HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM – SOUTHEAST COLLEGE
SPANISH 1411 - BEGINNING SPANISH I CRN# 75725
PROFESSOR: Lina Marcela DeVito
lina.devito@hccs.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
SPANISH 1411, Beginning Spanish I, is the first semester of a comprehensive beginning Spanish
course in which you will listen, speak, read and write Spanish. The course transfers to
universities as foreign language credit. It also satisfies the cross-cultural component of the HCCS
core curriculum.
PREREQUISITES: Must be placed into GUST 0342 (or higher) in reading and ENGL 0310/0349
(or higher) in writing
COURSE GOAL
In Spanish 1411, vocabulary, language patterns and grammar are introduced and applied in the
context of practical communication such as greeting others and getting acquainted; identifying
yourself, your family, your studies; talking about your activities; shopping; ordering something
to eat and drink. The class includes dialogues, tapes, oral and written exercises, computerized
practice, role-playing, partner work and laboratory exercises. You will also learn cultural
information about values, beliefs and practices related to the above situations and to speakers
of Spanish. In a more general sense, you will learn about the cultural contexts of the Spanish
language.
CORE CURRICULUM
Spanish 1411 fulfills the communication requirement of the Core Curriculum.
Spanish 1411 fulfills the cross cultural requirement of the Core Curriculum.
Spanish 1411 meets the objectives for the Global Studies Certificate
Please see the HCCS Catalog 2009-2011 pp 60 - 66
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
These descriptions reflect what most students will be able to do by the end of the course.
a.
Listening comprehension: Students will comprehend words, phrases and sentences in
standard spoken language where the context is familiar, mainly simple sentences using
high frequency vocabulary.
b.
Speaking: Students will speak using words, phrases and short sentences in a number of
familiar contexts.
c.
Reading: The student will comprehend a short passage in the target language on a topic
related to daily life.
d.
Writing: The student will write short simple sentences using learned vocabulary and
grammatical structures within familiar contexts.
e.
Cultural Awareness: The student will
a) identify regions of the world and name some countries where Spanish is spoken.
b) demonstrate knowledge of a few basic facts about several Spanish-speaking countries
or regions.
c) show understanding of Spanish customs relating to introductions and initial social
contacts, interaction in public places, dining, interaction between family and friends.
d) show some understanding of issues in inter-cultural communication and cultural
misunderstanding.
e) acquire and demonstrate cultural awareness and understanding of Hispanic countries
and peoples.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
As your professor, I want you to be successful in this class. We will work together to achieve the
levels of proficiency previously stated. I will create activities where you can experience, speaking,
reading, writing, listening, and cultural understanding of Spanish. I will also pay attention to your
learning style without sacrificing the standards you should achieve. I will rely on your feedback
through exams, quizzes, and lab work.
EXAMS
All the exams test vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening. If you do all
assigned work and study prior to taking the exam, you should do well.
WORKBOOK. All assigned workbook exercises are done at home and turned in the day of the
test. No exceptions.
All the aforementioned assessment instruments determine how successfully you are at achieving
the learning outcomes previously outlined. If you find you are not mastering the language skills,
please reflect on your study habits and time management skills and prepare for each class.
TRUE BEGINNERS OF SPANISH NEED TO PLAN ON AN AVERAGE OF 8 HOURS PER WEEK
OR MORE STUDY TIME TO KEEP UP WITH THE PACE OF THE CLASS.
STUDENT EVALUATION
You are expected to do all assignments and tests. Students who fail to turn in an assignment will
receive a grade of 0 for the assignment or test. You will be evaluated as follows:
Students will be evaluated as follows:
1. Oral class participation
15%
2. Written homework
15%
3. Chapter Tests: (6 tests)
40 %
4. Final Exam:
30 %
GRADE DISTRIBUTION
100-90: A
89-80: B
79-70: C
69-60: D
59-0: F
TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
ADELANTE UNO, Vista Higher Learning (3
rd
edition, Blanco &Conley)
The students have access to the audio, video, and supplementary pages through the publisher’s
website. The students have the site’s address and the student’s password on the first page of the
textbook.
NOTE: All students must have their books by the second day of classes. Books can be
bought at any HCCS bookstore or on-line.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Any student with a documented disability (physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accomodations must contact the Disability Services Office,
Southeast ADA Counselor – Jette Lott at 713-718-7218, at the beggining of each semester.
Faculty are authorized to provide only the accomodations requested by the Disability Support
Services Office.
SCHOLASTIC 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 (pp. 28-29).
Please, familiarize yourself with the student handbook.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Class will begin at the scheduled time. Please be on time, as coming and going is disruptive. The
class roll will be called every day at the beginning of class. Students are expected to attend
classes every day and will be responsible for materials covered during their absence, as per the
course lesson plan and additional materials assigned by instructor. Students will lose points on
the participation grade for every class missed. As per HCCS policies, stated in the Student
Handbook (P. 2), the instructor has full authority to drop a student after the student has
accumulated absences in excess of 10 hours, including lecture and laboratory time. However, it is
recommended that the student be responsible for dropping the course if he/she has been absent
more than 10 hours of class. This policy will be strictly enforced, particularly for veterans. If a
student is late by more than 10 minutes or leaves class 15 minutes before the class ends, the
student will receive one 1/2 absence. After 2 of these absences the student will get one full
absence. Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. There are no excused or
unexcused absences; they are all absences.
