College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dept. of English, Foreign Languages and Journalism
SPA 452 – section 1 Advance Spanish Conversación
Fall 2008
Times and Classroom:
Instructor: Dr. F. Eduardo Castilla Ortiz Office: Eder Hall 212 - A
Phone: 816-271-41 67 E-mail: fcastillaortiz@missouriwestern.edu
Office hours: MWF 12-12:50 T 8:30- 11:00 and by appointment
Course description
Students will advance and improve their speaking skills through listening
and conversation activities. This course
will emphasize the importance of an ongoing increase in vocabulary, the
application of it in new context and the practice in presentations. The objective is to enable students to communicate
orally with Spanish-speaking people in
1. To speak understandably Spanish at a better level by being more confident than experienced before in listening, speaking and a few grammar skills..
2. To respond appropriately in complete Spanish sentences with more assertiveness.
3. To produce & understand conversations in Spanish at a higher range of vocabulary.
4. To work with more complex & complete critical ideas and to be able to communicate then in an organize manner.
The lexicon will be taught through reading and speaking assignments as well as through participation in class exercises.
Course beliefs & Philosophy
Studying a foreign language broadens one's perspective of the world and enhances one's understanding of self. It enables you to participate in a multi-cultural community, prepares you for graduate school, a career, and for use of the language in the future. It helps dispel stereotypes and enhances respect for others.
Success in this course depends on the combined efforts of the student and instructor. The responsibility of the student is to prepare thoroughly for class and to participate actively in class. The primary role of the instructor is to facilitate real communication in Spanish. Classroom time is planned according to this philosophy so that lack of preparation will severely impede any benefits students may gain from the classroom experience.
Final Grade: It is a barometer of your performance both in and outside of class. Final grade evaluation is done according to the following activities.
Evaluation and Grading Policy The final grade will be determined by test scores, daily participation, activities, oral presentations assignments, and the attendance policy stated in the syllabus.
The activities are weighted approximately as follows:
Exams, quizzes, tests (Voc. Oriented) weekly
30%
Oral Assignments (Presentations in group)
40%
Final Presentation
15%
Class participation and attendance 15%
Grading Scale: 100% - 90% =
A
89% - 80%
= B
79% - 70% =
C
69% - 60% =
D
59% and below = F
Daily preparation, homework and participation
Homework will not be accepted after the date on which it is due. Homework assignments will be given out periodically by me, mainly to reinforce and practice structures that are new, so that you can participate in the class time.
In-class assignments or quizzes given during a missed class period cannot be made up under any circumstance.
Exams and Quizzes
There will be exams at the end of some reading practices but due to time restrictions some items will be emphasized more than others.. Make-up exams are at the discretion of the instructor. If you know in advance that you will not be able to take a test, you may make an appointment with your instructor to take it early. There may also be other quizzes and oral exams.
Final Exam: At the end of the course there will be a Final Individual Presentation that will integrate all the main conversational structures worked throughout the semester.
Attendance is crucial and mandatory. Please see the Attendance Policy section below for the university’s official attendance policy. Class attendance and participation are essential to your progress in this course. Persistent, active in-class participation improves your communicative skills. Therefore, it is essential that you attend every class. Trying to catch up once you have fallen behind will be difficult, as much new material could be introduced in each class.
Late arrivals are disruptive to the class and will reflect upon your grade.
Foreign Language Lab in Murphy 107 - You will have open access to the
Foreign Language lab from
Attendance Policy
You will be given excused absences when acting as an official representative
of the university, provided you give prior written verification from the
faculty/staff supervisor of the event, also when you have documentation if you
had been sick, in jury duty or alike. All other absences will be deemed
unexcused. The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed for this
class is 1 (one).
Academic Honesty Policy and Due Process
Academic honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s work, falsifying documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity. Violations of academic honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure in the course, or expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade has been affected, violations of academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or designated representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report forms.
Please see the 2008-09 Student Handbook and Calendar (page 24) for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure. It is available online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf
Cheating or plagiarism is not acceptable. You will receive a 0 (zero) for any work that shows evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism.
Assistance
If you need assistance, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to forward any question you might have through email as well. The Center for Academic Support offers free tutoring for Spanish courses. The website in order to obtain more information is http://www.missouriwestern.edu/CAS.
Handicapped Policy
Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss class requirements.
Drop and Withdrawal policy:
Last day to withdraw is Friday October 31st & After the fourth unexcused absence, the student will be reported to the Registrar, who will administratively withdraw the student from the course. Financial aid will be reduced as appropriate.
PROSPECTIVE CLASS
SCHEDULE
Agosto L 25 Come ready to class to introduce yourself
M 26
V 28
________________________________________________________________________
Septiembre
L 1 Feriado: Labor Day
M 3
V 5
________________________________________________________________________
L 8
Presentación 1:
M 10
V 12
________________________________________________________________________
L 15
:
M 17
V 19
_______________________________________________________________________
L 22
Presentación 2
M 24
V 26 ________________________________________________________________________
L 29
Octubre M 1
V 3
________________________________________________________________________
L 6 Presentación 3
M 8
V 10 Midterm Break
________________________________________________________________________
L 13
M 15
V 17
________________________________________________________________________
L 20 Presentación 4
M 22
V 24
________________________________________________________________________
L 27
M 29
V 31
______________________________________________________________________
Noviembre
L 3 Presentación 5
M 5
V 7
________________________________________________________________________ L 10
M 12
V 14
________________________________________________________________________
L 17 Película
M 19 Película
V 21 Presentación 6
______________________________________________________________________
L 24
M 26 Thanksgiving
V 28 Thanksgiving
_______________________________________________________________________
Diciembre L 1
M 3 Presentación Final
V 5 Presentación
Final
FINAL EXAM on Presentación Final y examen oral ______________________________________________________