SPANISH 1010

COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor:                     Dr. Dennis Bricault

Semester:                     Fall 2004 (August 23 - December 10)

Class Hours:                 Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 8:00-9:05 & 9:15-10:20

Office Hours:                Monday through Friday, 10:30-11:30 & 2:00-4:00

                                    Other hours available by appointment -- I'm on campus every day

Office Location:            Magnuson Campus Center, 1^st floor

Office Phone:                244-4942

E-mail:                          dbricault@northpark.edu

Web pages:                  http://campus.northpark.edu/spanish

                                    http://blackboard6.northpark.edu

I. Course Description/Learning Objectives

This is an introductory course to Spanish language and culture.  You will learn different language functions (e.g., greeting people, describing, expressing likes and dislikes), basic vocabulary (e.g., family members, time expressions, nationalities), and simple grammatical structures (e.g., present and past tense verbs, word agreement, adjectives).  In addition to language studies, we will compare and contrast American and Spanish cultures.

II. Required Textbooks (available at the Covenant Bookstore)

            Panorama (with Audio, Video, & Interactive CDs) – Blanco, Dellinger, Donley, & García

IIIa. Methods of Evaluation of Student Progress

            1. Six unit tests                                                             40 %

            2. Comprehensive final exam                                         10 %

            3. In-class participation/oral work                                 10 %

            4. Daily worksheets                                                     10 %

            5. Blackboard™ exercises                                            10 %

            6. Fourteen quizzes                                                      10 %

            7. Three cultural contact projects                                  10 %

IIIb.  Grading

The following scale is used for tests, cultural projects, Web Assign exercises, and the final grade:

Quizzes are worth 10 points each.  Daily assignments are graded on a done/not done basis.

 ATTENDANCE/PUNCTUALITY.  Much of learning a language is having the opportunity to use it.  We will spend a major portion of each class period practicing language form and function; therefore, regular attendance is critical.  You will be allowed three absences during the semester.  Use them wisely!   Beyond three absences, you will lose the right to drop quizzes and/or tests (see chart below).  If you need to miss class due to health, personal reasons, or athletics, please notify me in advance (if possible) or on the day of class.  If you miss a class for any reason, you are responsible for staying current regarding assignments and announcements.

This is an early class.  We only have 65 minutes per class period in which to reach our goals.  Therefore, I expect you to be here on time and ready to work.  Students who repeatedly arrive more than 10 minutes late may be counted as absent.  If getting here on time is going to be a problem for you, I encourage you to transfer to a later section.

IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION.  A major part (10%) of your final grade will be based on your active participation in Spanish.  You will be assessed on the quantity and quality of your contributions in Spanish, which includes (but is not limited to) asking questions, providing answers when called on, working with others, and assisting others, all in Spanish.  The 10% will be evaluated as follows:

·        0-4 points:  use of Spanish in class (asking & answering questions, using Spanish with

classmates in small group work)

·        0-3 points:  collaboration (willingness to work with and assist others in class)

·        0-3 points:  comprehension (how well you understand spoken Spanish)

Note that all students start with zero points – you need to “build up” your participation bank account by active participation throughout the semester.  You will not get any points by just “showing up” every day!

DAILY WORKSHEETS.  Short daily worksheets feature both written and video-based exercises based on the textbook and CD-ROMs.  Each worksheet is worth five points (2 for completeness, 2 for self-correction, and 1 for timeliness).  The procedure for worksheets is:

·        I will e-mail you five worksheets for each unit.  I will use only your North Park account.

·        As you complete a worksheet, save it to your computer and e-mail it to me.

·        I will e-mail you the answer key, which you will use to correct your work in pencil. 

·        Turn in all hard copies of corrected worksheets for the unit no later than the day of each unit exam.  No credit will be given to worksheets that are submitted only by electronic means.

·        No credit will be given for assignments done during class time!

QUIZZES.  There will be several announced quizzes throughout the semester.  Quizzes cannot be made up under any circumstances.  However, your lowest two quiz scores will be thrown out if you have missed three classes or fewer (see the “Attendance” section).   If you know you will be absent on a day when a quiz is scheduled, you can arrange to take the quiz early.

EXAMS.  There will be six unit exams and a comprehensive final exam given during the semester.  Tests dates are listed in the syllabus.  Because I will throw out your lowest test score, there will be no make-up tests given!  The only exceptions will be for family or medical emergencies (for which you will need to provide a doctor's note) or participation in a scheduled athletic contest (for which you will need a note from your coach).  The only test that cannot be thrown out is the final exam.  N.B. There will be an extensive oral component to unit tests #2, #4, and #6.  The oral part is given before the in-class test.

BLACKBOARD™ EXERCISES.  In order to review verb forms and new vocabulary, you will complete several short web-based Blackboard™ exercises, which are due just before midnight on the last class day prior to each unit exam.  Go to the Spanish Department Web Page and click on the “Blackboard Link” for Spanish 1010.  Blackboard checks your homework and records your grade.  You will have two opportunities to answer each verb and vocabulary question and one opportunity to answer reading and culture questions.  The computer automatically checks your work and indicates incorrect answers.  The Blackboard exercises comprise 10% of your final grade.  Because you have at least two weeks to complete each set of Blackboard activities, no extensions will be granted.  There will be an optional review/make-up Blackboard activity to do at the end of the term.  It will be curved to replace your lowest Blackboard unit score (reading + vocabulary + verbs).

CULTURE CONTACT.  Part of learning a language is learning about its culture.  You have two options for completing this course requirement (worth 10% of your grade):

Cultural Papers.  You will be asked to participate in three different aspects of Spanish culture and write a short reaction paper about each experience (see next page).

