Name of School: School of Social Sciences
Academic Year 2014-15 Term 1
COURSE CODE SPAN201
COURSE TITLE SPANISH
Instructor’s Name: María José Romero Bandeira (Marijo)
Title:
Adjunct Faculty
Tel:
68280845
Email:
[email protected]
Office:
School of Social Sciences, Level 4, Room 4002
COURSE DESCRIPTION*
This course is meant for complete beginners who have never studied Spanish before. It is meant
to introduce the students to the learning of the Spanish language and through this, to discover
other culture and ways of communicating.
COURSE GOALS*
After taking this course, the students will be able to acquire a basic knowledge of the Spanish language that will
equip them to continue learning the language at higher levels later on. Learning a new language like Spanish
will be very useful in your academic life if you decide to go for an exchange program with a Spanish speaking
country as well as in your professional life (as Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world after
English and Chinese). It will also allow you to be familiar with other culture.
Specific Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
 Express themselves in basic Spanish using simple structures in the present tense.
 Write short essays and dialogs in basic Spanish
 Understand basic Spanish
 Know vocabulary and frequent expressions used in daily life giving them the foundation to continue to
learn the language at higher levels.
 Know and appreciate the culture of all Spanish speaking countries
ASSESSMENT METHODS*
Assessment is a process aimed at understanding and improving student learning. Students will be assessed not
only on what they know about the subject matter but also on what they can do with their knowledge. To this
end, assessment of student learning takes place through class participation, project work and presentation (like
the oral test), reflection and examination. Students will be tested on the following: their ability to express
themselves in the language and the ability to understand (both written and oral language) and write.
Class participation and attendance:
Portfolios or assignments or test (2):
Listening Test:
10%
20%
10%
1
Oral Test:
Final written examination:
30%
30%
Total:
100%
Class participation:
It is important for students to socially construct meaning and gain knowledge through classroom participation
and interaction with their peers and instructor. Participating in class also allows us the opportunity to receive
input from others who may have approaches to the language that will help us gain more insights. From
experience, the class with students who make the effort to participate and interact with each other gets to learn
more meaningfully.
Details on grading criteria for class participation and attendance:
Attendance: attendance is taken at the beginning of the class and punctuality is also taken into consideration.
Both attendance and punctuality are important in a language class as much can be gained from the practice in
the class. If for whatever reason (medical leave or justified cause) you need to be absent, please make sure to
catch up with other classmates (on what was covered in the previous class before coming for the following class
as there is always continuity from one class to the next). Please inform the instructor ahead of time about the
reasons for your absence if there are valid ones.
Class participation and attendance contributes to 10% of the overall course grade.
Students should take the initiative to come to class having completed the little homework that is given,
participate in the blogs that go with every module, to ask questions about anything that seems unclear, to offer
suggestions and to listen to the answers of the others. Class participation therefore is about one’s contributions
to build up knowledge together in the classroom, and what matters is the quality of one’s contributions to the
class discussion and clarification, not the number of times one speaks.
Guidelines for Evaluating Class Participation:
1.
2.
3.
Accomplished: The student is actively listening and demonstrates strong ability to contribute
to the class discussion and practice of language without fear of making mistakes. Since most
of the speaking practice takes place in pairs, the student shows patience in listening to the
other classmate and helping him/her when needed. Someone who always revised previous
matters seen in class will provide good practice and will not just ask things that were seen and
explained in class before. As a result of the student’s participation, he/she has contributed to
a strong level of learning in the classroom.
Developing: The student occasionally attempts to listen and contributes to class discussion.
The student works in pairs listening and sometimes helps the other student. Contributions in
class reflect some previous revision has been done before class. As a result of the student’s
participation, he/she has contributed to a decent level of learning in the classroom.
Beginning: The students rarely attempts to listen to the class discussion and rarely contributes
his/her ideas to questions raised by instructor. The student seldom listens to the views of
his/her peers not tries to work actively with the partner. Works mostly individually.
Contributions in class reflect little preparation before the class (no revision has been made of
previous matters discussed). As a result of the student’s participation, he/she has contributed
to little level of learning in the classroom.
Group Project and Presentation: (Oral test at the end of the Term) Contributes 30% of the overall course
grade.
Group work is a form of collaborative learning. Students can group themselves in teams of three members
(exceptionally can be two members) to carry out an oral presentation at the end of the term. It should last at least
7 minutes if 3 members and 5 minutes if 2 members. The presentation should cover all topics seen throughout
the course and they should be put together with a story line in a meaningful way. You may use power point
presentations where only few some Spanish words appear but no sentences.
