Professor Information:
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Professor Name:
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Dr. Mario Bahena
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Office:
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HUM 127
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Office Phone:
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704-378-3586
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Email:
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mbahena@jcsu.edu
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Office Hours:
M 2:00-3:00
W F 12:00-1:0 PM
TTH 12:00 -1:30
or by appointment
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If you can’t make it during these hours,
sent me an email to meet other convenient times.
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Course Information:
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Course
Number/Section
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SPA 131
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Course
Title
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Elementary Spanish I
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Semester/Year
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FALL 2011
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Class
Location
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HUM 112
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Days
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MWF
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Time
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1
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YOUR VISTAS SUPERSITE CODE:_________________________
This
syllabus is contract between the student and the professor. By staying in the
class, the student agrees to be evaluated by the syllabus’ stipulations.
Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites and/or Other
Restrictions:
None
Course Description:
SPANISH
131 or Elementary Spanish I is a three credit hour course. This is an
introductory course in the fundamental communicative skills of listening,
speaking, reading and writing. It is an interactive classroom approach that
emphasizes the application of language to concrete situations through the use
of essential vocabulary and structures.
It is also an introduction to the appreciation of Hispanic culture.
Methods of Teaching:
A variety of methods will be utilized; however a communicative approach
to the target language and culture will be emphasized overall. The following
activities will be employed throughout the semester:
1. Contextualized oral explanations sometimes
using the blackboard.
2. Reading
3. Watching Videos
4. Oral Drills
5. Role-Playing
6. Group work and discussions
7. Educational Games
8. Projects/Presentations
Student Learning Objectives/Program Outcomes:
(1) The main goal
of this course is to help students establish a basic communication in the
target language, to be able to understand and be understood in the target
language at the Novice Level according to the ACTFL Standards.
(2) This course
will help the student to understand written and spoken expressions using basic
grammatical structures at the Novice Level.
(3) The purpose of
this course is to bring the student to the Novice Level of oral proficiency,
where they may begin to communicate using memorized material and get by in
survival situations.
(4) Spanish 131 is
designed to develop the necessary communicative skills, such as lis tening,
speaking, writing, and reading as well as an understanding of the target
culture and its' people.
(5) This course
along with Spanish 132 will satisfy the
University’s Liberal Studies foreign
language requirement.
(6) This course
will also provide students the opportunity to be exposed to various aspects
of Hispanic
culture, as it is portrayed in movies, music, painting, literature, food, etc.
Student will
be able to:
1). Demonstrate knowledge about society, diversity, the world, and
related
responsibilities. (Liberal Studies Goal)
2). Demonstrate the ability to apply practical skills in critical
thinking, reading, writing,
speaking , quantitative
reasoning, and information technology. (Liberal Studies Goal)
3). Engage in active and collaborative learning. (QEP Goal)
4). Engage in critical thinking activities. (QEP Goal)
Required Textbooks and Materials:
(1). VISTAS: Introducción a la lengua Española. Fourth Edition. 2011. J.A. Blanco, P.R. Donley. Vista Higher
Learning
Learning. ISBN: 978-1-61767-058-9
(2) Vista Supersite Access Code
The textbook and codes are
available at the bookstore and online at: http://www.vhldirect.com
Suggested Course/Resource Materials:
Spanish-English/English-Spanish Dictionary, computers, materials needed
for projects or presentations, World Wide Web pages, hands-outs, newspapers,
journals, videos, music, etc.
Assignments & Academic Calendar:
See
Appendix B
Professor’s Grading Policy:
100 – 90 pts. = A 69-60pts. = D
89 – 80 pts. = B 59-50pts. = F
79 – 70
pts. = C
IX. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Class attendance is required for all JCSU students. You are allowed as
many hours of absence per term, as the total number of credit hours you receive
for this course: 3.This policy does not apply to internships and student
teaching. You are expected to attend all classes and not be absent except for
under extenuating circumstances. This must be indicated by obtaining the
necessary documentation from the Office of Student Affairs. Each unexcused absence beyond the 3
hours will be penalized. Your grade will be dropped one letter grade for
additional unexcused absences. No exceptions!
X. Procedures:
A. It is mandatory for each student to come to class on time and bring
their VISTAS textbook. Students without
these texts are not allowed in class. Keep this in mind!
