KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Course Number/Program Name
Department
Degree Title (if applicable)
Proposed Effective Date
SPAN 7704: Topics in Spanish Linguistics
Foreign Languages
Master of Arts in Teaching (Foreign Languages)
Summer 2008
Check one or more of the following and complete the appropriate sections:
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
X New Course Proposal
Course Title Change
Course Number Change
Course Credit Change
Course Prerequisite Change
Course Description Change
Notes:
If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a new course with a
new number should be proposed.
A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed as part of a new
program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing course incorporated into the
program.
Minor changes to a course can use the simplified E-Z Course Change Form.
Submitted by:
Approved
Neysa Figueroa
Faculty Member
August 15, 2007
Date
Not Approved
Department Curriculum Committee Date
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Not Approved
Department Chair
Date
School Curriculum Committee
Date
School Dean
Date
GPCC Chair
Date
Dean, Graduate College
Date
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Vice President for Academic Affairs Date
Approved
Not Approved
President
1/6
Date
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM CHANGE
I.
Current Information (Fill in for changes)
Page Number in Current Catalog
Course Prefix and Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
Prerequisites
Description (or Current Degree Requirements)
II.
Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number _______SPAN 7704________________
Course Title _________________ Topics Span Ling___________
Credit Hours
3-1-3
Prerequisites
SPAN 7702
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
An exploration of language-related issues (theoretical and/or applied) that
impact the teaching and learning of Spanish as a second/foreign
language. Students will gain an understanding of these issues through
readings, discussion, and action research. Requires weekly field
experiences. Course taught in Spanish.
III.
Justification
The national standards set forth by the American Council on the Teaching of
Foreign Languages (ACTFL) for the preparation of foreign language teachers
requires that candidates:
 know the linguistic elements of the target-language system, recognize the
changing nature of language, and accommodate for gaps in their own
knowledge of the target-language system by learning on their own.
(Standard 1b)

know the similarities and differences between the target language and
other languages, identify the key differences in varieties of the target
language, and seek opportunities to learn about varieties of the target
language on their own. (Standard 1c)
Topics in Spanish Linguistics will be one of the six Spanish courses for the
Masters of Arts in Teaching Foreign Languages. Through this course, students
will develop an in-depth understanding of various linguistics topics
(discourse/conversation analysis, pragmatics, Spanish phonology, heritagelanguage speakers and language maintenance, Spanish dialectology, Spanish in
the U.S., issues in Spanish acquisition by speakers of English, among others).
This knowledge will help develop in teacher candidates: a) positive dispositions
toward speakers of Spanish; b) metacognitive language skills; and c) advanced
speaking and writing skills in Spanish by participating in classroom discussion
and a research project.
2/6
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor:
Text:
Prerequisites:
Objectives:
Instructional Method:
Method of Evaluation:
**See attached syllabus**
V.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL
0
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth
0
VI. COURSE MASTER FORM
This form will be completed by the requesting department and will be sent to the Office of the
Registrar once the course has been approved by the Office of the President.
The form is required for all new courses.
DISCIPLINE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE FOR LABEL
(Note: Limit 16 spaces)
CLASS-LAB-CREDIT HOURS
Approval, Effective Term
Grades Allowed (Regular or S/U)
If course used to satisfy CPC, what areas?
Learning Support Programs courses which are
required as prerequisites
Spanish
SPAN 7704
Topics Span Ling
3-1-3
Summer 2008
Regular
APPROVED:
________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee __
3/6
SPAN 7704 Topics in Spanish Linguistics
Course Information
Day and Time:
Room:
Office Hours:
Instructor: Dr. Neysa L. Figueroa
Office:
PS 149
Phone:
(770) 426-3367
E-mail: nfiguero@kennesaw.edu
Course Description
An exploration of language-related issues (theoretical and/or applied) that impact
the teaching and learning of Spanish as a second/foreign language. Students will
gain an understanding of these issues through readings, discussion, and action
research. Requires weekly field experiences. Course taught in Spanish.
This course addresses the following program learning outcomes:
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
Program Standards for the Preparation of Foreign Language Teachers
Initial Level: Graduate
Standard 1: LANGUAGE, LINGUISTICS, & COMPARISONS
1b: Understanding Linguistics.
Candidates know the linguistic elements of the target-language system, recognize the
changing nature of language, and accommodate for gaps in their own knowledge of the
target-language system by learning on their own.
1c: Identifying Language Comparisons.
Candidates know the similarities and differences between the target language and other
languages, identify the key differences in varieties of the target language, and seek
opportunities to learn about varieties of the target language on their own.
During this course, students will:
 Know and be able to use common and specialized linguistic terms
 Be able to define the language-related issues that impact the teaching and learning of
Spanish
 Be able to apply theoretical concepts to real-life observations/research
 Read published research in Spanish linguistics
 Design and carry out an empirical study of linguistic phenomena
Materials (for course topic: Pragmatics)
Escandell, M. Victoria. 2006. Introducción a la pragmática. Madrid: Ariel Lingüística. ISBN:
84-344-8267-3
Bravo, Diana and Antonio Ruiz. 2004. Pragmática sociocultural: Estudios sobre el discurso de
cortesía en español. Madrid: Ariel Lingüística. ISBN: 84-344-8258-4.
Course Packet (on library reserve)
4/6
Course Grade:
Your course grade will be determined by the following:
Semester Research Project
(includes oral presentation and 10-15 page paper)
Four Reaction Papers
Field experience Report
Class Discussion
50%
24%
6%
20%
The semester project will be an action- and/or empirical-research study of a linguistic issue that
is relevant to the teaching of Spanish in Georgia. Based on the findings, students will devise a
follow-up plan to raise awareness about this issue.
GRADE SCALE:
A: 90-100% B: 80–89%
C: 70–79%
D: 60–69%
F: 0–59%
Course policies:
The Department of Foreign Languages adheres to the principles and policies stated on the
Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities which can be found on pages 237-259 of the
KSU Graduate Catalog.
Course schedule:
Class
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Date
Topic
Assignment (E=Escandell; BR=Bravo and Ruiz)
Introduction
Overview of course
What is pragmatics?
Basic concepts and
components of pragmatics
Searle´s Speech Act Theory
E Chapter 1
Grice and the Cooperative
Principle
Sperber & Wilson´s
Relevance Theory
Politeness as a social norm
E Chapter 5/Reaction paper #1
Is politeness universal?
BR Chapter 2/Proposal for research
project due
BR Chapter 1/Reaction paper #2
Relativity vs. universality in
theories of politeness
Analyzing communicative
politeness
Analyzing communicative
politeness
Analyzing communicative
politeness
5/6
E Chapter 2
E Chapter 4
E Chapter 7
E Chapter 8
BR Chapters 3 & 4
BR Chapters 3 & 4
BR Chapter 6/Reaction paper #3
12
13
14
15
16
Studies of politeness in the
Spanish-speaking world:
Venezuela and Costa Rica
Studies of politeness in the
Spanish-speaking world:
Argentina and Colombia
Studies of politeness in the
Spanish-speaking world:
Mexicans and Span FL
speakers
Student Presentations
BR Chapters 8 & 9
Student Presentations and
course evaluation
Research Paper due
6/6
BR Chapters 7 & 10
Chapter 15
Reaction paper #4