Spanish 2120
Course Syllabus – Spring Semester 2013

 

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to Spanish 2120, the second course in Ohio University’s two-semester, second-year Spanish series.  This course is designed to expand upon your knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures and improve your ability to communicate in the Spanish language with increased grammatical accuracy and a more sophisticated and precise vocabulary.  Our program will familiarize you with the cultures and literature of the Spanish-speaking world while you develop the four essential skills of communication: reading, writing, listening and especially speaking.  Successful completion of the 2110 – 2120 series will prepare you to meaningfully engage with the diversity of Spanish-speaking peoples both in the classroom and in the real world.

 

YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

To achieve the goals of this course you must attend each class meeting and actively participate in classroom activities while speaking only Spanish during class time.  You will also need to complete all homework assignments on time and meet with your instructor in his or her office to discuss any problems you might have.  Expect to spend an average of six hours a week practicing outside of class and completing homework assignments (two hours for each hour spent in class).  Make sure to allow extra time for reading and listening assignments. It is sometimes necessary, and always a good practice, to read and listen multiple times to assure your preparation for the next class meeting.  During class you will discuss these materials in pairs, small groups or with the entire class as well as complete other types of activities which will be based on the homework. 

 

This is important: your homework prepares you to successfully complete the work of the next class meeting. It is imperative that you complete your assignments on time!

 

Expect to hear Spanish spoken in the classroom from the first day of class and make every possible effort to do so yourself.  Trust your instructor to help you through any gaps in vocabulary or grammar.  Don’t expect to be constantly corrected in classroom discussion.  Often an instructor will repeat back what you have just said if he or she thinks that others may not have heard or understood.  Hearing something repeated in a different way is often helpful to others as well as yourself and does not mean that you have said something wrong.  Speak as confidently as you can and listen carefully to any feedback or response.  In classroom discussion, communication is the goal – not grammatical perfection.

 

PREREQUISITES:

Completion with a C- of Spanish 2110 at Ohio University, the equivalent at another accredited university or placement in 2120 by the Ohio University Department of Modern Languages Placement Exam.  Important:  If you have already taken and passed a higher-level Spanish course you may not enroll in Spanish 2120.  If you plan to repeat any Spanish course to improve your grade, you must do so before taking the next course in the sequence.  Students are not allowed to take courses at a lower level than one they have already passed.  You must receive a C- or better in any course of the first and second year sequence to proceed to the next course.

 

COURSE MATERIALS:

Important note: The main textbook is an edition which has been custom published for the Ohio University second-year Spanish program.  It will not be available from the typical on-line book sellers although another book of the same title is.  You have to purchase your text from the local book stores on Court Street or through the regional campuses to receive the correct edition as well as the correct access codes to the on-line material. In publishing this special edition, we have made every effort to assure the best possible price for our students.  This textbook package will be all that you need to purchase for the entire second-year sequence.

 

1) ˇAvance!: Intermediate Spanish (Special edition with additional materials for

                Ohio University), Bretz et al., 2nd edition.  McGraw-Hill  ISBN: 0077691261.

 

2) Estrenos de cine: Short Spanish Films and Activities Manual,

                Heinle / Cengage. 1st edition.  ISBN: 1133311059

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:                                                                                        

Under the learner-centered framework of the Department of Modern Languages courses, your attendance is of utmost importance. 

Classes that meet three days a week:

Certain circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending class; therefore, you are allowed three (3) absences. These three absences are not “free” but should be used to account for events such as colds, routine medical appointments, away-games for athletes, religious observances, court appearances, weddings, funerals, car problems, job interviews, etc. Beginning with the fourth absence (and for each subsequent absence), 1% will be deducted from your final grade calculation. Use the 3 hours wisely. All absences count toward the maximum. Ten (10) absences is an automatic F."
  

Classes that meet twice a week:

Certain circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending class; therefore, you are allowed two (2) absences (3 hours of classtime). These two absences are not “free” but should be used to account for events such as colds, routine medical appointments, away-games for athletes, religious observances, court appearances, weddings, funerals, car problems, job interviews, etc. Beginning with the third absence (and for each subsequent absence), 1% will be deducted from your final grade calculation for each hour missed. A student who has accumulated 10 or more hours of absences will automatically receive an “F” for the class. Use the 3 hours wisely. 

Note that attendance is taken on regular exam days too. Note also that 3 late arrivals (up to 5 minutes) equal one full absence. Excessive bathroom breaks and early departure from class will not be tolerated.

For instance, if you earn a 71% (C-) in the class but have 5 absences (penalty of 2 percentage points (MWF classes)), you will receive a 69% (D+) in the course.

Important: The attendance policy does not distinguish "excused" from "unexcused" absences; all absences count toward the maximum. Ten (10) absences is an automatic F."

 In case of extended absence due to severe illness, hospitalization or disability, please consult with your instructor.

