Valencia Community College
SPN 1120: Elementary Spanish I
Last Date Reviewed: Jan. 7, 2011
4 Credits
Spring 2011
(01/10/2011 – 5/01/2011)
COURSE INFO:
Course Number:
Days & Time:
Building & Room:
Credits:
MSL CODE :
Elementary Spanish I
SPN 1120 CRN 24712
Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:20 - 9:00 pm
EC Bldg 1 Room 139
4 Credit hours
CRSCDK5-622676
INSTRUCTOR:
Phone :
Elizabeth Z. Solis, I like to be addressed as Señora Eli
(407) 923-5238 This is my cellphone so please I only accept text messages be sure
to identify yourself and the class you are in.
ebonano@mail.valenciacc.edu, or through myspanishlab
Email:
Office hours: You can schedule meetings with me when it’s convenient for us to clarify any point you didn’t
understand in class or to address any issue or concern. Please feel free to meet with me to talk about any
assignment, or just to chat and practice some Spanish. We don’t have to wait to crisis to arrive to get together.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Elementary Spanish I is an entry-level course open to the student with little or
no experience in this language. The course is designed to progressively introduce the student to Spanish
grammar and culture. It emphasizes oral and written proficiency as well listening and reading
comprehension. The emphasis is on everyday use of the language, integrating basic grammar,
vocabulary, composition and culture through a conversational approach to Spanish. Not open to native
speakers. A minimum grade of C is required to pass this course if being used to satisfy the General
Education Foreign Language requirement.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
¡Anda! Curso Elemental by Heining-Boyton, Audrey L. & Cowell, Glynis S., Pearson/Prentice Hall. This
textbook comes packaged with a code for My Spanish Lab, the course management system that you will
use this semester in this course. You are required to have both, the textbook or ebook and My Spanish
Lab to do your assignments. ISBN: 0205630189
Headset with Microphone (to complete audio recordings to be submitted online) Spanish –English
dictionary, (Cuyás, Collins, Larousse, Oxford, or Vox). On-line requirements and proficiencies:
Internet Explorer, file management, typing and word processor editing.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Our objective is for you to achieve a novice level of proficiency in the target
language (in writing, speaking, reading, and listening) as well as some awareness of the Hispanic culture,
which will allow you to continue to the next course.
Core Competencies: Value: Other cultures and peoples, as well as your classmates which you will be
working closely with in comrade. Think: In new ways as you experience a different grammar, syntax, and
phonologies. Communicate: With openness and respect in Spanish as you acquire language skills. Act:
In a way that model respect and value to everyone known and foreign.
Clast Competencies: This course will develop your mastery in the following areas: Reading skills
(literal/critical comprehension); listening skills (literal/critical comprehension); speaking skills (composing
and transmitting the message, using oral skills suitable to topic, purpose and audience).
Expectations: What I expect from you is a friendly, respectful and positive attitude in class. We will be
working in groups or with a partner almost every week to speak Spanish. I expect your full effort in this
and not shift to speaking English. All conversations should be polite and appropriate. Everyone should
participate actively. Students may collaborate in group assignments. This does NOT mean duplication of
work. Collaboration should be used to edit or to clarify doubts.
The use of electronic translators is not allowed. If you must have your cell phone on please keep it in a
silent or vibrate mode. If you must answer because of a excruciating circumstance, I expect you to
remove yourself from the class to answer. Be aware that you might be missing important information or
participation points. Please NO texting while in class. I consider this a very disruptive behavior.
VCC Expected student conduct: 10-03 Student Code of Conduct
Specific Authority: 1006.60, FS.
Law Implemented: 1006.60, FS.
Valencia Community College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning, and to the
development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the
responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules of appropriate behavior as articulated in the Student
Code of Conduct. The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the
faculty. Faculty may direct students who engage in inappropriate behavior that results in disruption of a
class to leave the class. Such students may be subject to other disciplinary action which may include a
warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the college. Please read the Student Code of Conduct
in the current Valencia Student Handbook. Here is the link to Valencia’s Student Code of Conduct website:
http://www.valenciacc.edu/policies/policydetail2.cfm?PolicyCatID=10&PolicyID=3
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: The course will be taught through a combination of lecture, hands-on
classroom exercises and on-line homework assignments. Students should not assume that there will be
class time to complete homework assignments.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Discussion Boards
Writing Activities
Speaking Activities
Chapter tests
Homework from MSL
Attn / Participation
Final
Total
10%
10%
10%
25%
20%
10%
15%
100%
Your score
/ / / /
/
/
/
/
/
/ /
/ /
/
/
GRADING: Your grade will
be calculated as follows:
90-100% 450-500 pts A
80-89 % 400-449 pts B
70-79 % 350-399 pts C
60-69 % 300-349 pts D
59 – 0% 348- 0
F
Discussion Boards: There will be a total of ten discussion boards posted throughout the calendar on
myspanishlab which you will respond to. You must read at least two responses from other students and
post your reply. These are considered free writing activities in which context are more weighted than
grammar.
Writing Activities: We will have two in-class writing assignments. I will give you the topics in class. We
will first write a draft in class in which you can use aids. After revising your draft, we will write the final
composition for grade without the use of dictionaries, text book nor electronic translator. Being absent to
the day we write the draft does not excuse you from writing your final composition. I will not accept drafts
written outside of the classroom. We will also have several on-line writing assignments in with which you
will be able to use aids. You should complete all on-line assignments since they will prepare you for the inclass ones in which no aids are to be used.
