Syllabus for SPA 316:  Conversations in Cultural Context

 

Prerequisite: SPA 212 or equivalent, or score at minimum of 311 level on computerized placement exam. *This course counts toward the major or minor in Spanish at Augsburg College.

 

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 about 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 demonstrated 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

 

Required Text and Other Materials

1.  Kiddle, Mary Ellen Wegmann, Brenda and Chreffler, Sandra. Perspectivas, Septima Edición. By. Heinle, 2002. ISBN 0030339588.    PRIVATE HREF="http://www.heinle.com/" MACROBUTTON HtmlResAnchor www.heinle.com

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

3.  Spanish/English dictionary

* = Highly recommended but not required

 

We have a few used copies of these Spanish books in Cuernavaca. If you want to purchase a used copy, please email Julie Rogers at JulieCGE@gmail.com  immediately to find out if the books you want are available and to reserve one. These books can also be ordered through your local bookstore or over the Internet. Books from Heinle publishers can be directly ordered from them at  www.heinle.com.  Be sure to place your order six weeks in advance.

 

Latin American Films Viewed May Include

1.  Nosotros los Pobres                      6.  El Crimen de Padre Amaro            

2.  Ustedes los Ricos                          7.  La Ley de Heródes 

3.  Cantinflas: el Barandero                8.  Amar Te Duele

4.  Fresa y Chocolate                         9.  Por la Libre

5.  La Historia Oficial                         10.  Cilantro y Perejil

 

Learning Objectives

Students will: 

1. Increase their proficiency in speaking and understanding Spanish.

2. Expand their vocabulary.

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

4. Work toward overall fluency in the language.

5. 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)

15%      (15 points)     Active class participation. Class participation includes punctuality, presence in class, active engagement in class sessions, and completion of all assignments and required readings or listening assignments on time. (See grading criteria listed below.)

20%      (20 points)     Four Quizzes on vocabulary; five points per quiz.

45%      (45 points)     Three Oral Presentations; 15 points per presentation. Oral presentations are not considered complete (and will be graded down significantly) if they are not accompanied by an outline. Students may not read a written presentation. Instead, they should use a written outline, which they must give to the instructor at the end of the presentation.

20%      (20 points)     Independent Research Project/Final Oral Presentation. Students may choose any topic of interest in contemporary Latin American society and then conduct research at a local library and present their findings in their final oral presentation, accompanied by a bibliography and list of citations.

 

Grading Criteria for Class Participation

• 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, collaborating with the instructor and other students (as applicable), and demonstrating effort at improving Spanish abilities. Because all Universal classes seek to assist the students in becoming conversational in Spanish, class participation is extremely important.

• Students must be punctual. One-half of a point will be deducted each time you are more than 5 minutes late to class. Two points will be deducted per unexcused absence.  Excused absences are for religious holidays, emergencies, and illness when the student has called the Universal Spanish director Irma Salazar (318-2904) and asked her to advise the instructor of her or his absence prior to the start of class and later documented with a doctor's note.

• You may miss one class during the entire course for a reason other than illness without being penalized if you clear this absence in advance with your teacher or the director (Irma Salazar) and if the reason for missing class is acceptable. Examples of an acceptable absence include the following: a visit from friends or family, an especially heavy workload in other courses at that moment or extenuating emotional circumstances. You may NOT miss class simply because your alarm clock didn't go off and you slept in!  For any UNEXCUSED absences in your Spanish classes, you will be docked two points per absence, regardless of your progress in the course.

• Students are responsible for talking with the instructor about what they missed in class, getting notes or handouts from other students, and for making up any assignments that were completed in class.

Weekly Assignment Schedule for SPA 316

	Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.
Week 1	1st day of class.		Quiz #1	Oral Presentation #1
Week 2		Quiz #2		Oral Presentation #2
Week 3		Quiz #3		Oral Presentation #3
Week 4		Quiz #4		Independent Research Project Oral Presentation.

 

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 Professor Susana Sandmann. 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.