SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE
SYLLABUS SPANISH 211 SPRING 2016
PROFESSOR: N. COTO
MEETINGS: MWF 900-950 HH 206
EMAIL: ncoto@mail.sdsu.edu
Final exam: Mon May 9 800-1000
OFFICE: AL 162
HOURS: MWF 800-850
PHONE: messages 619.594.8421
Required texts: Conversaciones creadoras, 4th edition by Brown & Martín Gaite
Spanish/English dictionary
Course objectives: Prerequisite: Spanish 102 or equivalent.
This course aims to facilitate the development of intermediate proficiency in
speaking and reading. The objectives include:
 Increasing the authentic oral input students receive.
 Helping students develop strategies that will enable them to
communicate more smoothly with native speakers of Spanish.
 Providing students with opportunities to prepare and deliver short oral
presentations.
 Providing students with opportunities to practice their reading skills in short,
simple texts.
 Reviewing structures, vocabulary and spelling in support of the stated
communicative functions.
 Encouraging extensive free reading.
Attendance: Consistent attendance is essential for a course of this nature: you
are here to improve your speaking and reading skills! PLEASE ADJUST YOUR
SCHEDULE ACCORDINGLY so you can attend regularly. You will be allowed
without penalty THREE absences for the semester, excused or unexcused.
Starting with the fourth absence, your participation grade will be adversely
affected. Active participation is extremely important, as you will be graded on
your speaking activities in class. Students are expected to communicate in
Spanish during class time, but they are NOT expected to speak Spanish
perfectly!!
Homework: You will be assigned homework for every class meeting. ALL
HOMEWORK MUST BE TYPED/WORD PROCESSED and turned in ON TIME. No late
homework nor e-mailed homework will be accepted. There is a schedule of
homework assignments for the entire semester on Blackboard, so there are NO
exceptions made for late or make up work.
Exams and Quizzes: There will be six quizzes this semester, based on the
readings, vocabulary and topics covered in class. There will also be 2 formal
midterm-type exams. Make ups will only be allowed in the most extenuating
circumstances and must be accompanied by a valid doctor’s note. The final
exam is cumulative. Details to follow.
Speaking activities (Participation): You will be given a multitude of opportunities
to practice speaking Spanish, and you will be given participation credit on these
in-class speaking activities. The “speaking activities” are noted for you under the
heading “Trabajo oral”. If you miss class, you will be given a “0” for the trabajo
oral for that day.
Final Oral Exam: Each student is required to do a final oral project in the LARC
lab. Details to follow. Date is specified on your homework schedule. There are
NO make ups on the final oral project, so if you are absent the day of the
presentation you will receive a “0”. There are no exceptions.
Grade distribution:
Final exam:
2 Midterm exams:
Final oral exam:
Speaking activities:
Homework:
6 Quizzes:
Attendance:
20%
20%
15%
15%
15%
10%
5%
Grading scale:
A
AB+
B
B-
100-93
92-90
89-87
86-83
82-80
C+ 79-77
C
76-73
C72-70
D+
69-67
D
66-63
D62-60
F
59- below
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it
is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay
in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon
as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide
accommodations based on upon disability until I have received an accommodations letter from
Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.