Course Syllabus

          

               Bienvenidos a todos a Español 1 / Welcome everyone to Spanish 1

Profe. Benjamin Lev      blev@santarosa.edu

In this interactive and engaging class there will be many opportunities to use Spanish in a creative way. Your active participation is the key to your learning and will help making the class satisfying, successful and, hopefully, fun.

At home students will focus on the grammar and vocabulary content from the Vistas textbook using the SuperSite online program. I incorporate the textbook content into our in-class listening, speaking, reading and writing activities.

When we meet in class I often use strategies based in Comprehensible Input instruction. The goal is to make new language structures both understable and very interesting. It's a cooperative teachnique that is most successful when students fully participate in the co-creation of spoken and written narratives.

During class it's important that students indicate to me when they don't understand something I am saying. There is an easy signal I will show you in our first class that means "Profe, I don't get it! Please slow down/repeat so I can understand." Even if you are a shy person, please use the signal right away. Why? It helps you, it helps me be a better teacher (by not going too fast) and it helps other students who also may not understand. ¡GRACIAS!

I look forward our semester together. ¡Nos vemos en clases! See you in class!

 

SYLLABUS FOR SPANISH 1

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Assuming good attendance, homework, and active participation, you will be able to:
1. Use the simple present, present progressive and preterit tenses, including high-frequency irregular verbs, subject and object pronouns, and adjectives.
2. Initiate and maintain simple conversations in Spanish on everyday topics
3. Comprehend and respond to short messages and questions in spoken Spanish.
4. Write coherent paragraphs containing descriptions of people, places, and everyday activities.
5. Use appropriate vocabulary for greetings, school-related items, family members, clothes, food, etc
6. Read and comprehend the main ideas presented in level appropriate Spanish texts and magazine articles.

7. Demonstrate cultural awareness and insights about the Spanish-speaking world

TEXTBOOK

We will be using VISTAS textbook with its online Supersite (for homework assignments). You can buy it at the SRJC bookstore or online. Go to this link and click on VISTAS Spanish 1: http://vistahigherlearning.com/store/santarosa.htm/ Set up your online VISTAS account, find "Santa Rosa Junior College", find me "Benjamin Lev" and link to my class section. Let me know if you need help.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

You will also need: 1) Three ring binder 2) Journal or notebook, not loose leaf 3) Spanish-English dictionary or app (I recommend WordReference) 4) We will read a short novel written for Spanish 1 students. It will cost $7.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

This is a highly interactive class. Join in! It's the key to learning a language.

FAMILIAS
Each student will be randomly assigned to a "Familia." You do not get to choose your family, just like in real life. You must commit to helping each other, just like in real life. If you are absent or struggling, they will catch you up. If someone in your familia is absent or struggling, your familia will actively make contact with you and help you. In some quizzes I will average the score of your entire familia and you will get that score. If there's a problem let me know. ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE.

TESTS AND EXAMS

There will be quizzes or exams for each of the six chapters. Some quizzes in class will be unannounced. There will be a new chapter about every five classes.

GRADING

25% Attendance and active participation
25% Homework on VISTAS online website (Supersite)
25% Exams, announced and unannounced
25% Final Exam and Project

Grade for the course:  A=90%+ B=80-89% C=70-79% D=60-69% F= below 60%

CLASS POLICIES

1) I use SRJC email to communicate, so students need to check their email every few days and respond.
2) Texting: Please turn off your cell phone and put it away during class. No texting, no ear buds, gracias. 

3) Conduct: Respect the rights of other students and the instructor. If you violate the Student Conduct Code you may be suspended from 2 classes and referred to the Vice President of Student Services for discipline.
4) Students may not speak English without permission. My goal is to speak to you 90% of the time in Spanish. Occasionally for directions or explanations I will briefly use English. Students may not chat or blurt out in English. You may ask clarification (¿Cómo se dice XYZ en inglés?) or for permission to speak English (¿Me permite hablar inglés?). Disruptions or use of English will lower your participation grade.
5) Homework: I accept late homework for a reduced grade, but not if it's always late. Talk to me if there’s an issue.

ATTENDANCE

I start right on time and expect students to be ready for class.  If you're sick please stay home. You are responsible for missed classwork and homework.  If you are ill or have an emergency please let me know as soon as possible. Make sure to check with your "familia." 

If you miss 4 classes your attendance grade will drop 5 points and you may be dropped

If you miss 5 classes your attendance grade will drop 10 points and you may be dropped

If you miss 6 classes you will be dropped.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Faculty and students are partners in maintaining the college's academic integrity in accordance with the College guidelines. Cheating, dishonesty, impersonation, inappropriate use of translation tools will not tolerated or ignored, and will be be promptly reported.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS: