Español201 Otoño2004

Prof. Jill Pellettieri Horasde consulta:

Oficina: UH 215 Martesy jueves 11:30-12:30

pjill@csusm.edu

(760) 750-8054

Course Description

Objectives:Upon successful completion of thiscourse, you will be able to:

Comprehend andproduce Spanish, in oral and written form, so as to carry out a range ofreal-world functions including: greeting others; describing yourself and yoursurroundings; taking care of basic ‘survival’ needs such as securing medicalattention, making travel arrangements, obtaining housing, planning a career andobtaining a job, etc.; expressing your opinion about a range of topics,including the family, the arts, the environment, politics, etc.; narrating andreporting about past, present and future events; giving advice and/orinstructions about a range of concrete topics; comprehend/interpret menus,schedules, job and housing ads and announcements, television and radios ads,short pieces of radio and television programs, and short newspaper and magazinearticles on common and familiar topics.

Express yourselfcreatively in the above situations, i.e. beyond memorized words and chunkphrases. Oral expression is expected to be in short to longer phrases, andwritten expression should include complete sentences in up to a two page text,with enough appropriateness and accuracy so as to be understood by nativespeakers who are accustomed to interacting with non-native speakers.

Recognize many ofthe important Hispanic people, celebrations, and events, as well as understandmany of the similarities and differences between North American culture andthose cultures that share the Spanish language with respect to family and homelife, workplace situations, the arts, politics, and news events.

Prerequisites: Spanish 102 or equivalent course, or 2 years of HighSchool Spanish completed within the last 2 years.

Required course texts

1. Hershberger, R. et al. (2001) Plazas: Lugar de encuentropara la hispanidad. Boston: Heinle & Heinle. (Audio CD included).

2. Pellettieri, J. (2001) Plazas Workbook:Lugar de encuentro para la hispanidad. Boston: Heinle & Heinle. (packagedwith answer key).Optionally available in on-line format through Quia access card.

3. Rolle-Risetto, S. & Añover, V.(2001) Plazas Lab Manual: Lugar de encuentro para la hispanidad. (packagedwith answer key).Optionally available in on-line format through Quia access card.

**Audio tapes (needed only for hard copy users) accompany themanual de laboratorio may be purchased separately, but can also be accessedfree of charge through the Language Learning Center in University Hall, 240.

Recommended course texts

1. Spinelli, Emily (1995) EnglishGrammar for Students of Spanish. Ann Arbor: The Oliva and Hill Press.

Course evaluation:Your evaluation in this course will be based on the following work.

Class participation		10%
Class work (tareas, pruebas, actividades…)		10%
Composición		10%
Chapter exams	3x15%=	45%
Final exam		15%
Oral assessment		10%
Attendance		+ / -

Classparticipation (10%): You cannot develop skills in Spanish withoutfrequently using the language in a variety of ways. It is for this reason thatyou are required to actively participate in class discussions and activitiesthroughout the semester. Your participation will be evaluated according to thecriteria specified on the participation guide.

Classwork (10%): There are three components to this portion of your grade, allof which will be averaged together at the end of the course: homework andworkbook/lab manual, pop quizzes, and formal class activities.

Homework &workbook/lab manual. You have the option of using an electronic version (Quia)or the hard copy. If you use the electronic version, your work will beautomatically recorded for your instructor. If you use the hard copy format,you will turn it in after the completion of a chapter, usually on a test date.NOTE: The Lab Manual requires that you listen to recorded audio material inorder to carry out the activities. If you do not use Quia, you can eitherpurchase the audio CDs from the bookstore, listen to the audio CDs in theLanguage Learning Center, or download the files in MP3 format from the LanguageLearning Center.

There is a specific format in which your hardcopyWB/Lab Man must be completed and turned in. If you do not follow this format,your work will not be acceptedand you will not receive credit for the assignment. Before you do each WB/Lab Man activity,review the corresponding section of the textbook. Complete the activity,without looking at the answer key or the textbook. After completing theactivity, check your answers and make any correction necessary on the page. Thepurpose is so that your instructor can check to see that you have activelyengaged in studying and correcting your work. This is the best way to learn.The purpose of this is NOT to take points away from you for incorrect answers,so please do not feel uncomfortable about getting something wrong. When youfind that you have made an error, ask yourself why you made the error. Was itjust a careless mistake? Or did you just not have the correct form memorized?If the latter is the case, then this is an indication that you need to makeflash cards, word lists, or whatever else is necessary to make this informationreadily available to your recall ability. If, however, you find that you do notunderstand why you have made the error, one of two things is going on. Eitheryou simply haven’t understood the concept or structure involved well enough, oryou are not wrong at all and the answer key has printed the wrong “correct”answer. To decide which is thecase, look at the corresponding textbook section again. Study the materialthere and try to figure out why yours was the wrong answer. If you findjustification for your answer, ask your teacher whether or not you are right.If you do not understand the concept, try looking at the textbook explanationand examples as well as your notes once more. If you still do not understand,ask your teacher in the following class.

