Brandeis University- 14HISP32- Intermediate Spanish Conversation.
Instructor: Raysa Mederos - Office: Rabb 339
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00-1:00, and by appointment.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:María González-Aguilar, Marta Rosso-O’Laughlin. Atando Cabos Fourth edition.
2. MySpanishLab for Atando Cabos Fourth Edition (online workbook)
3. Viajes fantásticos: El último sol.
HISP32 provides students with the necessary tools to increase their confidence in using Spanish to communicate in both speaking and writing on a wide variety of topics. This class provides advanced beginners and intermediate students with a solid review of the grammatical structures already acquired in the elementary level courses; some of the uses of the present subjunctive mood are also introduced. In this context HISP32 aims to:
- Develop analytic tools to examine and understand cultural productions from Latin America, Spain, and Hispanics in the US.
- Expand the vocabulary and grammar skills.
- Engage students in conversations and discussions about various topics related to Hispanic culture and current issues in the Spanish speaking world.
- Develop sociolinguistic competence to function outside of the classroom in an immersion experience.
- Broaden the student’s knowledge of the Hispanic culture and language.
PLACEMENT: HISP20 at Brandeis; a score of 16-31 in the placement exam; or AP exam score of 3. If you did not take HISP20, you MUST take the placement exam.
Is this the right class for you?
Think carefully about your placement; will this course be challenging enough for you? Do you want to major or minor in this language, and will you have enough time to do so? If you think this class might not be the right one for you, please speak to me as soon as possible. Keep in mind that once you have completed a course in the language sequence (courses number 10 through 106—or 108 in Spanish), you will not be able to skip a level. If the course that is at your level is closed, we advise you to wait a semester and enroll in the right course for you during pre-registration.
*Reminder: In order to be able to continue to the next level you have to obtain a C- or higher.
GRADING: The final grade will be calculated as follows:
- Attendance, participation, preparation(homework): 15%
- MySpanishLab: 5%
- Compositions: 10%
- Quizzes: 10%
- Unit exams: 20%
- Group skits: 10%
- Final oral exam: 10%
- Final exam: 20%
*** No make-up exams or quizzes are given.
If you miss class the day an evaluation is scheduled, in order to make it up you must provide
the proper documentation to excuse your absence. You are allowed to make-up only one
evaluation if your absence is excused.
The following grading scale will be used:
94-100 = A 74-76 = C
90-93 = A- 70-73 = C-
87-89= B+ 67-69 = D+
84-86 = B 64-66 = D
80-83 = B- 60-63 = D-
77-79 = C+ 59 and below = F
Course Policies:
All electronic devices MUST be OFF during class
attendance: Your presence in class is crucial to language acquisition. Attendance will be taken daily. If you miss more than three = 3 classes your grade will be lowered by ½ point letter grade for each additional absence. Your absences and tardiness will also have a negative effect upon your class participation grade.
8 or more absences will result in an F.3 times late = 1 absence
HOMEWORK and class participation: Your grade will be based on the quality and frequency of your participation in Spanish in **all** class activities. Each student is expected to actively participate in class discussions, to have the homework ready and to be alert in class.
If you are an athlete and need to be excused for competition, your coach must provide the dates when you will be absent. You are responsible for keeping up with the class material.
spanish major: If you are thinking about majoring or minoring in Spanish, you should familiarize yourself with the program in the Bulletin and then see the Undergraduate Advising Head, Professor Dian Fox () as soon as possible to make sure that you understand the prerequisites and requirements.
academic integrity: All students are responsible for following the university guidelines regarding academic honesty:
Academic integrity is central to the mission of educational excellence at Brandeis University. Each student is expected to turn in work completed independently, except when assignments specifically authorize collaborative effort. It is not acceptable to use the words or ideas of another person—whether that be a world-class philosopher or those of your classmate—without proper acknowledgement of that source. This means you must use notes and quotation marks to indicate the source of any phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or ideas found in published volumes, on the internet, or created by another person.
Violation of University policies on academic integrity, described in Section 3 of Rights and Responsibilities, may result in failure on the assignment or failure in the course, and could even end in suspension from the University. Remember that tutors or study leaders, including those sanctioned by Brandeis University, are not authorized to complete homework or any other assignments for you. If you have questions about the type of help you can receive, please ask your professor before you receive help.
If you are working in a group that I authorized, I will expect your answers to resemble those of your partners. Otherwise, I expect you to do your work separately from your friends, classmates, family members, tutors, and so on. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask your professor before you receive help.
