Course Syllabus

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

Profe. Benjamin Lev      blev@santarosa.edu

Office hours: Mondays, 7:10 - 7:40pm, Emeritus 1523 or Language Lab

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 learning and will help making the class satisfying and successful.

At home students will focus on the grammar and vocabulary content from the textbook using the online program. Then we 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 vocabulary and grammar both understable and interesting. It's a cooperative teachnique that is most successful when students fully participate in the co-creation of spoken and written narratives.

I look forward our semester together. ¡Nos vemos en clase! 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- Please read and follow carefully:

Our textbook is VISTAS 5th edition with its online Supersite (for homework assignments). You must have the online access code.  Plan about 1 hour of work online and other assignments for each class. 

  1. Purchase at the SRJC bookstore or online.  http://vistahigherlearning.com/store/santarosa.htm/ Create an account and password.
  2. Choose "Spanish 1 Only"
  3. Choose either  1) "Split-volume format" (online access code + loose leaf textbook) OR 2)  "Code and other materials" (code but without loose leaf textbook) Either is fine - some students like the paper textbook. The code is good for six months.
  4. Make your purchase, get your online access code.
  5. With you code set up your online VISTAS account, find "Santa Rosa Junior College", find me "Benjamin Lev" and link to my class section.
  6. Start on the first assignments that are waiting for you
  7. VISTAS  STUDENT HELP LINE 1-800-248-2813

•••••  More instructions here if you're still not sure •••••

 

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 which costs $8

CLASS PARTICIPATION

This is a highly interactive class. Join in! It's the key to learning a language and counts for 25% of your grade.

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, you must reach out to them so they can catch you up. If someone in your familia is absent or struggling, your familia will persist in making contact so they don't fall behind. On 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.

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) and other Assignments
25% Exams and Quizzes, announced and unannounced
25% Final Exam / 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. If you use your phone I will give you one warning. If you continue to use your phone then you will have to leave class for that meeting. You and I will have a conference about it before the next class meeting.

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. I will speak to you at least 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) Late VISTAS homework will be accepted for 80% credit, which is a lot more than 0%... BUT by doing the homework on time you will be better prepared for class activities and quizzes. If you are consistently late with homework then you and I will conference about how to help you be prepared on time.

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. You may miss up to 3 classes without being dropped. If you are late twice that equals one absence. Absences are calculated into your grade.

If you miss class you must 1) send me an email and 2) check with your "familia."  

If you miss 4 classes we will have a conference about how to help you attend class. Your overall Participation and Attendance grade will drop 5 points.

If you miss 5 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

In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation of the building, please leave the class immediately, but calmly. Our class will meet in the quad under the clocker tower to make sure everyone got out of the building safely and to receive further instructions. If you are a student with a disability who may need assistance in an evacuation, please see me during my office hours so we can discuss an evacuation plan.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS:

If you need disability related accommodations for this class, please provide the Authorization for Academic Accommodations (AAA letter) from the Disability Resources Department (DRD) to the instructor as soon as possible. If you have not received authorization from DRD, please contact them directly. DRD is located in Analy Village on the Santa Rosa campus, and Jacobs Hall on the Petaluma Campus.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due