Intermediate Spanish I Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

SPAN-2311-DC007 Intermediate Spanish I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: SPAN 1412 or appropriate score on language placement test

Course Description

The consolidation of skills acquired at the introductory level. Further development of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Emphasis on comprehension, appreciation and interpretation of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

SPAN 2311 - Vistas, 5th Edition Introducción a la lengua española José A. Blanco, Philip Redwine Donley textbook with 36 month online Supersite Plus. (This is the same book you used for Spanish 3, so if you have an active code from last year you don't need to buy another one.

SPAN 2312 – Facetas, 5^th Edition Nivel intermedio / Curso breve José A. Blanco textbook with 12 month online Supersite Plus. 

You don’t really need 12 months of access for either book.  6 months is enough, but currently only 12 month choices are available from Vistas.  I am sometimes able to persuade them to offer us a discounted rate on the electronic version of Vistas for 6 months.  I will let you know if this goes through with the new edition of the book.

Vistas Information (1^st Semester):

There are several versions of the book available.  Make sure you have the 6^th edition.  It comes in hardcover, loose leaf, and eBook versions.  You also need an access code for Supersite Plus.  There are two different Supersite codes available.  Make sure you get the one for Supersite Plus.  If it doesn’t say Plus, it’s not the right one.  It doesn’t matter to me which format you buy as long as you have access to the textbook in class (either printed or on an iPad) and full access to Supersite Plus.  To help with your decision, follow the link to the versions of the book that best =meet the needs of the class.  The different versions that will work for this class appear under the tabs (Hardcover format, Loose-leaf format, and Codes & other materials):

https://vistahigherlearning.com/school/amarillo/vistas-6th-edition.html?pgi=a3W4A000000oQBkUAM

Facetas Information (2^nd Semester):

There are several versions of the book available.  Make sure you have the 5^th edition.  It comes in paperback, loose leaf, and eBook versions.  You also need an access code for Supersite Plus.  There are two different Supersite codes available.  Make sure you get the one for Supersite Plus.  If it doesn’t say Plus, it’s not the right one.  It doesn’t matter to me which format you buy as long as you have access to the textbook in class (either printed or on an iPad or other device) and full access to Supersite Plus.  To help with your decision, follow the link to the versions of the book that best meet the needs of the class.  The different versions that will work for this class appear under the tabs (Hardcover format, Loose-leaf format, and Codes & other materials):

https://vistahigherlearning.com/school/amarillo/facetas-5th-edition.html?pgi=a3W4A0000002AbaUAE

Books can be purchased through the link above or you may search for better deals online or buy the hardcover package at the AC Bookstore.  Be careful buying used books that claim to have access to the Supersite Plus Code.  The Supersite Plus access code is only good for 12 months.  If it has already been activated by the previous owner it won’t be available for you to use.

Supplies

SPAN 2311

• Demonstrate comprehension of authentic spoken discourse produced by Spanish speakers of diverse origins.
• Produce oral Spanish comprehensible to native speakers using complex grammatical structures to narrate, describe and elicit information.
• Demonstrate increasing comprehension of authentic written texts in a variety of genres.
• Write descriptions and narratives at a low intermediate level using complex grammatical structures.
• Formulate cohesive paragraphs and short/simple essays.
• Describe cultural practices and products of the Spanish-speaking world drawing on authentic materials including literature and the visual arts.

SPAN 2312

• Summarize authentic spoken discourse produced by Spanish speakers of diverse origins.
• Produce Spanish comprehensible to native speakers using complex grammatical structures to communicate analytical and interpretive information in both impromptu and prepared speech.
• Demonstrate increasing comprehension of authentic written texts in a variety of genres.
• Write evaluations and critiques at a high intermediate level using complex grammatical structures.
• Formulate cohesive paragraphs and essays.
• Interpret cultural practices and products of the Spanish speaking world drawing on authentic materials including literature and the visual arts

Student Performance

SPAN 2311: Second-year Spanish I

Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Grammar, and Culture

Learning Outcomes:

This course is based on the Monitor Model as determined by Stephen Krashen and the ACTFL Proficiency Scales.  The basic description of The Monitor Model as well as the our goal levels of the ACTFL Proficiency Scale are outlined below.

The five hypotheses that Krashen proposes in The Monitor Model are as follows:

• The input hypothesis. This states that learners progress in their knowledge of the language when they comprehend language input that is slightly more advanced than their current level. Krashen called this level of input "i+1", where "i" is the language input and "+1" is the next stage of language acquisition.
• The acquisition–learning hypothesis claims that there is a strict separation between acquisition and learning; Krashen saw acquisition as a purely subconscious process and learning as a conscious process, and claimed that improvement in language ability was only dependent upon acquisition and never on learning.
• The monitor hypothesis states that consciously learned language can only be used to monitor language output; it can never be the source of spontaneous speech.
• The natural order hypothesis states that language is acquired in a particular order, and that this order does not change between learners, and is not affected by explicit instruction.
• The affective filter hypothesis. This states that learners' ability to acquire language is constrained if they are experiencing negative emotions such as fear or embarrassment. At such times the affective filter is said to be "up".

