College of Southern Idaho
Español 101 online
Fall 2015
Profesor: Adam V. Crofts
Oficina: Canyon 106D
E-mail: acrofts@csi.edu
Teléfono: 420-8487. You may call or text to this number. If you text me, please identify yourself. 
Horas de oficina: Monday thru Friday from 9:00 to 9:50 AM, or by appointment.
I love Spanish and Portuguese. Learning a language came along at a time
in my life when I didn’t yet fully realize that I was capable of great things.
There was a time when I was dead set AGAINST learning a foreign
language. It was too hard. It IS hard. But once I realized that a gringo like
me could pick up two foreign languages (and that the process hasn’t killed
me yet) I began to see that I (and we) CAN do hard things, and that a literal
world of opportunity, adventure, and fulfillment are available if we are willing
to work for it. I am here to help you on this journey and pledge to you my
time, abilities and dedication to this cause. Please do not be afraid to ask
me anything at any time, or to come talk to me if you need help in any area
of the course.
Required Course Materials
Aventuras Fourth Edition with Supersite Plus & Websam access. This textbook will also be used in
SPAN 102 and 201. It comes with a code that you will use to access the website where all of your
homework is located. It is of course a good idea to have a good Spanish / English dictionary. The
best one is free online at www.wordreference.com.
This course is set up to give you greater control over your own learning. In order to accommodate a
variety of learning styles, you will have a “buffet” of options from which you may choose in order to
arrive at the final goal of succeeding in the class.
HOW TO ACCESS COURSE WEBSITE AND ONLINE HOMEWORK
Go here and follow the instructions:
https://www.vhlcentral.com/section/332404/student_instructions
COURSE GRADE
There are 1650 points available in this course. Your final grade is based on the following point scale:
A = 1350 and up
B = 1200-1349
C= 1050-1199
D= 900-1049
F=899 and below
As this is a “buffet” style course, you may choose from the following assignments to reach the desired
amount of points for the grade you want to receive.
VHL Central homework assignments VHL Central QuizzesFinal Exam -
Spanish news article summaries Spanish song assignments “El Norte” film assignment-
Possible Points -
600 points (6 chapters at 100 points each)
600 points (4-6 quizzes per chapter)
300 points
______________
= 1500 Points
15 points (each summary)
15 points (each assignment)
45 points
________________
= (up to) 150 points
= 1650 points
You may notice that the first three items (homework, quizzes, and the final exam) are worth the
majority of points in the class. In our “buffet” analogy, these are the main dish; the “meat and
potatoes” if you will. These will give you the most nutrition and energy out of your dining experience.
We can consider the other assignments as “desserts”: they are a tasty addition to your meal, as well
as providing quick energy and extra calories, but should not be considered a substitute for the main
course. The “Main course” assignments will be enough to fill you up (and get you an A), but the
dessert bar is there if you should want (or need) it.
Grades for chapter assignments and quizzes, as well as any “dessert” assignments will periodically
be posted on Blackboard.
“MEAT & POTATOES” ASSIGNMENTS
VHL Central
All of your homework will be accessed through the Vista Supersite (vhlcentral.com). Most of the
assignments are automatically corrected and you have as many attempts as you need to master the
concepts (and get a perfect score) before the due date. A few assignments (those with true or false
and open-ended questions) have only one attempt. Quizzes are open-book, but are limited to 1
attempt. Homework assignments are frequent (often daily) so you can get the practice you need to
retain new material. You may work ahead and complete assignments and quizzes before they are
due. All late assignments or quizzes will receive an automatic deduction of 20%. As technology is
sometimes prone to hiccups depending on the browser or device that you are using, please make
sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete all tasks before they are due. If you are in need of
extra points for any reason, you will need to select from the “dessert” buffet assignment options to
obtain them. Both homework and quizzes can be viewed and accessed through the assignment
calendar on the website. Please check the calendar daily & be aware of due dates!
Do not feel bad if it takes you many attempts to finish an assignment. We learn through trial and error,
and repetition is a huge part of the process. I recommend that you watch each chapter’s videos and
grammar tutorials multiple times. if you are consistent and study every day, the homework will help
you gain a strong foundation towards fluency in Spanish.
Final Exam
The final will be on paper (rather than online like your other quizzes) and will be taken in a CSI testing
center. If your location makes travel to a testing center prohibitive, you will need to arrange to take the
final with a proctor. If you have not done so already, please email me as soon as you can with the
name of your proctor, as well as their email and phone number.
