Español 201 - Otoño 2009

To reinforce and strengthen the basic language skills learned in the first year through an active learning experience with emphasis on speaking. To develop students awareness and understanding of the Hispanic world through the use of authentic materials and situations.

You will need the following books:

Grades will be based on each and everyone of the following areas:

1- Oral (class attendance, improvement of your pronunciation, participation in class, preparation for class)

2- Written homework to hand in.

3- Homework assigned to be done in the textbook book, Workbook/Lab Manual, text's website, my website, etc.

4- Chapter tests

5- Quizzes (you will have 1 or 2 pop quizzes every week, depending on your class performance)

6- Final exam

You have to get at least a 65% in each and every one of these areas to pass the course.

We will have classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Spanish language courses at Lewis & Clark follow a variant of the communicative approach to teaching a foreign language. This means that students will be required to be very active in class, and that they will be asked to participate in a variety of group activities, as well as in class-wide discussions. So, if you do not attend class regularly, this approach will not be successful. Grammar and vocabulary will be presented in the textbook and in class, and will be buttressed by group work and oral presentations. Writing skills and more conventional grammar exercises are also included. Also, students will be asked to develop their Spanish skills outside of class through a variety of activities, such as doing language lab work, and attending events outside of class. A few things to keep in mind:

You cannot learn a language passively
You cannot learn a language by cramming
You cannot learn to speak fluently in one semester

It is important to remember that you can’t learn a language just by coming to class and sitting there. Your brain needs to internalize the new data then rehearse it by practicing the newly acquired speech patterns. This means that dedicated and serious participation pays dividends. Since language acquisition is by nature a cumulative cognitive process, you can’t hope to learn it all the night before the exam. Do a little every day and you’ll progress faster. Last, you need to realize that you will not be a fluent speaker of Spanish after one semester, or even one year of college Spanish. Don’t get frustrated, don’t give up; nobody learns a language that quickly.

Class is conducted entirely in Spanish, and you are expected to participate in Spanish at all times.

Note: Because this course fulfills a Lewis & Clark general course requirement, it is only offered for a grade.

Cell phones: You are NOT allowed to use your cell phone in class. Keep them in your bag at all times.

Please DO NOT bring food to class. You can't eat, talk and pronounce correctly at the same time!

We are using the newest intermediate Spanish program designed to help you, the student, develop your communication skills. If you do not attend class regularly, this approach will not be successful. So come to class, come prepared and come on time. Only three absences per semester will be allowed (for sickness (with note) or family emergencies), after that I will assume you dropped the class and I will give you a W (withdraw) or an F depending on your grades at the time.

You will be expected to prepare, study and know all the assigned material. If I give you written exercises from the textbook or workbook, I expect you to have them complete and ready to hand them in if I ask you to do so. It is your responsibility to do the homework, do not expect me to collect it every day just to check if you did it or not. Specific homework I assign to be handed in will be clearly marked.

The ILC (Interactive Learning Center) is one of the best and most complete computer Language Labs in the country. This lab is equipped with 24 computers for language students to study and practice the language of their choice. It has computer materials acquired for the specific needs of LC students and materials developed by LC professors to enhance the teaching of a second language according to the needs of each course.

- If you think you need extra practice or help with Spanish, you should spend at least one hour every week working with different interactive computer programs to improve comprehension, reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation and intonation. Take advantage of what we have available!

If you do extra work at the ILC, make sure the manager signs your times and I will consider this as extra credit.

I check your pronunciation constantly throughout the semester and I expect to see an improvement by the end of the semester. I consider this part of your "Oral" grade.

There will be one or two pop quizzes every week. There will be a test after we finish each chapter and a final exam at the end of the semester. You have to get an average of 65% in this area to be able to pass the course.

All written homework to hand in must be typed and it has to follow a very specific format. Homework format.
Accents are very important in Spanish, I will not accept any homework with no accents or accents done by hand.

If your paper has more than 20 mistakes (including missing accents, accents done by hand, incomplete sentences, misspelled words, etc.), you will have to redo the homework, if you have more than 10 mistakes the second time you hand it in, the homework will be worth 50%. Remember this is part of your requirement to pass the class. You need all the hand in homework accepted to pass this area.

Free tutorials by native speakers and advanced Spanish students are available thanks to S.A.A.B. Please, keep in mind that it's up to you to arrange the tutorial. Carolina Miralles, Spanish Language Assistant, can also help you. Contact her at cmiralles@lclark.edu. There will also be a Spanish Table where you can practice speaking with Carolina in an informal and relaxed environment, as well as movie night and social events organized by the Spanish Club.

You can always contact me and ask for extra help, I will be glad to help you.

The Spanish Table meets: TBA
Spanish Club Movies: They will be announced with e-mails and flyers when the movie and date are chosen.
SAAB Tutors for students of Spanish. TBA

- Spanish 201: Tareas
- Gramática

- Diccionarios:
English/Spanish
Diccionario Anaya (español/español)
Diccionario de la Real Academia Española (español)
Todos los idomas del mundo, y más...(even Klingon)!

- Periódicos y revistas en español -

Created by: benenati@lclark.edu
Last update: 08/2009