Course Syllabus
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I
SPAN 2311
CRN 29228 – FALL 2012
INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Anaisabel Ortiz Avila
Email. a.ortizavila
PHONE:
713-718-6678(to leave messages)
OFFICE LOCATION AND HOURS: FAC 310 TTH
Course Location and Times:
FAC 309 T - Th 10:00am – 11:30am
3 credits (3 lecture,)
48 hours per semester
5 weeks
Type of Instruction: on site
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Further development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and cultural awareness acquired in Beginning
Spanish. Introduction of more complex language structures. Oral and written practice based on selected readings. Class
conducted mainly in Spanish. Core Curriculum Course.
PREREQUISITES: SPAN 1412 or department approval. Must be placed into GUST 0342 (or higher) in reading and
ENGL 0310/0349 (or higher) in writing.
COURSE GOAL. The student will demonstrate the use of more complex language structures and develop listening,
speaking, reading and writing skills and cultural awareness beyond Beginning Spanish.
CORE CURRICULUM:Spanish 2311 fulfills the cross/multicultural requirement of the Core Curriculum.
CORE CURRICULUM COMPETENCIES Reading, Writing, Speaking/Listening, Critical Thinking,
Computer/Information Literacy
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES.
Program Learning Outcome.
The student will:
1. Speak clearly and fluently enough for a target-language speaker to understand and interpret intent without difficulty.
2. Comprehend the main points of standard discourse and authentic material in target language spoken at near-native
speed.
3. Write simple descriptions and narrations of paragraph length on everyday events and situations in different time
frames.
4. Read with understanding authentic written material in the target language on a variety of topics related to daily life in
the target-language world.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to characteristic perspectives, practices and products that reflect the culture
of the target language.
Student Learning Outcome
The student will:
1. Formulate and express opinions in the target language on familiar matters as well as on topics related to the culture,
history, current events and daily life of the target-language community.
2. Comprehend the main points of (a) standard discourse on familiar topics and (b) clearly-delivered authentic cultural
material (TV programs, videos, movies).
3. Compose well-structured short essays and reports that express personal points of view.
4. Draw logical conclusions from noncomplex, authentic factual and literary texts which put forward arguments and
different points of view.
5. Describe and analyze, with sensitivity and appreciation, the relationship between language, culture and world view as
well as the similarities and differences between specific cultural practices and perspectives.
Learning Objectives
1.1 speak in complete sentences about everyday activities using subjunctives, perfect forms, future, and conditional
tenses.
1.2 construct dialogues in the present, past, and future tenses of the indicative and subjunctive mood regarding nature,
the environment, personal relationships, professions, government, and traveling abroad.
2.1 respond accurately in the past, present or future and expressing emotions, doubt, influence, what you had done,
conjecture, future actions, and hypothetical situations in professional and environmental issues, and the future in
general.
2.2 elaborate in the present, past or future of the indicative and subjunctive mood on elements of a given conversation
3.1 write cohesive sentences and paragraphs in the present, past and future describing situations regarding nature, the
environment, personal relationships, professions, government, and traveling abroad.
3.2 narrate a short paragraph using the present, past and future tenses in the indicative and subjunctive mood.
4.1 read an article and respond accurately to questions in different modalities
4.2 Analyze and summarize major themes and characters from selected readings
5.1 recognize and interpret the nuances within the target culture
5.2 evaluate the cultural aspects that provide insight into the unique characteristics between the target cultures and the
United States’ culture
SPANISH 2311
TENTATIVE LESSON PLAN
PLAN ON AN AVERAGE OF 2 HOURS PER DAY OR MORE STUDY TIME TO KEEP UP WITH THE PACE OF
THE CLASS.
NOTE: All assignments will be given in class by the professor.
Week 1:
Presentation of the course syllabus
Review of the Present Indicative and Subjunctive
Chapter 13: El arte y la cultura. Vocabulary
Las artes y los artistas
Uses of the subjunctive: expressing feelings
Week 2:
Uses of the subjunctive: uncertainty
Doubt, denial, and emotion
Summary of the subjunctive
Lectura: Ch’aska Palomas: Artesanías Textiles
Week 3:
Chapter 13 exam
Chapter 14: La Naturaleza y el medio ambiente.
Vocabulary: el reciclaje, el campo y la ciudad
Week 4:
Past Participle used as adjective.
Present Perfect Indicative and Subjunctive
Week 5:
Nota comunicativa. Situaciones
Literatura: Cuadrados, Alfonsina Storni
Chapter 14 exam
Week 6:
Chapter 15: La vida social y la vida efectiva.
Vocabulary: Las relaciones sentimentales y las etapas de la vida
Subjunctive after negative and indefinite antecedents.
Week 7:
Subjunctive in clauses of contingency and purpose
Situaciones. Un poco de todo.
Chapter 15 Exam.
Week 8:
Chapter 16: ¿Trabajar para vivir o vivir para trabajar?
Vocabulary.Las profesiones y los oficios
El mundo del trabajo; cuestiones de dinero
Future Tense: Forms and Uses. Conjetures.
Week 9:
Pending Actions: Indicative or Subjunctive.
Lectura: “La higuera”. Composition
Chapter 16 Exam.
Week 10:
Chapter 17: En la actualidad.
Vocabulary. Las noticias
Review preterite.
Week 11:
Past subjunctive: Forms and Uses.
Nota comunicativa.
Stressed possessives.
Week 12:
Chapter 17 Exam.