Conversation Partners.  Meet with an international student who is enrolled in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.  Students come from different countries and are immersed in a strange, new culture – OURS.  Get to know one student over the course of the semester and complete three journal entries (as detailed on the Spanish Department web page).  You can earn extra credit by completing extra journals.

You need to let me know by Monday, August 30, which option you wish to complete.  Sorry, no “mixing and matching” of options is possible.

EXTRA CREDIT:  On every test (including the final) you will have an opportunity to earn up to five extra credit points (5%) by completing a few vocabulary exercises and by memorizing one Bible verse in Spanish.  The verses are posted on the Spanish Department web page at http://campus.northpark.edu/spanish/bib1010.html.  You can also earn extra credit by completing up to two additional Conversation Partner journals (worth up to 2% each) during the semester.  If you feel that you need more extra credit during the course, please speak to me.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.  Please refer to the policy on academic dishonesty in the current Student Handbook.  You risk failing the assignment (paper or exam) or even the course if you engage in dishonest behavior.  The Handbook is available on the Web at  http://campus.northpark.edu/stulife/handbook/student-handbook.doc

CULTURAL PAPER.  If you choose the Culture Paper option, you will be asked to participate in three aspects of Spanish culture and write a short reaction paper.

PAPERS #1 & #2.  Do any two of the following.  The first paper is due Friday, September 17^th, and the second is due on Wednesday, October 20^th.

·        Describe your own language learning experiences.  How long have you studied Spanish?  When?  Where?  How?  What worked?  What didn't?  What was the most difficult aspect?  How do you prefer to learn?

·        Interview a native speaker of Spanish about his/her experiences in learning English.  Where is s/he from?  How long has s/he been in the U.S.?  How did s/he learn English?  What difficulties did s/he encounter in his/her language studies?  Ask the speaker for advice about learning Spanish.

·

·        Attend the dialogue about justice given by Father Virgilio Elizondo on Friday, September 24^th.  Summarize the main points of the talk and highlight the relationships between liberation theology and the church’s ministry to the poor in the Spanish-speaking area where Father Elizondo works.  (If this is your first paper, it should be turned in on Wednesday, September 28^th.)

·        Attend the day-long forum on the theological and social implications of immigration, which will be led by Father Daniel Groody, a colleague of Father Elizondo.  In your paper, you should discuss the main issues involved in immigration and the church’s response to this problem.  (If this is your first paper, it should be handed in on Wednesday, September 28^th.)

PAPER #3.  Due Monday, November 15^th.  Choose one topic from:

·        Attend a Spanish-language church service and write a reaction.

·        Take a walk along Kedzie and Lawrence Avenues.  Jot down signs in Spanish that you see and guess at the meanings as you describe your walk in some detail.

·        Think of a current social issue that is important to you: gender equality, racism, ethnic diversity, integration, equal access to public services (e.g., university, health care, entitlement programs), immigration, etc.  Interview a native speaker of Spanish and get his/her views on that issue as it applies in both his/her native country and in the U.S.

·        Go to a predominantly Spanish neighborhood, sit on a park bench or in a cafe, and watch the people.  How do they interact?  Greet each other? Shop?  Joke?  Argue?  Pay attention to nonverbal communication (gestures, eye contact, touching, expressions).  Listen for words and expressions that we have studied in class.  N.B. Try to observe and take notes as unobtrusively as possible!!

·        Visit a public service (hospital, clinic, government office) that caters to speakers of Spanish.  How does the administration meet the needs of their clients?  Do they have bilingual employees?  Signs and literature in Spanish?  How would you classify the service provided (in terms of accommodating people from other countries)?  Listen to the people and take note of some of the words and expressions we've learned.

You may also suggest other appropriate projects, but check with me before starting your paper. 

CULTURE PAPER GUIDELINES.  Each paper is evaluated on how well it addresses the questions/ issues of cultural comparison.  The questions/issues are meant to orient you rather than limit you.  Feel free to go beyond these questions in your analysis.  I am most interested in your perceptions of similarities and differences between aspects of Spanish culture and your own culture.  Feel free to attach ads, flyers, and other realia to your paper.  As always, I encourage you to ask me whenever you have any doubts about these projects!

Papers must be at least two full pages in length, typed (preferably on computer), written in English (except, of course, where I have asked for samples of Spanish language usage), and turned in by the due date to receive full credit.   If I ask you for a revised draft, it will be due one week following the original due date.

LATE WORK.  While I realize that all of you have lives outside this class and campus, please note that the class is structured so there are short, frequent activities as opposed to two or three major papers and exams.  For this approach to work in your favor, you will need to pay close attention to dates for homework, projects, and exams.  My basic policy is: all work for a unit must be completed by the day of the unit exam, since homework and Blackboard activities are meant to prepare you for the exam; consequently, work done after the exam does not contribute and will not be accepted.  Assignments not directly related to a unit – the Culture Paper/ Conversation Partner option – will be accepted late but with a reduction in points awarded.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.  I am available at different times during the week to help you with class work.  Please speak to me any time you have a question.

MY CAMPUS PHONE NUMBER IS 244-4942.  I AM ON CAMPUS EVERY DAY 7:00-4:00.  IF I AM NOT IN, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AND I WILL CALL YOU BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR, FALL 2004

V. Preliminary Course Syllabus (subject to change)

Here is a listing of assignments for the Fall semester. 

Note #1:          The assignments listed are to be completed before coming to class on the corresponding date.  Worksheets are to be handed in at the start of class

Note #2:          Blackboard activities are due on the last class day before each exam but can be completed at any time before then.

Note #3:          Power Point presentations are on the Spanish Department Web page and can be viewed at any time.  Each presentation has a few practice exercises with answers,

                        but there is nothing to be handed in.