THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
Manolita López Connor
E-mail: manolita.lopezconnor@mso.umt.edu
Office: LA 422
Phone: 243-4287
Office hours: M-F 11-12 or by Appt.
SPNS 321.01, Spring 2014
Class meets: M W F 1:10-2:00
Class location: LA 307
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
Revista: Conversación sin barreras. (4th. Ed.) José A. Blanco, Ma. Isabel García, and María
Cinta Aparisi. (Vista Higher Learning, 2014)
The Oxford Spanish Dictionary, International Edition. Spanish-English/English-Spanish
(Collins, Simon & Schuster International or Larousse.
COURSE DESCRIPTION/GOALS:
The emphasis in SPAN 321 is on improving communicative oral competency in Spanish by
providing a space for regular oral practice of basic patterns and vocabulary while exchanging
views on a broad range of subjects of current interest. SPAN 321 offers a review of the most
important topics in Spanish grammar, expansion of your active vocabulary with readings and
written exercises besides improving aural comprehension by listening to live speech, and short
videos. To do well in this course, you need to have already taken at least FOUR SEMESTERS of
COLLEGE SPANISH (or the equivalent) as well as participate in lively conversations in class.
Your oral Spanish should improve significantly during this semester. Toward the end of the
course you will be required to give a fifteen-minute oral presentation on a topic of your choice
(in consultation with me) that is not covered in class and without using any written material(s).
Course Outcomes:
After completing SPANS 321, the student can expect to be able to:
1) carry on a conversation in Spanish both in formal and informal occurrences on any
familiar topics
2) use common verb tenses with familiarity and fluency
3) express your opinions and convictions in current events by using key vocabulary to
comment successfully on a diverse variety of topics in Spanish
4) react with ease to most unanticipated circumstances and unexpected situations
5) be able to sustain discussions with confidence regarding a variety of topics, such as local,
regional and even international news and matters of concern
6) surprise your classmates with a fifteen minutes oral presentation without the use of
written materials on a theme related to the Hispanic world
7) understand special grammar points considered difficult, like ser vs estar; subjunctive vs.
indicative; preterit vs. imperfect; conditional clauses, and also, the use of repositions,etc.
ASSESSMENT: These are the subjective and objective foundations assigned towards your
progress and final grade:
Participation/Attendance
Preparation/Homework
Midterm
Group Presentation
Final Oral Presentation/Project
Final Exam
10%
20%
15%
15%
20%
20%
(Bienvenidas/tareas)
GRADING SCALE:
A 94-100
A- 90-93
B + 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F 0-59
ATTENDANCE is essential to acquire the skills needed to learn a language and is also related
to participation, preparation and work in general. Students are responsible for assignments they
miss. Your cumulative final grade will be lowered by two points for every absence after the third
absence. If you must be absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate and find out what
was done in the class you missed and what is due in the next class.
PARTICIPATION AND PREPARATION: A satisfactory participation and preparation grade assumes
that you come to class each day prepared to be actively engaged in all class activities. You will
have the responsibility of reading over a new grammar point or learning new vocabulary on your
own before we go over it in class so that class time can be used to answer questions and practice
but not to reiterate what is explained in the book. As part of your participation grade each student
will sign up to give the Bienvenida at the beginning of class twice throughout the semester. The
Bienvenida will take 3-4 minutes and must include the following: 1) a brief welcome to the
classmates, 2) the date and weather, 3) a current event in the city, state or world, 4) some
answers to get-to-know-you questions posed by your classmates. NO WRITTEN NOTES.
GROUP SKITS: we will have group presentations/skits. We will determine the order of
presentations a week in advance. You and two other classmates will get together outside of class
and decide on a topic for your presentation. (Suggestions include a parody of the material we
cover in class or other topics of interest to you and your classmates: politics, art, civil rights—
you and your classmates may even write and perform an original play). Make sure that you have
my approval on your topic before beginning. You will then perform a skit about that topic for
the rest of the class that lasts at least ten minutes but no more than fifteen minutes. You may not
read anything nor may you have notes; everything you say will be well-rehearsed. You will be
graded on creativity, length, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. If any member of your
group is absent on the day of the presentation, you must be able to improvise. If you miss your
group presentation, you MUST provide a documented, verifiable excuse to be allowed to do an
additional individual oral presentation to make up for your group skit. Otherwise, your grade
will be a 0 for your group presentation.
