SPA 251 - INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I
[Dual Credit Spanish IV]
Credit Hours: 4.00
Semester: Fall
Course Begins: August 26, 2015
Course Ends: January 15, 2016
Instructor: Rachel Christensen
E-mail: rchristensen@d155.org
Office Hours: 3rd 5th, 7th (café), 8th hour or by appointment
Office Location: Room LL4
Required Course Materials:
Textbook(s):
VanPatten, Bill, Michael J. Leeser, and Gregory D. Keating.
Select content from Sol y viento. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2012.
There is a class set of this book available to you. If you would like your own copy, you
may purchase it at the MCC Bookstore or order a complete version of it on-line.
Accompanying on-line workbook, CENTRO – Volume 2
Available at the MCC Bookstore or on-line at http://www.mhcentro.com/books.
Tardy, William T. Easy Spanish Reader. 2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2009.
Available at the MCC Bookstore or online. Used in all four levels of Spanish at MCC.
Course Description:
Intermediate Spanish I builds on SPA 152. Students continue to develop their skills in listening comprehension, speaking,
reading and writing for practical, everyday situations. The use of technology helps them develop those skills. Cultural
topics are explored, and supplementary intermediate-level material may be read in class or as outside assignments.
Course prerequisite:
SPA 152 with a grade of C or higher, or appropriate score on the College Spanish placement test.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Conjugate pseudo- and reciprocal reflexive verbs and use them appropriately.
2. Conjugate all verbs in the present and imperfect subjunctive.
3. Conjugate all verbs in the conditional tense.
4. Conjugate all verbs in the future tense.
5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas through speaking and writing in Spanish.
6. Demonstrate the ability to recognize ideas communicated orally and in writing.
7. Compare and contrast grammatical structures in English and Spanish.
8. Translate sentences from Spanish to English that contain verbs in the present, past, future, and present
subjunctive.
9. Comprehend and use vocabulary related to medicine, relationships, finances, and professions.
10. Identify the locations and capitals of Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Panamá.
11. Recognize influential figures from Mexican history.
12. Compare and contrast cultural differences between Latin American and North American cultures.
13. Explain diversity of cultures in Latin America.
14. Recognize historic influences within present-day Latin American culture.
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Course Outline:
I. Grammar
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
O.
Pseudo-Reflexive Verbs
Review of the Imperfect
Hacer in Expressions of Time
Reciprocal Reflexives
Introduction to the Subjunctive
Obligatory Subjunctive
Progressive Versus Infinitives
Introduction to the Conditional
Hypothetical Statements; Introduction to the Imperfect Subjunctive
Por and para: A Summary
Subjunctive of Doubt, Denial, and Uncertainty
Subjunctive of Volition and Desire
Introduction to the Future Tense
Subjunctive with Indefinite and Nonexistent Antecedents
Subjunctive with Future Time Events
II. Cultural Topics (vary by instructor)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
O.
El bienestar emocional y la calidad de vida
Los hospitals y las clínicas
Las recetas
Las palabras de cariño
Don Juan
El Día del Amor y la Amistad
Los cajeros automáticos
El seguro médico
El petróleo en Venezuela
La programación en español en los Estados Unidos
Los realities
El voto obligatorio
El género y las profesiones
La discriminación y el acoso sexual
Los hispanos y la tasa de graduación
III. El mundo hispano
A.
B.
C.
D.
La Argentina y el Uruguay
El Ecuador
Venezuela
Panamá
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Assignments and Grading Criteria:
Homework (20%) You will be given regular homework assignments online through your CENTRO account.
You may use all of your notes from class and your textbook to complete the Online Manual de Actividades. In
order to receive credit for your homework, you will need to complete all the assigned exercises by the due date.
Your Online Manual de Actividades is graded on your accuracy in completing the activities. You will have two
attempts for each assigned activity.
Classwork / Participation (20%) The grade for participation is comprised of several factors: preparation,
participation in activities, paired or group work and sustained efforts to ALWAYS speak Spanish in and outside
of class. Oral participation will be graded based on frequency and quality of participation. Written classwork can
be collected and graded at any time.