B. It is your
responsibility to make up all homework you missed due to your excused absences. Make-up work for unexcused absences will not be accepted.
You are required to have two or three e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers of
classmates in order to ask them about the class and assigned homework you
missed.
C. If you already have three absences and suddenly get ill; in order to
not be penalized, you must call the Office
of Students Affairs ext. 1040, and
get the necessary documentation in order to prove you were under medical
treatment.
D. If you exceed the maximum number of 3 absences, without the prior requirement, your grade will drop a letter grade.
E. You are allowed to make up tests or quizzes you missed, only if you
provide a documented excuse from Student Affairs. However, it is your
responsibility to come to the professor during Office Hours.
F. Tardiness: Please try
not to arrive to class more than 10 minutes late or leave the class
more than 10 minutes early (without prior approval from the
Professor). Three unexcused
tardies or days leaving class early count for one absence!
G. Dress
Professionally. This means
no headgear or other inappropriate clothing that will cause unnecessary
attention to one.
H. Electronics. All cell
phones must be turned off during class! No text messaging! Students are not allowed to leave the
classroom to answer phone calls. Please leave all personal entertainment
systems at home or make sure they are turned off and put away where they are
not seen during class.
1. Cell phones
must be placed in bags and turned-off once class has begun. Students who engage in text messaging (or
leaving class extended moments to answer phone calls) during class will be
asked to leave and/or will receive an absence for the class day.
2. Cell phones,
two-way pagers or any electronic communication device must be left in an
inconspicuous place (preferably in school bags, pockets, or on my desk) during
exams. Students who communicate on these
devices during quizzes, exams, or class presentations will receive an F for a
grade.
3. Please inform
me of dire emergencies before class
I. Laptop policy:
Laptops will only be
permitted during specific classes. The professor will let you know when to
bring the laptop for class. Otherwise refrain from using the laptop during
class.
J. Expected that the students will:
Bring book and paper to
EVERY class
No sleeping in class
Not play games when we
use laptops for classroom work
K. Food and Drinks. Not permitted in class. (Bottled water only)
Students may
be asked to leave class if they fail to comply with any of these rules!
XI. DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Academic excellence demands that students maintain appropriate behavior
at all times on Campus, and most importantly in the classroom. Johnson C. Smith University will not tolerate
disruptive behavior by students or condone any behavior by students or professors,
which incites such behavior. Disruptive behavior is defined here as any
behavior which causes disorder or turmoil to exist in the classroom. See JCSU
Student Handbook, p. 113. You are all young adults and will be considered
as such in this classroom, unless your behavior indicates otherwise. In other
words, be respectful, do not speak while the professor is speaking, clean up
after yourselves and remember to treat others as you want to be treated.
XII. JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY HONOR
CODE
The following University Honor Code is enforced by the Office of
Academic Affairs and the University Judiciary Board:
“I pledge that this work is my own and I will not
cheat, or represent the words,
ideas, or project of others as my own. I further
pledge that I will not engage in
academic dishonesty, which includes lying, stealing
or assisting others in
misrepresenting their work. As a member of the
student body at Johnson C.
Smith, I also pledge to report all violations of
the Honor Code that I observe
in others, I understand that violations of the
Honor Code are subject to
disciplinary procedures by the University.”
XIII. EVALUATION
Assessment: Assessment and
testing procedures will be representative of the type of language
instruction offered through
classroom activities. You will be evaluated based on your achievement of
the program and course objectives
and the following components:
Components
Percentage:
Participation
& Classwork = 15%
Homework:
Chapter, 1, 2, 3 and 4 =
40%
Exams (Midterm
10%/Final 15%) =
25%
Exams (Chapter
5 and 7) = 10%
Oral Projects (Personal
and Group) = 10%
TOTAL =100%
Participation
& Class work
Every three weeks, throughout
this course, you will get a chance to “self-assess” your participation.