2
Criteria for evaluation of the Oral presentation: (out of 100 marks)
PRONUNCIACION:
Claridad y Control fonológico (30/100)
ADECUACION SOCIOLINGUISTICA
CORRECCION:
(10/100)
Gramatical y de Vocabulario (30/100)
NATURALIDAD / FLUIDEZ
(20/100)
ORIGINALIDAD
(10/100)
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND EXPECTATIONS
Each session will involve lecture as well as practicing reading and listening comprehension and oral and written
expression in Spanish through class activities. There will be always time allotted to the oral communication
essential in learning the language through interactions among the students and with the instructor. There will
also be video sessions that will help to gain understanding of the different aspects of Hispanic culture such as
traditions, folklore, geography, gastronomy and social issues. Students will be required to do some homework
before they come to the next class to be able to practice what they learned in previous class.
CONSULTATIONS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Being an Adjunct Faculty lecturer, the lecturer is not always at school. However, the professor can be available
for consultations, with previous appointment.
Consultations that can be done in the classroom and thus contribute to a collaborative learning, should not be
asked in private consultations. There is a TA provided for this subject who may also help the students in some
matters.
CLASS TIMINGS
Class sessions are of 3-hour duration per week.
RECOMMENDED TEXT AND READINGS
Required Text (available at SMU Booklink bookstore)
Embarque 1, Libro del alumno (Editorial EDELSA)
Authors: Montserrat Alonso. Rocío Prieto
ISBN: 978-84-7711-951-7
3
Supplementary References
Navarro, J. M. et al. Mastering Spanish Vocabulary (2nd Ed.), BARRON’S 2000.
Yates, Jean Better Reading Spanish, McGraw-Hill 2003.
Kenneth, C., Spanish Grammar in Review (Revised Ed.), McGraw-Hill 2003.
Christopher Kendris, Spanish Verbs (2nd Ed.), BARRON’S 2001.
Bruyne, Jacques de A Comprehensive Spanish Grammar (Ed. 1995) (**)
Verbos Españoles, Difusión (**)
AUDIO MATERIAL
Alvarez Martinez, M.A. et al (2000): Sueña 1, español lengua extranjera. Madrid: Anaya, CD
Student’s book.
Nuevo ELE Inicial 1. CD Student’s book. Madrid: Grupo-SM
Nuevo ELE Inicial 2. CD Student’s book. Madrid: Grupo-SM
AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL
Gente de la calle 1. Video + Guia didactica (Explanatory booklet). Barcelona: DIFUSION
65 minutes divided into 5 dialogues focusing on various aspects of the Spanish culture through everyday situations and contexts. (**)
Gente de la calle 2. Video + Guia didactica (Explanatory booklet). Barcelona: DIFUSION. 65
minutes divided into 5 dialogues focusing on various aspects of the Spanish culture through every-day
situations and contexts. (**)
Nuevo ELE Inicial 1. Video + Guia didactica (Explanatory booklet) Madrid: Grupo-SM.
Fiestas de España, Spanish Tourism Board in Singapore.
Un paseo por España 1 & 2 (Video y Guia Didáctica) (**)
**Available at SMU Library
4
Course Schedule and Syllabus
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Topics
Introduction to the course. Introducing oneself;
Vocabulary: countries. Spanish names. Culture.
Spanish alphabet; pronunciation; Spelling;
Interrogative pronouns; Present tense of verbs:
Llamarse, apellidarse. Differences between
formal and informal conversations. Greetings.
Introductions. Instructions in the classroom: más
despacio por favor, no entiendo, etc.
Interrogative pronouns.
Asking for and giving personal details: age,
profession, nationality. Gender and number of
nationalities. Present tense verbs: ser, vivir. The
Hispanic World.
Professions and studies. Places of work. The
article. Present tense of verbs: trabajar, hacer,
tener. The numbers (0-1000). Talking about the
age, date of birth. Months. Personal information.
Asking for and giving the address, telephone no.
and postal code. Telephone conversations.
Present tense of verbs: estudiar, leer, escribir.
Ordinal numbers. Culture: Education in Spain.
Description of people. Vocabulary: adjectives
describing people (physical attributes and
character). Comparisons: superiority, inferiority,
equality. Colors. Family relationships. Description
of family.
Leisure activities, hobbies. Sports. Present tense
of verbs: gustar; How to express agreement and
disagreement; Practice exercises.
Module/Lesson
1.1
1.2
2.3
2.4
3.5
3.6
RECESS
Culture: Sports in Spain; Family traditions.
Description of houses and parts of the house;
location of objects in a house: use of hay (there
is/are). Ser/tener/estar. Vocabulary: parts and
furniture in a house.
Description and locations of objects in a house.
Prepositions/adverbs of place: aquí, allí, ahí,
encima de, al lado de, etc.
Vocabulary: the time, daily activities. Present
tense verbs: desayunar, comer, cenar, salir,
coger, comenzar, estudiar, regresar. Irregular
verbs. Reflexive verbs.
The time. Asking for and giving the time. Daily
activities: relating actions & events to times of the
day. Expressions of frequency. Readings.
Culture: Expressing habits on Hispanic festivities
and social events.
3.6/ 4.7
4.7
4.8
4.8
5
13
Listening Test and Oral Test.
14
Study Break
15
Examination
6