Speaking Activities: You will an on-line speaking practice in Spanish for every chapter covered. You will
also have two in-class presentations. Details will be given throughout the course.
Chapter Tests: You will have a final comprehensive test as well as a test for every chapter covered in
class. You should expect a test after the completion of each chapter with the exemption of Chapter PA or
6. All tests must be taken on or before dates assigned on this syllabus and myspanishlab calendar. No
makeup tests are available without explicit consent of instructor. The final exam must be taken on the
date published for final exams.
Homework from My Spanish Lab:
My Language Lab is the course management system that you will use this semester in this course.
www.mylanguagelab.com . Student Activities Manual (SAM) exercises to be completed and any other
activities assigned are listed on My Spanish Lab calendar. The activities represent extensive grammardriven practice that will assist the student in internalizing. Homework will be completed by the dates that
appear in the calendar in My Spanish Lab. In order to receive credit, you must receive an average score
of 80% per chapter on the Student Activities Manual assigned exercises. Other assignment might be
graded differently; depending on the activity.
Attendance/Participation: Students are expected to attend class regularly to derive the highest benefit
from instruction. Failure to attend class always results in missed opportunities to hear and speak Spanish.
If you are not in class, you cannot participate, therefore loosing points from attendance/participation. You
have to be willing to participate and ready with your work every day. This is not the place to sleep or to do
other classes’ homework. Students who do not maintain regular attendance MAY be withdrawal by the
instructor. In this course you are allowed to miss 3 days in the semester before you lose any attendance
points. After 3 days missed 3 percentage points will be deducted for each day you missed from your
attendance grade. Also, after five days of missed classes you MAY be dropped by the instructor. Students
will receive a W if withdrawn by March 25, 2011. No WP nor WF (withdrawn passing/failing) will be
assigned. W not be counted in the grade point average.
Final Exam: You will take one final comprehensive exam. Do not make other plans for that day and time.
THE FINAL EXAM IS 15 % OF YOUR GRADE.
Atlas and MLL: We will use get familiar with ATLAS, and My Language Lab, if you are not yet so. I will
encourage learning how to use all the features this program offers. I will be using MLL as the main via to
communicate with you regarding course content. Any personal matter that affects you academically must
be communicated through VCC mail. You should check announcements and e-mails regularly.
Students with Disabilities: Students who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter
from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor,
preferably during the first week of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines
accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The goal at the OSD is to open
doors, remove barriers and assist you in any way the can. The key to success is matching your needs to
the services provided. Please contact Dr. Acosta to discuss your individual needs.
Here is the link to Valencia’s OSD website: http://www.valenciacc.edu/osd
Tentative course program:
This program may be modified according to the needs of the course. All changes will be announced in class. Read
the listed sections below before coming to class each week. You are responsible for keeping up with the reading
and homework assignments.
Semana-Week of
Lección-Lesson
Tarea-Homework
Semana del 10 de enero
Introducción al curso
Preliminar A p 2-10
A-01,2,3,6,8
Semana del 17 de enero
(Martin Luther King)
Preliminar A
Semana del 24 de enero
Capítulo PA p 17-27
Semana del 31 de enero
Capítulo 1
p30-38
A-34,35,36,39,42,47
48, prac. oral
1-1,3,4,8,9,10,14,15,17,18
Semana del 7 de febrero
Capítulo 1 p 39-53
Presentación 1
Capítulo 2 p60- 70
Composición 1
19,20,23,26,27,29,32,38
47, prac. oral
2- 1,2,9,10,11,12,13,14,
2-03,
Semana del 14 de febrero
p11 – 16,23-24
Semana del 21 de febrero
Capítulo 2, p71-91
Semana del 28 de febrero
Capítulo 3 p98- 103
Grammar tutorials on MLL
A-17,18,19,23,24,25,2,6,27,28,29
Ex 1
2-19,26,29,31,32,34,38,50
Prac. oral
3-1,2,4,10,11,13,15,17,19
handout
Ex 2
Semana del 7 -13 de marzo
Receso de primavera-Spring Break
Semana del 14 de marzo
Capítulo 3 p112-127
3-22,23,27,28,30,31,32,42
43, prac.oral
Semana del 21 de marzo
Ex 3
Composición 2
Withdrawal Deadline is March 25.
Capítulo 4 p136,140,147-150
Semana del 28 de marzo
Capítulo 4 p 142146,154-163
Capitulo 5 p. 182
Semana del 4 de abril
Capítulo 5 p172-179
Semana del 11 de abril
Capítulo 5 p410-419
Presentación 2
Semana del 18 de abril
Capítulo 6 – Repaso
26 de abril de 2011
Examen Final 7:45-10:15
Ex 4
4-1,2,26,27,30,31,11
12,13
4-14,15,16,17,18,22,,23,24
38,40,41,42,47,48,49,prac. oral
5-25,26
5 -2,14,15,16,18,19
5-28,29,40,45,5-09,prac. oral
Ex. 5
6-1,4,5,12,13,20,24,27,28
Los exámenes finales comienzan el 25 de abril hasta el 1 de mayo.
Tips for Success
* Perform the Browser Tune-up in MyLanguageLab. Performing this tune-up ensures optimal performance.
* Print a copy of the course syllabus and calendar. Keep it by your computer.
* Check the course email regularly.
*Set aside specific times each week to complete class activities. If not, your other work will expand to fill all
the time you have.