Glendale Community College
Spring 2009
Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Morrocoy- Venezuela
Class SPA 111
Section 22515
HYBRID Class
4 Credit Hours
Instructor: Prof. Guiomar Borrás A., Ph.D
Office: 02-111
Phone: 623.845.3636
Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 10:00-12:00
Friday by appointment iLrn/Quia Class Code: XCAFR984
Dr. Borrás was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated from the
Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela. Later came to do her
Master’s Degrees at St. Michael’s College in Vermont and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. She completed her Ph. D Program at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. She moved to Arizona in 1996 and loves it!
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Homepage: http://glory.gc.maricopa.edu/~gborras
You will find under Spanish Links many extra activities to practice many essential grammatical points in the target language.
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Messages written in the Discussion Board in Blackboard will be read once a day during my office hour.
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The best way to get a hold of me is by sending an e-mail from your personal e-mail at: guiomar.borras@gcmail.maricopa.edu
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If you are going to send me an e-mail from Blackboard, make sure you write your personal e-mail in the message and sign it. If not, I will not be able to respond to it.
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Course Description: Basic grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary of the Spanish language. Includes the study of the Spanish-speaking cultures. Practice of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Prerequisites: None.
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Texts: iLrn Spanish e-code to access the e-text, workbook, on-line mentor, video, and laboratory manuals.
For the hard copy option: Hershberger, Robert; Borrás, Guiomar, et all
. Plazas: lugar de encuentros, 3 rd Ed. Boston, MA: Heinle, 2008.
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Online Learning / Hybric class:
This class is being offered as a hybrid class, and consequently will meet on campus four times this semester:
January 24, 2009 from 7:00-8:00am. (HU 111)
March 7, 2009 from 7:00-8:00am. (HU 111)
April 18, 2009 from 7:00-8:00am. (HU 111)
May 9, 2009 from 7:00-8:00am. (HU 111)
Or if I have a problem to meet any of those days I will let you know…
(We may discuss these dates on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 when we meet for the first time).
The rest of the instruction will be delivered through Blackboard.
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This particular class is for self-motivated, self-paced, disciplined, and consistent students who will be responsible for gaining access to the technology to complete and succeed in this class.
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Before you embark into this great adventure, ask yourself if you are the type of student who can prioritize his/her time and accomplish tasks on time in an organized fashion. Because this is not a self-paced class, you can’t wait until the last week to read six chapters even if you already speak the language. Can you sit down in front of the computer, navigate through the net, read many pages, synthesize information, memorize many words, and adequately pace yourself through six chapters of a book? If you can do that, you are in the right class.
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10.
Many students believe that on-line / Hybrid classes are easier than face-to-face classes. I honestly believe the on-line / hybrid classes are much harder because you will encounter some technical challenges, and will have limited contact with the instructor and other students.
You will have deadlines to meet, even though there is a little bit of flexibility to complete some assignments. Remember that you will be required to complete a chapter every two-three weeks in this class. If you move forward together with the rest of the class, you will not get behind, and the material of the semester will be learned better. The worst that can happen to an on-line / hybrid class student is for him
/her to forget to check the calendar of events or forget about the class all together. That is easy to do, especially because students are not in the classroom and do not have the daily reminders from the instructor.
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Make sure you spend at least four to six hours a week for this class. If you have never taken a foreign language in high school, expect to spend at least ten hours a week. Remember that the key to learning a language is repetition, so plan to repeat as much as possible to master it. Patience, hard work, and dedication are key elements to become fluent in a foreign language.
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In order to succeed in this class you should:
A.
Follow the week by week schedule I have posted in
Blackboard under “Assignments.”.
B.
Post any concerns or question in the “Discussion Board” area in Blackboard under “Forum.” I usually read the Forum during my office hour and reply to comments by students.
Participate and get a sense of community. If you want to discuss a private matter, do not hesitate to e-mail me at: guiomar.borras@gcmail.maricopa.edu
C. Get familiar with your internet programs for this class.
Most of the communication for this class will be through
Blackboard. I highly recommend you get in the habit of checking the “Announcements” section and the “Discussion
Board” everyday to know what is going on with your class.
D. Your exams, workbook and lab assignments will be taken in Quia/iLrn. When you purchased the textbook, you received a pamphlet with a special code to register for Quia/ iLrn.
Follow the instructions in your pamphlet very carefully and register as soon as you can. Your class code for Quia appears in red on the first page of your syllabus. Quia/ iLrn
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Workbook and Lab takes between one to four hours to complete depending on the subject matter, but it will give you an excellent opportunity to listen to the language and a good idea what to expect in the practice examination.
E. Your grade for the workbook and Lab will be the percentage you receive in Quia/iLrn. Because you can redo all of the exercises to get the best possible grade, it is advantageous for you to do the exercises until you are satisfied with your grade. Deadlines are the only limitations with Quia/iLrn . If you do not complete the exercises when they are due, you will be deducted 20% of your grade for that specific workbook/lab section. Check your calendar of events to make sure you don’t turn homework late and get penalized.
F. Always be respectful with your instructor and other members of your class. Don’t forget that writing with uppercase letters means shouting in the virtual world, and it is disrespectful. Never address your instructor with a “Hey.”
This will be considered very improper in Spanish speaking countries. You should Hola! ¿Cómo está Profesora o Profe? 
G.
Remember that your instructor is not in front of the computer 24 / 7, and that upgrading the grading book is not an automatic task. If you are running behind the class schedule, make sure you send an e-mail to your instructor to let her know you have finished a late assignment. Be patient as you will be placed at the end of the grading list, so the sooner you send your assignments, the sooner you will have them graded and posted in Bb. And, please do not wait until the last month to do the whole semester as you will lose 20% for every assignment you turn in late.
