Languages

5th Edition, 2008

B. Arriba, Student Activities Manual, Zayas-Bazan et. al. 2008, online Quia version:  Quia SAM Access Kit, 5/E

Note: The bookstore will have copies of the text packaged with the Quia SAM Access Kit 5e, which is ISBN #0132423324.  If you already have a textbook, you can buy access to the online workbook at http://books.quia.com Instructions for buying access and logging in to the online workbook will be handed out at the first class and will also be available on Blackboard/WebCT.

II.   Recommended reading:                     

A. 501 Spanish Verbs

    C. Kendris, Barron’s Educational Series

    6th Edition, 2007

B.    A good Spanish/English dictionary.

C. A no-cost Basic Companion Website is available online at   www.prenhall.com/arriba  with exercises and in-text audio.

D.   Immerse yourself in anything Spanish:  Spanish language television, radio, newspapers, advertisements, magazines or other authentic material, from your telephone or electric bill to your DVD player instructions.  Also try Internet searches for Spanish-language learning activities.

III. Papers and Assignments:

Daily homework, including online workbook activities, Blackboard/WebCT assignments, reading, writing and/or grammar assignments, basic research, project development and preparation for oral presentations.

All in-class assignments will be posted on the date they are due on the Blackboard/WebCT calendar.  Online assignments are posted within each week’s Learning Module on Blackboard.  Most chapter exams will be in class, though some may be divided up into a combination of in-class and online quizzes.

 

 

IV. Grading Standard:

Language learning for real communication is based on four integrated skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Grades are based on your participation and skill demonstration in class and online, as well as on quizzes, chapter exams, and written and oral assignments. Please note that in order to participate and demonstrate your Spanish communication skills, you must be in class and you must participate fully in the online activities.

Students are expected to arrive on time, come to class fully prepared and stay throughout the class period with the intention of learning and participating (and with cell phones, MP3 players and other electronics turned off). Students who are absent for any reason more than five full class periods during the semester limit their opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency and should, therefore, anticipate a reduction in grade, regardless of grades on written assignments and exams.

Students are expected to work courteously and collaboratively with classmates, submit assignments on time, and take responsibility for their own learning, including checking the Blackboard/WebCT calendar and announcements, and/or finding out from classmates about material missed due to absence. No makeup work will be accepted after one week of assignment. There will be no opportunity for makeup of quizzes, oral presentations/projects or of oral portions of chapter exams unless previously approved by the instructor.

Grading Sample     (Points may vary.)
In-class skill demonstration/daily participation:                      80 points
Chapter exams (6 @ 45 points each)                                     270 points

Online assignments (14 to 28 @ 5 or 10 points each)             140 points
In-class assignments (8 @ 10 points each)                              80 points
Oral Presentations/Projects (2 @ 15 points each)                  30 points

Final Cultural Presentation                                                     100 points

   Total possible:   700 points  

630 – 700 = A; 560 – 625 = B; 490 – 555 = C; 420 – 485 = D; 413> = F

                                  
V. Course Calendar

The first six chapters of the text will be covered this semester. Each lesson will be introduced with contextualized thematic vocabulary, followed by communicative guided drills, individual, small group and full group practice and activities, video, cultural readings and web research. Reading, writing and project assignments will be made from the text, Blackboard/WebCT, handouts, online workbook or web materials.

At least six hours of preparation time is anticipated each week, in addition to at least three hours of online work.

Week 1: Introduction to course, syllabus, text, workbook; classroom instructions & online orientation; discussion of foreign language learning; and a look at the Spanish you already know. Chapter 1, Part I. Meeting and greeting others; the alphabet and spelling your name.

Week 2: Greetings and alphabet review. Numbers and performing simple math problems; talking about the calendar and dates.  Culture:  the Hispanic world.

Week 3: Review numbers & calendar. Chapter 1, Part II. Describing your classroom; responding to classroom instructions; talking about yourself and others; identifying colors and talking about your favorite colors. 

Week 4:  Brief review and Exam Chapter 1. Chapter 2, Part I. Describing yourself, other people and things; asking and responding to simple questions; asking for and telling time. Names, last names and nicknames. 

Week 5:  Review Exam 1. Chapter 2, Part II. Talking about what you like to do; talking about what you have and what you have to do. Culture: Spain. 

Week 6:  Brief review and Exam Chapter 2. Chapter 3, Part I. Exchanging information about classes; talking about things that belong to you; talking about how you and others feel. Culture: Hispanic university system. 

Week 7: Review Exam 2. Chapter 3, Part II. Describing yourself and others; asking for and giving simple directions. Culture: Mexico.The Hispanic family. 

Week 8: Brief review and Exam Chapter 3. Chapter 4, Part I. Talking about your family; expressing desires and preferences; planning activities. 

Week 9: Review Exam 3. Oral presentations. Chapter 4, Part II. Extending invitations; making spatial references; discussing things you know. Culture:  Central America.

Week 10: Brief review and Exam Chapter 4. Chapter 5, Part I. Describe your daily routine and habits; express needs related to personal care; express emotional states; compare objects and compare people. 

Week 11: Review Exam 4. Daily Routine project. Culture: Ecotourism in Costa Rica. Chapter 5, Part II. Talking about what you do around the house; discussing people or things using the superlative. 

Week 12: Brief review and Exam Chapter 5. Chapter 6, Part I. Discussing food; eating preferences; ordering meals. 

Week 13: Chapter 6, Part I continued. Talking about things and expressing to whom or for whom. Expressing likes and dislikes. Culture: Shopping and cooking in Chile. Chapter 6, Part II. Discussing cooking and recipes. Talking about events in the past.

Week 14: Continuation of Chapter 6, Part II. Discussing cooking and recipes. Talking about events in the past. Review for Chapter 6 exam.

Week 15:  Chapter 6 exam. Class assessment.

Week 16: Present final culture projects.  ¡La fiesta!