SP 165 SPANISH FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
Course objectives: Students will maintain and improve their low advanced level of Spanish
speaking proficiency through practice in speaking and listening. In addition, they will develop
their interpersonal, interpretive skills and communication awareness of Spanish with special
focus on vocabulary relevant to work in criminal justice.
Texts:
Robb, L.A. (1955).Dictionary of legal terms, Spanish-English and English Spanish. New York:
John Wiley and Sons.
Breezing through emergency Spanish. Third edition. Dees Multilingual services, 1999.
Booklet and reference manual: Spanish for emergency services. Fourth edition. Dees
Multilingual Services, 1999.
+ tape
Grade Distribution: The semester grade will be comprised of the following components:
Assignments from coursebook
Vocabulary tests
Oral exams
Final exam
40%
25%
25%
10%
Grading Scale: The following scale will be used to determine the student’s final course grade:
97-100…A+
80-83….B64-66….D
94-96….A
77-79….C+
60-63….D90-93….A74-76….C
0-59….F
87-89….B+
70-73….C84-86….B
67-69….D+
Attendance: The learning of a foreign language is a cumulative process; therefore, attendance is
essential and expected every day for which class is scheduled. More than four (4) unexcused
absences for the semester will result in a lowering of the final grade for the course. For each
unexcused absence beyond the fourth, the final course grade will be lowered by 5 points. An
excused absence will be granted only upon the receipt of legitimate documentation. These four
days should be used for any minor illness that would require Student Health Services, or other
problems such as oversleeping, car trouble, etc. Use your four absences wisely so as not to risk a
lowered grade due to excessive absences. Proficiency in any language requires listening and
speaking practice, which cannot be achieved without classroom participation. If you must miss
class please try to contact me before you are absent. You are responsible for completing any
assignments missed due to excused or unexcused absence.
All assignments, homework and reading should be completed prior to the start of
each class. It is very important to keep up with your work every day. Make-up
quizzes/exams will be arranged only in the case of an excused absence. Arrangements
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should be finalized before the work is missed whenever possible (especially for such
things as school trips, etc.) All make-ups must be completed within three calendar days
from the original quiz/exam.
As we begin this semester I wish each of you the best of experiences and offer
you my support. Please feel free to call on me outside of class, especially if you begin to
experience difficulties. ¡Buen semestre y mucha suerte!
Disability Services and Accommodations: In compliance with Lake Superior State
University policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services
are available. Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely
manner, preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs.
Students will not receive services until they register with the Resource Center for
Students with Disabilities (RCSD). Proper registration will enable the RCSD
to verify the disability and determine reasonable academic accommodations. RCSD is
located in Library 101. The telephone number is (906) 635-2454.
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COURSE OUTLINE FOR SPANISH 165
Week One
Course introduction. Course overview.
Learning suggestions, shortcuts, and survival techniques.
Alphabet and pronunciation errors to avoid
Numbers, greetings, farewells, basic conversations and emergency professions
Structure: el, la, los, las + basic question words
Culture and reading: Spanish speaking countries in North and Central America and the
Caribbean islands
Week Two
Oral warm-up, new vocabulary practice, assignment of quizzes and written homework.
Scenario: FI card
Days of week, Months
People and family members
Structure: Un, una + subject + verb “ser”
Culture and reading: South American Countries
Week Three
Colors and date
Structure: hay + tener
Useful words and expressions
Reading and answering questions
Week Four
Clothing, seasons, weather
Structure: question words
Culture and reading: Spanish word influence on English I
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Week Five
Bad guys
Special commands
Structure: telling time
Reading: words commonly confused
Week Six
Scenario: pedestrian stop 1.
Public terms and more professions
Structure: use of “ser” adjectives + “ir” + more question words
Week Seven
Professions, numbers, time expressions
Question words
Reading and culture: Spanish word influence on English II
Week Eight
Scenario: pedestrian stop 2.
“Ser” adjectives, places
Structure: personal a, commands ending in e
Culture and reading: Spanglish and identifying street terms 1.
Week Nine
Scenario: finding a lost child
-er and ir verb lists
Culture and reading: Spanglish and identifying street terms 2.
Week Ten
Review of emergency vocabulary
Review of key structural and verb patterns
Preparation for student presentations of scenarios
Week Eleven-Thirteen
Practice and presentation of scenarios and vocabulary
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