Course Description

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.

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, grades, and general course information. You can log into D2L through the MSU Homepage.

Skills and Outcomes

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:

·      Talk about daily routines and personal hygiene, reassure someone, tell where you went

·      Talk about food, order at a restaurant, discuss familiar people and places

·      Talk about celebrations and personal relationships, express congratulations, ask for the bill in a restaurant, express gratitude

·      Discuss medical conditions, talk about parts of the body, talk about health and medical visits.

·      Talk about using technology and electronics, talk about car trouble, use common expressions on the telephone, say how far away things are

·      Welcome people, show people around the house, give instructions

·      Describe and illustrate aspects of the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and make comparisons between these cultures and their own culture(s) using basic linguistic structures and vocabulary in the target language.

·      Evaluate their own values, behaviors and worldviews on the socio-cultural topics presented and compare these to those of Spanish-speakers.

Textbook and Instructional Materials

·      The following textbook options are available for this course. Please note that if you recently completed SPAN 1134 at MSU, you do not need to buy any additional materials as long as your access code for Aventuras, 5^th edition is still active. Materials are available at the MSU Texas bookstore in Clark Student Center or at the following websites: https://www.bkstr.com/midwesternstatestore/shop/textbooks-and-course-materials, https://vistahigherlearning.com/store/school/midwesternstate

a.    Aventuras, 5th edition ISBN 978-1-68004-972-5: Full color, loose leaf, 3 hole punched (binder ready) version of Aventuras 5th edition with full VHL Central Supersite & WebSAM technology – 36-month code.

b.    Aventuras, 5^th edition ISBN 978-1-68005-512-2: 12-month code for access to full VHL Central Supersite with vtext & WebSAM technology.

c.    Aventuras, 5^th edition ISBN 978-1-68004-952-7: 36-month code for access to full VHL Central Supersite with vtext & WebSAM technology.

·      10 long Scantrons

Study Hours and Tutoring

The amount of study required to be successful in this course varies from student to student. General guidelines recommend one-hour private study for each hour spent in the classroom. We will be spending a little over 10 hours weekly in the classroom. Plan your study time accordingly.

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 me for tutoring, please make sure you have watched the tutorials/presentations at the VHL Central Supersite.

Tutoring is also available for free from MSU’s Tutoring & Academic Support Program’s Learning Center located on the 1^st floor of Moffett Library. Visit their site for a current schedule: https://msutexas.edu/academics/tasp/on-campus.php

Grading

The following components make up the course grade. The number of quizzes and graded homework assignments will vary according to the discretion of the instructor. You can monitor your grades throughout the semester in the D2L gradebook.

Table 1:

Assignments

% of Course Grade

Attendance

5 %

Participation

10 %

Homework Assignments (VHL Central Supersite)

7.5 %

Quizzes (in class and via D2L)

7.5 %

Language Laboratory Quizzes (Bea Wood 128)

5%

Exam 1 (Lessons 7 & 8)

15%

Exam 2 (Lessons 9 & 10)

15%

Exam 3 (Lessons 11 & 12)

15%

Comprehensive Final Exam

20%

Total

100%

Table 2: Total percentages for final grade.

Grade

Points

A

90 - 100

B

80 – 89

C

70 – 79

D

60 – 69

F

Less than 60

Attendance

You are required to be in class for the entire 2 hour and 40-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 20 class days: 18/20 = .90= 90%). 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 three times. 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.

Late Work 

No late work is accepted with the exception of 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/Quizzes/Exams

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

If you know you will miss an exam due to an official university function, please plan with your instructor prior to the absence and as soon as possible. If you are absent from an exam, you must present documented proof of illness or university activity to your instructor before an early or make up exam will be scheduled

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.