HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE – CENTRAL COLLEGE
SPAN 2316 INTERMEDIATE CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH
SUMMER 2011
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Bernardo Vallejo
PHONE: 713-718-6285
E-MAIL: bernardo.vallejo@hccs.edu
CRN: 87252
TIME/DAYS: M,T,W, 11-2, F Practice (Learning Web)
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION: SPAN 2316, Intermediate Conversational Spanish,
refinement of conversational skills through practice of idiomatic usage and discussion
of contemporary issues and/or current events.
2. OBJECTIVES
1. Understand the spoken language in the context of the everyday situations studied. To
understand means to grasp the basic message, not necessarily to comprehend every
word uttered.
2. Speak using words, then phrases and simple sentences to give information, ask and
answer questions, and participate in conversations in the contexts studied.
3. Become aware of customs and attitudes of Spanish-speaking countries which apply to
the contexts studied. To understand issues in intercultural communication and cultural
misunderstanding.
4. Comprehend written materials such as signs, menus, timetables, ads, short dialogues
in a Spanish-speaking country.
5. Develop writing skills toward short essays
3. TEXTBOOKS * (All materials provided by the author).
1. Hola Amigos. Bernardo Vallejo, Ph. D. Trillas Publishing Co. México
D.F.
2. Hola Amigos. Study guide. Bernardo Vallejo, Ph. D. Trillas Publishing
Co. México D.F.
3. Hola Amigos. Videotaped conversational situations in the modern world
4. Language and Some Linguistic Variations. 2010, UNIVALLE,
Cochabamba, Bolivia
5. CLASSWORK
The emphasis in class is on oral communication: listening and speaking skills. The
course will include talking about topics covered in the chapters and role-playing
everyday situations. There will be no systematic study of grammar. Only those
structures needed to communicate in the situations presented will be introduced.
Topics include family, numbers, work, shopping, getting around, free time activities.
You will learn to greet others, introduce yourself and ask about other, ask where
something is, ask for general information when traveling, make a phone call, talk
about the time and dates, describe family members, work, and housing, shop for food
and clothing, express feelings and order something to eat or drink. Listening activities
will be incorporated into the class and will include popular Spanish music, radio
announcements and clips from video and TV. Short essays applying syntax.
6. TUTORING
There is free tutoring for students who are taking Spanish. Signs will be posted the
second week of class with the tutors’ hours.
Important Notice: students who repeat a course three or four times may soon face
significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.
If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades,
confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading
and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and
opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
7. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Students engaged in any scholastic dishonesty: cheating, plagiarism or collusion, as
described by the Student Handbook, may be penalized as specified in the Student
Handbook. For this class, these rules specifically apply to in-class tests.
8. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision,
hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the
Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester.
Faculty members are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by
the Disability Support Services Office. If you have any questions, please contact the
disability counselor in SJAC 102, or call (713) 718-6164.
9. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is essential in a foreign language class because new material is presented
and practiced everyday. Class will begin and end at the scheduled time. You are
expected to be in the classroom on time and remain the entire class period. Please be
on time, as coming and going is disruptive. Students returning after an absence are
responsible for materials covered during their absence and will be required to take
tests and turn in routine assignments according to the class schedule set forth herein.
Additionally, participation is tied to attendance. If you are not present, you cannot
participate. Therefore, you will lose 5 points on your participation grade for each
class missed.
According to HCCS policies set forth in the Student Handbook, students may be
dropped after missing more than 12.5 percent of the total hours of instruction. For this
class, that equates to four (4) absences (6 hours), including tardies and leaving early
(1/2 absence each incident). A student who misses any class time for any reason –
either for an excellent reason or no reason, is considered absent.
10. MAKE-UP P0LICY FOR TESTS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS
You will be taking tests every other week in this class. You will be allowed to take
one make-up test during the semester and it must be taken within a week of your
absence. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor and schedule a makeup exam. If a student misses more than one test, s/he will receive a “0” for that test.
Students who are absent on the day of an oral presentation must do their presentation
in the class following the absence and will receive an automatic deduction of 15
points. Only one (1) oral presentation may be made up.
11. COURTESY
Ringing cell phones are a major disruption to instruction. Out of respect for your
instructor and fellow classmates, please turn off cell phones and beepers when you enter
class. If there is a very special reason you must have your phone or beeper on, please let
me know.
12. OFFICE HOURS
Feel free to e-mail me or call me regarding any problem you may be having with the
class. I check my e-mail and voicemail daily. I am committed to helping you succeed in
your studies. My telephone number and office hours are listed on the first page of the
syllabus.
13. COURSE GRADE
Students will be evaluated as follows:
*Class Participation Tied to Attendance and homework
Oral work (2 class presentations + midterm / final oral
Final Exam
Total
30%
50%
20%
100%
*Class Participation
Class participation is essential in a foreign language class. As mentioned earlier, class
participation is tied to attendance. You will receive a daily participation grade which will
be based on the following: preparation for class (including homework), bringing books
and materials to class, active class involvement, staying on task, and mature behavior.
14. GRADE DISTRIBUTION
14. IMPORTANT DATES
%
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59 = F
First session
Last day to withdraw
Last day of instruction
Day of final examination
July 11
July
August
August
INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
Week 1
Introduction to course, distribution of syllabus
Capitulo 1 – Mucho gusto
Capitulo 2 - ¿De dónde eres?
Capitulo 3 – En una fiesta
Capitulo 4 – En el hotel
Capitulo 5 – En la ciudad
Capitulo 6 – En el banco
Week 2
Capitulo 7 - ¡Hola! ¿Quién habla?
Capitulo 8 – En el restaurante
Capitulo 9 - ¿Qué es lo que tiene?
Capitulo 10 – Registrándose en el hotel
Capitulo 11 - ¿Desean algo de tomar? o ¿Desean el menú?
Capitulo 12 – ¿Va a dejar el hotel?
Week 3
Spanish morphology and lexical variations.
Week 4
Spanish syntax and writing short essays.
Week 5
Oral presentations and Final Exam.