Goal Levels from the ACTFL Proficiency Scale

Reading (Intermediate High)

At the Intermediate High sublevel, readers are able to understand fully and with ease short, non-complex texts that convey basic information and deal with personal and social topics to which the reader brings personal interest or knowledge. These readers are also able to understand some connected texts featuring description and narration although there will be occasional gaps in understanding due to a limited knowledge of the vocabulary, structures, and writing conventions of the language.

Writing (Intermediate High)

Writers at the Intermediate High sublevel are able to meet all practical writing needs of the Intermediate level. Additionally, they can write compositions and simple summaries related to work and/or school experiences. They can narrate and describe in different time frames when writing about everyday events and situations. These narrations and descriptions are often, but not always, of paragraph length, and they typically contain some evidence of breakdown in one or more features of the Advanced level. For example, these writers may be inconsistent in the use of appropriate major time markers, resulting in a loss of clarity. The vocabulary, grammar and style of Intermediate High writers essentially correspond to those of the spoken language. Intermediate High writing, even with numerous and perhaps significant errors, is generally comprehensible to natives not used to the writing of non-natives, but there are likely to be gaps in comprehension.

Listening (Intermediate High)

At the Intermediate High sublevel, listeners are able to understand, with ease and confidence, simple sentence-length speech in basic personal and social contexts. They can derive substantial meaning from some connected texts typically understood by Advanced-level listeners although there often will be gaps in understanding due to a limited knowledge of the vocabulary and structures of the spoken language.

Speaking (Intermediate High)

Intermediate High speakers are able to converse with ease and confidence when dealing with the routine tasks and social situations of the Intermediate level. They are able to handle successfully uncomplicated tasks and social situations requiring an exchange of basic information related to their work, school, recreation, particular interests, and areas of competence.

Intermediate High speakers can handle a substantial number of tasks associated with the Advanced level, but they are unable to sustain performance of all of these tasks all of the time. Intermediate High speakers can narrate and describe in all major time frames using connected discourse of paragraph length, but not all the time. Typically, when Intermediate High speakers attempt to perform Advanced-level tasks, their speech exhibits one or more features of breakdown, such as the failure to carry out fully the narration or description in the appropriate major time frame, an inability to maintain paragraph-length discourse, or a reduction in breadth and appropriateness of vocabulary.

Intermediate High speakers can generally be understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives, although interference from another language may be evident (e.g., use of code-switching, false cognates, literal translations), and a pattern of gaps in communication may occur.

http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012/english

Students 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 certain standard of behavior when it comes to honest and plagiarism.  A student who engages in scholastic dishonesty which includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, and collusion will receive and "F" for this course.  Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria:

You will be graded on the percentage of correct responses accumulated in this course. All grades will fall into one of eight categories. 

Reading                       10%

Writing                        10%

Listening                     10%

Speaking                     10%

Vocabulary                  10%

Grammar                     20%

Culture                         20%

Participation                10%

The exercises that you will be graded on must be completed by a certain date. They are a combination of reading, writing, listening, speaking, homework, participation, and, at the end of each chapter, a comprehensive test. These activities may not be accessed after the date has passed. Again, there are no make ups or extensions for any activities. You may work on them at your own pace but they must be completed by the given date.

For all grading I will use a scale of 90, 80, 70 and 60 for all minimums for letter grades of A, B, C, and D.

**** There is no extra credit in this course.

It will prove very beneficial to work all sections of Práctica as well as the Inténtalo sections. There are many sections not marked for assignment in the content for each chapter. These sections, although some not assigned, will prove extremely helpful if completed by students. The more sections you can do, the better you will understand the concepts as well as spoken Spanish.

There will be no make ups if you miss a due date.

Policies:

Late work policy. No work will be accepted past the due dates on the course calendar. Computer or technical difficulties are no excuse for missing tests, or other assignments.

Attendance

Participation can only be done in class.  If you are not present, you will miss said assignments and your grade will suffer.  The Participation grade is worth 10% of your grade.  There are no make-ups on missed class assignments.  EVEN IF YOU MISS CLASS FOR AN EXCUSED ABSENCE, YOU STILL MISSED CLASS.

Calendar

Additional Information

Due to COVID-19 and the changing conditions it has forced on us all, some aspects of this course may need to be modified.  Please be flexible.