HomeMy WebLinkAboutLAN-233
SCHOOL OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND WELLNESS
DEPARTMENT OF WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
SPANISH CONVERSATION
LAN 233
Semester and Year: Fall 2011
Course and Section Number:
Meeting Times: T
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone
Email
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LAN 233 Spanish Conversation emphasizes the spoken language, stressing fluency and correctness of
structure, pronunciation and vocabulary. Topics of discussion may include current cultural, social and
literary events. Students receive individualized instruction in syntax and vocabulary. This course is
conducted in the target language. 3 lectures, 3 credits
Prerequisite: LAN 230 Spanish II with a minimum grade of C or by permission of the World Languages
and Cultures Department Chair. General Education Course.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course requirements, students will be able to:
1. Acquire essentials of the four basic elements of language acquisition: speaking, reading, listening
and writing.
2. Engage in Spanish conversation using all the grammatical forms of language and culture in Spanish.
3. Communicate and interact with Spanish speaking people at a very basic level.
4. Create dialogues in Spanish on given topics.
5. Read in Spanish and discuss topics related to themes used in class.
6. Develop awareness of cultural differences that exist in the Hispanic population.
7. Compare and contrast cultural differences.
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8. Read short literary stories and be able to critically analyze them.
9. Pronounce Spanish words correctly, as well as, employ the correct stress and intonation.
ASSESSMENT METHODS:
1. A student’s ability to acquire knowledge of Spanish grammar and syntax will be determined
through class participation, dialogues, homework assignments, exams, and quizzes.
2. A student’s ability to acquire the four basic elements of language acquisition in Spanish (speaking,
listening, reading and writing) will be assessed through class participation, discussion, assignments,
exams and oral presentations.
3. A student’s ability to communicate and interact with Spanish speaking people in and out of the
classroom.
4. A student’s ability to use Spanish in role playing exercises, class participation and student
presentations.
COURSE CONTENT AND CLASS SCHEDULE:
Weeks 1 and 2
Course introduction
Student introduction and review of the Verb “Ser and Estar”
Albùm de familia ¿Cómo son tú y tu familia? The students will work in pairs to write his/her family’s
description. An informal oral presentation will be given at the end of the activity.
¿Qué piensas del uso del celular o computadoras portatiles en clase?
We will watch a Youtube video about various professors’ reactions to students using cell phones and
laptops in class.
Weeks 3 and 4
El racismo. ¿Todavía existe el racismo en nuestro país? ¿Es obvio o más sutil? ¿Cuáles son los grupos
más discriminados en nuestra area y qué hacemos para evitar la discriminación?
Miramos unos videos de Youtube para ver otras perspectivas.
Bring a current article from a noteworthy journal or newspaper about racism, genocide, prejudice, etc.
to class and be prepared to present the article to the class.
Weeks 4 and 5
“La noche de boca arriba,” cuento de Julio Cortázar. Students will read the story for homework and
come to class prepared to discuss it. We will define what magical realism is and how it dictates the
underlying meaning of the story. A written assignment will be given about our individual interpretations
of the story.
Week 6
INDIVIDUAL ORAL MIDTERM EXAM (TO BE SCHEDULED DURING CLASS TIME)
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Weeks 7 and 8
Recetas
Each student will plan the Spanish recipe for a dish. He or she will direct the class in the dish
preparation. The instructions will be in Spanish. The Imperative form of the verb will be
reviewed/taught.
La felicidad
Each student will examine elements such as: health, money, love, self-esteem, ambition and optimism
and how these elements contribute to one’s happiness. Students need to know and discuss what their
best qualities are. Students will role play as student and guidance counselor or patient and psychologist.
Week 9
¿Crees en los astros ? Do you lend any credence to horoscopes? Do the things expressed in the
horoscope relate to you? Do you think horoscopes are real? Bring your horoscope to class and prepare
a short interpretation of your horoscope as well as your feelings about horoscopes in general.
We will also practice writing horoscopes of our own.
