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LG 232 – ESPAÑOL INTERMEDIO II
University of South Alabama
Sitio web de iLrn: http://ilrn.heinle.com
Intermediate Spanish I is the first of a two-semester sequence in Intermediate Spanish. The goal
of the sequence is to promote communication in cultural contexts and to further language
proficiency in the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. By the
end of the two-semester sequence, the student is expected to speak and write on the low to
medium intermediate level, and listen and read at the medium to high intermediate level
according to the ACTFL proficiency scale.
Los textos necesarios:
a) García, Sandstedt, Kite. Espacios. Heinle, Cengage Learning.
b) iLrn: Heinle Learning Center. Heinle, Cengage Learning. On-Line.
Las metas de los cursos LG 231 y 232:
1. To understand spoken Spanish on topics ranging from social to moderately academic.
2. To write in Spanish on topics ranging from social to moderately academic.
3. To read Spanish language newspapers and news magazines.
4. To master a vocabulary of 5,000 words over the course of the two semesters.
5. To conduct social conversations with ease (*LG 232).
6. To demonstrate an educated knowledge of Hispanic countries, their people and cultural
contributions.
Escala de Evaluación
90 - 100
80 - 89
70 - 79
60 - 69
0 - 59
A (Excelente)
B (Muy Bien)
C (Regular)
D (Malo)
F (Inaceptable)
INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT: This course will use a Team-Based-Learning (TBL) format
(http://www.teambasedlearning.org). You will be assigned to a team with approximately 4
members on the first day of class. You will sit with your team during most classroom sessions.
TBL Phase 1 – Preparation: You will complete specified readings ( Lectura preliminar and
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Lectura) for each chapter as well as the vocabulary for the entire chapter.
TBL Phase 2 – Readiness Assurance Test: At the first class meeting of each chapter, you will
be given a Readiness Assurance Test (RAT). The RAT test (10 multiple-choice questions)
measures your comprehension of the assigned readings and vocabulary and helps you learn the
material needed to begin problem solving in Phase 3. Once the test period is over, we will have a
short discussion to clarify concepts.. RATs are closed book and based on the assigned
readings.
 Individual RAT (iRAT) – You individually complete a multiple-choice test based on the
readings.
 Team RAT (tRAT) - Following the iRAT, the same multiple-choice test is re-taken with
your team. These tests use a “scratch and win” type answer
card known as an IF-AT. You negotiate with your
teammates and then scratch off the opaque coating hoping to
reveal a star that indicates a correct answer. Your team is
awarded 4 points if you uncover the correct answer on the
first scratch, 2 points for second scratch, and 1 point for
third scratch.
 Appeals Process - Once your team has completed the team
test, your team has the opportunity to fill out an appeals
form. The purpose of the appeals process is to allow your
team to identify questions where you disagree with the question key or question wording
or ambiguous information in the readings. Only teams are allowed to appeal questions
(no individual appeals).
 Feedback and Mini-discussion - Following the RATs and Appeal Process, the instructor
provides a short clarifying lecture on any difficult or troublesome concepts.
TBL Phase 3 - In-Class Application Activities: You and your team use the foundational
knowledge acquired in the first two phases to make decisions that will be reported publically and
subject to cross-team discussion/critique. A variety of methods will be used to have you report
your team’s decision at the end of each activity.
EVALUATION:
Individual Performance 60%
 Individual Readiness Assurance Tests
 Exams
 Diarios
 Compositions
 Examen final
 Participation
10%
30%
10%
25%
20%
05%
_60__%
= 100%
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Team Performance 30%
 Team Readiness Assurance Tests
 Application Activities
30%
50%
50%
=100%
Team Contribution (10%)
 Peer evaluation
TOTAL
10%
= 100%
Individual Performance:
iRAT: There are 8 Readiness Assurance Tests (RATs) given during the course—one at
the beginning of each unit. They cover the material as indicated on the course outline.
The dates and topics of these are announced. No make-up iRATs are given, so do not
miss class or arrive late on iRAT days.Exams: There are two exams that are part of the
Individual Performance grade. Each exam has between 45-50 points. The final
examination is the second exam. Make-up examinations are given only in the case of
illness documented with a physician's letter, and the instructor must be notified prior to
the time of the regularly scheduled exam. Any student who is found to have a cell
phone on his/her person during a quiz or an exam will receive a zero on that test
and procedures for Academic Misconduct will apply.
Commercial Compositions: During the course of this semester, you will write four
compositions on topics specified on the indicated page numbers of the textbook. Please
consult the calendar to find the relevant page numbers for each composition.
