Sustainable Development and Social Change in Central America

Conversations in Cultural Context - SPA 316

Prerequisite: SPA 212 or equivalent, or score at minimum of 311 level on computerized placement exam. 

Course Description

This class is designed to meet the needs of advanced Spanish students who have already completed at least two years of college level Spanish. The goal of the course is for students to improve their oral fluency through discussion, debates, and oral reports through discussion of contemporary issues in Latin America. 

One of the special features of this course is the use of both classic and contemporary Mexican and other films to stimulate discussion of Latin American history, culture, and contemporary issues.  Students may also participate in field trips to local theatre performances.

In addition to reading chapters of Perspectivas (Septima Edición), students will read articles from local newspapers, magazines, and journals in order to expand their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of political, economic, and social issues in the host country and throughout Latin America.  During class they will discuss and debate the issues that they read about.

Students will engage in many listening exercises on the audio CD that accompanies their text book Perspectivas, Septima Edición.  They will also be expected to engage in conversations and conduct informal interviews with members of their Mexican host families and record new vocabulary.

In preparation for each of their six formal oral presentations, the course instructor will teach students about different speech forms, drawing upon examples from the films and listening exercises mentioned above.  She or he will then give explicit instructions about the type of speech that must be given for that particular assignment. The sixth and final oral presentation will involve independent research on any topic of interest in contemporary Latin American society and will be accompanied by a bibliography and list of citations.  Students will be expected to use local libraries in order to complete that assignment.

The course will be broken down into the following six units covered by Perspectivas, Septima Edición::

Unit I:     Nature and the Environment

Unit II:    Social Change

Unit III:  Men and Women

Unit IV:  Ethical Issues

Unit V:    Art and Culture

Unit VI:  Spanish-Speaking Peoples in the United States and Canada

*This course counts toward the major or minor in Spanish at Augsburg College.

Required Text and Other Materials

Perspectivas, Septima Edición.  By Mary Ellen Kiddle, Brenda Wegmann, and Sandra Chreffler.  Heinle, 2002. ISBN 0030339588.  www.heinle.com

*Libro de sinónimos y antónimos para estudiantes.  Barrons.  ISBN 0764114476

*Spanish/English dictionary

* = Highly recommended but not required

Required texts and materials for Spanish courses vary by level. Copies of the necessary texts will be provided by Spanish School.

Latin American films viewed may include:

“Nosotros los pobres”       

“Ustedes los ricos”                            

“Cantinflas: el barandero” 

“Fresa y chocolate”                            

“La historia oficial”

“El crimen de Padre Amaro”

“La ley de Heródes”           

“Amar te duele”  

“Por la libre”

“Cilantro y perejil”

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Increase their proficiency in speaking and understanding Spanish.

• Expand their vocabulary.

• Deepen their understanding of political, economic, and social issues in Mexico and the rest of Latin America. 

• Work toward overall fluency in the language.

• Review and master the following grammatical structures:

• The present subjunctive

• The past subjunctive

• The contrasting of indicative

• The infinitive and subjunctive modes

• The use of exclamatory expressions such as ojalá , como si

• The use of the conditional

• Relative pronouns

• Expressions of time

• Expressions of doubt and condition

• Indefinite pronouns and adjectives

• Various idiomatic expressions

Course Requirements (100% = 100 points)

Students will be given a weekly class schedule complete with assignment deadlines on the first day of class.

Please note:  Students must achieve a minimum grade of 2.0 in order to receive a PASS if they take the course on a Pass/No Credit basis.  In order to fulfill the Speaking Skill requirement at Augsburg College, students must receive at least a 2.5 on all oral presentations & earn at least a 2.0 in the course.

Grading Criteria for Class Participation

• Students are allowed no more than two unexcused absences, and two points will be deducted per unexcused absence. 

• Full participation involves speaking only Spanish in class, completing assignments on time, coming to class prepared and on time, participating in all class activities with enthusiasm and interest, collaboration with the instructor and other students (as applicable), and demonstrated effort at improving Spanish abilities.

Grading Criteria for Oral Presentations

• Structure:  Introduction; organization, sequence, and development of ideas; and conclusion

• Content:  Clarity and complexity of ideas

• Grammar:  Correct use of complex forms studied in class

• Style:  Effective use of appropriate style for given assignment (descriptive, narrative, argumentative, or expository, etc.)

• Oral Expression:  Pronunciation; articulation; volume; and tone

• Written Outline:  Organization of ideas and main points

Oral presentations are not considered complete (and will be graded down significantly) if they are not accompanied by an outline.  

Note about Portfolios:  You must prepare a portfolio of all your work from this course and present it to your instructor in order to receive a final grade.  In the case of Augsburg students, CGE staff will send a copy of the portfolio to Spanish Department chair.  The portfolio should include: 

1.  Oral Presentations (At least 6)

     a.  An outline of each of your oral presentations

     b.  A written evaluation of each oral presentation by the course instructor (with the grade)

2.  Any other documents that demonstrate your achievement of the course objectives.