Week 10
Las noticias y la televisión
We will discuss how television reflects or doesn’t reflect our realities. Do television shows accurately
portray American life or is it all for entertainment value? Do shows influence how we live or is it the
other way around? We will watch some excerpts of tv shows in class to stimulate discussion.
Weeks 11 and 12
Modos de vivir
Some of us want to have a daily routine. Others want a change of life style. How would you describe
your life style? What would you change about your life and under what circumstances?
Choose a famous person who has been in the news lately and be prepared to discuss his/her recent life
choices, how he/she has been presented in the media, as well as your take on it.
Week 13
Self-reflection pieces. Reflect on your own personal life and how it connects with two or more topics
covered during the course of this past semester.
Weeks 14 and 15
You choose! Each student will make a presentation on any topic he/she chooses. It must be at least 10
minutes and must include a power point presentation, a Youtube video (no longer than 3 minutes) or
any multimedia format to enhance your topic of discussion. More guidelines will be discussed in class.
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COURSE TEXTS/ ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
Materials from the internet, as well as, printed material will be used. The level of the material
will be determined by the students’ proficiency in the target language.
Barron’s 501 Verbs, latest edition, as well as, a Spanish-English dictionary are required. The dictionary
must be brought to every scheduled class meeting.
GRADING:
The final grade in this course will be determined by a student’s overall mastery of the subject matter as
evidenced by class participation, written assignments written and oral exams.
Homework 15%
Quizzes 10%
Mid-Term 15%
Final Presentation 15%
Oral Presentations 30%
Attendance and class participation 15%
GRADE SCALE:
A 90-100% B+ 86-89% B 80-85% C+ 76-79%
C 70- 75% D 60-69% F 0- 59%
BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATTENDANCE POLICY:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they
are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor
for each section of the course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline.
Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
ATTENDANCE POLICY IN THIS COURSE:
Students are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting in this course on time and for a full class
period. Remember that your performance and class participation will be evaluated every time class
meets. If you are absent, you cannot be evaluated therefore your grade will be affected. Attendance
will be taken at each class session. Unexcused absences or lateness will affect your grade negatively. If
you have 4 or more UNEXCUSED ABSENCES, you will not pass the class. If you have an unexcused
absence on the day of a scheduled quiz or test, you WILL NOT be able to make it up. Excused absences
include, but may not be limited to: true family emergencies, doctor’s appointments, extreme weather
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conditions, and email communications with the professor. Please do not make up deaths or illnesses in
your family. That is immoral and karma always comes back to bite you in the butt.
You will not be held responsible for missing class due to the observance of a religious holiday. You will
be able to make up the work missed by the next week. Please inform me of such absences, so that I
make the necessary accommodations.
STUDENT AND FACULTY SUPPORT SERVICES:
Services for Students with Disabilities
A wide variety of services are available to students with documented disabilities through the
Office of Special Services (OSS) [Room L-116; (201) 612-5270; www.bergen.edu\oss ]. OSS is
dedicated to serving students with physical, visual, learning, hearing, and psychiatric disabilities.
If a student has been classified in high school or had a 504 plan, it is highly recommended that
the student contact OSS during the college application process. A more detailed explanation can
be found on the College web site www.bergen.edu Personal information is kept confidential.
Examples of the types of accommodations and services include:
Extended test taking time
Organizational strategies
Tutoring
Career counseling
Adaptive equipment computer labs
Note takers
Sign language interpreters
The Sidney Silverman Library
The Sidney Silverman Library is an integral part of the college’s educational programs. To support the
curriculum, the library acquires, organizes, and provides access to a variety print, media, and electronic
resources for individual and classroom use. It is open whenever classes are in session and on a reduced
schedule when classes are not in session. The library is open to all students, faculty, and general public.
(BCC Catalog)
The library’s webpage, www.bergen.edu/library, is available for up-to-date information regarding library
collections and services.
All of the required texts for the course will be made available on Reserve. Go to the library Circulation
Desk for access to the reserved copies.
GENERAL:
All students are subject to the rules, regulations and policies set forth in the current Bergen Community
College Catalog.
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