Your participation involves a number of variables, including, but not
limited to the following:
• Your use of
Spanish in the classroom
-greeting people and taking leave
using Spanish
-using Spanish during class (i.e.
with instructor and in small groups), when asking and
responding to questions related
(or not related) to the material at hand, when engaged in
casual conversation with
classmates or instructor…
• Your
willingness to participate in all class activities
• Your
cooperation during group- and pair-work
• Your respect
and attitude toward the class and toward your peers
Please note: your instructor reserves the
right to raise or lower your self-assessed participation grade if he/she feels
that it does not adequately reflect your level of participation.
Online Student
Activities Manual
Make sure you plan ahead of time
to complete all your assignments on time and prevent that technological mishaps
compromise your grade. This is a Requirement of this course and No
exceptions will be made!
Exams
There will be two cumulative
written Chapter Exams assessing your comprehension of the material
discussed in class and covered on the Supersite. They will cover all material
previously handled, but will focus on the most recent chapter. No make-up
test or quizzes will be given without a documented excuse. Documentation must
be presented within 48 hours of an absence in order for an exam to be made up.
Exams are not curved.
A midterm and final exam will be given to
assess student’s knowledge of the material learned throughout the
semester. The midterm exam will cover
chapters 1-2 and the final exam will cover everything learned from chapters 1-4.
CAVEAT: Extenuating circumstances
may require changes in part of this syllabus, especially in the course
calendar, which will be determined by the needs of the class.
JCSU
Standard Procedures/Policies:
All information below can be found in your Academic Catalog
and are reiterated here to ensure additional understanding and compliance. While each course has its specific rules as
listed in your Syllabus provided by your Professor, both standards are to be
adhered to for success while matriculating at Johnson C. Smith University.
Attendance
Class attendance is required for all JCSU students. Each student is allowed as many hours of
absence per term as credit hour(s) received (not to exceed 4) for the class. The policy does not apply to internships and
student teaching. Attendance policies
for these classes will be determined by the offering department. A student is expected to attend all classes
and not be absent without adequate cause.
It is the responsibility of the student to make up scheduled work missed
because of class absences. Absence from
unannounced tests and other assignments may be made up at the discretion of the
Instructor. Students who exceed the
maximum number of absences may receive a failing grade for the course.
Instructors are expected to explain the attendance
requirements at the beginning of the semester and to include these requirements
in the course syllabus issued to the students.
Instructors are required to maintain accurate attendance records on all
students and, if requested, to report to the Vice President of Academic Affairs
the student who exceeds the number of absences allowed in that class according
to the University’s Class Attendance Policy.
Grading
Scale
The University’s grading symbols are:
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Grade
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Score
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Status
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Points Acquired
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A
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90-100
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Excellent
|
4
|
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B
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80-89
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Good
|
3
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C
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70-79
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Fair
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2
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D
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60-69
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Poor
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1
|
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F
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59
& below
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Failed
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0
|
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I
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Incomplete
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0
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P
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Pass
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0
|
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W
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Withdrawn
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0
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Grade
Appeal System
A student may appeal the final grade received in a
course. The student must initiate with
the instructor involved the grade appeal process to determine if there has been
an error or some misunderstanding about the quality of the work in the course. If this discussion does not prove satisfactory,
the student may take the matter to the department chair and subsequently to the
Dean of the College. If it is not
resolved, a grade appeal must be initiated within 30 days after the beginning
of the next semester after the one in which the final grade in question was
received; otherwise, the grade in question will stand. The University will resolve any adequately
filed formal written appeal within 30 days.
Incomplete
Grade Policy
The University reserves the right to have decisions
regarding grading and promotion made by the exercise of the sound discretion of
the University faculty. Students receive
a final grade or a grade of Incomplete (I) in each course.
If a faculty member has made an error in assigning the final
grade, the faculty member may initiate a “Change of Grade” form with the
appropriate documentation.
If a student received and Incomplete, the “I” may be removed
upon completion of the incomplete work. Incomplete work must be made up within the
first six weeks of the following semester in which the student enrolls for
courses at JCSU.
Copyright
Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United
States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of
copyrighted materials, including music and software. Copying, displaying, reproducing or
distributing copyrighted works my infringe the copyright owner’s rights and
such infringement is subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as
criminal penalties provided by federal law.
Usage of such material is only appropriate when that usage constitutes
“fair use” under the Copyright Act.
Withdrawal
Process
Students may officially withdraw from the University up to
the last day designated on the University calendar to drop classes. Before initiating the withdrawal process,
students should consult their advisor to discuss the reason(s) for the
withdrawal and to develop a plan for the completion of the degree.
To withdraw from the University, a student must obtain a
withdrawal form from the Office of Financial Aid or download one from the JCSU
Web site (www.jcsu.edu.)
The student should complete the form and take it to the Office of Financial Aid
where a representative of the Financial Office will sign the form and send a copy
of the completed withdrawal to the Office of the Registrar, where the form will
be placed in the student’s permanent record.
Failure to properly withdraw from the University will result in a grade
of “F” for all courses for which the
student enrolled that semester.
Student
Grievance Procedures
Procedures for student grievances are found on page 344 in
the JCSU Academic Catalog. In the event
of a grievance regarding and Academic issue, the aggrieved student must
initiate the process.
·
This requires brining the grievance to
the person against whom it is being made, such as instructor, staff person or
administrator. If the grievance is
resolved at this time, no further action is needed but both student and
respondent should keep a record of the complaint with copies forwarded to the
Council of Deans Office and Academic Affairs.
·
If the grievance is not resolved, the
student is entitled to bring the concern to the supervisor of the person
against whom the complaint is being made, such as a Department Chair. If the grievance is resolved with the person,
no further action is needed but student and both respondents should keep a
record and the person against whom the complaint was made should be informed of
the resolution with copies forwarded to the Council of Deans and Academic
Affairs.
·
If the grievance is not resolved, the
same procedure moves up the leadership chain, such as to the College Dean,
Council of Deans, then to the President of the University. A determination by the Office of the President
is final.
Student
Conduct & Discipline
Academic exce3llence demands that appropriate behavior and
decorum be maintained by students at all times in the classroom. JCSU will not tolerate disruptive behavior by
students or condone any behavior by students or teachers which incites such
behavior. Disrupting behavior is defined
here as any behavior which causes disorder or turmoil to exist in the
classroom.
When the student is judged to have engaged in disruptive
behavior, the instructor shall initiate the following procedures:
1.
The instructor will request the student
to discontinue the disruptive action
2.
If the student continues, the
instructor will instruct the student to leave the classroom. Security will be called to remove the student
if he or she does not leave as requested.
3.
An incident report will then be
completed by the instructor and filed with the Vice President of Academic
Affairs. Copies will be sent to the
student, advisor, Office of Enrollment Services and Student Success and the
Office of Freshman through Senior Year Experience.
4.
After the completion of an incident
report, including the student’s comments, the student must secure the written
permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs in order to return to
class. The student will be held
responsible for all absences incurred between the time of suspension from class
and their return.
5.
Any recurrence of disruptive behavior
on the part of the student cited will result in expulsion from the class and a
grade of “F” recorded in the semester in which the offense occurred.
University
Honor Code
The University Honor Code is enforced by the Office of
Academic Affairs and the University Judiciary Board. The Honor Code states:
I
pledge that this work is my own and I will not cheat, or represent the words,
ideas, or projects of others as my own.
I further pledge that I will not engage in academic dishonesty, which
includes lying, stealing or assisting others in misrepresenting their work. As a member of the student body of Johnson C.
Smith University, I also pledge to report all violations of the Honor Code that
I observe in others. I understand that
violations of the Honor Code are subject to disciplinary procedures by the
University.
Student
Disability Policy
Johnson
C. Smith University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities
for all students and assisting students in making their college experiences
successful and positive. The Disability
Services program serves the special needs of students with disabilities. Individuals requesting service should provide
documentation of their disability from their physician or other professional.
The information should be forwarded to the Disabilities Services Office.
Students
are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the disabilities Services Coordinator
and the Coordinator of Health Services.
Definition
Johnson
C. Smith University defines disabilities in the following manner: A disabled
person is anyone who:
1. Has
a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such
person’s major life activities;
2. Had
a record of such impairment; or
3. Is
regarded as having such impairment.
The
term physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to speech,
hearing, visual or orthopedic impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular
dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer diabetes, mental retardation, emotional
illness and specific learning disabilities, such as perceptual handicaps, brain
injury, dyslexia, minimal brain dysfunction and developmental disorder or
aphasia.