SPANISH 401 - Advanced Spanish Conversation - Fall 2001

Instructor: Christopher Eustis
Office: Olin 304
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 MWF & By Appt.
Office Tel: 972-7486(DML)
E-mail: eustis@uakron.edu

Texts: Kattán-Ibarra, Panorama de la prensa, NTC, 1994.
Fotocopias proporcionadas por el instructor
Un buen diccionario Engl/Span-Span/Engl
Vídeos y cintas en el LRC
[Learning Resource Center (LRC = laboratorio), Olin 375]

Objectives & Description: This course is conducted in Spanish and engages students in conversation in a variety of formats toward the goal of further developing oral proficiency. Short essays on topics of current interest read outside of class serve as the basis for general class discussions. Time also is spent on creating, rehearsing, and presenting simulations of situations in everyday life based on assigned vocabulary and readings. Activities include improvisations and focus on small group and pair work as well as individual presentations. Work in the language lab for practice and for evaluation also is required. Generally, students strengthen oral skills and build vocabulary through practice in different types of discourse, including narration, description, critical commentary, debate, and dramatic dialogue. Prerequisite: 301 or equivalent.

Readings: A high degree of mastery and recall of the content of the reading selections in Panorama is expected. Several readings may be necessary to gain the necessary control of the information. Students should be ready to ask in class for clarification about the words, phrases, and concepts that are difficult to understand. Likewise, a complete command of preassigned situational vocabulary and of prerehearsed skits is essential.

Listening and Viewing: For the improvement of listening comprehension and vocabulary development, each student is required to listen to the audiotapes of the essays assigned in Panorama either in the LRC or at home on a weekly basis. Free personal copies of the Panorama tapes can be obtained by filling out a tape duplication request form located in Olin 304 and leaving the form together with a good quality 90-minute blank standard-size cassete tape in the box labeled "Tape Duplication." Only one tape at a time may be requested. Turnover time usually is within 24 hours. Students also are required to view and/or listen in the LRC on a weekly basis to videotaped news broadcasts in Spanish and/or with the audiotapes of the news magazine Puerta del Sol. Each student must hand in automatically on Fridays a weekly written summary of a particular aspect chosen by the student of the video newscast or Puerta del Sol audiotape consulted during the week.

Participation: Thorough preparation is required for effective participation in the activities of the class. Absence from preassigned group activities is a major unpardonable offense! This class requires regular attendance and active participation. Two unexcused absences are permitted (except from preassigned group activities). Additional absences may result in points subtracted from the averaged final grade.

Specifics of Homework:
Assignments are given in class. All WRITTEN WORK AUTOMATICALLY SHOULD BE HANDED IN AT THE END OF THE CLASS PERIOD FOR WHICH IT WAS ASSIGNED unless the instructor indicates otherwise. Even if not in class, students are reponsible for getting and handing in homework assignments on time.

Evaluation: There are three (3) tests based on the most recent block of material covered in the course. These tests each will have both a written component covering vocabulary and a recorded spoken component covering the content of the reading selections and the situational vocabulary. Performance on the oral part of the tests will be evaluated on the basis of content (50%), pronunciation and fluidity (15%), grammar (15%), and vocabulary (20%). The final examination will constitute a fourth such test. Each student also will be graded on brief practiced oral presentations and on small group or pair activities. Written homework and class participation too count toward the final grade.

Extra Credit: Assuming that arrangements can be made, students may earn up to 10 points of extra credit through meeting with native speakers of Spanish for conversation practice in Spanish (2 points per meeting, minimum of 15 minutes per meeting ). To receive extra credit, the student must provide the instructor with a written summary of each conversation together with a statement signed by both parties. Students also are encouraged to establish regular correspondence with Spanish-speaking key-pals on the Internet.

Cuaderno Personal:
Each student is encouraged to keep a personal notebook of new vocabulary and idiomatic expressions learned from the readings and other activities of the class.

Grading System:

Participation/Homework Tests Oral Presentations Final Exam
20% 45% 20% 15%


Point Scale: B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A 93-100 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62

Registration: Register on time. Students whose names are not on the official class list on the first day of the third week will not be permitted to continue attending class. They will receive no grade or credit.

Make-up, re-takes: Make-ups for tests are allowed only if you give advance notice (if possible) and a documented excuse. No student is permitted to retake a test.

Incomplete:
A grade of Incomplete will not be given unless you have completed 75% of the coursework with a passing grade and sign the Incomplete Documentation form as required by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Withdrawals: You are allowed to drop up to mid-term without my permission but you should consult with me before making that decision. Withdrawals between mid-term and the end of the 12th week of class require the instructor's signature. I will sign as long as you have been attending and completing the work for the course regularly up to the time you drop. No withdrawals after the 12th week.

 

PROGRAMA DE CLASES

Fechas Capítulos, etc.

agosto
lunes 27 Introducción al curso; "lluvia de ideas;" "cóctel."
miércoles 29 Actividad asignada.
viernes 31 Panorama, "La directora del hogar," 2-4.

septiembre
L. 3 Día feriado, no hay clase.
V. 5 "La directora del hogar" (clase en el LRC: laboratorio).
V. 7 Actividad asignada.
L. 10 Panorama, "Una revolución" y "Más difícil," 10-13.
M. 12 "Una revolución" y "Más difícil" (LRC).
V. 14 Actividad asignada.
L. 17 Panorama, "Racismo" y "Violencia," 14-18.
M. 19 "Racismo" y "Violencia" (LRC).
V. 21 EXAMEN I (LRC).
L. 24 Panorama, "La foca" y "Hambre y pestes," 38-42.
M. 26 "La foca" y "Hambre y pestes" (LRC).
V. 28 Actividad asignada.

octubre
L. 1 Panorama, "La destrucción" y "Aerosoles," 43-47.
M. 3 "La destrucción" y "Aerosoles" (LRC).
V. 5 Actividad asignada.
L. 8 Panorama, "Amanece" y "El protagonismo," 60-64.
M. 10 "Amanece" y "El protagonismo" (LRC).
V. 12 EXAMEN II (LRC).
L. 15 Panorama, "las fronteras," 73-76.
M. 17 "las fronteras" (LRC).
V. 19 Actividad asignada.


octubre
L. 22 Panorama, "¡Qué sueño!," y "Cuando la confusión," 78-84.
M. 24 "¡Qué sueño!," y "Cuando la confusión" (LRC).
V. 26 Actividad asignada.
L. 29 Panorama, "Los deportistas" y "Claves," 102-110.
M. 31 "Los deportistas" y "Claves" (LRC).

noviembre
V. 2 EXAMEN III (LRC).
L. 5 Panorama, "Los peligros" y "Libre expresión," 130-136.
M. 7 "Los peligros" y "Libre expresión" (LRC).
V. 9 Actividad asignada.
L. 12 Panorama, "La mujer" y "¿Qué opina?," 137-142.
M. 14 "La mujer" y "¿Qué opina?" (LRC).
V. 17 Actividad asignada.
L. 19 Actividad asignada.
M. 21 Actividad asignada.
VACACIONES DEL DIA DE ACCION DE GRACIAS
L. 26 Panorama, "Por una década" y "Tercer mundo," 5-9.
M. 28 "Por una década" y "Tercer mundo" (LRC).
V. 30 Actividad asignada.

diciembre
L. 3 Actividad asignada.
M. 5 Actividad asignada.
V. 7 Recapitulación.

EXAMEN FINAL:
VIERNES, 14 DE DICIEMBRE, 12:00-1:55 PM