SPAN 1312/.

001

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING SEMESTER, 2006

SCHOOL: Arts and Humanities

COURSE TITLE: Beginning Spanish

COURSE NUMBER: SPAN 1312.001

CREDIT HOURS: 3

COURSE HOURS: Days: M., W., F.

Time: 10:00- 10:50 AM

INSTRUCTOR: Marina Delgado

OFFICE HOURS: Days: M., W., F.

Time: 11:00- 11;30 AM

REQUIRED TEXTS:

-Brown, Margaret C. and Kathleen C. Moore, Spanish for Life, Boston: Heinle
and Heinle, 2000. CD-ROM (for Windows and Macintosh): Domínguez, Frank
A., James S. Noblitt and Willem J.A.
-Atajo: Writing Assistant for Spanish (packaged with Spanish for Life textbook) and a
60 minute Tape (also packaged with textbook).
-Andujar, Julio and Dixson, Robert, Workbook in Everyday Spanish, Prentice Hall,
2004

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to develop a balance and solid foundation of Spanish, utilizing
the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). The course will be
conducted largely in Spanish, giving importance to oral practice from the start with the
help of CD-ROM. . The students will also become acquainted with the Hispanic-speaking
world through its culture, civilization and literature while the everyday idiomatic Spanish
will also be emphasized.

There will be sufficient class practice and written work to fulfill the objectives of the
course by means of a CD-ROM package and Workbook.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. To develop sufficient linguistic skills in Spanish in order to communicate at an

elementary level upon completion of this course.
2. To gradually grow in all language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing).
3. To understand and appreciate the culture and the language of the Spanish-speaking
countries and their peoples.

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4. To strengthen the knowledge of grammatical concepts in general and increase
English vocabulary by comprehending and adopting words of Latin origin via
Spanish.
5. To widen the student’s intellectual perspectives, open avenues for new areas of
study and research applicable to other courses in the context of the School of Arts
and Humanities, and gain new perspectives of one’s own culture.
6. Lastly, to sharpen thinking analytical and problem solving skills.

COURSE EVALUATION:
Grading Scale
U.T. Dallas adopted the following grade scale for all undergraduate students effective
Fall 2000. Grades for courses completed prior to Fall 2000 accrue point values as shown
in the appropriate catalog.
Grading Description Grade Points Per Semester
Hour

A+ 4.00
A Excellent 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.50
B Good 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.50
C Fair 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.50
D Poor 1.00
D- 0.67
F Failure 0.00
X Incomplete
CR Credit
NC No Credit

A student may withdraw from a course before the final drop date listed in the Academic
Calendar in which case W will be entered on the student’s transcript.

Grade Point Average

Grade points are computed by multiplying the points for each grade by the number of
credit hours; for example, 4 (A) x 3 (hours) = 12 grade points.
A student’s grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of
grades points earned by the number of semester hours for which a grade other than X,
NC, or CR is received. Only grades earned at U.T. Dallas are used calculating the GPA.

Incomplete Grade (X)

A grade of Incomplete may be given, at the discretion of the instructor of record for a
course, when a student has completed at least 70% of the required course material but
cannot complete all requirements by the end of the semester. An Incomplete course
grade (grade of X) must be completed within the time period specified by the instructor,
not to exceed the last day of classes the following semester, excluding summer. Upon
completion of the required work, the symbol X may be converted into a letter grade (A
through F) by the instructor. If the grade of Incomplete is not removed by the end of the
specified period, it will automatically be changed to F. Extension beyond the one-
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semester limit can be made only with the permission of the instructor and the student’s
college master (or the Undergraduate Dean in the case of students without declared
majors). A student may not re-enroll in a course in which a grade of X remains.
Students may obtain a petition/documentation form for an Incomplete in the office of the
student’s college master. The form is to be submitted to the instructor from Whom the
Incomplete is sought. Students should be aware than an Incomplete is only appropriate
for work unavoidably missed at semester’s end. Students should contact their school
office for school policies on Incompletes.

PERCENTAGES*
-35% Attendance, class participation, performance and preparedness.
There will not be excused absences for any reason. In case of death in the family
or serious illness, written proofs will be required.
-65% Major tests (four) and other small tests (2).
*There will not be make-up tests for any reason.

PARTICIPATION GRADE- seventh factor*

To successfully complete this course, regular classroom attendance is imperative as
there are multiple skills to be mastered. Your grade includes attendance, arriving on time
and staying the entire period*; class preparation and preparedness. ATTENDANCE IS
RECORDED WHEN YOU SIGN THE ATTENDANCE SHEET AT THE BEGINNING OF
EACH CLASS ONLY. Students are expected to actively participate in Spanish during
communicative and written activities. *Students who come fifteen minutes late or leave
the class fifteen minutes earlier without any permission will get an absence mark

HOMEWORK
Students will be expected to do the exercises in their Workbook at home after almost
every class on the assigned pages*. Please bring the Workbook to the classes since we
will be working on it. Students will be expected to be working on the Workbook while the
class gets underway and ask questions at the beginning of each class. In other words,
the student has the responsibility for the Workbook. There will be a grade attached to
the completion of assignments on it. In addition, students will work on a journal* on
Fridays. *More of the journal the first day of class.

