Texas State Technical College. Harlingen, Texas

English/Spanish Department.

SPAN 1312 - Beginning Spanish II (For Native Speakers)

Course Information Sheet -Fall 2009

Class Section:          2001 MWF 8:00 - 8:55 A.M. (W-208)

Professor:                 Ramiro Rodriguez

Office number:         343

Office Hours:             MW: 9:00-10:00 A.M. & 1:15 - 2:15 P.M.

                                      T: 1:15 - 2:15 P.M., or by appointment.

Phone:                       (956) 364-4841

E-mail:                       ramiro.rodriguez@harlingen.tstc.edu 

PREREQUISITE:

Successful completion of Spanish 1311 or departmental approval. Fluency in Spanish (absolute or with minimal code switching and hesitancy). BasIc knowledge of reading and writing Spanish very helpful, but not required.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is the second course in the bilingual sequence for heritage speakers of Spanish who possess a spoken knowledge of the language and who wish to continue to develop compentency in the grammar, reading and writing of standard Spanish.

OBJECTIVES:

Through eposure to good models of standard Spanish, guided practice, together with good personal study habits, effort and regular attendance and class participation, the student will....

• develop the use of critical thinking skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• develop reading skill in Spanish by applying general and specific strategies of analysis and interpretation to a variety of reading assignments.
• gain mastery of the Spanish orthographic code.
• develop the ability to structure sentences and short compositions in Spanish that are clear, cohesive, and logical.
• review the basic grammar of the Spanish language and integrate and/ or reconcile it with the student's existing grammar as an native speaker of the language.
• gain appreciation of the diversity of Hispanic cultures.
• gain knowledge about Hispanics involved in politics, the arts, entertainment, and other fields in today's world.
• understand and perform communicative tasks based on historical and social events and/or issues related to Hispanics in Latin America.
• understand historical, cultural and artisitc sites of the aforemetioned geographical areas.
• develop a reasoned perspective on the place of the regional Mexican-American dialect of Spanish within the context of the worldwide Hispanic community.
• develop knowledge and understanding of the interrelationships of disciplines, particularly the arts, history, and literature as they relate to the study of the Spanish language and culture.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

• Textbook : VISTAS:  Introducción a la Lengua Española: 3rd. Edition, Blanco & Donley.  ISBN 978-1-60007-125-6
• Supersite passcode (Book key number)  Note:  IF superstie passcode is bought separately, search ISBN 978-1-60007-175-1 at http://www.vistahigherlearning.com

No other editions of this book can be used for this couse. Students should have his/her own textbook in class each day.  Absolutely NO SHARING.

• A notebook.
• Two Examination Blue Books for all written activities.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

All students must have access to a microphone and headphone set.  Students will need to set up a student account on WebAdvisor in order to access any computer on campus.

VISTAS SUPERSITE:  http://vistas.vhlcentral.com

GRADING CRITERIA:

     The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

• 40%         Exams.
• 30%         Online quizzes
• 20%          Homework / other assignments.
• 10%          Participation / attendance

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is mandatory. The student is expected to be in class and on time each class day. Attendance, punctuality, participation and a positive mental attitude are fundamental to a successful learning environment.  There are no excused absences or tardies. It is your obligation to be on time for class.

Late attendance is disruptive to general class atmosphere and participation. Three tardies and / or early departures (whether they are consecutive or not) are equivalent to one absence, and may negatively affect on your final grade. Students who disrupt the class will be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent.

Only absences of an extreme nature / emergency may be excused and must be corroborated in writing by an appropriate authority (hospital, doctor).  Merely phoninig in does not excuse an absence. Absences are counted from the first day of class.  Late registration does not consititue excused absence.  Absence from class,excused or unexcused, does not excuse you from the responsibility of class assignments completed during your absence.  Finding out the information and assignments is the responisibility of the student! For the assignment missed, the student must contact a rliable classmate, do the assignment and turn it in to the professor at the beginning of the calss on the day student returns.  Otherwise, it will not be accepted for consideration.

PARTICIPATION

Class paricipation, not merely occupying classroom space, determines attendace.  Students must actively paricipate in class work, and score withing the designate passing range to statisfactorily complete the course.

COURSE OUTLINED

Subject to amendment by professor at any time during the semester.

Weeks 1-7            Lessons 8-10

                                 Mid- Term Exam: Oct 15th.

Weeks 8-15          Lessons 11-13

                                  Final Exam: Dec 7th.

There are no make-up exams! Students absent during exams, including the final or any other graded assignment, will receive a grade of F(=0).

DATES TO REMEMBER: Fall 2009

 WRITTEN WORK:

Written work should always be done in Spanish and in complete sentences, unless otherwise instructed by professor.  It must include a heading:  name, date, course, and section number in the top right corner.  Textbook exercises must also include the tile of the excercise and the page number.  All written activities must be done in ink or typed, as instructed. Mistakes should be corrected with correction fluid and work must be neat and clean. Messy work will not be graded.

Credit for homework will be given at the beginning of the class.  If a student is late, he/she will not receive credit for that assignment.  Your instructor is under no obligation to correct or accept late or make-up work.

Assignments from this course are subject to being archived for general education assessment. Procedures will follow protocols as prescribed by the research guidelines of the Association for Institutional Research.

COMPUTER LAB

Lab activities allow you to practice your speaking, listening, reading and/or writing skills through interaction with Vistas Supersite and its media resources. For lab assignments, students will be allowed up to three attempts. Your final score for an assignment will be based on your last score attempt.  Failure to complete Vistas Supersite activities will affect your final score negatively.  A valid student ID is required to access a computer at Lab W-124.

CLASSROOM PROTOCOL

Do not bring food or gum into the classroom. Beverages can be brought to class. However, student is responsible for cleaning up any possible spills.  Do not bring cell phones to class, unless they are turned off.  Do not leave room during class. It is disruptive!

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

The materials used in the course (textbooks, handouts, media files (podcast, MP3, Videos, RSS Feeds), and all instructional resources on the colleges Learning Management System (Moodle) are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course, and are only to be used for instructional use, activities associated with, and for the duration of the course.  By "handouts," this means all materials generated for this course, which inclusdes but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and any additional materials.

These materials may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further.  They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act.  These materials may not be reporduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of t the copyright holder ro TSTC.  For further information contact your instructor.

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR (MyMail Email System)

The use of Your Mymail TSTC College student e-mail account will be the only way to receive official notices from the college.  When communicating with instructors and/or emplyees of the college you are required to use you TSTC Mymail student e-mail address.  If you choose to forward your e-mail to another account, please be advised that all communication from and within the college will use you Mymail student e-mail.

NEEDS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If your have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out class work as outlined and wish to request reasonable accommodations, please notify me and the Support Services Office in the Auxiliary Services Building at (956) 364-4520.

NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to delete, change, or otherwise modify this course description.