Spanish 121 Syllabus (1497-C)
Daily 1:30-2:20 pm Classroom: A-243
Fall 2013
Instructor: M. Renatta Fernández
E-mail: mfernand@bellevuecollege.edu
Phone: 425-564-2341 (Voice mail please leave a message).
Office location: A-245 World Language Department
Office Hours: By appointment only. Please contact me at least 24 hours in advance to set up a time, since I
do not have a dedicated office.
Course Information
This course will cover chapters 1-5 of the Aventuras textbook. This course is an introduction to basic elements of the
Spanish language and cultural background of the Spanish-speaking world, offered for students who have had no
Spanish or have had one year of high school Spanish at the most. The emphasis is on the development of the four
language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in practical and realistic situations meaningful to college
students. This class is not for native speakers.
Material Description:
Class Materials / Resources
Donley/Blanco, AVENTURAS 4e with Supersite access package, Vista Higher Learning,
Boston, 2013 ISBN 9781618576392
Required Materials:
(Sold as a package at the BC
bookstore)
Textbook:
Supersite
passcode:
Online
workbook:
Other Web
sites:
This package includes:
 AVENTURAS, Fourth Edition Student Edition (Soft-bound, 3-hole punched
version)
 Supersite Plus + WebSAM Code (Supersite Plus + WebSAM + vText)
For in-class use and daily study.
You must register your book with the Publisher as soon as possible. Click on the link and follow these
instructions to get started:
Brief Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Go to: http://www.vhlcentral.com/register
Enter the Passcode printed inside your textbook.
Choose your username and password, and enter your contact information.
Find your school by selecting Colleges/Universities in Washington.
Select Bellevue College from the list of schools.
From the list of available courses, select Spanish 121 (1:30-2:20 pm) taught by instructor
Renatta Fernández, from September 23 to December 11 2013.
Click here http://www.vhlcentral.com/ to access the online workbook, video materials, lab
manual and Flash Cultura
www.conjuguemos.com (verb conjugation)
www.studyspanish.com (all kinds of practice)
Course Outcomes & how outcomes will be met
At the end of this course, students should be able to speak and write simple sentences about topics covered during the
quarter using newly acquired vocabulary and grammatical structures; understand basic questions on subjects explored
during the course and reply accordingly; read and comprehend simple authentic material (ads, messages, captions,
articles, children’s stories, etc.). This course will prepare students for Spanish 122 (Spanish II). A C- grade minimum is
advised to move on to the next level.
You will meet the above outcomes if you complete your assignments, participate in class, and do the following:







Study something related to Spanish every day of the week for 1-2 hours per day. Try to hear, speak, read,
write, and memorize vocabulary every day.
Always begin with the assigned sections in the Textbook before coming to class. Prepare them so you can
discuss, ask questions and participate. Write out vocabulary and take notes on paper or in the margins of your
book.
Go next to the Workbook. Complete all the activities in the assigned section for that day after class. Use your
textbook as a reference tool to complete the workbook exercises.
Do Lab Manual assignments after the workbook. Listen to the Lab MP3s online as many times as it takes. You
are training your ear, and that takes time and repetition.
Do the Video Manual early in the chapter or later when you have a better grasp of vocabulary. You can check
your comprehension by occasionally using the Spanish subtitles while watching the video.
Keep up with the worksheets, verb tables, and Power Point lectures posted on the CANVAS site. I will post
answer keys to some of the worksheets and verb tables too.
Explore the extra stuff that will make this language fun and interactive – conversations with native speakers,
Spanish meet up groups, web sites, music, movies in Spanish with English subtitles, children books.
Grading
Grading Scale: A C- grade minimum is advised to move on to the next level.
(Your grades will be recorded and viewable on the CANVAS site right after I am done correcting your first test).
Grade Scale
A
100-93
A92-90
B+
89-87
B
86-83
B82-80
C+
79-77
C
CD+
D
F
76-73
72-70
69-67
66-60
59-0
Attendance & Participation
Tests (5 Lessons) 4/5*
Quizzes
Homework
Oral Test
Total Points:
150
400
100
200
150
_____
1000
*The lowest grade will be dropped
EVALUATION (Total possible points: 1000)
1. Attendance & Participation – 150 points
♦ In order to monitor your progress and assess you accurately, attendance and active participation are necessary and
expected.



