SPAN 203: Intermediate Spanish I
Course Description and Objectives
SPAN 203 is a three-credit hour course designed to continue your study of the Spanish language and
the many facets of Hispanic culture, and to allow you to continue to develop your language skills:
speaking, listening, reading, and writing. In this course you will expand on your ability to
communicate in Spanish in everyday situations. Upon completion, you will be able to comprehend and
respond with grammatical accuracy to spoken and written intermediate Spanish and demonstrate
cultural awareness.
The course consists of:
one hour and thirty minute Virtual Class each week (90 minutes)
weekly reading and review of assigned pages in the textbook
a series of interactive online exercises (completed and submitted for every module)
additional weekly assignments as indicated in this syllabus.
(Please note: The traditional classroom three-credit hour Spanish course meets three days per week
with an additional expectation of 6 hours of homework. We expect a similar commitment on the part
of our students in the online course.)
Since the instruction in this course is done on-line, it is vital for you to do your work in a timely
manner to achieve learning goals for each week.
Text and Materials
Please see the current course description page for information.
Course Components
SPAN 101 is comprised of fifteen modules, each lasting one week. We will focus on communicative
proficiency through various activities.
Module Components
The modules are your “go-to” source for all of your instructions for the week. Each module contains:
1. Learning Goals for the week.
2. an Activity Plan, which lists the assignments you need to complete to master that module’s
topic. The Activity Plan will assign the following:
readings from the textbook. You can read from a paper text, or use the e-Book on
MySpanishLab. An advantage of using the e-Book on MySpanishLab is that sometimes you
can click on vocabulary words and hear them pronounced for you.
exercises in MySpanishLab. Each exercise is assigned points. The final grade for these
exercises will be determined by adding all points received for each activity completed.
Not all chapter exercises will be assigned—only those listed in the module assignment will
be graded. You are encouraged to complete additional exercises for further practice and
review, but they will not be counted toward this portion of the grade. MySpanishLab is
designed so that most of the activities provide immediate feedback and can be completed
multiple times. Therefore you can (and should) practice an activity before submitting it
for credit. The due dates ) for submission of exercises reflect the latest possible time the
assigned work will be accepted for credit. I suggest that you begin the assignments well
before the due date. You may find it easier to break up the assigned reading and the
assigned activities in MySpanishLab and complete some at mid-week, leaving the rest to
be completed on the weekend, finishing up by Sunday at 11:59 pm.
a Weekly Assessment, which is also found in MySpanishLab. These short assessments will
help you determine if you understand the concepts you have read about in preparation
for our Virtual Class. They will test grammar points and/or vocabulary, and are primarily
based on the exercises. You can take the assessment at any time during the week, but you
must complete it before the deadline of 11:59 pm on Sunday night. The Weekly
Assessments will NOT be graded. They are intended as a self-assessment to help you
determine if you understand the concepts presented. They are also a useful exercise to
complete before taking the chapter quizzes (more about these below).
an Activity Sheet, which you will complete and have next to you during the scheduled
online Virtual Class session.
3. a Virtual Class date and time reminder, with a list of required materials to have on hand
(usually, the Activity Sheet). The Virtual Class will be held at the same time every week. Prior to
the scheduled session, you must study the assigned grammar and vocabulary, as we will use
class time to practice these. To join, click the Virtual Class button in the navigation bar at left.
You should plan on joining a few minutes early to get settled. At the beginning of the Virtual
Class, you can ask any questions about the topic of the week. Instructions for attending the
Virtual Class sessions are provided in Module 1. The virtual class is mandatory.
Other Graded Assignments
An Oral Interview will be scheduled in 5-10 minute blocks. During your scheduled time you will speak
with your instructor (via phone or webconferencing tool) using grammar and vocabulary that you have
studied thus far in the course. Your professor will provide you with two topics to prepare, and will
choose which one you will discuss just prior to the oral interview. In other words, you should prepare
to discuss both. You will graded on your pronunciation, comprehensibility, fluency and pace, content
and syntax, and grammatical competence.
Two Writing Exercises will be assigned. These will include composing different types of sentences
(completing the sentences, writing questions, and writing answers). Details and instructions for
submission are provided. Check the Schedule for due dates.
Participation is a very important component of this course. You are expected to attend class every
week and be there during the entire class session (we meet for one hour and fifteen minutes) and to
participate actively. Being away from the keyboard for more than a few minutes more than once
during class will have a negative effect on your participation grade. There is a detailed grading rubric
for participation at the end of this document. You are permitted one skip during the semester—this is
consistent with the attendance policy of other language courses.