Composition should be uploaded onto the course’s Sakai page.
Professional Presentations: Each student will make a short 10-12 minute presentation to
the class during the semester. Dates and topics for each student are indicated on a
separate sheet that will be handed out on the first day of classes.
Team Performance: Team performance will be evaluated with 8 Team Readiness Assurance
Tests (tRATs). The tRATs immediately follow iRATs and have the same 10 multiple choice
questions. Also, some in-class team application activities will be graded throughout the semester.
Specific instructions and grading criteria for each activity will be provided as applicable. Each
member of a team will receive the same team performance score for each team RAT and in-class
activity. Some application activities (but not all) are listed below:
Banking: Each team will determine the best Latin American location to establish a branch of
Regions bank in according to the guidelines that the instructor will provide.
Video Projects: Each team will work to produce a video advertisement for a product to be sold
in a Hispanic market. The product to be advertised and the country in which the advertisement
will be broadcast will be determined by the professor beforehand.
Company Profile: at the end of the semester, each team will present a company profile for an
imaginary company they have created. Keeping in mind the knowledge of Latin American
business etiquette, social culture and economic realities, the profile should spell out through a
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poster presentation the product/services the company will trade in, the location of its Latin
American markets, its human resources policies, hiring protocol, its benefits package for the
employees, marketing campaigns envisioned etc.
Team Contribution: Each individual will evaluate the contributions of all the other team
members at the completion of the semester. Individuals will be asked to provide differential
ratings that will produce differences in grades within the team. This means that team members
cannot help everyone in the team get an A by giving everyone high peer evaluation scores. The
only way for everyone in a team to earn an A is by doing an outstanding job on the individual
and team exams and activities. Specific criteria for peer evaluation will be presented in class.
Explicación del curso y el proceso de evaluación
Participación / Preparación:
Students are to come prepared to class. After the first class meeting, activities and
exercises from the textbook are to be completed as detailed on the attached calendar. Class-time
will be used for practice, interaction, and other communicative activities. Absences are strongly
discouraged. Any absence beyond two will result in a deduction of two points per absence from
the total final average at the end of the semester. Late arrivals (10 minutes or more) are
absolutely discouraged and three of them are equivalent to an absence.
Homework: Assignments are due as indicated on the calendar, as assigned in class, or as
indicated in iLrn. Ten points from the final grade of said assignment will be deducted for each
day late except for in-class homework in which no late assignments will be accepted. You
should get a separate blue book for your homework assignments. The instructor will collect the
blue books on the exam day and grade the assignments for completion. Additionally, daily
homework will be checked randomly and periodically throughout the semester. You are
expected to bring your homework bluebook with the completed homework assignments to class
daily. Even if you didn’t understand exactly what to do or you were confused, you are expected
to have made an honest effort to complete the assigned activities – leaving an activity blank will
result in a zero. TRY!!!
Pop quizzes over material that is being studied will be given throughout the semester.
These are designed to test your knowledge of the material and help you identify areas where
extra practice and/or instruction are needed. There are absolutely no make-ups for missed
quizzes – this includes being tardy to class and missing the quiz or coming in late during the
quiz.
Students should work to acquire and improve all four language skills: comprehension,
speaking, reading, and writing. A new language is learned most effectively by using it.
Therefore it is necessary to attend class regularly to take advantage of the opportunities for
practicing it. Classes will be conducted predominantly in Spanish, and even though you will not
understand every word, especially at first, regular participation will ensure progress in listening
skills. In the formal and informal speaking activities you should not be afraid to make mistakes 4
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- your goal is to communicate with native speakers of Spanish, and it is understandable that you
will make errors at first. As your study continues, however, your mistakes should become less
and less frequent. Read the grammar explanations at home so that as much class time as possible
can be spent on oral practice. Do not be afraid to ask questions about matters that you do not
understand, however. Since people learn at different paces it is important that everyone feel
comfortable speaking Spanish in class. Please be respectful of your fellow students! Your
participation will be assessed on the basis of 1) your use of Spanish, 2) your classroom and/or
online activities and quizzes, 3) your willingness to participate, and 4) your level of
preparedness. Bear in mind that cell phone ringing/using, text messaging, sleeping, tardy
arriving, leaving class early, and the like do not constitute being prepared and will result in
grade penalties. See Academic Disruption Policy below.
Please note the statement in the University Bulletin, “Each hour of lecture usually
requires two hours of outside preparation.” You can expect to be asked questions on any
assigned material at any time. Be sure to talk to your instructor as soon as you feel that you are
encountering difficulties with the material.