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If you are having any technical difficulties with iLrn, please contact the technical support on line for iLrn or call them directly using the telephone number provided in your iLrn pamphlet. Be patient when you call them. Their technical support is very busy at the beginning of the semester.
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The students will need a computer with high speed Internet access, an Internet Browser, speakers, headphones and microphone. If you are using WordPerfect, make sure you transfer your file into Word before you send an assignment to your instructor, as your instructor’s computer will not transfer files
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from WordPerfect. All grades, announcements for exams, assignments, schedules, and everything you need for this class will be posted in Blackboard.
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Short Oral Presentations:
Students will prepare two short oral presentations worth up to 100 points each. This should be 2-3 minutes long. Students will come to
HU 111 on Saturday, March 7, and April 18, 2009 to give his/her oral performance . The Humanities building is located on the South-East part of campus. Students will be able to use Power-Point or any visuals they desire. This presentation is not a reading assignment, and students must memorize most of their oral performance. The instructor will grade grammar (20 pts), pronunciation (20), vocabulary (20), and fluency (20), and creativity, visuals, props, degree of difficulty (20). Do not attempt to memorize something you found in Spanish in the internet. Your oral performance should be written by you on a topic you feel at ease.
Write your performance in Spanish using your dictionary and vocabulary you know. Do not write it in English and expect an internet translation program to do the rest for you. It will not work as computers do not understand context. You will receive a failing grade if you plagiarize a document.
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Chapter Examinations:
Students will take a computer written comprehensive examination after every chapter until the Final Exam. Each exam is worth 50 points, and will be posted in Quia/iLrn. Make sure to follow the calendar of events. Late exams will receive a penalty of 20% of the grade.
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Final Examination:
This exam is a comprehensive departmental exam that will include all the material studied during the semester. Students will lose points if they are not careful with spelling, and accent marks. The final exam is worth 100 points approximately. You will take your final Examination on May 9, 2009 at the same time you have met your instructor before in HU 111.
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Quia/iLrn:
The workbook and laboratory manuals included in the Quia/iLrn materials will be checked for completion on a specific date. You
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will receive your percentage from Quia/iLrn. Remember you can redo any part of the assignments in the Workbook and Lab until you receive the grade you desire. If you turn in your assignments late, you will be penalized with a deduction of 20% , so plan
accordingly, and keep a calendar of events for this class. If one exercise, in either the workbook or lab, does not work, try it the second time. If it stills does not work, skip it and go into the next one. Activities can be repeated and only the highest score will be recorded. Exercises from the Textbook in Quia/iLrn will not be graded for this class. Please do not mail your instructor advising her to correct a technical problem with iLrn. Your instructor can’t solve any technical problems with iLrn. If you run into any technical problem with Quia/iLrn, e-mail or call Quia/iLrn technical support immediately.
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Extra-Credit Activities: a. February 3, 2009
1:00pm in SU 104 E
Lunar New Year Celebration 9:00b. February 9, 2009
1:00pm in SU 104E c. March 9, 2009 in SU 104E
Conference about Ecuador 10:00-
Conference about Chile 10:00-1:00pm
Students will receive up to 50 extra-credit points for attending two of these events. Each event is 25 pts. For all of these events lunch will be served at 12, noon. These are free of charge and open to the community.
Points for this class:
First Assignment 200 pts (Chapters Preliminary to 3) iLrn (Preliminary -3) iLrn: Workbook / Lab 350 pts
Chapter Exams
Oral Presentations
700 pts
200pts
Final Examination 150pts
Total points 1600 pts
Disclaimer and Disability Statement: Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of each particular class upon the instructor’s discretion. If you have any particular needs to help you to be a better learner, please let the instructor know so that he/she can arrange the appropriate course of action.
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Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 1
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Calendar of Events
January 20-23, 2009 Preliminary Chapter / Chapter 1
1.
January 24 Meet your instructor in HU 111
Syllabus, rules, and first assignment s
Please bring the book and the book code to be able to open iLrn in the computer
7:00 am – 8:00 am
January 26-30
January 30-Feb. 1
February 2-6
February 6-8
February 9-13
February 16-20
February 20
February 23-27
March 2-6
March 6
2.
March 7
March 9-13
March 16-20
March 20
March 23-27
March 30-April 3
April 3
Preliminary Chapter / Chapter 1
Preliminary Chapter: iLrn due
Chapter 1: iLrn due
Chapter 2 / Chapter 3
Chapter 2 / Chapter 3: iLrn due
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 4: iLrn due / Exam due
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: iLrn due / Exam due
Meet your instructor in HU 111 at 7:00am to 8:00am.
1. Oral Presentation @ 100 points:
Description about your family, or your pastimes, or the description of your house and house chores, or your health.
(One paragraph= 8 to 10 sentences.)
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 (Spring Break)
Chapter 6: iLrn due / Exam due
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 7: iLrn due / Exam due
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Week 12
Week 13
April 6-10
April 13-17
April 17
3. April 18
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Chapter 8: iLrn due / Exam due
Meet your instructor in HU 111 at 7:00am to 8:00am.
2. Oral Presentation @ 100 points:
Description about food, restaurants, or holidays (One paragraph= 8 to 10 sentences.)
Week 14 April 20-24
Week 15 April 27-May 1
May 1
Week 16 May 4-8
May 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 9: iLrn due / Exam 9
4.
May 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 10: iLrn due / Exam 10
Meet your instructor in HU 111 to take the Final Examination (150 pts)
Important: This outline is subject to additions, deletions, or any changes the instructor deems appropriate to accommodate the progress of the class.
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