Spanish 111- First Year Spanish 3 credits Fall 2006
Instructor: Scott Nielsen
Office hours: Berg Hall; By appointment
Phone, email: 753-2289 w.
Class: E01 Mon. & Wed. 5:30-6:45 Mcml 222
Texts: Cómo Se Dice, Jarvis et. al. , workbook
Course Overview: The course will emphasize beginning reading, writing
and speaking skills in Spanish. The writing portions will provide practice in composing complete and grammatically correct sentences and lead to the development of coherent paragraphs. The oral portion will focus on correct usage and pronunciation of conversational Spanish.,
Course Objective: The course is designed to develop Spanish language skills through practice in listening, speaking, writing and structural analysis.
Grading: Grades will be based on effort, quality and improvement in the course of the class. The primary emphasis is the mastery of written and spoken Spanish.
Participation (attendance and effort) 20%
Attendance: We will speak Spanish as much as possible in class so attendance is important. We also have a schedule in place of grammar points to be covered. You always have the option of self study, however, using your workbook and CDs. You may also cover coursework missed in class with one of the bilingual tutors in the Academic Success Center (ASC).
Presentations: skits, dialogues, activities will be equivalent to a homework assignment and decided upon by the class as we go. I prefer a student-driven course. Your talents and contributions will emerge as we go along. Be prepared to teach as well as learn: cook, sing, dance, bring a Hispanic friend.
Spanish tutor: You will be required to work with the Spanish tutors located in the Academic Success Center in McMullen Hall. Refer to tutor scheduling sheet. You are required to schedule at least 3 sessions during the semester. Refer to scheduled handout or go online off the GBC website and access Academic Success Center for scheduling appointments or call 753-2149. You are also welcome to use the computer and audio equipment anytime in the foreign language tutor room. Leaf Knotts and Sofia Kane are the Spanish tutors.
Homework and Exercises 30%
Oral & Aural: Students are expected to process most lab activities.
75% would be a goal to shoot for. We will check completed
workbooks at semester’s end. 2 listening CDs are included with the
text. In addition, the audio CDs for all 16 chapters will be on reserve
in the library for use there or overnight to copy. It is strongly suggested that you complete the lab listening before the end of each chapter.
Quizzes & Exams 50%
Vocabulary: written test on designated class day for each chapter as
designated in schedule. Dictated ½ English, ½ Spanish. 10 questions.
Grammar: comprehensive written and oral test of each chapter as per
schedule. At times we will use a practice test before the chapter exam.
We will attempt to learn the material as a collaborative group and
experiment with test taking procedure: partnered, group, take home,
devise your own test. I am always open to suggestions.
Final Oral Exam:
Comprehensive oral test of all chapters covered. The list of
questions are predetermined and provided in advance. We will practice mastery of them throughout the semester. Working with the tutors is particularly helpful in learning the oral portion.
Objective 1: Communication Skills
Students will learn to clearly and effectively communicate in the foreign language in written and oral form.
Learner Outcomes:
*Written Communication
-Complete written practices “prácticas¨
-Process the writing exercises in the workbook
-Written exams: vocabulary and grammar
-Create written translations through the workbook and exams
*Oral Communication
-Participate in classroom oral conversation groups
-Attend one-on-one conversation sessions with tutors
-Attend Wed. Spanish lunch conversations at Café X
*Listening Skills
-Listen to aural/oral CDs and cassettes to accompany the text
-Listen to Spanish satellite TV, DVDs in Spanish, other Spanish
language cassettes and CDs
-Practice listening skills in small groups, with the instructor and
one-on-one tutors, and at “Spanish Lunch” table discussions
-Listen to films in Spanish TBA on campus
-Utilize the language learning lab at GBC
*Reading Skills
-Read assigned passages and dialogues in the text
-Read outside Spanish language materials, i.e.: La Hora
newspaper, Selecciones, La Gente
-Read one short Spanish novella from GBC library
Objective 2: Critical Thinking
Integrate creativity, logic, quantitative reasoning, and the hierarchy of inquiry and knowing in social and scientific understanding:
Quantitative Ability
Understand mathematical principles and integrate quantitative methods into problem solving.
Learner Outcomes:
* Apply appropriate mathematical operations to deduce the
metric conversion of distances, volumes, temperature, size and weights in Spanish.
* Apply arithmetic computations orally in Spanish to practice Spanish numbers and facilitate travel applications: i.e., monetary conversion.
Reasoning and Independent Thought
Use logical and visual thinking in selecting, analyzing and presenting information.
Learner Outcomes:
* Gain a basic understanding of complex linguistic systems and their logical applications: syntax, gender, case, mood, tense etc.
* Solve a puzzle in Spanish: i.e., tourist directions—“On a grid map of greater Madrid reason visually how you could get from the Plaza Major to the Escorial.”
* Accomplish a complex task in Spanish by presenting the
sequential steps in Spanish to the class: i.e., “How to change the oil in your new Seat 440
Scientific Understanding
Understand the essential workings of natural systems,
understand the hierarchy of scientific knowing and the
use of the scientific method in its pursuit, and have
the ability to use this knowledge predicatively.
Learner Outcomes:
* Research and report on one aspect of the hierarchy of
descriptive (scientific) linguistics as it applies to the historical development of Spanish: i.e., “Provide a phoneme chart of different Spanish dialects”:” Create a
a language tree beginning with Latin exemplifying and describing the various evolutions of Romance languages including Spanish from their Indo-European roots”.
* Learn medical terminology in Spanish (for nurses and medical personnel).
* Discuss in class the Latin and Greek roots of scientific terminology as they relate to the Romance languages such as Spanish.
Objective 3: Personal and Cultural Awareness
Understand the roles of individuals in Hispanic society, the development of that society in Hispanic countries and cultures.
Learner Outcomes:
* Listen and respond to videos on Spanish culture and society.
* Read and answer questions in “Panorama Hispáno”.
* Give an oral presentation on Hispanic culture or history.
* Discuss in class today’s integrated global society and cross-cultural variation as they relate to Hispanic society and culture.
* Attend “International Food Fair”,“Great Basin Culture Festival”
* Participate in discussions with bilingual and bicultural students.
Objective 4: Personal Wellness
Develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors which promote personal
well being.
Learner Outcomes:
Personal Wellness, as evidenced by the student’s ability to;
* Use Spanish to foster interpersonal communication and improve personal relationships in the workplace: i.e., Spanish for nurses, policemen and teachers.
* Use Spanish to enhance personal and global well being through extended travel and interpersonal contacts made possible by the acquisition of a foreign language.
* Interact more fully with Spanish- speaking family members.
(Elko High school estimates a 28-33% Hispanic graduating class; Nevada is similarly estimated at being 25% Hispanic).
* Enhance personal well being, expansion and recreation through the USAC studies abroad program through UNR: i.e., spend a semester in Costa Rica on the beach campus of Puntarenas, spend a summer in Pau, France studying and hiking in the Pyrenees Mountains (2003-2004 GBC language students are already registered for these programs).
Objective 5: Technological Understanding
Function effectively in modern society through the use of technology. Foster one’s knowledge and usage of a foreign language through technological applications.
Learner Outcomes:
* Access and learn to use on line tutor Smarthinking.
* Access and use CDs, audio cassettes, and on line Spanish chat rooms.
* Explore language learning possibilities and cross cultural connections available on the Internet and WebCT.
* Use GBC language learning laboratory.