You get three (3) points for being in class each day. If you come late or are leaving early 1.5 points will be
subtracted. You can only miss three days without losing points.
Please be on time. If you can't attend, get your assignments from one of your classmates and check CANVAS
for new postings.
In the event that I must cancel class, I will leave instructions and homework assignments on our class website
on CANVAS. You must check the website on days when class is cancelled, and you must keep up to date.
2. TESTS - 400 points
We will have five short tests, one for each chapter, and no final exam. There are five short tests that you will have 30
minutes to complete for each chapter. You will be able to drop one of the five grades for the chapter tests.
Makeup chapter tests are, as a rule, not permitted. If you miss a test you will be able to drop that test, but you will lose
the chance to drop another chapter test when your results are not very good. Otherwise, if you take the first four tests
and get good grades you can decide not to take the fifth lesson test.
3. Quizzes - 100 points
Each Lesson we will have one quiz to be taken at home. Please remember to check the calendar to find out
4. Homework – 200 Points (40 total points per Lesson)
Workbook
Lab Manual
Video Manual
Flash Cultura
This grade is based on completed assignments. If you only turn in one portion of the Homework or it is incomplete,
then you will only get credit for what you complete.
The homework is due via the Supersite on the day is showing on the calendar, which is always on the day of the test
right before class (1:30am). LATE HOMEWORK POLICY: If you miss the deadline you only have until Sunday night to
turn it in before 11:59pm for ½ credit. You will need to email me or talk to me in person to let me know you are turning
in late homework.
5. Oral Test – 150 points
Required oral presentation. You will be evaluated individually. The work is prepared outside class time. The
presentation is a way to evaluate your pronunciation, oral expression, vocabulary and structure usage, understanding
of the culture, as well as creativity to put together all the concepts learned during the course of the quarter. (See
calendar as well as Oral Test handout in Canvas for more details).
Extra Credit
You may be able to get at the most 50 points boost when watching a movie in Spanish. Please see online instructions
under CANVAS. This, however, only applies to those students who haven’t missed 10 or more days of the quarter.
Syllabus and Calendar Modification:
Occasionally, I may need to change the syllabus or calendar. Such changes could include, but are not limited to, the
number and dates of tests, homework assignments, etc. I will announce changes in class and in the “Announcements”
section of CANVAS. Students who are absent when changes are announced are responsible for obtaining this
information. Remember to check our CANVAS site when you miss a class!
Drop Procedure:
If you decide to drop a course, you are responsible for doing the required paperwork at the Student Services
Center. Should you fail to do so, your name will appear on the final roster and your instructor will be required to assign
a grade for you—in most cases, that will be an "F." Many instructors, in fact, feel strongly that students who take up
seats in this unproductive way are keeping more serious students from getting an education, so they use "F" grades for
"phantoms." Last day to withdraw ("W" will be posted on your transcript) 11/08/2013 by 4pm
Classroom Learning Atmosphere
Instructor’s Expectation
Here is a kindly reminder of what is consider disruptive behaviors which will negatively affect your grade and may even
get you kicked out of class if they become a habit:
texting during class, forgetting to turn off cell phones, arriving late, yawning loudly and/or sleeping, constant
chatting with classmates, studying for another class.
Please turn off music listening devices and cell phones during class. Texting in my class is strictly forbidden. During
exams, the use of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or any other electronic devices is strictly prohibited.

You may bring drinks or food into class but you must dispose properly of the trash.
Affirmation of Inclusion
Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels
welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.
We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are
to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp
Division Statements
For a detailed guide to policies and expectations, please read the Arts and Humanities Division Handbook at
http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/studentinfo.html
Student Code
“Cheating, stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source) and
inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College.
Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early
without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or
classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Vice President of Student
Services for possible probation or suspension from Bellevue College. Specific student rights, responsibilities and appeal
procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.”
The Student Code, Policy 2050, in its entirety is located at:
http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp
BC E-mail account
The college requires that all credit students have an official Bellevue College (BC) student e-mail account for the purpose
of receiving official college communications which may include but is not limited to: campus security alerts, campus
closures, Information Technology (IT) security alerts, financial aid notifications, enrollment and registration transactions
or instructor messages.
Bellevue College Employees who register for college credit classes are also required to create a BC student e-mail
account. The college will send all official administrative and instructional communications to credit students’ BC
student e-mail account.
Please go to the following link for instructions: http://bellevuecollege.edu/students/email/
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a
student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for
treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon
as possible. If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is a program of support available
to you.
If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please
meet with me to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.
The Disability Resource Center office is temporarily in D125, located inside of the library. The entrance faces the central
courtyard. For information on accessible routes, parking and elevators visit our Campus Access page. Please visit our
website for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc




Reception Desk, Voice: (425) 564-2498
Fax: (425) 564-4138
Video Phone: (425) 440-2025
TTY: (425) 564-4110
Public Safety
The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department’s well trained and courteous non-commissioned staff provides
personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the campus community,
24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Their phone number is 425.564.2400. The Public Safety website is your one-stop
resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure announcements and critical information in
the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at:
http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/
Tutoring
Visit http://bellevuecollege.edu/tutoring/ to see how to sign up for individual tutoring or show up at group tutoring
sessions listed on the site that begin usually during the second week of classes. Both tutoring options are free.
Academic Calendar
The Bellevue College Academic Calendar is separated into two calendars. They provide information about holidays,
closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule.


Enrollment Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/deadlines/. On this calendar you will
find admissions and registration dates and important dates for withdrawing and receiving tuition refunds.
College Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/holidays/0910.asp. This calendar gives
you the year at a glance and includes college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end and start dates, and
final exam dates.
¡Bienvenidos!