Missouri Western State University

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English Foreign Languages and Journalism

 

 

Course:  SPA 102 Elementary Spanish I Section 90     Semester: Summer 2006

Classroom/Schedule:  Eder Hall 223  MTWTh                9:00AM-10:20 AM

Instructor:  Saundra Dibella

Office, Office Hours, Phone:  SS/C 212 E, by appointment, 271-4312 or leave a message at 271-4310

 

Required Materials:

Text:  Plazas (Second Edition) by Hershberger/Navey-Davis/Borras

 Workbook Manual

 

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.

 

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 four absences.  After 4 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