The final exam will be available in the testing centers from Monday, December 14, through
Wednesday, December 16. Make sure you are aware of testing center hours and leave yourself
plenty of time to take the exam before they close.
“DESSERT” ASSIGNMENTS
Spanish news article summaries
Spanish song assignments
“El Norte” film assignment
Guidelines for these assignments can be found at the end of the syllabus. You can submit as many
“dessert” assignments as you would like; up to 150 points toward your course grade.
Course Evaluations
I really do look forward to receiving your honest feedback at the end of the course. Evaluations are
anonymous and not accessible by me until after final grades are submitted. Previous to this, I only
receive a system email stating a student’s name and that they have submitted an evaluation. I offer
15 “dessert” points to all students who submit evaluations before the final exam.
A FEW WORDS ON LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
1. It is hard work! You will need to study every day.
2. Learning Spanish is a cumulative endeavor. You may be able to memorize for a test, pass and
then forget the material in some courses; but in Spanish everything builds on previously-learned
material.
3. YOU MUST SPEAK IF YOU WANT TO LEARN TO SPEAK. Reading fitness magazines and
watching body-building competitions will not give you huge muscles unless you DO what you
SEE. Watching guitar tutorials on YouTube will not teach you to play if you don’t have a guitar in
your hands. Although this is an online class, it is important that you seek opportunities to speak
Spanish as often as possible. Make a habit of reading out loud every day. Sing along with songs in
Spanish. The more you speak, the more quickly you will learn.
4. You will need to memorize vocabulary: a lot of it. You will need to write down word lists. You will
need to practice saying new words out loud dozens of times until your mouth learns the sounds
and your brain remembers the meaning. I know it’s hard; just do It.
5. Learning will not happen without a lot of mistakes. You will sometimes say the wrong thing. You will
pronounce things like a gringo. Don’t worry about it. Learn to laugh at yourself and learn from your
mistakes.
THE FINE PRINT (course description, outcomes, attendance
policy, late work policy, academic integrity policy, etc.)
Catalog Course Description
Elementary Spanish 1
The focus in class is on using Spanish to exchange real life information and ideas, and on the functional grammar and vocabulary to
accomplish this. The class will realize this focus through the four traditional skills: listening, speaking reading, and writing. It will also
include an introduction to Hispanic culture. This course meets the College of Southern Idaho requirements for a General Education
Course in the area of Humanities. IMPORTANT: This course is geared towards beginners and students with fewer than 2 years
of high school Spanish. If you already speak Spanish at home, or have had significant experience gained through studyabroad, mission, etc., you should enroll in SPAN 102, 201, 202 or 203. Please see me if you have any doubts or questions
about what class you should take.
Philosophy Statement:
General education in the humanities develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable one to value, reflect upon, and
gain an understanding of the arts, philosophy, and cultural diversity.
Humanities General Education Student Learning Outcomes:
General education courses in the humanities address at least three of the following five student
learning outcomes:
1. Students will demonstrate how the arts, philosophy, or languages reflect and shape humanity and the values of
cultures.
2. Students will analyze major artistic and philosophical works from representative periods and movements.
3. Students will recognize and gain an understanding of cultural diversity as reflected in languages, the arts, or
philosophy.
4. Students will develop the skills to critically evaluate artistic and philosophical works and their contribution to the
human experience.
5. Students will possess the skills to initiate and sustain conversations in which they can communicate competently at
the level appropriate to their language exposure and experience.
Course Objectives:
Learning Spanish will help you become aware of how a variety of people think and act in different cultural and social situations. You will
gain insight into your own language and society as you compare how another culture views and puts into words the world we sha re.
Students will be able to speak, first about themselves then about their families, friends, and other topics of interest.
Course Outcomes:
In Spanish 101 student will
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Initiate and sustain conversations in which they ask and answer questions, give and receive directions, introduce
themselves, and report observations and information at a level appropriate to their language exposure and
experience.
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Demonstrate creativity in choosing alternative methods (i.e., vocabulary, pantomime, or drawing) in social and/or
professional situations where their communication skills have not been effective.
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Integrate various culturally appropriate behaviors into their conversations.
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Attain a conversational level of Mid-Novice (based on ACTFL standards).
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Assignments vary and reflect instructional methods designed to assist students to reach the course objectives.
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Specifically, the course will focus on the following:
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Introduce yourself or another person,
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ask and answer appropriate questions in both formal and informal settings
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use social niceties and greetings for morning, afternoon, and night.
