CHIPOLA COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE:
COURSE NUMBER:
Latin American Travel Study
LAS 1950
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This travel study course introduces students to the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking
countries of Central and South America, the Caribbean or Mexico. Students will be placed with
host families in the destination country, attend classes taught by local native-speaking
instructors, and participate in a variety of formal and informal cultural exchanges with local
people. In order to increase oral proficiency in Spanish, all courses are conducted in Spanish.
No prior Spanish coursework is required, however, since students will be placed at a proficiency
level appropriate to their skills. The course will meet for one hour weekly prior to the travel
component and once more during the final week of classes, at which time students will submit a
written journal detailing their learning experiences. Students will select a topic related to the
history, economics, politics, or culture of the host country and give a class presentation of their
topic, supported with the use of technology. This course may be taken concurrently with SPN
1120, SPN 1121, SPN 2220 or SPN 2221 while studying intensively in Latin America. Students
who have not had a Spanish course at Chipola must have the consent of the professor. This
course has been designated as an international/diversity course. 3 semester hours credit.
PREREQUISITES:
Eligibility to take ENC 1101 or consent of
professor. Eligibility for or possession of a
valid passport.
NAME(S) OF INSTRUCTOR(S):
Dr. Mark T. Ebel
DATE OF LATEST REVISION:
2010-11
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: (Please include title, author, publisher, edition & ISBN)
none
GRADING POLICIES:
The standing of a student in each course is expressed by one of the following letters and
corresponding grading system:
A – 100 – 93
B – 92 – 83
C – 82 – 70
D – 69 – 60
F – 59 or less
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See your First Day Handout for individual instructor practices.
The Chipola Catalog provides specific information regarding other outcomes from the grading
system. A student’s Grade Point Average is derived from the grading system/quality point scale.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES FOR LAS 1950
See chart, last page.
MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING OUTCOMES:
Students will keep a journal of class meetings in which they reflect upon the experience of first
learning about the country that they will visit and then about the experience of living and
learning in a foreign country. During the regular class meetings, once a week for an hour,
students will choose a topic concerning an aspect of Costa Rican life and develop a presentation
using power point or some other form of technology. This is will count as 30 percent of the
student’s grade. The journal will count for 60 percent of the grade. Attendance and participation
will count for the remaining 10 percent.
LIBRARY AND ON-LINE REFERENCE MATERIALS:
The library is a comprehensive, learning resource center providing information in print,
electronic, and multimedia format to support the educational objectives of the College. In
addition to print media, online catalogs and resources can be accessed through
www.linccweb.org and www.netlibrary.com. Library hours are posted each semester at the
building entrance.
Chipola’s website is located at www.chipola.edu.
See your First Day Handout for individual instructor recommendations and resources.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES:
The Information Technology Center, located in the library, is equipped with computer
workstations. Lab hours are posted each semester at the building entrance.
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE:
One hour weekly class meetings prior to travel. Travel to a Spanish-speaking country in Central
or South America, Mexico or the Caribbean where five days of intensive language study and
cultural interaction will occur. Excursions to sites of educational interest in host country.
See your First Day Handout for individual assignments.
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICIES:
Chipola College expects regular attendance of all students. Students who are absent from classes
for any reason other than official college activities must satisfy the instructor concerned that the
absence was due to illness or other clearly unavoidable reasons. Otherwise, the student may
suffer grade loss at the discretion of the instructor.
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Chipola policy allows each instructor to specify in the course handout the attendance policy. It
also allows the instructor to decide whether or not an absence is excusable and what affect the
absence or tardy may have on the grade.
A student is allowed to repeat a course a maximum of three (3) times. On the third attempt a
student (1) must bear the full cost of instruction, (2) cannot withdraw, and (3) must receive
a grade.
See your First Day Handout for individual instructor or department-specific attendance
and withdrawal policy.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Chipola allows each instructor to specify in the instructor handout the makeup policy. Please see
your first day handout for individual instructor policy.
ACADEMIC HONOR CODE POLICY:
Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code. Chipola College’s Honor Code is
based on the premise that each student has the responsibility to
1) uphold the highest standards of academic honesty in his/her own work;
2) refuse to tolerate academic dishonesty in the college community; and
3) foster a high sense of honor and social responsibility on the part of students.
Further information regarding the Academic Honor Code may be found in the Chipola Catalog,
Student Governance section.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES POLICY:
Chipola College is committed to making all programs and facilities accessible to anyone with a
disability. Chipola’s goal is for students to obtain maximum benefit from their educational
experience and to effectively transition into the college environment.
Students with disabilities are requested to voluntarily contact the Office of Students with
Disabilities to complete the intake process and determine their eligibility for reasonable
accommodations.
LINKING COURSE, DISCIPLINE, AND GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR
LAS 1950
DISCIPLINESPECIFIC GENERAL
EDUCATION
COMPETENCIES*
ASSESSMENT
METHODS USED BY
FACULTY
The student will:
Expand their competencies in speaking, listening, reading,
writing and thinking in Spanish.
C-1, C-3, C-4,
C-6, C-7
Through written
assignments &
presentations
Expand their knowledge of the culture, history, art, film,
SS—2, SS-
Written
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR
LAS 1950
The student will:
music and dance and daily lives of the Spanish people
Respond critically to works in Spanish history, music, and
the arts
DISCIPLINESPECIFIC GENERAL
EDUCATION
COMPETENCIES*
3,SS-4, SS-7,
H-2
H-3
Communicate in target language with native speakers
Articulate an informed personal reaction to works of
Spanish literature and film
H-5
ASSESSMENT
METHODS USED BY
FACULTY
assignments &
presentations
Written
assignments &
presentations
Written
assignments &
presentations
Written
assignments &
presentations
For a list of Chipola’s College-Level Competencies, see www.chipola.edu.
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