Metropolitan Community College
Class Syllabus – Spring 2014
CLASS IDENTIFICATION
TITLE:
Elementary Spanish I
PREFIX/SECTION:
SPAN 1110
CREDIT HOURS:
7.5
CLASS BEGINS/ENDS:
03/10/14 – 05/21/14
MEETING DAY(S)/TIMES: Monday and Wednesday, 6- 9:25 pm.
NO CLASS DAYS:
n/a
WITHDRAWAL DATE:
05/07/14
CENSUS DATE: 03/20/14
CLASS LOCATION:
Elkhorn Campus – Room 150
CONTACT INFORMATION
INSTRUCTOR NAME:
OFFICE LOCATION:
OFFICE TELEPHONE:
OFFICE HOURS:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
FAULTY WEBSITE:
ACADEMIC AREA:
Aída Cecilia Hiebner
Elkhorn Campus 307
402-289-1339
by appointment only
achiebner@mccneb.edu
http://faculty.mccneb.edu/achiebner
Languages and Visual Arts (Dean Tom McDonnell, EVC 108,
office telephone: 289-1306)
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the first of two introductory courses in which the student
begins to learn the fundamentals of Spanish. Stress is upon comprehension, pronunciation,
speaking, listening, reading, writing and vocabulary. The course contents include nouns,
adjectives, present tense, and present progressive of regular and irregular verbs, comparisons, as
well as a study of Spanish speaking cultures
COURSE PREREQUISITES: Minimum technical skills.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate an elementary level of language proficiency in Spanish in audio and verbal
skills, reading and writing, and awareness of Hispanic culture and history in several
Spanish-speaking countries.
2.
Use basic, daily Spanish vocabulary.
3.
Respond verbally, or in writing, to elementary, "daily" questions.
4.
Understand elementary written passages in Spanish, when these are based on known
subjects, vocabulary, or cognates.
5.
Recognize and use many regular, irregular, and stem changing present indicative tense
verbs, both verbally and in writing.
Required Materials:

¡Arriba! 6th Edition. Zayas-Bazán, Bacon, Nibert (Either the ebook or the paper book
are options) (This text is used for SPAN 1110, SPAN 1120 & SPAN 2110).

¡Arriba! MySpanishLab access code. www.myspanishlab.com
Supplemental Materials (not required):



DVDs (¡Pura vida!, Vistas culturales, Entrevistas)will be viewed in MySpanishLab
Textbook Audio CDs and Ritmos de nuestro mundo cd will be in MySpanishLab.
Spanish-English Dictionary, 501 Verbs, English Grammar for Students of Spanish by
Emily Spinelli.
CLASS STRUCTURE:
The course will be comprised of lectures given by instructor, participation in cooperative
learning exercises with the whole class and in many small group/ partner activities consisting of
speaking, listening, reading and writing. DVDs will be viewed in class (if need be, students may
repeat viewings in any of the main campus libraries).
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT WORK
A. TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:
Students will be assessed based upon the following:
1. Participation (20%)
- class participation/attendance
2. Homework (20%)
- Student Activities Manual (SAM) and compositions
3. Exams /Daily quizzes(45%)
- Tests 1,2, 3 and 4 (Speaking component with each test)
4. Final (15%)
- Final (1-5)
*Final Exam will have a speaking component*
B.
Homework: Students must complete textbook readings, workbook activities and journal
exercises (many of which require using MySpanishLab) and all other homework assigned
by instructor. Outside of explicitly assigned homework, students must practice verbal
and written drill work (repetition) at home to memorize vocabulary and verb conjugation.
C.
Assigned Work: The workbook will be assigned in class and submitted online.
Compositions will be assigned and submitted in class. Chapter Exams and Final will be
taken in class.
D.
Make up and late assignment policies: Late work will ONLY be accepted up to 1 week
late with a penalty of minus 3 points, or NO CREDIT.
E.
Maintenance of Student Records
Students can check their grades on: My Way/Academic profile/Student gradebook.
Homework and quizzes will be returned within one week. Grade books / spreadsheets
will be kept by the instructor for a minimum of one (1) year.