If you have any questions about academic integrity, please contact Dean Gendron, Director of Student Rights and Community Standards:, 781-736-5070,
Shapiro Campus Center 201.
notice to students with disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see the professor immediately. Retroactive accommodations cannot be provided.
study abroad: You are highly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad to continue to improve your skills, and broaden your knowledge of the culture of Hispanic countries. For more specific information, please, contact:
Scott van der Meid () or Allyson Goose ()
The Study Abroad office is in 127 Usdan Student Center, and its phone number is 6-3483.
LATTE: Additional information about this course, including the syllabus, activities and the films to be watched may be found on LATTE. Please note that if changes occur on the syllabus, I will contact the class through LATTE email service.
Brandeis University Group Study (B.U.G.S.) is a program that provides peer tutoring to all undergraduate students free of charge. There is no need to make an appointment. For more information or an updated schedule, contact:
Jeffrey Lowenstein ()
Week 5: February 10-13
· Watch movie on LATTE: Maria llena eres de gracia.
· MSL activities are due on Monday****Late= - ½
Clase 16 Lectura: No Speak English, pp. 86-89. Discusión
Clase 17 Practica de pretérito/Imperfecto
Clase 18 Movie: Maria llena de Gracia. Discusión.
Clase 19 Repaso para el examen 1
Week 6: February 17-21 Midterm recess
Week 7: February 24-27
Clase 20 Organize skits and composition 1
Clase 21 Examen 1
Clase 22 Capítulo 4, Hablemos de donde vivimos
En contexto: El Congreso de Protección del Medio Ambiente, pp. 95-98
Clase 23 Repasemos 1, The personal a, p. 103, Cs, pp. 388-389;
Repasemos 2, Direct Object Pronouns, pp. 104-106, Cs, pp. 390-391;
Repasemos 3, Indirect Object Pronouns, pp. 106-107; Cs, pp. 391-393;
Week 8: March 3-6
Clase 24 Aprendamos 1, Double Object Pronouns, pp. 108-110.
Clase 25 Aprendamos 3, Por vs. para, pp. 114-116;
Clase 26 Skits
Clase 27 Skits
Week 9: Marzo 10-13
Clase 28 Repasemos 3, Informal Commands, p. 170, Cs, pp. 401-403.
Clase 29 Repaso para el quiz
Clase 30 Quiz # 2
Clase 31 Capítulo 5, En contexto: La importancia de la tierra, pp. 127-129
______Week 10: March 17-20
Clase 32 The subjuntive mood.
Repasemos 2, Formal Commands, pp. 169-170, Cs, pp. 400-401.
Clase 33 Repasemos 1 Present Subjunctive of regular verbs, pp. 136-137; Cs, pp. 393-395;
Repasemos 2 Present Subjunctive of irregular verbs, p. 138; Cs, pp. 395-397.
Clase 34 Ventana al mundo, p. 135, "El pueblo quiché"
Ventana al mundo, p. 137, "Declaración universal de los derechos humanos"
Repasemos 3, Present Subjunctive after impersonal expressions, pp. 138-139;
Clase 35 Ventana al Mundo, p. 130: “La Pachamama.”
Aprendamos 1, Expressing feelings and emotions: Subjunctive, p. 140.
Week 11: March 24-27
· WATCH Movie on LATTE: The motorcycle diaries.
Clase 36 Aprendamos 2, Giving advice, suggesting, requesting: Subjunctive, pp. 140-142.
Expressing doubt, denial, and uncertainty: Subjunctive, pp. 143-145;
Ventana al mundo, "Los mayas”
Clase 37 Cuento: El eclipse.
Clase 38 Película: Diarios de motocicleta. Discusión
Clase 39 Repaso para el examen
Week 12: March 31-April 3
· MSL activities due Monday 31
Clase 40 Composición 2
Clase 41 Examen 2
Clase 42 El último sol. Prólogo.
Clase 43 El último sol.
Week 13: April 7-10
Clase 44 El último sol
Clase 45 El último sol
Clase 46 El último sol
Clase 47 El último sol
Week 14: April 15-22 Passover & Spring recess.
Clase 48 El último sol.
______Week 15: April 23-24
Clase 49 Conclusión del curso.
Clase 50 Evaluaciones orales
______Week 16: April 28-29
Clase 51 Evaluaciones orales
Clase 52 Evaluaciones orales.
****** Friday May 2: Examen final & 1:30.