INDIVIDUAL ORAL PRESENTATIONS/PROJECTS: We will begin the individual presentations
towards the end of the semester. We will only have one presentation per class period. The topic
of your presentation must pertain to some cultural aspect of the Hispanic world. Possible topics
could include a famous painter, muralist, writer, or musician. You MUST check with me before
you begin. I would like to encourage you to use the vocabulary and grammar that you are
familiar with when doing your presentation.
Your presentation is much more than just your personal opinion. You need to analyze and
synthesize. Be sure that you have at least three sources (an article, a book, a review, an essay,
etc.) on which you can rely. You must turn in a written bibliography the day that you present.
You will also need an insightful conclusion. Please do not abruptly end saying that you have run
out of time. Plan your talk so that you can offer a well thought out summary that highlights the
major points of your presentation. Feel free to use a power point, posters, photos, artwork, or
other props during your presentation. You will also need to write unfamiliar vocabulary on the
board so that your classmates can better understand your presentation. Your talk should last
fifteen minutes. On the day of your presentation, you MUST turn in a detailed outline to me
before you begin. Should you forget part of your talk, I will be able to help you. You may not
read anything nor may you use notes. Everything you say will be well rehearsed.
Please take notes during each presentation as the material that your classmates cover will appear
on the Final Exam. I will notify you of your grade the first class period after the last presentation
is given. To be fair, I must listen to everyone’s talk before I can assign grades.
EXAMS: The midterm and the final will normally have a listening and/or reading comprehension
section, vocabulary section, a grammar section, and essays.
EXAM DATES:
Midterm:
Marzo 17
Final Exam: Mayo 14, 1:10-3:10 p.m.
There are no make-ups for the midterm (and for any written homework). If you miss it, your
final exam grade (which is cumulative) will be duplicated in its place.
Movies: We will watch one or two movies during the semester. Please take notes while you
watch the movie so that you can ask questions and make astute commentaries in class. You must
bring two movie reviews to class that you are prepared to summarize and critique.
Disability Services for Students (DSS): If you have a documented disability that may require assistance,
contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS), located in the Lommasson Center, Room 154, x2243.
The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students
with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students (DSS).
Academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to penalty. All students need to be familiar with
the Student Conduct Code found online: http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
CALENDARIO (tentativo)
Semana 1
Lunes, 27 de enero: Presentación del curso
Miércoles, 29 de enero: Lección 1. Cortometraje, Viaje a Marte (págs. 2-9)
Viernes, 31 de enero: SER y ESTAR (p.10-11) Bienvenida
Semana 2
Lunes, 3 de febrero, LAS PREPOSICIONES (P.12-13) Bienvenida
Miércoles, 5 de febrero: Eduardo Galeano. “Celebración de la Fantasía” (14-17) B
Viernes, 7 de febrero: Luis R. Santos, “El otro círculo” (p. 18-23) B
Semana 3
Lunes, 10 de febrero: Gabriel García Márquez, “La poesía, al alcance de los
niños” (p.25-29). Viaje espacial de Quino/Relato fantástico (p.28-30) B
Miércoles, 12 de febrero: Lección 2. Cortometraje, Diez minutos (36-41) B
Viernes, 14 de febrero: PRETERITO e IMPERFECTO (p.42-43) ejercicios. B
Semana 4
Lunes, 17 de febrero: DÍA FERIADO
Miércoles, 19 de febrero: Narración en el pasado /PRETÉRITO PERFECTO Y
PLUSCUAMPERFECTO (p. 44-45) Alberto Chimel, “El juego más antiguo” (p.
