COURSE INFORMATION SHEET

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE:  Spanish 1411 Beginning Spanish 1 (3-2-4)

TSTC-HARLINGEN subscribes to "Critical Thinking" (CT) as an emerging system for development of educational instruction and enhancement learning.  CT is the ability to engage in the process of application, analysis, evaluation interpretation, and synthesis in order to make informed decisions.  http://www.criticalthinking.org

COURSE (CATALOG) DESCRIPTION

Fundamental skills in listening (auditory) comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, including basic vocabulary, grammatical sturctures and culture.  This course is for students who already have a significant Spanish vocabulary.  (Students may take either SPAN 1311/1312 or SPAN 1411/1412 for credit but may not take both sequences for credit.)

REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS

VISTAS:  Introducción a la Lengua Española.  Blanco, José A. & Donley Philip Redwine.  Third Edition Hardback Text ISBN 978-1-60007-125-6

You will need teh book key number that comes along with the textbook package, as well as the course code that the instructor will give you.  The first day of class your instructor will send you an email with the instructions and the course code you need to start using EN LIÑEA version of Vistas.  Once you get the book key number and the course code, you can reate an account at the following web stie:  http://books.quia.com.

All students must have access to a microphone and a headphone set.  Students will also have to set up a student acount on TSTC- Mycourses (Moodle) http://moodle.harlingen.tstc.edu

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• STUDENTS MUST HAVE internet access.  A high speed connection, either DSL, T1, LAN, or CABLE, is recommended for optimal use. 
• Skill in using a web browser to navigate the web to locate educational resources and download files.
• The file management skills necessary to create directories, save files, and retrieve files.
• The ability to use email to send messages and attachments.
• A Java enabled browser, either Internet Explorer 5.5 or Netscape Communicator 7.0 or higher.
• Word, and web-based programs which will be needed to complete assignments. 
• Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quick Time Player, and Macromedia Flash Player, (these programs can be downloaded for free, ask your instructor for downloading instructions if necessary.)

Remember to enable pop-pups in your browser in order for TSTC Moodle to work appropriately.

GRADING CRITERIA

A.  The student's final grade will be determined as follows:

• Participation = 10%
• Oral assignments = 20%
• Quiz  = 10%
• Daily class activities/Homework assignment = 10%
• Exams:  2 written exams = 50% of grade.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Through the correct use of vocabulary in discussion and on objective tests, the student will:

A.  Use  Present Tense Verbs and Common Nouns.  (SCANS 2F, 3C, 6A, 6E)

B.  Learn and apply Past and Present Progressive Tense Verbs with Nouns.  (SCANS: 2F, 3C, 6A, 6E)

C.  Correctly use Present Tense of Regular and Irregular Verbs with Nouns.  (SCANS: 2F, 3C, 6A, 6E)

D.  Use Present Tense of Reflexive Verbs, Other Regular and Irregular Verbs, with Nouns.  (SCANS: 2F, 3C, 6A, 6E)

E.  Learn and apply use of Present Tense of More Regular and Irregular Verbs with Nouns.  (SCANS 2F, 3C,6A,6E)

F.  Learn and apply Other Parts of Speech.  (SCANS 2F,3C,6A,6E)

G.  Use in correct application Present and Past Tense of Some Verbs.  (SCANS:2F, 3C,6E)

H.  Possess the ability to write About Past Actions.  (SCANS 2F, 3C, 6E)

ACCOMMODATIONS

If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out class work as outlined and/or if you need special accommdations due to a disability, please contact (956) 364-4520 or visit the Support Services Office in the Auxiliary Services Building as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.

DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION POLICY

• Responsibility for class attendance rests with the student;
• Regular and punctual attendance in all classes is expected
• An absence can be issued whenever a student does not attend a regularly scheduled instruction period, whether it's a theory or laboratory class.
• The instructor determines whether an absence is excused or unexcused.

TSTC Harlingen faculty, staff, and students are asked to report all threats, perceived or real, immediately to College Police located in the Auxiliary Building.  If the threat is imminent, the College Police emergency phone line is 364-4234 or 9-911 should be called.  College Police will then coordinate the proper response in accordance with State and federal laws and TSTC System/College rules and regulations."

CLASS POLICIES

I.  Attendance:  Students are expected to be in class and on time each class day.  Students will be dropped from class after two abscences (for summer sessions); after three abscences (for morning and ealry afternoon classes, spring and fall semesters) and after two abscences (3-hour, late afternoon and evening classes).  This may result in a "W" or an "F" in the student's permanent school record. 

NOTE:  three tardies or three early departures are equivalent to one absence.  No late assignments will be accepted, No make-up exams or quiz will be given.  Failure to sumbit a homework assignment will result in a greade of zero for the assignment; failure to take a quiz, mid-term or final exam, will also result in a grade of zero, without exception.

II.  TSTC expects all students to engage in scholastic pursuits in a manner that is beyond reproach.  Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and intergrity.  Any student found guilty of scholastic dishonesty is subject to disciplinary action.  Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on academic work, plagiarism, and collusion.

• Cheating on academic work includes, but is not limited to:  Copying form another student's test paper or other academic work; using materials during a test that have not been authorized by the individual giving the test; collaborating with another student, without authorization, during an examination or in preparing academic work; bribing another person to obtain an un-administered test; knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an un-administered test; and substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself, to take a test or prepare other academic work.

• Plagiarism means claiming another's work as one's own without acknowledging its origing and doing so for credit.

• Collusion means unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing a written work offered for credit.

III. Disruptive behavior, non-productive or disorderly conduct not conducive to a learning environment is unacceptable;

• Students must demonstrate a positive willingness to learn at all times;
• All electronic communications media must be "turned off" prior to coming to class;
• Students who depart early will be counted as absent;
• Early departures count as zero for class participation; and
• Food or drink in not permitted in class.