Formal Assessments: chapter exams, projects (60%) Failure to complete homework weekly and keep up with
classwork will inevitably result in a reduced grade in this category. Students will be given speaking assignments
whose topics, lengths, and other details will be announced in class. Students will be given writing assignments
whose topics, lengths, and other details will be announced in class.
Final Course Grade
Percentages
100 – 90 %
89 – 80 %
79 – 70 %
69 – 60 %
59 – 0 %
=
=
=
=
=
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
*Students must receive a C or higher to continue on to second semester (SPA 252)
MCC transcripts and MCC Grading
CHSD 155 does not guarantee every post high school institution will accept the MCC credits, so parents and
students are encouraged to communicate with the admissions officer at the college or university of interest
regarding this matter. The grading scale at MCC is different than CHSD 155. MCC does not award letter grades
with plusses or minuses which is different than the grading system in CHSD 155. For instance, a B+ earned in
CHSD 155 is a B at MCC. As a result, it is possible that the grades reported on the MCC and CHSD 155 report
cards and transcripts vary. Students will receive an additional report card from MCC including grade(s) and
course credit information.
Classroom Expectations:
1. Spanish, not English, is the language of communication in class. You will learn a number of survival strategies
and study techniques to help you stay in Spanish. Use them.
2. Be respectful and open-minded. All students need to feel safe enough to try new sounds, new activities, and
new ways of looking at the world.
3. If you miss class, you are responsible to make up what you missed and not fall behind. Online homework due
dates will not be changed so plan ahead!
4. You may use the restroom if you ask in Spanish (¿Me permite usar el baño?) and do not disrupt class.
5. Absolutely no cheating in any way will be allowed (i.e. using any type of illegal aide during assessments, copying
others’ work). Also, utilizing Internet translation services for projects or compositions will also result in a zero.
6. Never hesitate to come in for help or ask for help during class. If you have a question, someone else probably does too!
7. HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!! ¡Diviértete mucho!☺
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Semester Outline:
Semana 1 – el 26 de agosto
Semana 2 – el 31 de agosto
Semana 3 – el 8 de septiembre
Semana 4 – el 14 de septiembre
Semana 5 – el 21 de septiembre
Semana 6 – el 28 de septiembre
Semana 7 – el 5 de octubre
Semana 8 – el 13 de octubre
Semana 9 – el 19 de octubre
Semana 10 – el 26 de octubre (fin del Q1)
Semana 11 – el 2 de noviembre
Semana 12 – el 9 de noviembre
Semana 13 – el 16 de noviembre
Semana 14 – el 23-24 de noviembre (2 días)
Semana 15 – el 30 de noviembre
Semana 16 – el 7 de diciembre
Semana 17 – el 14 de diciembre
Vacaciones (el 21 de diciembre – 1 de enero)
Semana 18 – el 4 de enero
EXAMENES FINALES – el 12-14 de enero
Introducción al curso,
Presentaciones (¿Quién soy yo?)
Introducción a la película: Sol y Viento DVD
Episodio 1
Sol y Viento DVD Episodios 2-6
Speaking Assessment
Lección 7A
Reading: Easy Spanish Reader, Segunda Parte
#1-2
Reading: ESR #3-6 & authentic texts
Lección 7A Assessment
Cultura
Lección 7B
Reading: ESR #7-10 & authentic texts
Writing: Formative Assessment, Historia de
México
Sol y Viento DVD Ep. 7 & authentic material
Lección 7B Assessment
Lección 8A
Reading: ESR #11-14 & authentic texts
Lección 8A Assessment
Cultura: Día de los Muertos
Lección 8B & authentic material
Reading: ESR #15-18
Sol y Viento DVD Ep. 8
Lección 8B Assessment
Lección final
Sol y Viento DVD & authentic material
Reading: ESR #19-22 & authentic texts
Lección final Assessment

Proyecto final del semestre
EXAMEN final del curso
Additional syllabus information and resources can be found at www.mchenry.edu/syllabusinfo.
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