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Ask and answer questions, including yes/no and question-word questions, identifications and descriptions,
using verb “ser” and “estar,”
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your and other people’s personalities
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classes and places at a college, houses, bedrooms, yards
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people, family members and relationships
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health, emotional condition, and location
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colors
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items in a classroom
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common places in a city where people go for entertainment or basic purchases
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offices, services, or classes in a college
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hour, day, date, months, seasons, and other time-related concepts
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quantities, using both numbers and words indicating “any,” “some,” and “none” “there is,” “there are” using
“hay”
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weather, using “hacer” and other appropriate verbs
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how frequently people do activities
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equalities and inequalities, descriptive and qualitative
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basic activities people do using simple verb forms
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The three basic regular verb forms
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Verbs with irregular forms in the present tense
Verbs with stem changes
Use compound verb constructions to describe activities that people want, prefer, need, or are able to do will
do or are in the process of doing
Possession with possessive adjectives and phrases
the verb “tener” and the preposition “de”
Read, hear, and understand sentences which express likes and dislikes.
Respond to a classroom command with the appropriate action
avoiding redundancy by using direct object pronouns
shopping and clothing
interrogative (question) words
COURSE REQUIREMENTS / STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
CSI COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY
It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course. A student may drop a course or all courses prior to the end of late registration
(first Friday of the term) without it being recorded on the student’s official transcript. A student initiated drop after the late registration
period is considered a withdrawal, and results in the grade of W.
(Students may drop courses online until the end of the late registration period. In order to withdraw from one or more courses following
late registration, a completed registration form is required. Instructions on the form indicate when a signature of instructor and/or
Financial Aid advisor is required. The completed form may be submitted to Admissions & Records or any off-campus center.)
NOTE: Students may withdraw from courses until 75% of the course meetings have elapsed. No course may be withdrawn from after
75% of the course has elapsed.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
The College values its mission as an educational institution. CSI students, faculty, staff, and administration are expected to be honest
in all aspects of their college education and employment. All student work is evaluated with the assumption that the work presented is
the individual’s own. All work submitted is to be a representation of an individual’s own ideas, concepts, and understanding. Anything
less is unacceptable and is subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student and Faculty Handbooks. Please see the Academic
Integrity Website for more information.
E-MAIL / BLACKBOARD
It is expected that all students will use their CSI eaglemail account (as opposed to yahoo, gmail, hotmail, etc.) in all communication with
instructors. Get in the habit of checking your email DAILY to avoid missing out on important information. In the event that I need to
cancel a class, I will send an email to your eaglemail student account. If you do not have an eaglemail account, you must set one up as
soon as possible. Please see library / IT staff if you need help with this. You must have an eaglemail account in order to have access
to Blackboard, which is where I will post your assignment and test grades.
OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT
The results of the final exam will be evaluated to determine if students, as well as the class in general, have made satisfactory progress
in achieving the course objectives.
DISABILITIES
Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services,
students should contact Student Disability Services coordinator Marita DeBoard (mdeboard@csi.edu) at their first opportunity after
registration for a class. Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the Taylor Building on the Twin Falls Campus.
208-732-6260 (voice) or 208-734-9929 (TTY).
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
It is the policy of the College of Southern Idaho to comply with all federal, state and local authorities requiring nondiscrimination,
including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age
Discrimination Act of 1975, and Executive Orders 12898 (Environmental Justice) and 13166 (Limited English Proficiency). College of
Southern Idaho is an equal opportunity employer.
The college does not exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject any individual to discrimination on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, protected veteran status, limited English proficiency, or
any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
For more information or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or
disability, or if you believe you have been subject to discrimination on any other basis, please contact the College of Southern Idaho’s
Title IX, ADA, and 504 Coordinator: Eric Nielson, Director of Human Resources, (208) 732-6267 or Nolan Goubeaux, Associate Dean
of Students, 208-732-6225. You may also file a complaint with:
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
810 3rd Avenue #750
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 607-1600
OCR.Seattle@ed.gov
“Dessert” assignment guidelines, Spanish 101
Spanish news article summary
For this assignment, you will read and summarize a Spanish language news article of your choosing.
You can find several up-to-date news sites from all over Latin America and Spain at
www.prensaescrita.com, as well as www.dailyearth.com. While these two sites feature links to
Spanish language newspapers, you can also find plenty of news relating to entertainment, music,
gossip, celebrities, sports, etc. at www.univision.com, www.peopleenespanol.com,
http://cnnespanol.cnn.com, and of course, the almighty Google.
