Course Syllabus

Spanish 121

Fall Quarter 2011

Bellevue College

 

Course Name:

 Spanish I

Course Numbers:

 Span121

Academic Term:

Fall Quarter

Year:

2011

 

Instructor:

Kjell Mattson

Office:

R230 Arts and Humanities Division

E-mail:

kjell.mattson@bellevuecollege.edu

Office Hours:

By Appointment

 

Class Day/Time:

Tuesday and Thursday / 5:30-7:40

Room:

D274A

Textbook:

  • Donley, Blanco: Aventuras, Primer Curso de Lengua Espanola, 3rd Edition,Vista Higher Learning, Boston MA, 2010
  • Workbook/Video Manual
  • Lab Manual
  • Textbook Audio CD-ROM/MP3
  • Video CD-ROM

 

 

Supplies:

        Paper, Pencil/Pen,

   Optional: Spanish/English Dictionary

 

 

 

Course Description

This course will cover chapters 1-5 of the Aventuras textbook. These chapters cover topics that include a wealth of vocabulary and grammatical structures to help beginning students increase Spanish fluency.  Students will also be exposed to the Latin culture and get a glimpse of what daily life in a Spanish-speaking country is like.  Students will use Spanish every class through reading, writing, listening and speaking.

 

Classroom Policy and Academic Conduct

In class, please make every effort to use Spanish as much as possible.  The more you use it, the faster and better you will become at it!  Do the best you can and participate at your own comfort level.  Please also respect the time and efforts of others to learn the language.  We all learn at different paces and a mutual respect for one another is always expected.  I ask that you either turn off cell phones, pagers and other noise-producing devices or put them on “vibrate” as not to disturb the class in session.  If you must use the phone, please excuse yourself momentarily from the class to do so.  I also ask that laptops be turned off or put away during class sessions, so you can fully benefit from the class activities.  Any texting, studying for other courses, cheating, plagiarism, vulgar language or disruption of other students’ learning in any way will not be tolerated.   I generally expect an environment of fairness, respect and appreciation for the time and efforts of all students who are present, to acquire the wonderful language of Spanish.  Please refer to the Student Procedures and Expectations for the Arts and Humanities Division for further information on Bellevue College policy: http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/policy.html

You can also access the Bellevue College Student Code, Policy 2050, which further outlines general student conduct that will be expected in class: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050 Student Code.asp

Course Outcomes and How They Will Be Met

·         Students will acquire beginning to intermediate oral communication skills and continue to develop vocabulary as to reach a higher level of oral fluency in the Spanish language.  They will achieve this by using the Spanish language to communicate with their peers and instructor.  They will also practice pronunciation via the Supersite.  http://aventuras.vhlcentral.com

·         Students will increase oral comprehension through the daily listening exercises via the Supersite, listening to the instructor and other students and any other extra practice the student can expose him/herself to outside of class.

·         Students will improve reading comprehension skills through the use of daily reading practice in the workbook in class and at home. 

·         Students will improve writing effectiveness in Spanish.  They will achieve this by practicing sentence structure, utilizing accents correctly and implementing newly acquired vocabulary in exercises in the workbook, video manual and other in-class assignments.

·         Students will increase own self-confidence in using the Spanish language simply by using it.  The more you use it, the better you get, and the better you get, the more confident you become.

·          Students will continue to develop an appreciation (and perhaps love) of the Spanish-speaking culture and all it encompasses.  Students in this course will be exposed to cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries through videos via the Supersite and will see how the language is actually used in real-world contexts.

 

General Suggestions For Acquiring a Second Language

Look for opportunities outside of class to practice:  Listen to the radio, t.v., movies and Spanish-speaking friends.  Read Spanish magazines, newspapers, and other texts which are appropriate for your level.  Be creative about practicing writing.  For example, write grocery lists in Spanish and commit with your peers in class to only exchange Spanish e-mails. Only speak Spanish in class and with Spanish-speaking peers, friends and families.  Take a risk and use it.  We learn from our mistakes, so don’t be afraid of them.  Instead, welcome them, because they will guide you to use better Spanish.  Finally, language acquisition is cumulative.  Every little bit gets you closer to your goal of learning it.  Only you can decide how quickly you get there.

 

Affirmation of Inclusion

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.  We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College and students, faculty, staff members and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

 

DRC (Disability Resource Center)

The DRC serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities.  If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc., please meet with your individual instructor to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

Please contact the center in B 132, or call 425-564-2498.  Deaf students can reach the center by video phone, 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110.

 

Evaluation and Grading Policy

Tests 30%

100-93=A

76-73=C

Classwork 25%

92-90=A-

72-70=C-

Homework 25%

89-87=B+

69-67=D+

Quizzes 20%

86-83=B

66-60=D

 

82-80=B-

59-0=F

 

79-77=C+

 

Testing

There will be no make-up tests given.  However, I will drop the lowest score of the five chapter tests during the quarter, so if you miss a test, that will be the one that will be dropped.  Please make it a habit from the beginning of the quarter to review and study the chapter vocabulary daily.  Regarding homework, I understand that due to extenuating circumstances, assignments may have to be turned in late.  Homework assignments will be accepted late, but with a 10% penalty per day.  However, I strongly urge you to finish homework by the assigned due date to be fully prepared for the next class session.  Quizzes will be given once per week and will cover the verb forms that we will study each week.  The “Final Exam” will be the Capítulo 5 chapter test.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you have during the quarter.  My ultimate goal is for you to learn Spanish and I’ll do whatever I possibly can to help you achieve your goal!

 

Attendance

Please make every effort to arrive to class on time and stay the duration of the class.  Also, a large percent of your final grade depends on your participation in work done in class, so attendance is very important.   In the event that you arrive late or need to leave early, please do it quietly out of respect of the class that is in session.   

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change)

 

Semana

Lecciones

Capítulo y Descripción

1

20, 22 de septiembre

 

1, 1.1, 1.2

Hola, ¿Qué tal?

Get to know you activities, review of materials, procedures, expectations.

Nouns, articles, numbers 0-30

2

27, 29 de septiembre

 

1.3, 1.4

Hola, ¿Qué tal?

Present tense of “ser”, telling time

Exámen de Capítulo 1, el 29 de septiembre

3

 4, 6 de octubre

 

2, 2.1

Las Clases

Present tense of regular “arverbs

 

4

11, 13 de octubre

 

2.2, 2.3,2.4

Las Clases

Questions, present tense of “estar, numbers 31-100

Exámen de Capítulo 2, el 13 de octubre

5

18, 20 de octubre

 

3, 3.1

La Familia

Descriptive adjectives

 

6

25, 27 de octubre

 

3.2, 3.3, 3.4

La Familia

Possessive adjectives, present tense of regular “er” and “ir” verbs, present tense of tener and venir

Exámen de Capítulo 3, el 27 de octubre

7

1, 3 de noviembre

 

4, 4.1,

 

El Fin de Semana

Present tense of “ir” verbs

 

8

8, 10 de noviembre

 

4.2, 4.3

El Fin de Semana

Stem changing verbs

 

9

15, 17 de noviembre

 

4.4

El Fin de Semana

Verbs with irregular “yo” forms

Exámen de Capítulo 4, el 17 de noviembre

10

22 de noviembre

 

 

5, 5.1, 5.2

Las Vacaciones

Estar” with conditions and emotions, present progressive

11

29 de noviembre, 1 de diciembre

 

5.3, 5.4

Las Vacaciones

Comparing “ser” and “estar”, direct object nouns and pronouns

12

6 de diciembre

Final Exam Week

Las Vacaciones

Exámen de Capítulo 5, el 6 de diciembre