Lectura: “XXIV” por Antonio Machado
Composition
Week 13:
Chapter 18: En el extranjero.
Vocabulary.Lugares y cosas
Conditional Forms and Uses
Week 14:
Hypothetical situations.
Situaciones. Un poco de todo.
Lectura: “Cubanita descubanizadas” Gustavo Perez Firmat
Week 15:
General review of the course.
Preparation for the final exam.
Final orals.
Week 16:
Final Exam December 10 at 5:30pm
NOTE: THE FINAL EXAM WILL NOT BE GIVEN AT A DIFFERENT DATE OR TIME. Eating is NOT
allowed in the classroom. Please turn off your cellular, beeper, etc. before coming to class.
Students are not allowed to wear hats during exam time nor to have any kind of electronic device.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
Even though the instructor will be using English at some times, the instructor will be using Spanish more and more as
the semester progresses in order to provide the students the opportunity to listen to and practice Spanish. The student is
expected to do the assignments given for class and come prepared for class so that he/she can participate in all
class activities. The student shall strive to use Spanish in class as much as possible.
STUDENT EVALUATION:
The student is expected to do all assignments and tests. Students who fail to turn in an assignment, within a week
of the assignment deadline, or take a makeup test for a test missed will receive a grade of 0 for the assignment
or test. Students will be evaluated as follows:
1. Oral class preparation and participation:
15 %
2. Written homework:
15 %
3. Chapter Tests
40 %
4. Final Exam:
30 %
6. GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
100 - 90: A
89 - 80: B
79 - 70: C
69 - 60: D
59 - 0: D
TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
PUNTOS DE PARTIDA 8 ed. Volume III
Knorre, Dorwick, Perez-Gironés, McGraw-Hill
Houston Community College
ISBN 0077569709
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-Room LHSB 106, or call (713) 7186164 at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the
Disability Support Services Office."
ACADEMIC HONESTY
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 (pp. 28-29)
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
The class roll will be called every day at the beginning of class. Students are expected to attend class every day and
will be responsible for materials covered during their absence, as per the course lesson plan. As per HCCS
polities, started in the Student Handbook, the instructor has full authority to drop a student after the student has
accumulated absences in excess of 6 hours. However, it is recommended that the student be responsible for dropping
the course if he has been absent more than 6 hours.
Absences will be counted from the first class day of the semester, no matter when the student registers or first
attend.
Under section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, “an institution of higher education may not permit a student
to drop more than six courses, including any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution of
higher education.” This statute was enacted by the State of Texas in spring 2007 and applies to students who
enroll in a public institution of higher education as first-time freshmen in fall 2007 or later. Any course that a
student drops is counted toward the six-course limit if “(1) the student was able to drop the course without
receiving a grade or incurring an academic penalty; (2) the student’s transcript indicates or will indicate that the
student was enrolled in the course; and (3) the student is not dropping the course in order to withdraw from the
institution.”
MAKEUP TEST POLICY:
If a student is absent on a day when a test is scheduled, the student shall make arrangements with the instructor to
make up the test. However, the listening section of the test will not prepared for makeup tests, resulting in the student's
forfeiting the points ascribed to the listening sections.
REPEATED COURSE FEE
Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other
Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your professor / counselor about opportunities for tutoring / other
assistance prior to considering course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
The guidelines for student conducts and consequences for their violation are specifically defined in The Student
Handbook [As] mature, responsible adults., they will voluntarily observe these rules as a matter of training and habit.
Students [will] not interfere with or disrupt the orderly educational process of the College System." It is expected that
the students will demonstrate both courtesy and cooperation in the classroom. A student who either cannot or will not
extend both courtesy and cooperation may not continue the course.
USE OF RECORDING DEVICES IN HCC FACILITIES
Per HCCS Policy, “Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms,
laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities
who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with
Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations.”
IMPORTANT DATES THIS SEMESTER
First day of classes
Labor Day Holiday
Last day to withdraw
Thanksgiving Holiday
Instruction ends
Final Exam
August 27
September 3
November 2
November 22-25
December 9
December 13
NOTE: Faculty members will not be able to give a “W” after November 2. The student will
receive the grade that he/she is making. If a student does not take the final exam and/or misses
other exams, a grade of “0” will be assigned for those exams. If you drop the class, you MUST
drop it before November 2. If you just disappear from your class, you will get an “FX” as your
final grade ( even if you show up for the final exam).
NOTE: THE FINAL EXAM CAN NOT BE GIVEN BEFORE THE OFFICIAL EXAM DATE
OTHER STUDENT INFORMATION
PHONES, BEEPERS, AND FOOD
Ringing cellular phones or sounding beepers constitute an interruption of instruction. Students must remember to turn
off phones and beepers in class.
Eating is not allowed in the classroom except for a medical condition. Please notify the instructor and provide a note
from your physician if you need to eat or drink while in class.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Equipment: Computers are available in the LHSB 103 and in the library (third floor of LH) There is a
computer lab in FAC 302 and the ESL/WL language lab in FAC 305.
Tutoring: There is free Foreign Language (Spanish) tutoring available on a walk in basis. Many
students of all skill levels take advantage of this service. Go to get help in generating ideas, developing
organization, and practicing grammar. Check the schedule on the door for the times for World
Language tutors.
SCHOOL CLOSING
Please check the local radio and TV stations for information regarding school closing due to inclement weather. You
can also check the following web site:
http://www.school-closing.net