Two Pronunciation Exercises will allow your instructor to evaluate specific aspects of your
pronunciation. You will record an assigned passage (on MySpanishLab) and receive individual comments
and evaluation from the instructor. Check the Schedule for due dates.
Five Chapter Quizzes (Pruebas) will be completed after we complete the Preliminary Chapter and
Chapters 1–4. These will be administered through MySpanishLab. You can take each quiz at any time
before its due date (check the Schedule for due dates). Once you start the quiz, you will have 45
minutes to complete it. You will only have one attempt to submit it for grading, so make sure you
have a strong, stable Internet connection—otherwise, MySpanishLab could lock you out and you will
have to notify me and I will have to go in and unlock it for you—a pain for both of us.
Two partial Exams will be administered twice during the semester to test whether you can apply the
information you have been learning and use the grammatical structures and vocabulary studied within
real-world contexts. Check the Schedule for dates. There will be a study guide with sample exam
items provided prior to each exam. The Activity Sheet for the week of the exam will also serve as a
review. The exams are closed-book. You cannot consult the textbook, a dictionary, nor any other aids
of any kind during the exams.
The Final Exam is a three-hour, closed-book, cumulative exam. You cannot consult the textbook, a
dictionary, nor any other aids of any kind. It is similar to the partial exams in structure and objectives.
You will only have one attempt to submit it for grading. There will be sample exam items posted prior
to the final exam as well as an Activity Sheet for review.
Participation Rubric
A- / A = Excellent (90-100)
Present and prepared in virtual class.
Participates regularly and actively in class-discussion and small-group activities.
Works well with partners and helps them when necessary.
Listens to the instructor and to the other students. Raises hand regularly.
Always uses Spanish and complete sentences (except for grammar explanation) with little or no
hesitation.
Elaborates when possible, going beyond one simple sentence and giving more than minimum
detail.
Very few errors in form and good pronunciation so that meaning is always clear. Repeats
sentence when corrected.
Has missed 1 virtual class at most.
B- / B / B+ = Very Good (80-89)
Present and prepared in virtual class but late on rare occasion.
Participates regularly and actively in class-discussion and small-group activities.
Works well with partners, helps them when need be.
Listens to the instructor and to the other students. Raises hand regularly.
Always tries to use Spanish and produces complete sentences, despite some hesitation.
Elaborates, giving more than minimum detail.
Some errors in form and pronunciation but succeeds in conveying meaning most of the time.
Has missed 1-2 virtual classes.
C- / C / C+ = Average (70-79)
Very occasionally arrives late, brings materials even if unprepared at times.
Participates regularly in small groups and works well with partners though uses more English
than necessary.
Slips into English occasionally or does not use complete sentences (fragment answers).
Sticks to simple sentences and/or reads answers rather than talking spontaneously.
Has some difficulty answering when called upon or rarely raises hand.
Often makes formal errors and persistent pronunciation errors (like final consonants or
confusing nasals).
Has missed 2-3 virtual classes.
D / D+ = Unsatisfactory (60-69)
Often arrives late and/or unprepared. Speaks little or else consistently in English.
Doesn’t listen to instructor or to other students. Cannot respond to questions. Refuses or
cannot work with others.
Persistent pronunciation errors, resulting in incomprehensible sentences. Never raises hand.
Has significant difficulty communicating meaning in Spanish in class and during small-group
work.
Has missed 3-5 virtual classes.
F = Unacceptable (59 or lower)
Misses too much class. Has missed 5 or more virtual classes.
Often arrives late and seems unprepared. Refuses to work with a partner.
Cannot answer when called upon, cannot speak with others in small groups.
Consistently speaks English in class, with partners, and makes no effort to speak Spanish or
improve.
Things to improve on :
Participate more in small-group work.
Learn the vocabulary, forms, and structures.
Join the class on time.
Work on pronunciation.
Listen to other students.
Work on correct forms (verbs, adjectives, and so on).
Explain what you mean without using English.
Respond with complete sentences.
Think before responding.
Elaborate more.
