First-year Spanish I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Course

SPAN-1411-001 First-year Spanish I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: An acceptable score on state mandated or locally administered English placement test.

Course Description

Basic Spanish language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing within a cultural framework. Students will acquire the vocabulary and grammatical structures necessary to communicate and comprehend at the beginner level.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 2 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook:

You will use the online textbook Vistas 5^th edition (published by Vista Higher Learning).  You will not need to buy an additional textbook or materials or anything from the bookstore. Instructions for accessing the online book, redeeming your access code, and creating your account can be found at: https://www.vhlcentral.com/screencasts/student?source=m3.

The VHL website: https://www.vhlcentral.com/home

Supplies

You will need speakers or a headset to listen to audio portions of various assignments. Your computer also needs a microphone to record your voice.

Student Performance

 

Course Structure:

• The course is based on the text listed above. You are responsible for the assignments in each chapter and should review the material indicated on or before the indicated dates.

• Learning Outcomes:

  1.     After studying the material presented in this course of study, students will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the Department of Modern Languages;

  2.     Use the Novice subject area vocabulary presented in the text;

  3.     Write from dictation sentences or short passages dealing with familiar material;

  4.     Understand questions dealing with basic autobiographical data or routine activities and respond appropriately;

  5.     Demonstrate knowledge of courtesy expressions and actions in everyday situations;

  6.     Introduce themselves and others; respond appropriately;

  7.     Comprehend simple instructions dealing with familiar situations and vocabulary;

  8.     Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and meanings of common regular and irregular verbs in the present and preterit in both written and oral context;

  9.     Produce (in oral or written form) uncomplicated sentences in the present and preterit tenses;

  10.  Give simple oral or written responses in the present and preterit to questions dealing with personal information or daily activities;

  11.  Give in written or oral form a one-sentence summary of an action or a situation in the present or a one-sentence summary of a past action;

  12.  Understand isolated words and phrases from Spanish-language radio programs, tapes, films, or television programs or heard in conversations between native speakers;

  13.  Understand the main idea and some facts from simple, connected written or oral passages dealing with familiar situations and mostly known vocabulary and verb forms;

  Recognize isolated words and expressions

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Academic Dishonesty:

Students are responsible for adhering to a high standard of behavior when it comes to honesty and plagiarism. A student who engages in scholastic dishonesty which includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, the use of online translators, and collusion will receive and "F" for this course. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

 

Grading Criteria

Grading:

Your grade will be weighted according to the following criteria:

Assignments  = 40%

Tests and quizzes = 60% 

The exercises that you will be graded on need to be completed by a certain date. They are a combination of listening, speaking, reading, writing, fill-in-the blank, multiple choice and T/F exercises, and at the end of each chapter, a comprehensive test. The assignments may be re-done an unlimited number of times until the desired grade is achieved. The tests are timed (45 minutes) and can be taken only once. The use of any type of translator, on-line or otherwise, is strictly prohibited. Tests may be taken as early as two (2) days before the due date. Assignments (not tests) may be completed at any time before the due date. You may work on them at your own pace. I strongly urge students to keep up with the assignments by working ahead of the schedule so that if a situation occurs and you cannot do that day’s assignment, it will have already been completed because you worked ahead of the due dates. Assignments completed late will be docked a flat rate of 10%.

The standard ten-point spread is used to determine the letter grade received:

90 –100 =  A

80 – 89  =  B

70 –79   =  C  

60 – 69  =  D

below 60 = F

There is no extra credit in this course.

There are many sections not marked as an assignment in the content for each chapter. These sections would prove extremely helpful if worked by students. The more sections you can do, the better you will understand grammatical concepts as well as spoken Spanish.

There will be no make-ups for chapter tests unless there is an extenuating circumstance.

Computer or technical difficulties are no excuse for missing tests. So, keep an close eye on the calendar of assignments so that you do not miss any deadlines.

Attendance

Not appllicable.

Calendar

Additional Information

Spanish 1411

Summer Semester 2016

Lección 1

6/6    Contextos, Fotonovela

6/7    Pronunciación, Estructura 1.1, Estructura 1.2

6/8    Estructura 1.3, Estructura 1.4

6/9    Cultura

6/10  Recapitulación

6/11  Lesson 1 Test (can be taken as early as 6/9 and can only be taken once)

Lección 2

6/13   Contextos, Fotonovela

6/14   Pronunciación, Estructura 2.1, Estructura 2.2

6/15   Estructura 2.3, Estructura 2.4

6/16   Cultura

6/17   Recapitulación

6/18   Lección 2 Test (can be taken as early as 6/16 and can be taken only once)

Lección 3

6/20   Contextos, Fotonovela

​6/21   Pronunciación, Estructura 3.1, Estructura 3.2

6/22    Estructura 3.3, Estructura 3.4

6/23   Cultura

6/24   Recapitulación

6/25   Lección 3 Test (can be taken as early as 6/23 and can be taken only once)

Lección 4

6/27   Contextos, Fotonovela

6/28   Pronunciación, Estructura 4.1, Estructura 4.2

6/29   Estructura 4.3, Estructura 4.4

6/30   Cultura

7/1     Recapitulación

7/2     Lección 4 Test (can be taken as early as 6/30 and can be taken only once)

7/4     EL D´IA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA

​Lección 5

7/5     Contextos, Fotonovela

7/6     Pronunciación, Estructura 5.1, Estructura 5.2

7/7     Estructura 5.3, Estructura 5.4

7/8     Recapitulación    

7/9     Lección 5 Test (can be taken as early as 7/7 and can be taken only once)

Lección 6

7/11   Contextos, Fotonovela

7/12   Pronunciación, Estructura 6.1, Estructura 6.2

7/13   Estructura 6.3, Estructura 6.4

7/14   Cultura

7/15   Recapitulación

7/16   Lección 6 Test (can be taken as early as 7/14 and can be taken only once)

Lección 7

7/18  Contextos, Fotonovela

7/19  Pronunciación, Estructura 7.1, Estructura 7.2

7/20   Estructura 7.3, Estructura 7.4

7/21   Cultura

7/22   Recapitulación

7/23   Lección Test (can be taken as early as 7/21 and can be taken only once)

7/26   Culture Project

THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM IN THIS COURSE.