 

 
Participation:

Beginning the second week of class, I will evaluate your class participation during class in the following manner:


10 points = student is well prepared for each class, shown by frequent oral participation, frequent leadership in discussions and expansion on topics;
8 points = student is prepared & participates, but must be encouraged to do so, may speak English more often than necessary;
6 point = doesn’t talk or offer ideas; may be prepared or not; preparation is inadequate to allow full participation; disruptive to groups; late for class;
0 points = no preparation; falls asleep; cell phone/texting disrupts participation; absent.

FINAL EXAM:                                                                     

The Final Exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1 at 4:40 p.m.  The location will be announced later in the semester.

Important: Unless you present documentation of a conflict with another exam (given at the same time) or have 4 finals scheduled the same day, no make-up final will be given.  Make your plans accordingly: travel, personal / family events, weddings, etc. do not constitute valid reasons to reschedule a final exam.  No exceptions will be made to the University-approved Final Exam schedule as posted on the Registrar’s website except for the conflicts listed above.  If one of these specific conflicts applies to you, you must contact the Coordinator for Second-Year Spanish, Keith Woodall (woodall@ohio.edu)  before Wednesday, November 28.  Your e-mail must include:

1) your full name

2) your Spanish course and section

3) your Instructor’s name

4) the course and instructor information of the conflicting exam(s).

If you do not follow these instructions, no request for an accommodation can be processed. 

 

C- RULE: In order to continue to the next course in the sequence, you must receive at least a C- (70%) in the previous class (after deductions due to absences). Again, if you have a 71% in the class, but 5 absences, your final grade will be a 69% and you will not be eligible to take the next class in the series. A passing grade for 2120 is 60%, a D-.

 

EXTRA CREDIT:

There will be NO extra credit awarded for the purpose of raising a student’s grade.

 

CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CLASSROOM / GRADES DISPUTES:

These matters should be first discussed with your instructor (please ask for a special appointment if you cannot meet his/her office hours).  If you want to dispute a grade after you have discussed it with your instructor, it should be done in writing and to the Coordinator of Second-Year Spanish, Keith Woodall, woodall@ohio.edu. When emailing either your instructor or the Coordinator, please fill-in the subject line with the reason (i.e. grade dispute) and ask for an appointment. If you have questions about grades, ask your instructor. 

 

Important: Accommodations for personal problems and questions about your grades are NOT to be discussed during class time or via e-mail, make an appointment.

 

In order to facilitate consideration for a change in grade, Students must keep all work returned by the instructor.

 

 

 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:

The Ohio University Student Code of Conduct prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty. These include -but are not limited to- cheating; plagiarism; forgery; furnishing false information to the University; and alteration or misuse of University documents, records, or identification. In addition, assignments that are totally/partially taken from an external source such as published information (book, web page, etc.), produced by a translation program or by another person will receive NO credit. All forms of dishonesty will be reported to the Director of the program. Possible consequences include a grade of zero on the assignment, course failure, and/or referral to judiciaries.   See The OU Student Code of Conduct.

The use of online tools such as Google Translator for the online (and other) homework assignments is one example of academic dishonesty.  The use of the internet to look up a word is allowed, but, whole clauses, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc. is forbidden and will result in a grade of zero for the assignment, and, at the instructor’s discretion, referral to judiciaries.

 

 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

We are committed to ensuring equal opportunity for students with a disability. This is a collaborative process and effort among the Disability Services office in the Baker Center, the student and the instructor. Students with disabilities should provide the instructor with written notification of their disability via Disability Student Services and make a direct request for accommodations to establish the means of providing accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids within one week of the beginning of the course. If you have any condition (physical/learning disability), which will make it difficult for you to perform class work as delineated in this syllabus or if you require special accommodations, it is YOUR responsibility to notify your instructor the first week of class.

 

 

GRADUATE STUDENTS:

Graduate students enrolled in SPAN 5110, 5120 or 5210, 5220, 5310 or 5320 will receive CR on their transcripts if their final grade is a B or above.

 

IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU CANNOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS COURSE FOR THIS SEMESTER, YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS COURSE UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO.  SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE WORK OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AS WELL AS A COMMITMENT TO ATTEND EACH CLASS SESSION.

 Other Classroom Policies:  
Your instructor will provide you with other policies specific to your particular section.


Evaluation

In-Class Writing Assignments (# may vary)              8%

Video Assignments (4)                                              12%

Quizzes (# may vary)                                                 10%

Homework                                                                 12%

Participation                                                               10%

Oral Exams (2)                                                           10%

Exams (3)                                                                   24%

Final Exam                                                                 14%

 

GRADING SCALE:

 

B+  87-89

C+  77-79

D+  67-69

 

A   93-100

B    83-86

C    73-76

D     63-66

F   0-59

A-  90-92

B-   80-82

C-   70-72

D-    60-62