Texts and materials:

Dos mundos 5th ed. (textbook and workbook) Terrell et al.

Destinos (a video series) Van Patten et al. (DT)

A Student Video Guide to Destinos Van Patten et al.

Lola Lago series: Poderoso caballero, Por amor al arte and La llamada de La Habana. Miquel and Sans. (LL)

Introduction:

The purpose of Spanish 101, 102 and 103 is to introduce you to the Spanish language and culture. Therefore, native and heritage speakers of Spanish will not receive credit for these courses. Please see the Chair in order to enroll in Spanish 210.

All Spanish courses in the Department of Modern Languages are founded on the The Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21^st Century, 1999 which describes the five Cs of language acquisition: communication, culture, comparisons, connections, and community. Students in the basic Spanish sequence have the opportunity to practice the three modes of communication, (interpersonal, interpretive and presentational) to learn about hispanic culture (products, practices and perspectives), and to make comparisons between their first language and culture and the Spanish language and culture. In addition, students make connections to other fields of study unavailable to them through their native language. Finally, students have the opportunity to engage with the hispanic community outside of the classroom.

The goal of the basic Spanish sequence therefore is to produce students with an observable and definable of degree of language proficiency. These courses are PARTICIPATORY courses. In order to learn a foreign language, one must use a foreign language. Students who participate fully by regularly attending class, completing assignments, viewing Destinos (or Sol y viento) and where applicable, completing assigned selections from the Lola Lago reading package should find the courses more enjoyable, learn from their mistakes and see their work improve.

NOTE: The Department highly recommends that students complete the sequence in continuous semesters. Historically, students perform poorly when they allow a lapse of time between courses. This is especially true for students considering a Major or Minor in Spanish.

Curriculum Description:

Each of these three courses has two principle components: a) the activities and exercises from Dos mundos (used in the classroom and assigned as homework); and b) a Spanish video series (viewed outside the classroom). In addition, Spanish 102 and 103 also utilize a reading packet to enhance language acquisition.

In the classroom, students are expected to PARTICIPATE in a variety of oral and written activities. By working through these activities, you will begin to understand and use the basic vocabulary and grammar of the Spanish language. Homework will be assigned which will facilitate language use in the classroom. Students are expected to study the grammar sections (blue pages) and do the related exercises beforehand so that they can bring their questions and doubts to class and effectively participate in the different class activities.  Grammar explanations will be held to a strict minimum. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT COMPLETE THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS ARE GENERALLY QUITE CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED IN THE CLASSROOM.

In addition to the classroom experience, all students will participate in weekly conversation hours. This time offers the opportunity to converse in Spanish about a variety of topics in a small group setting, and is led by a more advanced undergraduate speaker. Students will improve their oral skills and maximize their chances of reaching an Intermediate oral proficiency level by the end of the course sequence. Active participation in this conversation hour is required for success in these courses and will count towards the final grade. The Conversation Hour Coordinator for all Spanish sections is Prof. Tulia Jiménez-Vergara (BH 314, tjimenez@tcnj.edu). Please click on the following link to view your Conversation Hour Contract. You will need to print it, sign it and submit it to your instructor by the second week of classes:

Conversation Hour Contract

The video component of the program (eighteen, 27 minute videos) will be viewed outside of class. You will then complete a written assignment after each video and we will discuss the plot and characters periodically in class. The video mystery series was created especially for learners of Spanish and incorporates modern film footage of Spain, Argentina, Mexico and other countries in Central and South America. The stars travel through major cities and small towns as they search for clues to solve the mystery. Students will be encouraged to make guesses about what is taking place in the program even if some of the vocabulary is new or unknown. The video series (Destinos) will be broadcast on the closed circuit cable network in the residence halls. Please click on the following link to see the Viewing Schedule:

http://www.tcnj.edu/~modlang/Spanish100/Destinos Schedule.htm

Additionally, if you have broadband access to the internet, you can now go to http://www.learner.org and view any episode online. On Browse Teacher Resources select "Foreign Language" and "College/Adult" and click on "Go". On the next page, click on Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish. Scroll down on the next page until you find the Individual Program Descriptions and click on the VoD button by the episode you wish to watch (you will be asked to sign up with your email address and a password of your choice, but the whole process is entirely free).

The videotapes are also available in the Language Laboratory (basement-Bliss Hall) and in the Media and Listening Room (Room 218) in West Library. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO VIEW EACH VIDEOTAPE BEFORE CLASS. In class you will be tested on the material presented in the videotape. You will most likely not understand everything on the videotape. Listen carefully and use the visual cues to aid in comprehension.

The Lola Lago series is a graduated reading packet designed to help Spanish students improve their language skills. Reading assignments will serve as a basis for class discussion and in-class compositions, and will appear on chapter tests.

Course description, SPA 103:

This is the final level in the three course sequence of Beginner Spanish.  Prerequisites for this course are successful completion of SPA 102 or sufficient score on the TCNJ Language Placement Test.

Learning Goals:

Students will begin SPA 103 by demonstrating the ability to successfully fulfill the goals established during SPA 101 and 102. During the first week of SPA 103, classroom activities and homework assignments will recycle that material through student-based activities. By the completion of SPA 103, students will demonstrate the ability to:

a) understand sympathetic native speakers* and at times non-sympathetic speakers when they: narrate and describe in the past, present and future.

b) successfully narrate and describe in the present and future and begin to do so in the past while conversing with sympathetic native speakers* and at times non-sympathetic speakers.

c) write compositions in complete paragraphs in the above mentioned tenses which are comprehensible to a sympathetic native reader.

d) read authentic texts dealing with cultural products, practices and perspectives.

e) recognize and compare cultural similarities and differences between their own culture and hispanic culture.

f) recognize and compare language similarities and differences between Spanish and English.

g) recognize the geography of Spain and Latin America (countries, capitals, rivers, mountain ranges etc).

*ACTFL defines a sympathetic native speaker as one who is accustomed dealing with foreign speakers of the language and who is able to see through those grammatical errors which would normally impede communication.

Grading Policy:

Grading Scale for Tests and Final Examination:

Tests: They test your mastery of the preceding lessons - vocabulary, grammar, Destinos and Lola Lago (story line and characters). They have aural as well as written components. Tests are given on the stated day. There are no make-ups.

Oral Interview: All students will have an individual interview with their instructor in order to evaluate their oral proficiency in the language. This proficiency interview will last ten to fifteen minutes. Interviews will be held during the last eleven weeks of the semester and they will take place in the instructor's office. Students will be contacted by their instructor to schedule an appointment for the interview.

Final Exam: The final exam is a departmental, comprehensive test which is administered in two parts: the aural component is given in the last day of class and the written component is given during the final exam period.

Class Participation: Study of a foreign language necessitates frequent exposure to the language and regular practice. For that reason, class attendance is mandatory. It will be difficult (or impossible) to complete the exercises and activities in class if you have not reviewed the grammatical explanations and completed the exercises beforehand. You are expected to come prepared to class, having reviewed the material to be covered and ready to present any assignments given for that day.

Classroom participation is evaluated on a daily basis. Daily evaluations are based upon the following scale:

6: Well prepared for class, excellent participation (in terms of quality AND quantity), solid control of grammar.  Speaks only Spanish in class.  In other words, excellent.

5: Prepared for class, a good deal of participation (in terms of quality AND quantity), some control of grammar.  Speaks only Spanish in class.  In other words, good.

4: Participates in class but showing evidence of insufficient grammatical preparation (quality).  Speaks only Spanish in class.

4: Present in class but holding a rather passive, not pro-active attitude (i.e. answering only when addressed), even if showing evidence of sufficient, good or excellent preparation when asked.  Speaks only Spanish in class.

3: Present in class but showing evidence of little or insufficient preparation overall and/or an unusually passive, apathetic attitude.  Speaks only Spanish in class.

0: Resorts to English (without explicit permission from the instructor) to communicate with the instructor and/or their classmates. Preparation and language ability may be poor, adequate, good or excellent.

0: ABSENT (You cannot participate if you are not in class!)

Students who arrive LATE to class will lose one of their earned points for that class period.

Course calendar: