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Spanish 101
In this course we assume that you know NO SPANISH. Please note that students with more than THREE years of high school Spanish will NOT receive credit for Spanish 101.
Learning Goals:
By the completion of SPA 101, students will demonstrate the ability to
a) understand sympathetic native speakers* when they discuss:
-themselves, their families and friends, their preferences, their immediate environment (the weather, the campus, classes, etc) and some activities and hobbies.
b) use words, lists of words, phrases and some sentences to speak in some detail about the aforementioned topics with sympathetic native listener.
c) write brief and simple compositions in complete sentences and paragraphs about the above topics which are comprehensible to a sympathetic native reader.
d) read simple texts prepared for foreign readers dealing with cultural products and some cultural practices involved with the topics cited above.
e) recognize and compare cultural similarities and differences between their own culture and hispanic culture.
f) recognize and compare some language similarities and differences between Spanish and English.
*ACTFL defines a sympathetic native speaker as one who is accustomed dealing with foreign speakers of the language and who is able to see through those grammatical errors which would normally impede communication.
Grading Policy
30% - Chapter Tests (Dos Mundos and Destinos)
25% - Comprehensive Final Examination
25% - Daily Evaluations of Oral Performances
10% - Active Participation in Conversation Hour
10% - In-class Written Assignments
Grading Scale
A |
95 |
C+ |
77 |
A- |
90 |
C |
73 |
B+ |
87 |
C- |
70 |
B |
83 |
D+ |
67 |
B- |
80 |
D |
65 |
F |
<65 |
Notes:
Tests: They test your mastery of the preceding lessons - vocabulary, grammar, Destinos (story line and characters). They have aural as well as written components, and last approximately 50 minutes. Tests are given on the stated day. There are no make-ups.
Final Exam: The final exam is a departmental, comprehensive test which is administered in two parts: the aural component is given in the last day of class and the written component is given during the final exam period.
Class Participation: Study of a foreign language necessitates frequent exposure to the language and regular practice. For that reason, class attendance is mandatory in the classroom meetings as well as the weekly conversation hour. It will be difficult (or impossible) to complete the exercises and activities in class if you have not reviewed the grammatical explanations and completed the exercises beforehand. You are expected to come prepared to class, having reviewed the material to be covered and ready to submit homework assignments on time.
Classroom participation is evaluated on a daily basis. Daily evaluations are based upon the following scale:
6: Well prepared for class, excellent participation (in terms of quality AND quantity), solid control of grammar. Speaks only Spanish in class. In other words, excellent.
5: Prepared for class, a good deal of participation (in terms of quality AND quantity), some control of grammar. Speaks only Spanish in class. In other words, good.
4: Participates in class but showing evidence of insufficient grammatical preparation (quality). Speaks only Spanish in class.
4: Present in class but holding a rather passive, not pro-active attitude (i.e. answering only when addressed), even if showing evidence of sufficient, good or excellent preparation when asked. Speaks only Spanish in class.
3: Present in class but showing evidence of little or insufficient preparation overall and/or an unusually passive, apathetic attitude. Speaks only Spanish in class.
0: Resorts to English (without explicit permission from the instructor) to communicate with the instructor and/or their classmates. Preparation and language ability may be poor, adequate, good or excellent.
0: ABSENT (You cannot participate if you are not in class!)
Students who arrive LATE to class will lose one of their earned points for that class period.
The workload in this course is demanding and cumulative in nature, as a considerable amount of material is covered in a relatively short period of time. You are STRONGLY encouraged to seek help at the first sign of difficulty, and to keep up with the work on a daily basis. Tutoring is available free of charge at the Reading/Writing Lab in Forcina Hall 145.
Mon-Thu101 Tue-Fri101 Mon-Wed 101 Destinos Schedule