EXAM FORMAT: All tests will include the following elements:

1. Oral questions and/or dictations
2. Grammar sections.
3. Translation and vocabulary.
4. Comprehension sections on Culture readings.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Because learning a language is an active process, your presence and participation in
class is essential. Therefore, an attendance policy is severely adhered. See
percentages.*

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:
Given the nature of language learning acquisition, which is a slow process, I recommend
that you work on the assigned sections of your Workbook on a daily basis, reinforcing
the concepts taught in class. These exercises will also help students be prepared for
class.

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HELPFUL TIPS THAT MAY HELP YOU STUDY A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
***A foreign language MUST be study differently than academic subjects. Memorization,
everyday study and practice are needed ***
-Study several 15-20 minutes sessions. This works better than a continuous hour of
study per day.
-Use “Post-it” notes around your home, office, etc.
-Quiz yourself: * Write lists ENGLISH/SPANISH
* Cover the Spanish, look at the English and rewrite the Spanish. Then check yourself.
- Write flashcards
- Listen to RADIO KESS _”LA FABULOSA” 1270 AM
KHCK – ‘PURO LATINO’ 99.1 FM
KLNO ‘ESTEREO LATINO’ 94.1 FM
CARACOL RADIO- COLOMBIA

- Watch Univision cable/TV Channel 23

Telemundo KFWD Channel 52
Channel 25 in Dallas /Channel 14 in Denton
- Get magazines, newspapers videos in Spanish (Public Library)
- Look for involvement with the Hispanic Community in Dallas. You may be able to get
extra credit towards your final grade.
- Look for Spanish native speakers, learn from them!!!
- Campus Hispanic Association (CHISPA) meetings on campus.

SPRING SEMESTER 2006

SPAN – 1312 BEGINNING SPANISH – SEC. 001
M-W-F 10:00- 10:50 AM

CLASS PLAN
Spanish for Life= SFL
ENE M 9 Introducción – Capítulo preliminar, SFL, 2 I, II, III, IV
W 11 Capítulo 1, SFL, 16, I, II
F 13 Cap. I, III ,IV and Cap. I, A Ver Si Sabes – Vocabulario activo 34 –
37.
M 16 Martin Luther King Day – Holiday
W 18 Cap. 1, Repaso. Preguntas.
F 20 Capítulo 2. SFL, 38, I, II
M 23 Cap. 2, III, IV
W 25 Cap. 2, A Ver Si Sabes. Vocabulario activo, 56 – 59
F 27 Mas preparación para el examen.
M 30 Exam I, Preliminar Capítulos 1 y 2 en SFL
FEB W 1 Capítulo 3, SFL, 60, I
F 3 Cap. 3, I
M 6 Cap. 3, II

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 W 8 Cap. 3, III, IV
F 10 Cap. 3, A Ver Si Sabes, Vocabulario activo, 79 – 81
M 13 Capítulo 4, SFL, 82, I
W 15 Cap. 4, II
F 17 Cap. 4, III
M 20 Cap. 4, IV
W 22 Cap. 4, V
F 24 Cap. 4, A Ver Si Sabes, Vocabulario activo, 101-103
M 27 Examen II, Capítulo 3 y 4 en SFL
MA W 1 Capítulo 5, SFL, 104, I
F 3 Cap. 5, II
M 6 SPRING BREAK
W 8 SPRING BREAK
F 10 SPRING BREAK
M 13 Cap. 5, III4
W 15 Cap. 5, IV
F 17 Cap. 5, IV
M 20 Cap. 5, A Ver Si Sabes, Vocabulario activo 127-129
W 22 Cap. 6, SFL, 130, I, II
F 24 Cap. 6, III
M 27 Cap. 6, IV
W 29 Cap. 6, A Ver Si Sabes, Vocabulario activo 151-153
F 31 Preparatory Workshop
ABR M 3 Examen III, Capítulos 5 y 6 en SFL
W 5 Capítulo 7, SFL, 154, I – II
F 7 Cap. 7, III
M 10 Cap. 7, IV
W 12 Cap. 7, A Ver Si Sabes, Vocabulario activo 175-177
F 14 Capítulo 8, SFL, 178, I, II
M 17 Cap. 8, III
W 19 Cap. 8, IV
F 21 Preparatory Workshop
M 24 Cap. 8, A Ver Si Sabes, Vocabulario Activo, 198-201 (LAST DAY
OF CLASS)
F 28 Final Exam. Time: 8:00 AM (Same place- Capítulos 7 y 8 SFL
MAY F 5 Grades available on line http://www.utdallas.edu/SIS/