Missouri Western State University
Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English Foreign Languages and Journalism
Course: SPA 102 Elementary Spanish I Semester: Summer 2005
Classroom/Schedule: SS/C 223 MTWTh 9:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Instructor: Saundra Dibella
Office, Office Hours, Phone: SS/C 208 E, by appointment, 271-4447 or leave a message at 271-4310
Text: Plazas (Second Edition) by Hershberger/Navey-Davis/Borras
Course Objectives and Methodology: The goal of this course is to introduce students to the pronunciation, basic grammatical structures, and vocabulary of the Spanish language, and to understand cultural differences and similarities between Hispanic and American customs, lifestyles, world perspectives, etc.
The language and grammar will be taught through reading, writing, and speaking assignments from the text and workbook exercises, as well as through participation in pair/small group role-plays and oral performance exercises.
Tentative Course Outline:
Preliminary Chapter- Pronunciation, subject pronouns, verbs ser, tener, and hay, numbers 1-30, question words, alphabet.
Chapter 1- Definite/indefinite articles, gender/pluralization of nouns, present tense of regular -ar verbs, me gusta' infinitive.
Chapter 2- Possessive adjectives, possession with de, uses of the verbs ser and tener, agreement of adjectives, present tense of -er and -ir verbs.
Chapter 3- The verb gustar, the verbs ir, saber, and conocer, the personal "a", irregular "yo" forms.
Chapter 4- Stem-changing verbs, tener idioms, affirmative "tu'" commands, the verb estar, the present progressive tense.
Chapter 5- Reflexive verbs and pronouns, the verb acabar de, uses of ser v. estar, demonstrative adjectives and pronouns.
Goals: Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to produce basic sentences using present tense verb forms and function socially in very controlled circumstances, such as greetings/farewells, exchanging personal information, asking where something is located, etc.
Attendance and participation: Attendance is crucial and mandatory. Each student is allowed three absences. After 3 absences, the student's final grade will be lowered 3% per absence. Active participation individually and in groups is a must. Each student is responsible for being fully prepared to participate during each class period. Late work will be accepted (or not) at the discretion of the instructor
Students with Disabilities: Any student whose disability prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact the instructor personally so that class requirements can be discussed.
Academic Honesty Policy: Since honesty in the classroom is required, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college constitutes a violation. A grade of zero may be assessed in the assignment/evaluation instrument.
Grading Policy: The final grade will be determined by test scores (quizzes/chapter tests) daily participation, text and workbook activities, writing assignments, the final exam, and the attendance policy stated above.
Grading scale: 100% - 90% = A
89% - 80% = B
79% - 70% = C
69% - 60% = D
59% and below = F