Syllabus OU in Puebla Summer 2015 SPAN 3073 Spanish Conversation

SPAN
3073 Grammar in Conversational

Communication
The University of Oklahoma in Puebla
Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Summer 2015: June 8 26

Professor: Julie Ann Ward, Ph.D.
E-mail: [email protected]
Course website: D2L

Presentation:
This course is addressed to intermediate learners of Spanish as a second language. It aims to
improve students conversational skills through an active use of the Spanish language. Instead of
learning about the language, students will have the opportunity to use the language to express
themselves in a natural way, with increasing fluency and accuracy in real-world settings. We will
focus on communication and will be engaged in meaningful communicative practices through
listening and speaking activities related to cinema and other forms of cultural production. This
course will provide students with a contextualized content-based approach to oral
communication. Although the emphasis of this course is on oral proficiency, reading and writing
will also be involved. These materials will provide opportunities for students to be exposed to
authentic language use, and to integrate these forms into their speaking and writing. This course
will be taught in Spanish.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course you will be able to:
Effectively communicate and interact in Spanish conversations related to
autobiographical topics, as well as topics of community, national, or international
interest.
Describe and narrate in the major time frames of past, present, and future.
Produce different types of texts appropriate to the communicative context.
Use grammatical structures considering the communicative context in which they can be
involved.
Identify main sociocultural factors of the Spanish-speaking world.
Use paragraph-length discourse in your interactions with others.
Refine your knowledge of the Spanish language.
Required Text:
Blanco, Jos A. (2014). Revista: Conversacin sin barreras. 4th. Edition. Boston: Vista Higher
Learning.

SPAN 3073 Syllabus 1
Recommended Texts:
Diccionario en lnea: www.wordreference.com
Espaol-espaol: www.rae.es/RAE/
The University of Chicago Spanish-English Dictionary
For grammar reference: Gac-Artigas, Directo al grano.
Course Activities
Compositions:
There will be 6 writing assignments dispersed throughout the course. They are all posted on
D2L, except for the sixth one, which will be completed in class. If there are any questions related
to them, please contact me by e-mail, or raise these concerns in our class. See Course Calendar
for due dates.
Interviews:
During the last week of the course, you will interview a classmate regarding their time in Puebla.
You must prepare 7-10 questions ahead of time and record a 3-minute interview. In addition, you
must be interviewed by a classmate, answering their questions. The recordings will be done in
class. The successful completion of this activity is required to receive an A, B, or C in the class.
More information about this project is available on D2L.
Oral Presentations:
You will give a presentation on some aspect of Mexican culture.. The presentation should
include a brief description of the topic, its main interesting points, and a conclusion. You cannot
read your presentation. All presentations should include interaction with the audience. This
activity is required to receive an A or B, in the class. More information about requirements is
available on D2L.
Conversation Essay:
During your time in Mexico, make an effort to practice your conversational Spanish skills with
local residents. Throughout your stay, reflect on something that surprised you, something you
learned, or something you changed your mind about through conversing with a local resident.
You will write a 750-to-1250-word essay in Spanish explaining this process. This activity is
required in order to receive an A in the course, and will be due on D2L on Monday, June 22 at
11:59 PM. More information about criteria for this project is available on D2L.
Class Participation and Preparation:

Each student has their own reasons for studying Spanish. The instructor has the responsibility of
providing high quality instruction in the classroom. Our success, however, depends on each

students commitment to coming to class prepared, seeking help immediately whenever needed,
and actively participating in assigned activities. Because of the cumulative nature of this course,
it is mandatory that you attend every class.
Attendance and preparedness are required in this class. You are responsible for reading the
assigned material before the class, and are expected to participate in class discussion and
activities. 100% attendance is required to pass this course. Absences are counted beginning the
first day of the semester.
Grading System
Final Grade:
Assignments in this course will be graded using a pass/fail system, and no partial credit will be
awarded. Students who do not meet the minimum requirements for a C will receive an F.
The number of assignments passed will determine the course grade according to the following
requirements:
Minimum requirements for a C:

1. Attend all class meetings. Punctual attendance and participation required.
2. Satisfactorily complete four writing assignments on time.
3. Satisfactorily complete interview recording.
Minimum requirements for a B:

2. Satisfactorily complete five writing assignments on time.
3. Satisfactorily complete interview recording
4. Satisfactorily complete presentation.
Minimum requirements for an A:

2. Satisfactorily complete all writing assignments on time.
3. Satisfactorily complete interview recording.
4. Satisfactorily complete presentation.
5. Satisfactorily complete conversation essay.
Fichas
In order to lower student stress and create flexibility, each student will begin the semester with
five virtual fichas. Students may exchange fichas for privileges and second chances as follows:
5 fichas may be used to excuse an otherwise unexcused absence;

1 ficha may be used to redo a failed composition. The revised composition must be
submitted within two days of receiving the graded assignment.
1 ficha may be used to redo a failed presentation.
2 fichas may be used to redo a failed interview.
2 fichas may be used to redo a failed conversation essay. A revised essay must be
submitted by Thursday, June 25 at 11:59 PM.
COURSE POLICIES:
Late Work
No late work will be accepted. Late work complicates my ability to grade or simply keep track of
your work. More importantly, it devalues the efforts of your classmates who work very hard to
meet their deadlines. Class and online assignments are due on the due date. The course schedule
includes all the due dates, and it is your responsibility to plan your work and time accordingly. If
alternate arrangements need to be made, the work must be completed before the due date. The
only exception to this policy is documented medical emergencies. Fichas may be used to redo
failed assignments.
Extra Credit
There are NO opportunities for extra credit in this course. The best way to improve your grade is
to complete all assignments on time, actively participate in class, and to ask for assistance from
me outside of class.
Monitoring Your Grade

It is up to you to monitor your own grades. If you have any questions about how to do this
through D2L, ask me. As suggested, after presenting an assignment, you should examine your
grades. I will post your grades within two (2) days of your submitting the assignment. Concerns
or queries about a grade should be made immediately. Please be mindful of your own progress in
the class.


Syllabus OU in Puebla Summer 2015 SPAN 3073 Spanish Conversation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Syllabus OU in Puebla Summer 2015 SPAN 3073 Spanish Conversation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Syllabus OU in Puebla Summer 2015 SPAN 3073 Spanish Conversation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SPAN

3073 Grammar in Conversational

SPAN 3073 Syllabus 1

Class Participation and Preparation:

SPAN 3073 Syllabus 2

Minimum requirements for a C:

Minimum requirements for a B:

Minimum requirements for an A:

SPAN 3073 Syllabus 3

5 fichas may be used to excuse an otherwise unexcused absence;

Monitoring Your Grade

SPAN 3073 Syllabus 4

You might also like