Final exams will be kept by course coordinator for one (1) year.
F.
The General Education Competencies assessed in this course:
Communication
Social Cultural Awareness
GRADING POLICY:
A 90 – 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
D 60 – 69%
F < 60%
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAM:
Metropolitan Community College is committed to continuous improvement of teaching and
learning. You may be asked to help us to accomplish this objective. For example, you may be
asked to respond to surveys or questionnaires. In other cases, tests or assignments you are
required to do for this course may be shared with faculty and used for assessment purposes.
USE OF STUDENT WORK:
By enrolling in classes offered by Metropolitan Community College, the student gives the
College license to mark on, modify, and retain the work as may be required by the process of
instruction, as described in the course syllabus. The institution shall not have the right to use the
work in any other manner without the written consent of the student(s).
INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY:
Attendance/Participation Reporting: To confirm each student’s eligibility to remain registered for
the class, the instructor will officially report attendance/participation on or before the Census
date. Students in this section of SPAN 1110-2A must attend a class meeting by 03/20/14.
Students are considered participating in an academic related activity if they have attended a
classroom lecture, turned in an assignment, or taken some other form of assessment as detailed in
the class syllabus and reported by the instructor prior to or on the census date.
Attendance Policy: After the Census date. Each student may miss ONE class before
being penalized. (minus 5 points in attendance). The second absence will be counted
already as part of the rule of the 7. Two late arrivals (more than 30 minutes) or early
departures (more than 30 minutes) are equivalent to one absence. Any student who
misses a class has assumed the responsibility to gather the information covered in class
and the assignment for the following class. Find two people in the class that you can
phone or e-mail for this information. Please arrive on time; tardiness disrupts the
learning process. Seven absences result in an attendance related failure (FX) grade. Any
absence during Test Day will be penalized with minus 10 points in that particular test.
FX: An FX is a final grade given to a student who stops attending a class, does not return, and fails.
STUDENT WITHDRAWAL:
If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw through My
Services on the MCC My Way portal at http://myway.mccneb.edu or by calling Central Registration at
402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in either an attendancerelated failure (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION
section of this syllabus.
Classmate
________________
________________
Phone
________________
________________
E-mail
________________
________________
Expected Classroom Behavior:
Arrive to class prepared and on-time, with homework completed and previous lessons
mastered
Participate in whole class, individual and small group/ partner activities
Refrain from using cell phones during class period. Laptops and Ipads will be allowed
ONLY for the electronic book edition.
Respect all classmates
Stay in class until class is finished
COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS:
When you communicate with others in this course, you must follow the Student Code of Conduct
(http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp), which calls for responsible and
cooperative behavior. Please think critically, ask questions, and challenge ideas, but also show
respect for the opinions of others, respond to them politely, and maintain the confidentiality of
thoughts expressed in the class. You may also wish to review information at
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/.html.
RECORDING IN THE CLASSROOM:
Students may not video or audio record class sessions without the instructor’s knowledge and
permission. If recording of class sessions is authorized as a reasonable accommodation under Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), the instructor must have the appropriate documentation from College
Disability Support Services. Permitted recordings are to be used only for the individual student’s
educational review of the class session and may not be reproduced, posted, sold or distributed to
others. Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary procedures as outlined in the Student
Conduct Code.
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:
Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for classwork may be subject to copyright
protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website at
http://www.mccneb.edu/library or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student dishonesty
(cheating, plagiarism, illegal peer-to-peer file sharing, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that
may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or
dismissal from the College. Disciplinary procedures are available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or
at http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/V-4_Student_Conduct_and_Discipline.pdf.
LEARNING SUPPORT
MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly, supportive
learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff members in these
centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math, and writing skills. Selfpaced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second
Language, and online course orientation is also available.
Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the Student
Handbook, College Catalog, and online at http://www.mccneb.edu/arc/.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented qualifying disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations from
Disability Support Services (DSS) located in each Student Services Office. After students have arranged
for accommodations with DSS, the student and instructor should privately discuss these
accommodations. For further information, please contact DSS or visit http://www.mccneb.edu/dss/.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help
Desk at 457-2900 or mcchelpdesk@mccneb.edu.
