Course Syllabus

Required Textbooks

Hola a Todos : Elementary Spanish  I

 

https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=languages-textbooks (Links to an external site.)

 

Destinos

 

http://www.learner.org/series/destinos/lagavia/index.html (Links to an external site.)

 

Additional Materials/Resources

You should own or have access to:

 

• Headset (REQUIRED) with microphone (preferred)
• An email account
• Computer with high speed access to the Internet
• Access to CLTCC computers when needed
• Virus-checking software
• Word-processing software
• Software and plug-Ins that may include
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Flash Player
  • Java
  • QuickTime
  • RealPlayer
  • Shockwave Player
  • Windows Media Player

 

Please check your computer at the beginning of each course and throughout the term to ensure that you have all the necessary software and plug-ins to use the Canvas online system and course features. Please note that you will need to turn off your pop-up blocker to use all features of this online course.

 

Please recognize that your instructor will not provide technical support, nor will / can your instructor diagnose computer problems.  Also be advised that you must always be prepared for computer related emergencies. Always maintain hard copies of the course syllabus and other assignments, just in case there are computer issues/ the web sites are down. Also, always have alternate access to another computer, just in case your own malfunctions. 

 

If you are in need of additional assistance, contact the Information Technology Help Desk:

 

http://www.cltcc.edu/it-help-desk (Links to an external site.)

Grading Criteria

A         90 - 100

B          80 - 89

C          70 - 79

D         60 - 69

F          0 – 59

 

The course policy is to round-up student grades when the grade is .50% or higher (e.g., 89.50% or higher = A; 89.49% or lower = B). The final grade in Canvas is considered the official grade. Any issues with your final grade must be first addressed to your instructor.

Grading Scale

100-90	A
89-80	B
79-70	C
69-60	D
59-below	F

Assessments

Part of the purpose of a general education requirement is for students to challenge their own preconceived personal and cultural frameworks, as well as to further their intellectual development and personal growth. To this end, the study of a language beyond one’s native tongue pushes students to communicate through different sounds, words, and structures, and it provides an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the practices of one’s own and other cultures. Furthermore, empirical research in recent years suggests that language learning is related to improved cognitive abilities such as attentional control, memory, problem solving, and verbal and spatial abilities.

 

WHY STUDY SPANISH?

 

In addition to the academic, cognitive, and social benefits to learning another language, there are unique benefits to learning Spanish. For example, consider the following facts:

• Spanish is the official language of 21 countries, and there are more than 400 million native speakers of Spanish, more than any other language in the world except for Mandarin Chinese.
• Spanish has never been a “foreign language” in the United States. In fact, in the present day states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, Spanish was spoken for nearly a century before the first English speaking settlers arrived in Virginia and Massachusetts.
• The United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world (after Mexico and ahead of Spain, Colombia, and Argentina).

 

Tests	50 %
Discussion Board Posts	10 %
Oral Exam	10 %
Assignments	10 %
Comprehensive Final  Exam	20 %
Total	100 %

 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR’S RESPONSES

 

Students should expect a response to e-mails and phone calls within 24-48 hours of receipt (Monday- Thursday).  Please remember that the instructor is not online 24/7.  Students should expect to receive grades on instructor graded assignments within 7-10 days of the assignment due date.  Assignments may be submitted early. However, assignment may not be graded prior to the due date.  No assignments will be accepted after the due date or any reason (unless previously arranged with the instructor and/or due to an emergency or excused absence).

 

PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

 

The course is divided into modules. Most modules cover one chapter from the text book.  Modules usually have a related textbook reading, online activities  and discussion board posts in Canvas.  Modules may also include unit exams, homework activities, oral exams, and/or the group project.

 

Students should read the textbook section first, and then review the online resources. After you have completed reviewing the textbook and online grammar/ vocabulary review, complete any  assigned activities.  Next, prepare, complete and post the discussion board posts. You should also read and respond to other students’ posts. All discussion board posts must be made by the date on the schedule to receive full credit.   Finally, complete and submit any other assigned activities (exams, etc.).

 

 

COURSE GUIDELINES

 

You have enrolled in a college level fully online Spanish course. The purpose of the course is to expand your knowledge of the Spanish language and Spanish speaking people. The course will require you to spend time learning Spanish language grammar and vocabulary structures and cultural information, evaluating those structures and that information and sharing it with your instructor and peers. To successfully complete this course, it is strongly suggested that you:

 

• Log on to the course and read the assigned textbook reading for the current module.
• Complete all course work on time.
• Log onto the course at least 3 times each week. The purpose of frequent course access is to get any messages and to participate in the written and oral discussion boards.
• Participate as much as possible in the discussion boards. Use appropriate netiquette.
• Ask for help when you have difficulty. Do not wait until you fall behind.
• Use the (tutoring) resources available to you.
• Submit all work prior to the deadline.
• Keep up to date with all reading assignments.
• Let the instructor know when you have a problem. Extensions may be granted if notification is provided.
• Pay attention to the dates listed in the calendar. You should begin and end each module when indicated.

 

 

 

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDYING SPANISH

 

• Be tolerant to not understanding all of what you are hearing. Be comfortable listening selectively.
• Use trial and error…for practice. Language is more skill than knowledge.
• Spanish is not English. Be prepared to look at everything differently – not only words and phrases, but also complete ideas.
• Listen and speak at every opportunity.
• Lose your fear of making mistakes.
• Memorize rules. Five minutes engraving a rule in the brain is worth avoiding five hours of groping and a lifetime of frustration and mistakes.
• Language is not grammar. Grammar simply helps learners understand how things go together.