Grading
Your grade will be based on the following scale:
91.5–100
A
89.5–91.4
A-
87.5–89.4
B+
81.5–87.4
B
79.5–81.4
B-
77.5–79.4
C+
71.5–77.4
C
69.5–71.4
C-
67.5–69.4
D+
59.5–67.4
D
Below 59.5
F
Your final grade in the course will be composed of the following:
Weekly exercises submitted in MySpanishLab
Other short exercises submitted on Sakai
2 Writing Exercises
10 percent
5 percent
10 percent (5 percent each)
2 Pronunciation Exercises
5 percent (2.5 percent each)
Attendance/active participation
5 percent
5 Chapter Quizzes
10 percent (2 percent each)
Exam 1 (covers Capítulo preliminar A and Chapter 1)
10 percent
Exam 2 (covers Chapter 2 and Chapter 3)
15 percent
Oral Interview
Final Exam (cumulative)
5 percent
25 percent
Course Policies
1. Only work submitted by the deadlines will receive credit. No late work of any kind will be
accepted. You must complete all the assignments for each module on time. Virtual Class time is
set aside for activities that allow you to practice and apply the material learned, and is
worthwhile only if everyone has completed all assignments before attending. The best way to
prepare yourself for the next level of Spanish study is to complete all assignments in a timely
manner. Using unauthorized help or methods in completing the activities is not a good idea. Not
only is it unethical, you will be putting yourself at a great disadvantage in upper-level courses if
you have not mastered the material in SPAN 101.
2. No extra-credit assignments will be made.
3. No make-up exams will be given without a prompt, valid excuse. If approved, the make-up
exam must be scheduled immediately.
4. Due to the nature of the course, communication between you and your instructor is crucial. You
must check your email and the Announcements regularly. When you email me, send it to my
UNC email account. When using Sakai to send me an email, be sure to leave the CC box
checked so that it sends a copy directly to my UNC email account. I do not check my Sakai
inbox.
5. You must attend all* Virtual Class sessions and “be there” (not away from your computer for
more than a couple of minutes). *You are permitted ONE skip during the semester. This is
consistent with the attendance policy of all language courses. Please notify your instructor in
advance if you plan on missing class. Also be aware that missing class does NOT permit you to
submit assignments late in My Spanish Lab (MSL).
6. If you have special circumstances, bring them to my attention immediately.
Academic Policies
By enrolling as a student in this course, you agree to abide by the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill policies related to the acceptable use of online resources. Please consult the Acceptable
Use Policy on topics such as copyright, net-etiquette, and privacy protection.
As part of this course, you may be asked to participate in online discussions or other online activities
that may include personal information about you or other students in the course. Please be respectful
of the rights and protection of other participants under the UNC-Chapel Hill Information Security
Policies when participating in online classes.
When using online resources offered by organizations not affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill, such as
Google or YouTube, please note that the Terms and Conditions of these companies and not the
University’s Terms and Conditions apply. These third parties may offer different degrees of privacy
protection and access rights to online content. You should be well aware of this when posting content
to sites not managed by UNC-Chapel Hill.
When links to sites outside of the unc.edu domain are inserted in class discussions, please be
mindful that clicking on sites not affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill may pose a risk for your computer
due to the possible presence of malware on such sites.
Honor Code
As a Carolina Courses Online student, you are responsible for obeying and supporting an honor system
that prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing in relation to the academic practices of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Honor System also
requires you to refrain from conduct that significantly impairs the welfare or the educational
opportunities of others in the University community. You are expected to do your own work in all
aspects of your course.
Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because any breach in academic integrity, however
small, strikes destructively at the University’s life and work. Outside help of any kind on any
assignment that is to be turned in for a grade is considered academic dishonesty. With the
exception of consultation with your instructor, no help may be received on any homework
assignment or composition. Doing so is a violation of the honor code.
“Help” includes any aid received from personal tutors, friends, native speakers, or anyone other than
your instructor on any assignment.
Your textbook and MySpanishLab may be consulted for assignments, compositions, and other course
work unless you are specifically instructed otherwise. You are prohibited from using Internet
translator sites. Furthermore, do not “copy and paste” from the textbook or MySpanishLab.
Quizzes and exams must be completed entirely on your own with no help of any kind from classmates,
dictionaries, textbooks, or notes. On every quiz and exam you will be required to pledge, “I have
neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this exam.”
Group study is an activity that is both accepted and recommended. In preparation for any exam or
quiz, you may work with your classmate to help one another prepare.
Please view this brief Plagiarism Tutorial created by the librarians of UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University,
NC State University, and NC Central University.
© The University of North Carolina
Send comments and questions to [email protected].