FOR MY SPANISH LAB TECH SUPPORT please go to: http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com or
call 1-800-677-6337
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES:
By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and
phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan
Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology
and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full
text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website:
http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/X-15_Technology_Resources_Use.pdf.
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
Week
Dates MW
Chapter
1
Mar 10
12
1
1
1-29
Mar 17
19
1
1
30-58
Mar 24
26
2
2
1-29
Mar 31
Apr. 2
2
2
30-58
Apr 7
9
3
3
1-24
Apr 14
16
3
3
25-60
Apr 21
23
4
4
2
3
4
5
6
7
SAM (Student Act.
Manual)
Composition
Exam
Composition #1
Online HW –Ch.1
Exam 1
Text
Reference
p. 2-12
p.13-26
p. 27-39
---------p. 41-51
p.52-63
Composition #2
Online HW Ch.2
Exam 2
p. 64-75
--------p. 77-88
p.89-100
Composition #3
Online HW Ch.3
Exam 3
p.101-111
-----------p. 112-123
p.124-135
1-27
8
9
Apr 28
30
4
4
May 5
7
5
5
28-57
Composition #4
Online HW Ch.4
Exam 4
p. 136-149
-----------p. 151-160
p.161-171
1-28
10
11
May 12
14
5
5
May 19
21
Review
Final
p. 172-183
29-53
Comp. # 5/Online HW 5
Final
Exam
(1-5)
2014 (13/SP) Spring Quarter Important Dates
Weekend Classes Begin .................................................................................................... Mar 1 Sa
Classes Begin ..................................................................................................................... Mar 7 F
Current Student (greater than 50 hours) Summer 2014 (14/SS) Registration begins ................Mar 5 W
General Summer 2014 (14/SS) Registration begins..................................................................Mar 19 W
Current Student (less than 50 hours) Summer 2014 (14/SS) Registration begins....................Mar 12 W
 Census Date/Tenth Day* ..................................................................................................... Mar 20 Th
Spring Recess/College Closed Saturday and Sunday .................................................... April 19-20 Sa-Su
Winter Quarter Term Incomplete “I” Grades Due ..................................................................... May 8 Th
Classes End ....................................................................................................................May 22 Th
Spring grades due and posted by 7:00 a.m.............................................................................. May 27 Tu
Memorial Day Recess/College Closed............................................................................ May 24-26 Sa-M
Student Withdrawal Deadline to “drop” a class without receiving a grade ................. Varies by Class**
Student Withdrawal Deadline to “drop” a class with a refund varies ** ........... See Refund Policy 
* Tenth Day is the date on which your enrollment level is checked.
**To view the last day to withdraw “drop” a class to prevent receiving a grade, go to the class schedule
found on line at http://www.mccneb.edu/schedule/classschedule.asp . Then, find the course section
and click on the Important Dates link on the same line as the course title. Dates for each course section
are automatically calculated based on the start and end dates and the number of sessions for a course.
A student must withdraw by this date to avoid an “F” grade.
Note: Schedule changes may have implications for students on Financial Aid. Check with the Financial
Aid Office prior to any schedule changes at 402-457-2330. The Census Date is the date on which
Financial Aid Student’s enrollment is checked to determine the type and amount of authorized funds for
the quarter. Payment is based on enrollment as of that date.
  REFUND POLICY for Credit Courses
A student is responsible for withdrawing “dropping” from a course(s) if unable to attend. Non-attendance or non-payment
does not relieve a student from the obligation to pay. An official schedule change that reduces or terminates a student’s
academic credit load may entitle the student to a refund. Go to “My Services” and click “Student Accounts”, then “Tuition
Modeler” to see the refund percentage received through midnight of the same day you “drop” withdraw from a class.
To withdraw “drop” from a course in My Way, go to “My Services”, click “Registration”. Then click “Register and Drop
Sections”. Find the class you wish to drop and check the box under the word Drop and click Submit. You have successfully
dropped the class if the message at the bottom of the screen states “the following request(s) have been processed”.