Course Description

A beginning course in the develop of fundamental speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in the Spanish language and an introduction to Hispanic cultures. The language teaching community agrees that learning language and culture are inextricably connected. Thus, this course focuses on developing students’ Spanish- language proficiency through modes of communication that reflect real life communication in the varied cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. By employing interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communicative modes in Spanish, students will explore the ideas, values, beliefs, and other cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking peoples across the world and how these aspects work together to affect human experience.

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Course Competencies

By the end of the course, students will have developed solid competencies in each of the five goal areas (the five C’s): Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Main objectives include:

1. Ability to comprehend and respond to basic conversational patterns

2. Proficiency and knowledge of basic grammatical structures and terminologies

3. Basic proficiency in reading and writing the language

4. Knowledge of significant cultural practices and historical events from the Spanish-speaking world

5. Ability to use technology for e-mail and research of selected topics in Spanish

6. Ability to use the VHL Central Supersite for oral and written practice of Spanish.

Specific outcomes of the course are the following:

·      Introducing yourself, greeting and saying goodbye to friends, learning courtesy expressions, talking about yourself and others, spelling your name, performing simple math problems, asking, and telling time

·      Describing your university and classroom, exchanging information about courses of study, talking about the calendar and dates, asking, and responding to simple questions

·      Talking about your family and friends, describing yourself, other people, and things, saying how old you and others are, talking about things that belong to you and others

·      Talking about pastimes, weekend activities, and sports, talking about what you are going to do, planning activities, extending invitations, apologizing

·      Talking about your vacation plans, describing a hotel, talking about how you and others feel, negotiating and paying for items, describing your daily routine

·      Describing and illustrating aspects of the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and making comparisons between cultures using basic linguistic structures and vocabulary in the target language.

·      Evaluating personal values, behaviors, and worldviews on the socio-cultural topics presented and comparing these to those of Spanish-speakers.

Study Hours and Tutoring Assistance

Approximately one hour of study daily is suggested for success in this course. You are welcome to come to my office or meet with me via Zoom or Skype when you have questions about topics presented in class. Before you visit for me for tutoring, please make sure you have watched the tutorials/presentations at the VHL Central Supersite. Tutoring is also available for with the Tutoring & Academic Support Program’s Learning Center located on the 1^st floor of Moffett Library. Please visit https://msutexas.edu/academics/tasp/on-campus.php for their most up-to-date schedule. 

Homework

You will have almost daily homework assignments on the VHL Central Supersite. Some of the assignments are for the presentation of vocabulary and/or tutorials for grammar topics. These assignments include written, audio and video activities. The purpose of these assignments is to help you learn the material, so you should use all the VHL resources (vText, vocabulary cards, etc.) to complete these “homework” type activities.

Each assignment is to be completed by the start of class time on the due date (see calendar/dashboard in VHL Central Supersite). Homework completed after the due date will be accepted but with a 5% penalty assessed for each day past the original due date for that assignment. For each lesson in the VHL Central Supersite, an average of all the homework assignments for that lesson will be recorded in the D2L course gradebook. Once the lesson grade has been recorded in the D2L gradebook, no late work will be accepted. These lesson grades contribute 7.5 % to your course grade. You are welcome to work ahead in the online program. Your lowest grade in this category will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Quizzes & Writing Assignments

A weekly quiz based on homework and class work will be given either in class, typically on Fridays, or in D2L (Desire to Learn). If the week’s quiz is given in D2L, it will become available Friday by 5:00 pm and will be due by start of class on Monday. You will also have short writing assignments in Spanish, approximately every two lessons. These quizzes and writing assignments will contribute 7.5% to your course grade. No late work is accepted, and no make-up quizzes are given. Your lowest grade in this category will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Core Curriculum Assessment

One of the D2L Quizzes will also serve as an assessment of the student’s performance of the core curriculum objectives in the specific context of this course. The short answer quiz will be based upon a film or article(s) that I will assign around the middle of the semester. The film or article(s) will present students with an ethical dilemma or issue for resolution. In their responses, students should demonstrate that they have adequately researched and considered the topic in the framework of the core curriculum objectives.

The core objectives for the Language, Philosophy and Culture Foundational Component Area are addressed in this course according to the following descriptions:

·      Critical Thinking Skills: Students will demonstrate creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.

·      Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication.

·      Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making.

·      Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

In responding to the topic, students must identify their core beliefs and the origins of those core beliefs, recognize the ethical issue(s) presented and the relationships between issues, state a position on the issue(s) and connect their position to implied actions and consequences^[1].

Language Lab Quizzes

You will take six listening comprehension quizzes in the World Languages Laboratory in Bea Wood 127/128. The quizzes are based on videos related to the vocabulary, grammar and cultural concepts presented in each lesson. You may preview these videos at the VHL Central Supersite and you will need to access the site in the Language Laboratory to complete your quizzes.

Please show your MSU Student ID to the lab attendant to receive your quiz. You will receive a quiz and a Scantron. Please do not write on the quiz. After you complete the quiz, please sign out at the lab attendant’s desk. Make-up and/or late quizzes are not permitted. Your lowest lab grade will be dropped at the end of the semester. Please note the due dates below. A schedule Language Lab Hours for fall 2022 will be posted on D2L and in the classroom by the beginning of the second week of classes.

Lesson 1: February 4

Lesson 2: February 18

Lesson 3: March 4

Lesson 4: March 25

Lesson 5: April 5

Lesson 6: April 29

Exams

There are three major exams, one every two chapters. Each exam consists of a multiple choice, matching, and/or true false portion and a written/short answer portion. Each portion is worth approximately 50% of the exam grade. Each major exam contributes 15% to the final course grade. You will be allowed one class period (50 minutes) for each major exam.

Final Exam

The comprehensive final exam covers all materials studied during the course. The exam consists of a multiple choice, matching, and/or true false portion and a written/short answer portion. Each portion is worth approximately 50% of the exam grade. The Final Exam contributes 20% to the final course grade. The Final Exam for this course is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. The location for the exam will be announced during the last week of classes.

Extra Credit

No extra credit assignments are given to individuals that are not offered to the entire class. All extra credit assignments will be offered at the discretion of the instructor. However, you can earn a participation grade of up to 150.

[1] Modified from AAC&U Ethical Responsibility VALUE Rubric.

Desire-to-Learn (D2L)

Extensive use of the MSU D2L program is a part of this course. Each student is expected to be familiar with this program as it provides a primary source of communication regarding assignments, examination materials, and general course information. You can log into D2L through the MSU Homepage. If you experience difficulties, please contact the technicians listed for the program or contact your instructor.

Attendance

You are required to be in class for the entire 50-minute period. Arrive on time. You may be counted absent if you are more than 10 minutes late for class or if you leave class early.

Absences due to official university functions or illness will be dealt with on an individual basis and should be discussed with the instructor outside of class time. There are no “excused” absences from regular class periods and the instructor will take attendance every day. Each absence lowers your attendance grade. The attendance grade is calculated by dividing the number of days that you are in class by the number of days that the course meets. (Example for 2 absences out of a total of 57 class days: 55/57 = .9649…= 96.49%). The attendance grade contributes 5% to the final course grade.

This syllabus serves as notice that you may be dropped from the class without further notification if you are absent more than six times. A Conduct and Attendance Referral may be sent to the Dean of Students upon the fourth absence. If you decide to drop the course, you must follow university procedure for dropping a course to receive a W. If the instructor drops you, you will receive a WF or F.

Participation

The participation grade contributes 10% to your course grade and is based upon your use of Spanish in the classroom. Don’t worry about speaking perfect Spanish. Accuracy will come with practice and repetition. Active participation in class in Spanish will be awarded by the instructor in the form of puntos de participación (participation points). At the end of the semester, you should have 100 points for a 100% in participation. Puntos de participación are awarded for your active participation in classroom activities in Spanish and for your interaction with the instructor in Spanish. You will keep track of your participation points on a card that I will give you during the first week of class. I will record points earned each week as well as post them in the D2L gradebook so that you can monitor your progress.

Instructor Class Policies

Please be polite to your instructor and fellow students. Pay attention to the instructor and to your fellow students when they are speaking. Do not engage your classmates in conversation in English during class.

Please silence your devices during class. Text messaging or the use of non-authorized electronic devices is prohibited. Please speak with your instructor if you have questions.

No food or drinks, except for water, are allowed in our classrooms.

Attendance

You are required to be in class for the entire 50-minute period. Arrive on time. You may be counted absent if you are more than 10 minutes late for class or if you leave class early.

Absences due to official university functions or illness will be dealt with on an individual basis and should be discussed with the instructor outside of class time. There are no “excused” absences from regular class periods and the instructor will take attendance every day. Each absence lowers your attendance grade. The attendance grade is calculated by dividing the number of days that you are in class by the number of days that the course meets. (Example for 2 absences out of a total of 57 class days: 55/57 = .9649…= 96.49%). The attendance grade contributes 5% to the final course grade.

This syllabus serves as notice that you may be dropped from the class without further notification if you are absent more than six times. A Conduct and Attendance Referral may be sent to the Dean of Students upon the fourth absence. If you decide to drop the course, you must follow university procedure for dropping a course to receive a W. If the instructor drops you, you will receive a WF or F.

Late Work 

No late work is accepted apart from homework assignments completed in the VHL Central Supersite. Individual assignments are accepted with a 5% late penalty per day until the due date for each lesson’s assignments. Please see the calendar at the VHL Central Supersite

Make Up Work/Tests

No make-up work is accepted, and no make-up quizzes will be offered.

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.