Diarios: The objective of the journal entries is to promote the development of your writing and
reading skills, enabling you to express in Spanish, your thoughts on specific topics and by
improving your use of vocabulary and grammatical structures studies. You will write a brief
entry in a blue book for every class day, i.e. thrice a week or twice a week if your class meets
twice a week. These entries must be in Spanish, 1-2 paragraphs long and can be on any topic of
your choice or any aspect of your life.
Your instructor will collect the journals once every two weeks and will evaluate them for
completion and punctual submission as well as on the quality of their content and grammatical
accuracy. While the journals will be assigned a holistic grade, you are expected to consult the
instructor in order to get detailed feedback on the entries. A brief guide on the grading criteria is
provided below.
Grade
Characteristics
A
B
C
D
F
Highly coherent in communicating thoughts supported with relevant details. Very
clear writing with effective use of complex grammar constructions and
vocabulary studied.
Coherent in communicating thoughts. Mostly clear writing and appropriate use of
grammar constructions and vocabulary studied.
Some coherence in expressing thoughts (ideas presented with some details).
Contains many erroneous uses of grammar and vocabulary that make for difficult
understanding.
Inadequate coherence in communicating thoughts, clarity of expression and
erroneous use of grammar and words.
No journal turned in.
Composiciones:
Five compositions are due as indicated on the course calendar. These are to be type
written on a word-processor with careful attention given to spelling, grammar and accent marks.
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Topics for these compositions are clearly detailed in iLrn – they are also indicated on your
course calendar. Please follow these guidelines:
*Typed in word processor program
*12 pt. Times New Roman font – ONLY
*Double-spaced
*Appropriate heading (single spaced) with name, date, assignment IN SPANISH
*After the heading, press enter TWICE, indent and start composition writing (there is no title)
*Here is an example:
Mark Smith
19/8/2013
Composición #__
En mi familia, hay cuatro personas…
If you fail to follow these guidelines the assignment will not be accepted – after necessary
changes are made, assignment will be accepted in accordance with the late policy as outlined in
syllabus above
The compositions will be graded on content (30%), grammar (40%) and overall structure
(30%) [use of vocabulary, proper introduction and conclusion, paragraph development, etc.].
You can use your textbook and a dictionary. NO ONE is to help you with the writing of your
composition except your professor – no friend, no family member, no classmate, no tutor, no
other professor, NO ONLINE TRANSLATORS. Once you have finished the writing of your
composition you are welcome to ask a tutor and/or classmate to proofread.
***Even if you don’t think so, it is very obvious when an online translator has been used. Any
suspected use of any of these things will result in an automatic zero with no re-write. BE
ABOVE SUSPICION!!
Proyectos de grupo:
There will be two group projects for which you will work with your respective team. The
first group project will be a brief video and the second will consist of a skit.
Proyecto de video: The goal for this project is the production of a video-skit in Spanish, 5 to 10
minutes long. The topic for the same will be decided by the instructor. It is important that you
plan ahead and start it by mid-semester. The video must include in any case the voices of the
students. It could take different forms (documentary, short film, dramatization, musical
production, animation…..etc). It will be evaluated on the content, the correction and fluidity of
the language and the clarity of the content. It will be showed in class and students will be able to
comment and criticize other’s work.
Proyectos en vivo: The proyectos en vivo will be identical to the video skits, except that these
skits will be enacted in front of an audience. Topics for the live skits will also be announced by
the instructor to the class. Students will enact their skits in front of other Spanish Professors and
other students from the Spanish section as well as from other sections on the day and time
indicated in the course calendar.
Exámenes de capítulo / Examen final:
There will be 4 chapter exams and one final exam. The dates for these exams are
indicated on the calendar. Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the professor. If you
know that you will miss an exam for any reason, you are expected to make arrangements to take
the exam before your absence. Each chapter exam includes all the material from that specific
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chapter (enfoque cultural, estructuras, corto de cine, espacio literario, vocabulario) even if it was
not specifically covered in class - unless otherwise indicated by the professor. The final exam is
comprehensive of the entire semester.
Other Course Policies, etc.
Academic Misconduct
Cheating on any assignment, quiz or exam will result in the following course of action. For the first
offense, the student will receive a zero on the assignment and an official report will be filed with the
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students have the right to file an appeal against the charge
of Academic Misconduct. The second offense will result in failure of the course and an official
report will be filed with the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Academic
Affairs will get the report from the Dean’s Office and flag the student as a "repeat offender" for
academic misconduct, which will trigger a hearing by the College's Undergraduate Academic
Standards Committee. Any subsequent incidences of cheating will be escalated to the appropriate
University officials who will determine the course of action taken.