This article will be graded on (1) a summary of the article or news item selected, and (2) your reaction
to and thoughts about what you have read. The summary portion can be in English (with some
Spanish if you want to try it), but your thoughts and reaction must be in SPANISH.
In selecting an article or news item to summarize, please keep the following in mind:
1) Try to choose something that interests you. If you like sports, look for news about the Chilean
soccer team. If you like music, try to find a concert or album review. The point is to find something
that will help you learn vocabulary that you will be likely to use when discussing your interests with
others.
2) Don’t rely on a dictionary. As hard as this may sound, you will be able to understand more than
you think buy using other clues before resorting to looking up every word. Excessive dictionary
use is exhausting, painful, and doesn’t tend to help you retain new words. Instead, look first for (a)
visual cues, (b) previous knowledge, and (c) cognates.
a. Visual cues: Look at the pictures! They are worth a thousand words,
especially in a language where you don’t know that many words yet. 
b. Previous knowledge: You will find that Spanish-language news will have
many of the same events that are covered in the English language press. I am
continually amazed at how often news from the US (even news that doesn’t
seem at all relevant to Latin America) ends up in Latin American papers.
c. Cognates: A cognate (cognado in Spanish) is a word that you can usually easily
understand in a foreign language because it looks a lot like the English word
and has the same meaning. Some examples are universidad, calendario,
teléfono, computadora, atlético, etc. Spanish has thousands of words that have
a cognate in English.
This assignment is worth 15 points total, based on the following criteria:
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The summary is worth 7.5 points and will be graded according to length and content. I am not
as concerned with the accuracy of your understanding as I am with the effort that you make to
understand and learn. If your summary shows a decent interpretation of the content of the
article based on your reading of cognates, visual cues, etc., then your grade will reflect that. It
must be at least a paragraph. A paragraph is not just one sentence, but a group of sentences
that contain a single idea. One-sentence responses will receive no points for the summary
portion.
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The second paragraph (also worth 7.5 points) will be your reaction in Spanish to the content of
the article. In Spanish 101, I do not expect your sentences to be tremendously complex, but I
do expect you to use as much as you can of the grammar and vocabulary you have been
studying.
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Formatting of this assignment should be consistent with other college papers, and should
include your name, date, and section number. Include your summary paragraph, your thoughts
/ reaction (in Spanish), and copy and paste the text of your article, (along URL where the
article was found) at the end of the paper. Submit by email and include “Spanish news
summary” in the subject line.
“El Norte” film assignment
El Norte is a classic film that deals with the ever-controversial issue of illegal immigration to the
United States from Latin America, and puts a face to the stories and experiences of these immigrants.
Although filmed in 1981, the movie is as relevant today as ever. I will host a showing of this film some
evening this semester (date TBA) and invite you to join me for a viewing and discussion. There will
likely be chips and salsa for your enjoyment as well. Students wishing to use this experience as
dessert credit will need to complete an assignment with questions based on the film that I will provide.
This assignment will be worth 45 points.
Spanish song assignment
 Pick any song in Spanish. I will be happy to recommend some artists as a starting point; just
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come talk to me. YouTube is also a tremendous resource here.
Find the lyrics to the song on Google. The word letras means lyrics. Listen to the song a few
times. If you like it, listen several more time. Sing along.  Copy and paste the lyrics into your
word document to turn in with your summary.
Write a brief summary (in English) of what the song means to you or what it is about, and what
you learned while analyzing it. Your interpretation doesn’t have to be exactly what the artist
intended; music, like poetry, is subject to the interpretive vision of the listener. In line with our
news article summaries, remember to look for cognates and other familiar words, and don’t
rely excessively on your dictionary. Your summary may include identifying words / grammar
structures learned in class and pointing out their use in the song. Why did the songwriter
choose those lyrics and /or grammar structures?
Include a list of new vocabulary words and their definition (you can use your dictionary here).
This assignment is worth 15 points and will be graded on length (a good, solid paragraph or
two is what I am looking for), and your creativity in analyzing and interpreting the meaning of
the song.
Formatting of this assignment should be consistent with other college papers, and should
include your name, date, and section number. Include the text of the song you have chosen
(as well as the name of the artist / composer) along with your summary. Submit by email and
include “Spanish song assignment” in the subject line.
You can submit any combination or number of dessert assignments as you would like, up to 150 total
points towards your course grade.
¡Que tengas un semestre interesante y productivo!