Spanish: Elementary Spanish II

Continuation of SPAN 1100. The fundamentals of Spanish grammar through composition, comprehension, pronunciation, speaking, reading, and writing in a cultural context. Classes are conducted in Spanish and students engage in active use of the language. Cannot be taken for credit after SPAN 2100. Prerequisite: SPAN 1100 or equivalent.

Prereq: SPAN 1100 or equivalent; Async w/ at least 1 weekly group Teams meeting w/prof

SPAN 1200 is the second course in a two-semester sequence of beginning Spanish. It is designed for students who have successfully completed SPAN 1100 at the University of Vermont, as well as students with previous experience in Spanish who have scored the requisite number of points in the UVM placement test. The course emphasizes all four major language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to use their newly acquired skills in order to communicate in Spanish in a realistic and culturally appropriate manner. All classes are conducted in Spanish. The University of Vermont respects the Department of Education’s definition of a credit hour: for every hour spent in a classroom, a student is expected to complete approximately 2 hours of coursework outside of it. Thus, in SPAN 1200, a 4-credit course, a student should expect to work about 8 hours a week outside of the classroom during our Summer courses.

Course Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, the student: • will be able to engage in simple conversation on familiar topics necessary for survival in the target language culture; he or she will be able to give personal information, state a simple opinion, talk about a limited number of activities, preferences, and immediate needs. • will be able to understand predictable messages found in public spaces. • will be able to express past actions and future events. • will be sensitive to and respectful of cultural differences. • will be able to write simply about common, discrete elements of daily life in a personal manner. • will be able to recognize key words and cognates while engaging in the reading of non-complex texts (literary or other) in the target language, and derive relevant information from them. •will have broadened his/her general cultural knowledge of the Spanish-speaking communities and countries of the world today.

Module 1 20% • Synchronous Class Participation (2%) • Quiz (3%) • VHL (5%) • Speaking VHL (5%) • Discussion board (5%) Module 2 20% • Synchronous Class Participation (2%) • Quiz (3%) • Informe 1 (5%) • VHL (5%) • Speaking VHL (3%) • Discussion board (2%) Module 3 20% • Synchronous Class Participation (2%) • Quiz (3%) • VHL (5%) • Informe 2 (5%) • Speaking VHL (3%) • Discussion board (2%) Module 4 20% • Synchronous Class Participation (2%) • Quiz (3%) • VHL (5%) • Informe 3 (5%) • Speaking VHL (3%) • Discussion board (2%) Final speaking assessment: 10% Final Exam (Examen Final): 10% Total 100% How to Succeed in this Course Synchronous Class Participation (8%) Each module requires one hour of synchronous class participation, in effect a ¨virtual class¨ with the instructor. Please book your meeting in advance according to our scheduled day on the calendar. If you have some difficulties during those times, please let me know as soon as possible and we can reschedule the time. Language learning is social and involves communicating with other human beings, both in speaking and writing. Since ¨class time¨ is at a premium in an online course, we will not spend our virtual classes discussing grammar or answering questions in English but rather communicating with each other in Spanish. It’s important for you to watch the instructional videos and complete the vhlcentral exercises before your virtual class. If you have questions about the material in the chapter, please send me an email and we will schedule an office-hour session using MS Teams. If various students have similar questions, I will prepare and post another instructional video for the class. For each ¨virtual class¨ I will assess student participation according to a three-point scale: 3 (100%), 2 (66.6%), 1 (33.3%). The rubric for ¨virtual class¨ evaluation is posted to Brightspace. A skipped module is 0%. Online Homework (VHL): 20% Your textbook is accompanied by an online workbook. By completing these activities, you can reinforce what you practice in class and receive immediate feedback. These online activities will be due according to every module and you can use the assignment calendar on VHL tool. It is important to follow the assignments based on VHL calendar, because we need to cover seven chapters in SPAN1200, but we have created just four modules based on grammar topics. Informes (15%): An Informe will summarize your grammar and improve your writing related to cultural topics that we have per chapter. Quizzes (4): 12% During the semester, you will have four quizzes, which cover grammar topics per module. These usually comprise grammar topics, like: Double Object Pronouns; Preterite and Imperfect; Subjunctive; and Commands. Chapters and materials are organized to help you consolidate information as we move through the semester. Speaking: 14% For every speaking you need to create 2-minute video, where you can show off the cultural awareness of Hispanic countries taking information from exercises that you have from the supersite, Portales 2.0. Those oral activities will prepare you for the final speaking assessment with your professor, please do not be afraid to share your cultural perspectives with your classmates on Bs and do not read from a script, that would lower your grade. According to ACTFL guidelines, students should be able to demonstrate proficiency in interpretive, presentational and interpersonal communication contexts. For this reason, each oral activity will focus on having you demonstrate proficiency in each of these communication contexts. Discussion boards (4): 11% Every module will have discusiones on the Brightspace. The title of each discusión is referenced in the list of module activities, and the instructions for participation are described in detail on each forum. Except for the very first forum, all discussion posts are to be written entirely in Spanish. In general students must respond to at least 5 other students´ posts on the forum, and the profesora. Since most forum instructions include asking some questions at the end of the post, a response can include answering the first student´s questions, then putting in some personal comments (such as ¡Qué interesante! ¡Jaja, qué cómico! Estoy de acuerdo. ¡Me gustan tus ideas! etc.) The rubric for Discussion Board responses is posted on Brightspace. As you will see, enthusiasm, thoroughness and authentic communication are the basis for the grade. Errors don´t affect your grade. I encourage you to write as correctly and clearly as you can with what you have learned, because it will be good for your learning. After most students have posted I will release a general comment on student errors and how to correct them. Readings, Listenings and reflections 12% During the semester you will have some reading and reflection exercises about cultural topics and you will receive the instructions and the rubrics according to the chapters that you will be working on. Final Exam: 10% This is a summative exam from chapters 7-14 of Portales 2.0. Final Speaking assessment: 10% This is a 10-minute conversation with your professor based on the module that you have submitted.