Profe. Benjamin Lev     blev@santarosa.edu

Tues Thurs 9am - 11am

ZOOM -  https://zoom.us/my/benlev

 

  Bienvenid@s a tod@s a Español 1

Welcome every@ne to Spanish 1

SYLLABUS FOR SPANISH 1

This is a Spanish 1 class for beginners. If you speak Spanish at home or have significant class or travel experience, please sign up for a more advanced class.

¡ADELANTE JUNTOS!  FORWARD TOGETHER!

I recognize that each student has different motivations, life experiences, strengths and challenges. I strive to both teach Spanish and build an authentic connection with my students that allows me to set a healthy pace for everyone (me included) so that our class becomes a positive place of learning, enjoyment, and new friendships. I hope that you "fall in love" with Spanish and its many cultures so that you want to continue taking classes, traveling, and using your new language skills. 

 

A LITTLE ABOUT HOW I TEACH

Our Spanish 1 class starts with very short and simple stories that I co-create in class with students, which become longer and more complex. We will first develop your understanding (listening and reading) skills, then your writing and speaking skills. I often use strategies based in Comprehensible Input instruction. My job is to make new vocabulary and grammar understandable and interesting. Your job is to listen, respond and indicate if you don't understand something. It's a cooperative technique that is most successful when students fully participate. We will also read one or two easy novels and watch, with support, a full length movie about immigration.

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

 

LEARNING MATERIALS - this might change, I'll give you notice if it does

1.Students will purchase two language learner novels to read. Students will choose one and Instructor will choose one. They will cost about $15 each. Info to follow.

2. Students will subscribe to Dreaming Spanish for the semester which costs $8 per month. Info to follow.

3. We will use free Open Education Resources on the internet and various websites as well.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

• Reliable internet connection - ¡Obviamente!
• Laptop are better than phones for this class - Here's why .   Here and here are some resources for SRJC students.
• Printed materials. Find these in the modules.
• Mini-white board 9" x 12" - find at Staples or online
  
• Black and red dry-erase markers and eraser or old sock
• Index cards
• Color markers, pencils or crayons
  
• Notebook
• Spanish-English dictionary or app (I recommend WordReference) 

CLASS PARTICIPATION

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

EXPECTATIONS DURING SYNCHRONOUS VIRTUAL CLASS

• Be on time, or better - even 5 minutes early. I will start right on time.
  
• Please have camera on all the time unless there is a break. If you have an urgent situation let me know tell me know before class. If your camera is off you are considered absent.
  
• Have your hands free to show me gestures, drawings, writing, response cards...
  
• Have your printed materials ready
• Please do not multi-task, work, drive (OMG I have had students do this!) or eat during class. There will be a break.
  
• Please sit up, not lay down. Professional student posture, ¡por favor!
  
• Come to class with your motivation to improve your Spanish
• Answer all questions or stop me if you don’t understand = participation
  
• Put away distractions, try to work in a quiet room, ask people in your home to not talk to you during class
• Stay on the zoom call until class is over and we say “Adiosito.”

HOMEWORK

Plan to put in 6-8 hours per week of study at home. Mostly you will be watching easy and interesting videos that you choose. Why? It's all about getting many many hours of comprehensible input into your Spanish brain. Students who watch 100 hours or more this semester will move quickly toward intermediate comprehension.  Check out this chart.

FAMILIAS
Each student will be randomly assigned to a "Familia." You do not get to choose your familia, just like in real life. You must commit to helping each other, just like in real life. If you are absent or struggling, please reach out to them so they can catch you up. If someone in your familia is absent or struggling, please persist in making contact so they don't fall behind. If there's a problem let me know.

GRADING

25% Attendance and participation. Eyes up, Gesture, Offer suggestions, Answer all questions, Participate in Break Out Rooms, etc  = full points.

25% Homework

25% Quizzes (announced and unannounced), Exams, Projects, Reports

25% Final Exam or Project

Grade for the course: 

A=90-100%, 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) Multi-tasking

Please make a commitment to yourself to take this class with your full and complete attention. Participate fully in class. Close apps and texting threads that will distract you. There will be one or two short breaks. If you are obviously multi-tasking, distracted or distracting others we will have a 1-1 conference.

3) I promise not to cheat

I promise to myself, to Profe and to my fellow students that I will not give or get help from friends on quizzes or tests. Both are cheating. I will not use a  translation tool or an AI for writing assignments or other work unless Profe says that is allowed.

If am seen using a cell phone or digital device for any purpose during an exam, Profe may reasonably assume that I am cheating. Profe has the right to give a zero grade on the exam. If I use a cell phone or digital device to disseminate test documents or answers, or attempt to disseminate, duplicate or share test content in any way, the incident will be considered a compounded incident of cheating, and consequences will reflect the seriousness of the act. Consequences may include, but are not limited to, receiving a zero, or my suspension or expulsion.

Simply said: I will do my own school work and let other students do theirs

4) 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.

5) Students may not speak English without permission.

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.

 

ATTENDANCE

You may miss, and make up, two sessions for any reason -- illness, religious observance, sporting events without losing points. This will be calculated at the end of the semester. You are still responsible for missed class work.If you miss three or more classes your final grade will lowered by 5 points for each class you miss, unless we've come to an agreement in advance. If you miss five classes you will be dropped from the course.  If you are late twice or leave class early twice that equals one absence. This will be calculated at the end of the semester. If you miss class please 1) send me an email and 2) check with your "familia."

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Assuming good attendance, homework, and active participation, you will be able to:

1. Use Spanish 1 grammar in context with predictable errors. (Simple present, present progressive and preterit tenses, including high-frequency 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

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

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All students will be asked to promise not to cheat. That includes copying on tests and quizzes, and using a translation tool like Google Translate. 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.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS: