This course is a continuation of Span 1010 and is designed for students with minimum Spanish experience. The class will emphasize conversation, vocabulary building, grammatical concepts and cultural awareness through continued practice and work on four major skill areas for language learning: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Time in class will be spent practicing conversation, exploring cultural texts, and learning from one another. As this is a Spanish course, we will use Spanish 100% of the time in the classroom. Native/heritage speakers of Spanish and students with extensive knowledge of the language are expected to take the placement test and should consider enrolling in another course.

This class is communicative, hands-on and student-centered. It requires daily, active participation during individual exercises and partner/group work. You are expected to actively participate and come to class prepared; in other words, I expect that you complete your homework thoroughly before class; that you come to class with the lesson read and assigned activities done and that you practice drills of grammatical concepts on your own through homework assignments. Taking the time to complete the assignments is crucial for not only getting a good grade, but also learning the language and keeping up with the class. The goal of these activities is basic communicative competence NOT grammatical perfection, so, don’t worry, making mistakes is a part of the learning process.

The class will be conducted in Spanish in order to provide you with maximum exposure to the language. The main focus of classes is on Spanish communication, and we strive for maximum use of the language in the classroom. This means that your instructor will speak Spanish to you during class, and you will be expected to do the same with your instructor and classmates. Should you need additional explanations or wish to discuss matters not directly related to course content, your instructor will be happy to speak to you in English before or after class and during office hours.

This is a college-level language course; thus, expect to move quickly through the material. You are encouraged to form study groups and/or find a study partner. Also, take advantage of my office hours and the tutors in the Language and Logic Lab (GC 104).

• Access to the ebook – Contraseña by Lingro Learning
  
  • Students will get access to Contraseña through Canvas: 1. Click on the tab VitalSource Course materials, 2. Either click on reveal code or Opt out of Inclusive Access, 3. Register using our course enrollment code.
• Access to the online dictionary WordReference ()
• Access to Canvas
• Access to a webcam and microphone for Zoom (if needed).

This course will focus on acquiring the following areas from SUU Essential Learning Outcomes:

1. Communication: Gain intellectual and practical skills, particularly in written and oral communication.
2. Intercultural Knowledge and Competence: Demonstrate that they possess a set of cognitive and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.

Upon completion of Spanish 1020, students will also:

• Speak and understand Spanish with sufficient fluency to participate effectively in formal and informal conversations at a basic level and to present and explain information in Spanish.
• Expand vocabulary and solidify proficiency in the present tense.
• Have been introduced to and begin to use appropriately the two major past tenses in Spanish-the preterit and the imperfect- and have learned to narrate simple past experiences.
• Have learned command forms that will allow them to give simple instructions to others.
• Use cultural texts to gain exposure to grammatical structures and relevant vocabulary.
• Gain exposure to a variety of cultural texts from Hispanic cultures and demonstrate awareness of customs, geography, and the differences and similarities between cultural traditions.

Course Components

• Exams (4): 30%
• Homework: 30%
• Proyectos (2): 15%
• Final Interview: 10%
• Engagement Activities: 5%
• Attendance and Participation: 10%

Grade Breakdown:

A (93-100%) B+ (87-89%) C+ (77-79%) D (60-69%)
A- (90-92%) B (83-86%) C (73-76%) F (Below 60%)
B- (80-82%) C- (70-72%)

Expectations

Daily online homework in Contraseña: With your purchased Contraseña e-book you will be able to complete all online assignments and will have access to the e-book. Specific assignments for each week can be found in the course calendar. It is the student's responsibility to work on these assignments continuously each week. If you have doubts, issues, or questions please contact the professor.

Exams and proyectos: You will always receive some sort of study guide prior to exams (often in the form of Power Point).

Exams: Exams can include a mixture of listening, writing, and reading comprehension. You will be informed of the format of each exam ahead of time. Exams will be completed at the Testing Center.

Proyectos: There will be two proyectos in this course which will be completed individually by the student. You will find them in the Lingro Learning platform and they consist of a combination of oral and written production using the vocabulary and the grammar structures introduced in the class.

Final Interview: This will be scheduled during the last week of class. A study-guide will be provided towards the end of the semester. A sign-up sheet will be circulated in class for students to reserve a date/time for the interview. Further details about the final interview will be provided during the semester.

Engagement Activities: You are expected to engage with the Spanish language and/or culture outside of class to work on skills such as speaking, listening, writing, or reading. Students need to submit a short summary in English (minimum of 150 words) of their experience for each engagement activity. Students need to complete three activities in total. See calendar for the Engagement Activity due dates. You can attend 3 Spanish-related in-person cultural events at SUU. Among your choices are the Spanish Conversation Tables and/or Tutoring sessions (GC 104). Other possible campus events will be announced in class throughout the semester.

Daily online homework in Contraseña: Late homework will be accepted with a 5 % penalty per each day you are late (except for the first two weeks of classes).

Exams and proyectos: All assignments must be submitted on the day and time indicated in the course calendar. Should you have a family, medical, or personal emergency that makes this impossible, please be sure to reach out to me via email as soon as possible. If/when possible, I will generally ask for some form of documentation.

The modality of the class is face-to-face, so attendance and preparation are a fundamental part of the class.

A note on absences: You may miss 3 class times for any reason (no explanations needed) without losing participation points. After the 4rd absence and for every subsequent absence, 5% will automatically be deducted from your final attendance and participation grade. In other words, if for instance you miss 8 classes (2 weeks), you will get no more than 75% attendance and participation score for the semester. If you have more than 12 unexcused absences, you will have a 0 for attendance and participation grade. In addition, a consistent disruptive behavior will also result in a 0 for your participation grade for the semester. Since unexpected things happen and/or life may become overwhelming, use your three allowed absences wisely. If you are having any kind of problems that are affecting your success in this class, talk to me at the beginning (or before the end if applicable) of the semester, do not wait until the last week of classes when nothing can be done about it. Communication is essential in this course (and in life!).

Participation: This grade is based on your attitude, effort, and quality of participation in class. Sleeping, texting, using electronic devices without previously authorized by the professor, tardiness, disruptive behavior and frequent absences will affect your grade. You can earn a good participation grade by actively engaging with your professor, conversing in Spanish with your classmate(s) during partner/group work, asking and answering relevant questions related to the course content, and actively participating during general class discussions.

Spanish 1010 or equivalent. Students who are unsure of their level should consult one of the Spanish professors for proper placement.