HOLY CROSS COLLEGE

                                                                           FALL 2007

                                                                   Intermediate Spanish

 

                                                         SPANISH 201-02 (3 credit hours)

 

                                                        Instructor:  Lori Crawford-Dixon

 

Course Description:

Spanish 201 is an intermediate Spanish course designed for students with a basic foundation in the Spanish language.  Its purpose is to build on intermediate-level language skills in writing, reading, speaking, and listening, with special attention paid to developing proficiency in Spanish-speaking cultures.  The successful student will master intermediate-level communication skills and be prepared for post-intermediate structures in subsequent semesters.

 

Goals:     1.  To become further acquainted with many of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

                2.  To review and expand grammatical and vocabulary structures of the Spanish language.

                3.  To improve the skills necessary to function in everyday situations using authentic and                                                       culturally appropriate language.

 

Transferable skills:  The student will be able to:

1.        Demonstrate communication skills in Spanish, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing;

2.        Develop awareness and respect for cultural diversity;

3.        Interact and work cooperatively with others in group situations;

4.        Recognize and use multiple ways of thinking;

5.        Use computer programs to enhance coursework.

 

Course Requirements:

 

1. Materials.  Students are required to bring the following materials to every class:

 

  • textbooks
  • notebook (for note taking and activities, preferably with a place to store returned assignments)
  • pencil/pen

 

2. Quizzes.  Each structure of the semester will culminate in a written quiz.  All quiz dates are indicated on the syllabus. * N.B.:  The instructor will drop the lowest quiz score.

 

3. Actividades escritas.  There will be 10 written assignments (generally 1-2 paragraphs) as follow-up to structures and vocabulary presented in class.  All assignments are due at the beginning of the following class period, and will be assessed using a 10-point rubric (attached).

 

4. Situaciones.  There will be 3 in-class dialogues that students will prepare with their peers.  They will be assessed using a 9-point rubric (attached).

 

5. Cultural project.  On November 19, students (individually or in pairs) will present a cultural project (in Spanish or English) of their choice.  More details to follow.

 

6. Participation.  Participation is key to your success in acquiring oral communication skills.  This category includes your class preparation (i.e., assignments from El Mundo hispano).

 

7. Attendance.  The acquisition of communication skills in a foreign language requires frequent and consistent exposure to the material.  For that reason, regular attendance is required.  Any absence in excess of three must have written certification of serious medical complaint or family emergency.  More than three undocumented absences will affect the final grade.

Policy on make-up work:

Any homework missed due to an absence is due during the next class the student attends.  Since the instructor will drop the lowest quiz score, students have the option of not making up ONE of the 7 quizzes.  A student who misses a second quiz may not make up this quiz except for emergency or clearly justifiable circumstances.  This student must contact the instructor (either prior to or immediately after the quiz) and must submit a written official excuse from the appropriate authorities.  All Situaciones will be made up with the instructor during office hours.

 

Grading:

The final grade for this course will be determined in the following manner:

 

6 quizzes                                30%

Mid-term                                10%

Actividades escritas            15%       

Situaciones                           10%

Cultural project                     5%

Participation                          15%        (class preparation, attendance, acquisition of oral communication skills,

                                                                all Lectura activities)

Final exam                              15%

 

Grading Scale:

 

100-93%               A                             82-80%                  B-                            69>%                     D

92-90%                  A-                            79-78%                  C+                          59>%                     F

89-88%                  B+                          77-73%                  C                            

87-83%                  B                             72-70%                  C-                           

 

                                                                                               

Items of Interest:

  • World Wide Web Sites.  Our textbooks come with their own websites that offer various activities to enhance your learning.  Go to www.cliffnotes.com and www.spanishmhhe.com  for additional practice and enrichment.
  • Service abroad.  All Holy Cross students can make overseas travel to a Spanish-speaking country a part of their regular degree program.  We have service programs in Peru and Mexico!

 

 

Accommodations for students with special needs:

If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodations, or if you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, or the like, please speak with me as soon as possible. 


HOLY CROSS COLLEGE

                                                                           FALL 2007

                                                                   Intermediate Spanish

 

                                                         SPANISH 201-02 (3 credit hours)

 

Instructor:  Lori Crawford-Dixon                                                     Course Meetings:  MWF 9:30-10:20, V-240    

e-mail:  lcrawforddixon@hcc-nd.edu                                                Office:  V-191                                                       

tel:  239-8363                                                                                         Hours:  M/W  11:30 a.m. – 1:30  p.m.  (and by appointment)                                       

 

Required texts:      El mundo hispano   (Sabló-Yates & Kihyet)

                                Cliff’s Quick Review:  Spanish II   (Rodriguez)

 

 

  Date                                      Topic                                                      Homework                                                           

                                                                                                                               

August   27           Course introduction; Preliminary                      Read pp. 3-10 (Cliff’s Quick Review)

activities, Part I                                                   

 

                29            Quiz #1; Preliminary activities, Part II;              Actividad Escrita #1

                                regular verbs

 

                31            Preliminary activities, Part III                             Actividad Escrita #2

 

 

Sept.       3              vocabulary review; irregular verbs                   Actividad Escrita #3