47-50) B
Viernes, 21 de febrero: Las 4 fórmulas científicas de la felicidad (p.46-49)
Presentación grupo 1
Semana 5
Lunes, 24 de febrero: Carmen Cecilia Suárez, 3 Microcuentos (p.51-54) B
Miércoles, 26 de febrero: Marco Denevi, “No hay que complicar la felicidad”
(p.56-59) B
Viernes, 28 de febrero: Ricardo Reyes, “Yo le diría” (p.56-58) Presentación
grupo 2
Semana 6
Lunes, 3 de marzo: Lección 3. Cortometraje, “Nada que perder” (p.66-71) B
Miércoles, 5 de marzo: PRONOMBRES DE OBJETO DIRECTO E INDIRECTO
(p.72-73) B
Viernes, 7 de marzo: ADJETIVOS/COMPARATIVOS Y SUPERLATIVOS
(P.74-75) Presentación grupo 3
Semana 7
Lunes, 10 de marzo: Entrevista, “Tengo un carácter fuerte y me gusta que me
desafíen” (p.76-79) Presentación grupo 4
Miércoles, 12 de marzo: Íñigo Javaloyes, “Cara y cruz…” (p. 81-85) B
Viernes, 14 de marzo: Elena Poniatowska, “Cine prado” (p.86-91) Presentación
grupo 5
Semana 8
Lunes, 17 de marzo: MIDTERM EXAM
Miércoles, 19 de marzo: Lección 4. Cortometraje, El ojo en la nuca. (p. 98-103) B
Viernes, 21 de marzo: El SUBJUNTIVO I (p. 104-105) B
Semana 9
Lunes, 24 de marzo: PRONOMBRES RELATIVOS (p.106-107)
Manuel Vicent, “La tortilla” (p. 108-110) B
Miércoles, 26 de marzo: PELÍCULA
Viernes, 28 de marzo: PELÍCULA (traer dos reseñas para compartir)
Semana 10
DEL 31 AL 4 DE ABRIL, VACACIONES DE PRIMAVERA
Semana 11
Lunes, 7 de abril: Patricio Betteo, Tira cómica (p. 114-115) Presentación 1, B
Miércoles, 9 de abril: Tertulia, “Las empresas multinacionales” (p.125)
Presentación 2, B
Viernes, 11 de abril: Lección 5. Cortometraje, “La aventura de Rosa” (p. 128133) Presentación 3, B
Semana 12
Lunes, 14 de abril: El SUBJUNTIVO II (p. 134-135) Presentación 4, B
Miércoles, 16 de abril: USO DE SE I/CONSTRUCCIONES PASSIVAS (p.136137) Presentación 5
Viernes, 18 de abril: Juan José Millás, “Drácula y los niños” (p.138-140)
Presentación 6, B
Semana 13
Lunes, 21 de abril: Mex Urtizberrea, “Lo que dure el amor” (p. 142-145)
Presentación 7, B
Miércoles, 23 de abril: “Ángeles Mastretta, “Cine y Malabarismo” (p.147-150)
Presentación 8, B
Viernes, 25 de abril: Tertulia “Los misterios del amor” Presentación 9, B
Semana 14
Lunes, 28 de abril: Lección 6. Cortometraje: “Ella y Yo” (p. 158-163)
Presentación 10
Miércoles, 30 de abril: Oraciones condicionales con si (p.164-165)
Presentación 11, B
Viernes, 2 de mayo: USOS DE SE II/SE REFLEXIVO/RECÍPROCO E
IMPERSONAL, (p. 166-167) Presentación 12
Semana 15
Lunes, 5 de mayo: Rosa Montero “Ni coja ni madre” (p. 168-172)
Presentación 13, B
Miércoles, 7 de mayo: Bruno Aceves “Dos vidas” (178-182) Presentación 14
Viernes, 9 de mayo: Conclusiones/Repaso para el examen
Examen Final: May 14, 1:10-3:10 pm, L.A 307