 

 

 

DISCUSSION BOARD POSTS

 

To encourage your active participation in the course, you will receive credit for your contributions to the written discussion prompts.  Do not be afraid to make mistakes in the discussions; the discussions are NOT graded for grammatical accuracy. They will provide you with an opportunity to practice the Spanish language skills you will learn. You are encouraged to be engaged in real and meaningful discussions in Spanish with your instructor and classmates by using the grammar and vocabulary you are learning in each chapter covered in the course. Practice and make mistakes! And, be sure to pay attention to corrections and how others (your instructor and your classmates) are using the grammar and vocabulary in postings. Practice makes you better! The more you practice, the more you will learn and retain new grammar and vocabulary.

 

To complete the written discussion board posts, you will read and post a response to the question asked by your instructor. You will also read and reply to response made by your classmates.  To receive credit, all posts must be written IN SPANISH. Discussion board posts will also be graded based on the quantity and the timeliness of your posts, and on the percentage of posts you read.  Grammatical accuracy will not be factored into your grade for discussion board posts; therefore do not be afraid to make mistakes.

 

 

Your discussion board posts will be graded according to the following criteria:

 

Evaluation Criteria for Written Discussion Board Posts
Criteria	Points possible	Exemplary	Meets Standard	Developing	Novice	Not Acceptable
Responses to instructor ‘s questions	10	10 Points Student responds to ALL questions posed to the entire class AND ALL questions posed directly to the student	8 Points Student responds to a MAJORITY questions posed to the entire class AND/OR a MAJORITY questions posed directly to the student	7 Points Student responds to HALF questions posed to the entire class AND/OR HALF questions posed directly to the student	6 Points Student responds to LESS THAN HALF questions posed to the entire class AND/OR LESS THAN HALF questions posed directly to the student	0 Points Student responds to NONE questions posed to the entire class AND/OR NONE questions posed directly to the student
Quantity and timeliness of posts	5	5 Points Student posts a minimum of 4 posts during the module. AT LEAST one post is made prior to Tuesday at 11:59pm and posts are made on at least 2 different days.	4 Points Student posts 3 posts during the module. AT LEAST one post is made prior to Tuesday at 11:59pm and posts are made on at least 2 different days.	3.5 Points Student posts 2 posts during the module. AT LEAST one post is made prior to Tuesday at 11:59pm and posts are made on at least 2 different days.	3 Points All student posts are made on the same day OR only one post is made.	0 Points No posts are made.
Percentage of all posts read	5	5 Points Students read at LEAST 50% of all posts made by the class.	4 Points Students read between 40 and 49% of all posts made by the class.	3.5 Points Students read between 30 and 39% of all posts made by the class.	3 Points Students read between 20 and 29% of all posts made by the class.	0 Points Students read less than 20% of all posts made by the class.
Total points possible	20

 

 

 

 

 

ORAL EXAMS

 

There is ONE oral exam. The oral exam will consist of a short interview with your instructor,  a 7-8 minute conversation between you and a partner by telephone or an online web conference program, or a graded activity in the Canvas. These interactions will based on situations and themes covered in class and will be graded according to the assessment criteria listed in this syllabus. The date is listed on the calendar. Although your instructor will not inform you of the exact topics/questions for the oral exam, all of them are similar to/based on the communicative activities you do online.

 

Oral Exam Evaluation Criteria
Quality of interaction (40 points)
A (36-40 pts)	Stays all in Spanish; successful in completing objective; consistently and appropriately responds to others’ ideas and information; helps others to interact; does not dominate the interaction
B (32-34 pts)	Stays all or mostly in Spanish (with the exception of 1 or 2 words); mostly successful in completing objective; sometimes responds to others’ ideas and information; helps others to interact; does not dominate the interaction
C (28-30 pts)	Sometimes uses English; only somewhat successful in completing objective; rarely initiates interaction and/or dominates interaction.
D (24-26 pts)	Overuses English; minimally successful in completing objective; takes his/her turn, but nothing else; introductions/conclusions absent.
F (0 pts)	English predominates; incomprehensible speech; introductions/conclusions absent.
Vocabulary (30 points)
A (28-30 pts)	Impressive and appropriate vocabulary used for the topic; No use of English words.
B (24-26 pts)	Mostly appropriate vocabulary used; English used for only 1 or 2 words.
C (22-23 pts)	Moderate vocabulary; Some use of English or invented words.
D (18-20 pts)	Very limited vocabulary; Frequent use of English words; frequently misses or searches for words.
F (0 pts)	Insufficient vocabulary to carry out task. Errors dominate
Grammar (30 points)
A (28-30 pts)	Appropriate use of forms covered in course to express ideas related to the task (verbal inflections and basic syntax).
B (24-26 pts)	Mostly appropriate verbal inflections and syntax; Some errors.
C (22-23 pts)	Few instances of correct morphology/syntax; Errors are frequent.
D (18-20 pts)	Little to no control of targeted structures; Errors dominate.
F (0 pts)	No control of targeted structures; Errors dominate.

 

 

EXAMS

There are exams that correspond with each textbook chapter, and a comprehensive, final exam.

 

EXTRA CREDIT

There are NO opportunities for extra credit in this course. The best way to improve your grade is to complete all assignments on time, actively participate in class, and to ask for assistance from your instructor during his or her office hours.

 

E-MAILING YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Please use your CLTCC account when e-mailing your instructor. If you use a personal e-mail account (e.g., hotmail, yahoo, g-mail, etc.) your instructor will not know whether the message is junk mail, and therefore, will not respond. CLTCC e-mail is considered by the college to be official communication, and you should therefore address your instructor appropriately (e.g., Dear Ms., Mr., Sr., etc.), sign your name, and use a respectful tone. Instructors will not respond to e-mails that do not address them directly, and/or are not signed.

 

Section

Z01

Term

Fall

Course Outline

THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF ANY CHANGES ON YOUR COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT.