Profesora: María Elena Doleman

Teléfono: x4166

Oficina: Laird 118

Horario de oficina: M & W 10:30-11:30 y con cita.

Correo electrónico: mdoleman@carleton.edu

Descripción del curso:

I firmly believe that learning a language is a unique opportunity to learn more about how we as human beings are different but the same after all. Learning a language means exploring the other, the unknown, the mystery of another culture. This is why a second language is always a challenge and an act of generosity and curiosity. You must be generous with your effort and be curious with your use of imagination to learn about the new culture. As a result, exploration, fascination, humor, and culture are key words in this class.

The following syllabus is a preliminary one. It provides a frame for the class content, but the actual content of the course will depend on the rhythm with which we engage the materials. Participation in this course is essential. By participation I do not merely mean your presence in the class, but your willingness to embrace the challenge of learning Spanish and never "tirar la toalla" (give up); even when the language seems like an unsolvable jigsaw puzzle. The exercises in this course will include guessing the subject of conversations, watching short video recordings, listening to and discussing musical interpretations, acting out theatrical scenarios, and participating in small group discussions and debates. Since many of the in-class activities that require your participation will involve the entire class, you should inform me of any anticipated absences in due time.

Libros de texto

Mosaicos (2^nd edition), Mosaicos Workbook, Mosaicos Lab Manual, Lecturas Básicas

Descripción de las actividades del curso:

Gimnasia verbal: Each morning we will open the class with a little bit of "gimnasia verbal". Each of you, as individuals or in groups, will choose any topic good for discussion and explain it to the class. This will be graded as part of the 20% participation/oral performance.

Casa Hispana: You will choose two activities held at the Spanish House (Parish) and write a small report of a long paragraph about the activity. You may go to a movie, a dancing class, a cooking class...

Cintas: You will tape two five minute tapes. You have to do it at the lab where you will pick up the tape with a topic already assigned to it. You won’t know the topic until you pick up the tape at the lab. You have to write down when you enter and leave the lab and leave the tape there. You are going to talk about a topic from the class. The idea is that you talk without any script or notes. The grade is part of the 20% participation/oral performance.

Gramática: In order to review the new things you will prepare the review of new grammar on Fridays in groups. You may use games. This is intended to be a "fun" moment of about 15 minutes. Before the exam we will do another review session when you can keep using the same games or presentations to keep practicing grammar.

Fichas de lectura: You have to submit a ficha de lectura as indicated in the "Entregar" column. The ficha is a short exercise of one page only (preferably typed) where you have to include the following:

Nombre y país del autor-autora, Breve resumen de la obra (summary), Opinión personal sobre la lectura. Include at the end sentences that you liked from the lectura or that you find interesting with a short explanation of their meaning. The grade for the fichas will be included as part of homework.

Redacciones: You will write two short stories one page each of a topic of your choice. 10% of the grade.

Tele-novela: As a final assigment, to be graded as part of the final grade, you will write and perform in groups a tele-novela. I will supervise the Spanish of all of them before presenting them to the class. It is your responsibility to give me the script AT LEAST one week before the date you perform.

Debates: If we have time we will organize the class in two or three big groups and engage in a debate. The topic might be related to the topics we will be doing in class or something else that is important and relevant to the class. The grades of the debates will be included under class participation.

Attendance policy and grading scale: According to the policy of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, students may miss no more than five classes (exception: medical or other problems approved in writing by the dean of Students) and still be able to pass any course in the 101-204 language sequence. This includes the T/Th sessions as well.

NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED!

To reflect the importance of oral work in the target language, participation will comprise 20-25% of the final grade in every language course. NOTE: you must earn A GRADE OF C- OR BETTER IN SPANISH 102 in order to go on to spanish 103.

The following grading scales will apply to 101-204 courses:

 A+ 98-100

 A 95-97

 A- 92-94

 B+ 89-91

 B 86-88

 B- 84-85

 C+ 81-83

 C 78-80

 C- 75-77

 D+ 72-74

 D 69-71

 D- 67-68

 F 0-66

Course Evaluation:

20% attendance, participation , oral performance (gimnasia verbal 5% + 1 five minute tapes 5%) class preparation (Workbook 5%)

15% homework: Lab Manual (5%), Workbook –entregar section (5%) and Fichas de lectura 5%)

10% compositions: 2 short "redacciones" one page each

30% three exams

25% final grade: Final Exam (15%) + In class presentation: Tele-novela (10%)