Examples of violations of academic honesty: Academic dishonesty in the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures includes, but is not limited to, the following:
copying someone else’s work on a test, using notes (“cheat sheets”) during a closed-book
exam, having unauthorized help on compositions, copying homework, submitting the
work of anyone else (a friend, a published author, a translation program, a tutor) as one’s
own, etc.
Language Resource Center (LRC):
This multi-media language facility is located in room 337. Only students who are currently
enrolled in a Foreign Language will have access to the center. The LRC is an excellent place to
do all computer-related homework, to explore websites related to the Hispanic world, participate
in Spanish chat rooms, and meet other language students. To access the LRC you will need to
leave your ID with the lab attendant and retrieve it when you depart. For more details about the
LRC, go to its website: http://www.southalabama.edu/languages/lrc/index.html
Tutoring is offered by the department. The tutors have regularly scheduled office hours in the
department to provide extra help and practice. Please look for posted signs that announce their
schedules. Take advantage of this free service early on, especially if you are having difficulty with
some aspect of the language.
JAG ALERTS: Jag Alerts will be open from the first week of term through week 13 to provide
information on any undergraduate student who needs attention related to academic performance or
other classroom engagement. Student Academic Success will reach out to alerted students weekly,
and basing its communication on the information that is provided. The goal is to offer the venue for
getting additional resources to you, the student, beyond what is already provided through office
hours, study groups, etc. For example, if it is indicated that the student is having problems with
course material, s/he will be contacted to set up an appointment for tutoring. Or, if your instructor
believes that you are not going to succeed in your course or major, a meeting with an academic
advisor or career advisor will be facilitated, to discuss their interests, strengths, and major paths.
MIDTERM GRADES: Midterm grading will become available Monday, October 5th at 9:00
a.m. and will end on Monday, October 12th at 10:00 a.m.
Retroactive Credit/Placement Criteria:
The Department offers retroactive credit for students who place in a higher level course up to and
through LG 232, Intermediate Spanish II. Students who have taken the equivalent of four or five
years of high school Spanish (Honors/ AP/ IB) usually place into LG 231, Intermediate Spanish I
(LG 231). Some especially advanced students as well as heritage speakers place into LG 232,
Intermediate Spanish II. At the end of the semester, if the student in LG 231 or LG 232 makes a
C or better, s/he may petition for credit for LG 131 and LG 132 – a total of 6 credit hours. Doing
this will allow student to meet requirement of a foreign language sequence.
MAJORING or MINORING in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish:
Students can obtain more information about this department, the Spanish program at
USA, and study abroad opportunities on the Department’s homepage: http://www.usouthal.edu/languages.
Another source of valuable information is: http://www.usouthal.oie.
STUDY ABROAD:
The department of Foreign Languages and Literatures in conjunction with USA’s Office of
International Education runs study abroad programs in various Hispanic countries. It is highly
recommended that students attend the summer session abroad after the completion of the
intermediate year (LG 231 and LG 232). For those who plan to minor in Spanish, the study abroad
segment completes the requirement. For those who plan to major in Spanish, they are left with only
four courses to take to complete the courses in Spanish. The other core requirements for a Foreign
Language major include: LG 110 World Languages, IS 100 Global Issues, EH 235 and EH 236
Survey of World Literature I & II, and the Senior Seminar- LG 480. If you start planning early, it is
actually quite easy to double-major in Spanish and something else. The cost of a summer program is
approximately $5,000. Majors receive a modest award from the Department of Foreign Languages
and Literatures to help them finance this cost and numerous online scholarships are available. The
cost of the program includes tuition for 9 hours of credit, housing, travel to and from Mobile, food,
excursions, and more.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations please notify the
instructor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services. The Office of
Special Student Services is located in Room 270 of the Student Center (460-7212).
WAIVER:
Changes in the syllabus due to unforeseen circumstances may occur. Students will be notified of any
modifications in advance either via their student email address (JAGMAIL) or via the message board
in Sakai. You are expected to check both your student email and Sakai daily for any communication.
***Grades will be maintained through Sakai gradebook.
SAKAI – Please note that a SAKAI site has been created for this course. Important materials,
announcements and all grades will be posted on this site. Please check Sakai for an accurate update
on your current grade in the course.