Absences will be counted from the first class day of the semester, no matter when the
student registers or first attend.
MAKE UP TEST POLICY
Students are responsible for material covered during their absences. Exchanging phone
numbers with one or two other students for times when you miss a single class is a good idea.
Make-up exams will not be given except in well-documented dire circumstances. Only one major
exam will be made up per semester. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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 & Withdrawal information.
Classes beging
February 12
Last day for Administrative/Student Withdraws
April 21
Instruction ends
May 7
Final exam
May 14
NOTE: Faculty members will not be able to give a “W” after the last drop date.
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 will drop the class, you MUST drop it before April 21,
2011. If you just disappear from your class, you can get an “F” as your final
grade.
Othe student information
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
HCC COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Beginning Fall 2007, the State of Texas imposes penalties on students who withdraw/drop courses
excessively. Students are limited to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their
educational career at a Texas public college or university. Students are encouraged to review the
HCC 6 Drop Policy .
To help you avoid having to withdraw from any class, contact your DE professor regarding your
academic performance. You may also want to contact your DE counselor to learn about helpful
HCC resources (e.g. online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.).
HOW TO DROP
-If a student decides to withdraw from a class upon careful review of other options, the
student can withdraw online prior to the deadline through their HCC Student Center.
-HCC and/or professors may withdraw students for excessive absences without
notification (see Class Attendance below).
-Students should check HCC Academic Calendar by Term for withdrawal dates and
deadlines. Classes of other duration (flex-entry, 8-weeks, etc.) may have different final
withdrawal deadlines. Please contact the HCC Registrar’s Office at 713.718.8500 to determine
mini-term class withdrawal deadlines.
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Library services are available throughout HCC. Through a daily library delivery service and a
listing of all materials belonging to HCC libraries, books may be requested from and delivered to
any campus library. HCC also has cooperative borrowing agreements with the University of
Houston libraries and provides a copy of the Houston Public library catalog at each library. These
arrangements provide students with access to over 4 million volumes.
Special services provided by the library system include photocopying facilities; specialized
equipment for disabled students; group and personalized instruction in library use, including a
self-instructional media program to orient students to the use of the HCCS libraries.
ONLINE TUTORING HCC provides free online tutoring in writing, math, science, and other
subjects. Look for Ask Online on your Blackboard log-in page. This directs students to the HCC
AskOnline Tutoring site: http://hccs.askonline.net/. Use your student ID or HCC e-mail
address to create an account. Instructions, including a 5-minute video, are provided to make you
familiar with the capabilities of this service.
SPANISH 1411 LESSON PLAN
Spring 2011
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the calender
February 12
Introduction to the course: Syllabus
Chapter 1: The Spanish Alphabet; pronunciation; Greetings
Fotonovela; Numbers: 0-30; HAY, Lab practice.
February 19
Chapter 1: Identifying: Nouns and article: gender and number. Present Tense of
SER; uses of SER, telling time, Recapitulacion, Lab practice.
February 26
EXAM: Chapter 1
Workbook chapter 1 due
Chapter 2: La Universidad
Vocabulary; Pronunciation; Expressing actions: Present tense of -AR verbs; lab
practice
March 5
Chapter 2
Negation; asking questions; Numbers 30 and higher; ESTAR; summary of uses;
Recapitulación; Lab Practice
March 12
EXAM: Chapter 2
Workbook chapter 2 due
Chapter 3: La familia
Vocabulary; Pronunciation. Fotonovela. Describing: Adjectives: gender, number,
and position; Expressing possession; Possessive Adjectives; Lab Practice.
March 14-20
Spring Break
March 26
Chapter 3
Expressing actions: Present tense of -ER and -IR verbs; tener & venir verbs;
Expressions with tener; Recapitulación; Lab Practice.
April 2
EXAM: Chapter 3.
Workbook chapter 3 due
Chapter 4: Los Pasatiempos
Vocabulary, Fotonovela, Pronunciation. Present tense of: Ir; Stem Changing verbs
(e-ie, o-ue); Lab Practice.
April 9
Chapter 4
Expressing actions: Present tense of Stem Changing Verbs; hacer, poner, salir,
suponer, traer; Recapitulación; Lab Practice.
April 16
EXAM: Chapter 4.
Workbook chapter 4 due
Chapter 5: Las vacaciones,
Vocabulary; the seasons, the months, weather
expressions. Pronunciation; Fotonovela; ESTAR: Summary of uses; The Present
Progressive; SER vs ESTAR: summary of uses; Direct Object Pronouns;
Recapitulación; Lab Practice.
April 22-24
Easter Break
April 30
EXAM: Chapter 5.
Workbook chapter 5 due
Chapter 6: De compras
buying, colors, Vocabulary, Pronunciation; Fotonovela; Present Tense: saber &
conocer; Summary of uses; Indirect Object Pronouns; Present Tense of dar,
Preterite of regular verbs; Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns;
Recapitulación; Laboratory Practice.
May 7
EXAM: Chapter 6
Workbook chapter 6 due
Review of the Course
May 14
Final Exam - 12 Noon