PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
MASTER SYLLABUS
BEGINNING SPANISH I
SPAN 1010
Class Hours: 3.0   Credit Hours: 3.0  
Laboratory Hours: 0.0   Revised: Spring 05  
       
Catalog Course Description:    
  Introduction to Spanish.  Conversation, grammar, composition, vocabulary building reading.  Listening and practice materials on tapes.  Language laboratory required.
Entry Level Standards:    
  Completion of developmental English and reading courses
Prerequisites:    
  None
Textbook(s) and Other Course Materials:  
  Dawson, Laila, al., Dicho y hecho. New York: John C. Wiley & Sons, 2000
Dawson,Laila, et al., Workbook: Dicho y hecho. New York: John C. Wiley & Sons, 2000
Tapes or CD's to accompany  Dicho y hecho.
I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:    
  Week  Topic
  1 Preliminary chapter: “Así se dice” pronunciation, cognates, consonants, alphabet, accentuation.
  2  Greetings, Subject pronouns, conjugation of ser and hay, numbers (0-30)
  3 Interrogatives, conjugation of verb tener, Review for exam.
  4 Test Preliminary Chapter.  Chapter 1:  Classroom vocabulary, colors, panorama cultural.  Quiz
  5 Definite and indefinite articles, Foreign languages, conjugation of regular –ar verbs.  Quiz 
  6 Review conjugation of regular –ar verbs, use of gustar, telling time, days of week, panorama cultural. Review for exam.  Quiz 
  7 Test Chapter 1.  Chapter 2:  Family vocabulary, relationships and possession, panorama cultural. 
  8 Conjugation of verb ser, descriptive adjectives, adjective agreement, panorama cultural, nationalities.  Quiz
  9 Conjugation of –er and –ir verbs in present tense, common uses of tener, numbers (31-100), Review for Exam.  Quiz
  10 Test Chapter 2.  Chapter 3:  Sports and past-times vocabulary, Gustar + infinitive/noun, ir + a + destination or infinitive, panorama cultural.
  11 Verbs with irregular yo forms, verbs saber vs. conocer, personal a, months, seasons, weather expressions, Review for Test.  Quiz
  12 Test Chapter 3.  Chapter 4:  vocabulary on food and shopping in the food market, becoming acquainted with restaurants in Hispanic Culture, present tense conjugation of stem-changing verbs.
  13 Conjugation of verb tener, panaroma cultural, tú commands, conjugation and use of verb estar.  Quiz
  14 Describing actions in progress, numbers (100 – más), Encuentro Cultural, Review for exam.  Test Chapter 4.
  15 Final Exam Period
II. Course Objectives*:    
  A. Listening comprehension:  understand the gist of a conversation between native speakers, understand basic questions asked by a native speaker.  I.1
  B. Speaking skills:  communicate using conversation fundamentals effectively--simple declarative sentences, questions, basic vocabulary.  I.4, I.5
  C. Reading comprehension:  read simple newspaper and understand the gist.  I.6
  D. Writing skills:  write simple sentences and basic questions in the present tense in Spanish.  I.3, I.5
  E. Cultural sensitivity:  acquire a respect for differences in language, people, and traditions.   III.2, IV.3, IV.5
*Roman numerals after course objectives reference TBR's general education goals.
III. Instructional Processes*:     
Students will:      
  1. Use Spanish language in pairs and do group exercises to exchange information and talk about their feelings.  Communication Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
  2. Complete workbook exercises in reading, written, speaking, and understanding Spanish. Communication Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
  3. Develop listening and speaking skills in real context through the use of a video and extensive audio program. Communication Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome
  4. Collaborate in teams to practice verbal exercises and complete written exercises.  Communication Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
  5. Participate in language learning experiences, which call for sequencing and memorizing.  Communication Outcome
  6. Read about differences between American culture and Spanish culture, with some analysis of how culture is expressed through language.  Humanities and/or Fine Arts Outcome, History Outcome
  7. Discuss video interviews of American business people who use Spanish in their work.  Transitional Strategy
  8. Practice elements of work ethic by regularly attending class, being punctual, participating in class activities, and demonstrating good manners.  Transitional Strategy
*Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference TBR’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process.
IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: 
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Comprehend basic oral Spanish.  A
2. Pronounce correctly Spanish text.  B
3. Carry on a basic conversation in Spanish.  B
4. Use correct declarative and interrogative intonation.  B
5. Translate simple articles from Spanish to English. C
6. Use vocabulary to obtain essential goods and services.  B
7. Write elementary compositions in Spanish.  D 
8. Fill out basic business and travel forms in Spanish.  D
9. Understand the difference in structure between English and Spanish.  D
10. Describe Hispanic holidays, foods, family life, and the patterns of daily living that make any group of people unique.  E
11. Describe some of the contributions of Hispanics in art, literature, and music.  E
12. Appreciate and respect the cultural and linguistic differences of various people.  E
*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.
V. Evaluation:
A. Testing Procedures: 80% of grade
5 Exams  (4 best grades)  . . . . . . .    40% 
Quizzes/Homework  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
B. Laboratory Expectations: 10 % of grade
Completed Lab Manual . . . . . . . . . . . .   10%
The students are expected to do listening comprehension activities on their own time using the tapes that they bought.  The listening comprehension portion of the exams will reflect these listening comprehension activities.  If they practice these activities, they should do well on this portion of their exams.
C. Field Work:
When feasible, some assignments may require attendance at a performance or special program in Spanish or about Spain or Latin America.
D. Other Evaluation Methods: 10% of grade
Class Participation and Attendance.  . . 10%
E. Grading Scale:
A      90-100
B+    87-89
B      80-86
C+   77-79
C     70-76
D     60-69
F      Below 60
VI. Policies:
A. Attendance Policy:
Attendance in language courses is of critical importance and will affect their final grade.  After six (6) absences, your final grade will drop a letter grade for each additional absence.  PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY because many students fail to understand the severity of missing classes until it is too late.  If you have to miss class, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to find out from classmates what work, assignments, etc., you  missed and complete them so as to be able to pickup where the rest of the class left off.  It is also important that you be in class on time.  From time to time short quizzes may be given at the beginning of the class and if you arrive late you will miss such quizzes. 
Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to attend all scheduled instructional activities.  As a minimum, students in all courses must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course. 
B. Academic Dishonesty:
“Upon discovery of a student’s participation in academic misconduct, the student is immediately responsible to the instructor of the class, who will meet with the offending student with evidence of the misconduct.  In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign either (1) an F or zero for the assignment or (2) an F for the course.”
C. Accommodations for disabilities:
If you need accommodation because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform the instructor immediately.  Privately after class or in the instructor's office. 
To request accommodations students must register with Services for Students with Disabilities: Goins 127 or 131, Phone: (865) 539-7153 or (865) 694-6751 Voice/TDD.
D. Other Policies:
Quizzes:
These are short, and they will be given throughout the semester. You will not be able to make up a missed quiz for any reason. One quiz will be dropped at the end of the semester.
Chapter exams:
Students musts take all exams.  Make-ups for missed exams will only be permitted if the absence resulted from a verifiable emergency. Only one make-up exam will be allowed per semester.  All other missed exams will be counted as zeros.   The lowest exam score for each student who has taken all exams will be dropped before the final grade is calculated.
Workbook:
The student Workbook is an essential part of this course.  Students are expected to complete the assignments after class as part of their daily preparation.
Class participation:
Your class participation grade will reflect not only how much the students participate in class but also the degree to which there are prepared for class, the involvement in class activities, and your attendance.