In addition to the above work, your instructor mightassign additional assignments to be turned in throughout the semester, however,even when no specific work is assigned, you still should not think that you donot have homework. To be a successful language learner, and to do well in thiscourse you must study every day. Plan to spend approximately 2 hours eachday studying Spanish.

Pop quizzes. Yourinstructor will also throw unannounced pop quizzes. These quizzes cannot be made up for any reason. If you don’twant to miss a quiz, don’t miss class.

Composition(10%): You will be required to write a 2-page compositions this semester.They must be typed (double spaced in 12 pt. font –use standard academic fonts)and spell checked before being turned in.

Midtermexams (45%): There will be three midterm exams: Chapter 11, Chapter 12, andChapters 13 &14 (the Chapter 15 exam will be folded into the Final Exam).These tests will include listening and reading comprehension as well as writtenproduction of Spanish. Dates for exams are posted on the course syllabus.MAKE-UPS ARE ONLY GIVEN IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, i.e. you are too ill to cometo class, you have been in an accident, etc. In such an extreme emergency, writtendocumentation (such as a doctor’s note) is required beforeany make up will be scheduled. Because of this strict policy, pleaselook at the schedule and plan for back-ups on exam dates just in case of anunexpected emergency.

Finalexam (15%): Your final exam will include material from Chapter 15 that isnot tested through a chapter midterm. It will also be comprehensive of all theother chapters we cover this semester. Therefore, you cannot wait until thelast minute to study for chapter tests. Doing so might enable you to squeeze through a chapter exam, butprobably won’t help you acquire and store the skills and vocabulary in yourlong-term memory. Mark your calendars now for the final exam. Prepare just incase of emergencies, etc. because NO MAKE UPS WILL BE GIVEN. If you miss thefinal, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE EXAM.

Oralassessment: At the end of the semester you will be required to demonstrateyour oral communication skills to your instructor. Your instructor will giveyou more information about the format and the dates of this assessment later inthe semester. The purpose of this assessment is to assure that you haveacquired the interactive Spanish language skills required of this level ofSpanish. You are not expected to speak like a native speaker, to have perfectpronunciation, or to have perfect grammatical accuracy. You are expected tomake mistakes (you are a learner, after all!). Your instructor will simply bechecking to see that you can interact (produce and understand) in Spanish onbasic topics to complete basic everyday functions and manage a conversation(i.e. request that an interlocutor speak more slowly, request repetition orclarification of something he or she has said, etc.).

Attendance:The mere act of filling a seat is not what helps you acquire a language so youwill not gain course credit solely for attending class. To learn a language youneed to actively participate in class and use the language in meaningful ways.Therefore, you will be bound by the following attendance policy:

You are allowed threeabsences throughout the semester no questions asked- though you could use these days to “take avacation”, it is recommended that you use these days for those unforeseenemergencies that inevitable happen every semester, i.e. your car breaks down,your alarm doesn’t go off, your kids get sick and you have not back up, etc.Your freebies are not valid onexam dates.

After three absenceseach absence will lower your final grade by one letter level (B+ to B).

After your three freebies there will be no “excused” absences, so please do noteven ask your instructor to excuse them. Should you be forced to miss classbecause of an uncontrollable circumstance (i.e. jury duty, you becomephysically incapacitated, etc.), after documenting this condition, you willneed to consult with your instructor as to whether you will be able to continuein the course. A short term absence under these conditions might be excused,provided all missed work is satisfactorily made up. However, long term absencesare impossible to make up and you might be forced to take the course at anothertime.

Classroometiquette: As an instructor ofCalifornia State University, San Marcos your instructor is committed to socialjustice and academic integrity. Every effort will be made to foster anatmosphere of friendship, trust, and acceptance in the classroom. Thus,discrimination, intolerance, or disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated.If you have any suggestions as to how to further such an atmosphere, pleasefeel free to share them with your instructor at any time.

Ifyou are person with a disability and anticipate needing any type ofaccommodation to participate in this class, please make your instructor awareof this as soon as possible so that your needs can be accommodated properly.

Academicdishonesty: I have a strict NOTOLERANCE policy for acts of academic dishonesty. Anyone caught violatingthe CSUSM code of Academic Honesty (see the CSUSM General Catalogue) will failthe assignment and /or the course, and will be immediately turned in to theDean of Students for academic discipline.

ChallengeExams: If you believe you alreadyhave the skills necessary to pass Spanish 201, you may take a Challenge Exam.If you pass you will receive credit for the course, but will not have to attendthe rest of the semester. In order to take the Challenge Exam you must beofficially enrolled in the course. The exam will be offered on Tuesday,September 7, 2004 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in UNIV 240 (LLC). You must sign uponline at http://www.csusm.edu/spanish/challengeexam.htm

Thelast day to enroll for the Challenge Exam this semester is 3:00pm September 2,2004.

Importantnote for fulfilling the CSUSM Foreign Language Requirement: To fulfill the CSUSM language requirement you mustachieve a C or better in Spanish 201. If you are at risk of getting a C- orlower, do not wait until the end of the semester to get help from yourprofessor. There is nothing that he or she can do at that point.