                                (ser/estar, ir, dar, ver, “hay”)

 

                5              irregular verbs (cont.); interrogatives               STUDY for Quiz #2

 

7              Quiz #2

 

                               

10            El mundo hispano:  Los hispanos en los         Complete “Actividades de comprensión”

                EE.UU.;                                                  for Voces del barrio and Cubanita                                                                                                                                  descubanizada, (pp. 7/57)

 

12            vocabulary review; saber vs. conocer;            Actividad Escrita #4

                Personal “a”; more irregular verbs

 

14            irregular verbs (cont.); map of Mexico,            STUDY for Quiz #3

                Central America, and the Caribbean

 

 

17            Quiz #3

 

19            El mundo hispano:  México y                             Complete “Actividades de comprensión”

                Centroamérica                                                       for Oye Señor mi causa justa (pp. 20/59)

 

21            El mundo hispano:  México y

                Centroamérica (cont.)

 

 

24            “tener” expressions;                                            Actividad Escrita #5

                Situación #1:  Una entrevista

  Date                                      Topic                                                      Homework                                                           

Sept.       26            Progressive tenses                                              STUDY for Quiz #4

 

                28            Quiz #4

 

 

October  1              The Aztecs  

 

3              El mundo hispano:  El Caribe                             Complete “Actividades de comprensión”

                                                                                                                for Sensemayá (pp. 30/60)

5              El mundo hispano:  El Caribe (cont.)

 

 

                8              vocabulary review; negatives and                    Actividad Escrita #6

                                affirmatives

                                                               

                10            Situación #2:  En un restaurant                         STUDY for Quiz #5

 

12            Quiz #5

               

15            REVIEW for the mid-term exam                          STUDY for the mid-term

 

17            Mid-term exam     

 

19            The Maya

 

 

FALL BREAK     October 20-28

 

 

29            El mundo hispano:  Los Andes                         Complete “Actividades de comprensión”

                                                                                                for Masa (pp. 37-8/61)

31            El mundo hispano:  Los Andes (cont.)

 

Nov.       2              Imperfect                                                               Actividad Escrita #7

 

 

                5              Preterite                                                                 Actividad Escrita #8

                                                                               

7              Preterite vs. Imperfect                                         Actividad Escrita #9

 

9              Preterite vs. Imperfect (cont.)                             STUDY for Quiz #6

 

 

12            Quiz #6

               

                14            El mundo hispano:  El Cono Sur                        Complete “Actividades de comprensión”

                                                                                                                for Hombre pequeñito (pp. 47/62)

16                  no class; WORK on your cultural projects

 

 

19            Student presentations

 

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY            November 21-25

  Date                                      Topic                                                      Homework                                                           

Nov.       26            vocabulary review; adjectives                           Actividad Escrita #10

                and comparisons

 

28            Situación #3:  En una tienda

 

30            The Incas

               

 

Dec.        3              El mundo hispano:  España                                Complete “Actividades de comprensión”

                                                                                                                for Canción de jinete (pp. 55/63)

5              El mundo hispano:  España (cont.)

 

7              Reflexives; object pronouns;                             STUDY for Quiz #7

                verbs  like gustar

 

 

10            Quiz #7

 

12            Review for the Final Exam                   STUDY for the Final Exam

 

 

DECEMBER 18                    TUESDAY             8:00-10:00 a.m.                   FINAL EXAM

Rubric for Evaluating the Situaciones

 

Vocabulary                            1              2              3

Grammar                 1              2              3

Comprehensibility                1              2              3

 

                                                Creative excellence +1

 

                                                                Total:  _____

 

 

 

 

 

Rubric for Evaluating the Actividades escritas

 

9-10 (A) [Demonstrates excellence]

Clear command of the language through excellent control of structures, idioms, and general vocabulary.  Message communicated effectively.  Clear and vivid detail.  Clarity of organization.  Topic treated in an appropriate and creative fashion through thematic development.  Very few to no significant errors.  Submitted on due date.

 

8 (B) [Demonstrates good command with only limited difficulties]

Consistently good use of the language.  Good control of elementary structures, and basic understanding of more complex structures.  Message generally comprehended by the reader with little need for interpretation.  Evidence of organization.  Varied and generally appropriate vocabulary with substantial details.  Reads smoothly overall despite some errors in grammar usage.

 

7 (C) [Demonstrate adequate command with some weakness]

Some signs of fluency and organization.  Mostly correct use of simple grammatical structures, however errors in more complex structures may interfere with comprehensibility.  Sufficient basic details.  Some apt vocabulary.  Student fulfills the basic requirements of the assignment.

 

6 (D) [Falls below expectations]

Frequently forces interpretation on the part of the reader.  Numerous errors in word order and forms, along with inappropriate or quite limited use of vocabulary and idiomatic structures.  Some basic details.  Poorly organized.  Student meets minimal expectations.

 

5> (F) [Unacceptable]

Writing lacks coherence, organization, and details.  Errors prevent comprehension.  Vocabulary is repetitive, extremely limited, and inadequate.  English interference throughout.  Message frequently forces interpretation on the part of the reader.  Little evidence of fluency.  Unacceptable from most points of  view.