Spanish FLS 2202
Intermediate Spanish II
Fall 2013

Dr. Carlos Amaya                                                                                                                      Office: CH 1230
MTRF 12-12:50                                                                                                                        Coleman 1120
e-mail: ccamaya@eiu.edu                                                                                                            581-5217

Textbooks:
Blanco, José A. and María Colbert.  Enfoques: Curso intermedio de lengua española.  3 ed.  Boston: Vista, 2008.

Enfoques Web-SAM Online Student Activities Manual MAESTRO   If you took FLS 2201 last semester at EIU and used the Web-SAM, your passcode is still valid for this semester. 

Description and pre-requisites.  2202 is the second semester of intermediate Spanish.  The course includes a review of grammar, and practice in conversation, writing and reading. The pre-requisites to this class are FLS 1101, 1102, and 2201 OR 3-4 years of high-school Spanish OR permission of the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages. 

The Enfoquestexts, while providing an extensive grammar review, are NOT strictly grammar-driven approaches to language learning.  Rather, they weave together content language learning and interactive tasks in which information is exchanged.  We will strive to center the class on the standards developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, also known as “the five C’s:”
(see http://www.actfl.org/files/public/StandardsforFLLexecsumm_rev.pdf)

• Communication, both oral and written
• Cultures, as cultural and linguistic proficiency go hand-in-hand
• Connections to other disciplines
• Comparisons to other languages and cultures, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of language itself and of culture itself
• Communities in which Spanish is used

All of the grammar explanations in your textbook are in English.  I will use mainly Spanish in the classroom.  If you don’t hear Spanish in your Spanish class, where else will you hear it?  I expect you to use mainly Spanish in the classroom.  If you don’t speak Spanish in your Spanish class, where else will you get the chance to practice what you are learning?  By using mainly Spanish in class, you will get the most benefit out of your time in the classroom.

Attention Honors Students: By completing slightly different course components, you may take this class for honors credit under special arrangements from the Honors College and the Department of Foreign Languages.  Please see me or the department chair for details.  If you choose to register for the class for honors, you must tell me of your decision by Thursday of the second week of class (August 29) in order to do the paperwork.

Students with Disabilities: “Appropriate academic support is available for students with a documented disability.  Please notify the instructor and contact the Office of Disability Services (581-6583) for further information.”

Grade components 
exams (5 @ 7% each)                            35%
final exam                                               7%
quizzes and graded in-class activities       7%
oral exams (3 @ 5% each)                     15%
composition                                            7%
homework—web-SAM                         12%
homework—textbook                              7%
participation                                           10%

Grading Scale
A = 90-100           B = 80-89              C =70-79               D = 60-69             F = 0-59

Exams and quizzes:  There will be a test over each chapter (lección) in the text.  You will also take several quizzes throughout the semester.  Quizzes are usually brief (10-15 minutes) and may be announced or unannounced (“pop”).  We may also do written activities together during class that will count in the same grading component as quiz grades (“graded in-class activities”).

Oral exams: The format of oral exams will be comparable to that of the group activities we do in class every day.  I will provide you with more detailed information closer to exam dates.

Composition: You will write one 500-word composition (about 2 pages) over the course of the semester.  I will only grade final compositions for those who have turned in a draft written in class or, in the case of an excused absence, in my office.  I will provide you with more detailed information closer to the due date via e-mail attachments.

Homework—“Web-SAM”:  Daily practice and study are the keys to success in a language course.  Every day in class, you will learn something new that builds on what you already know.  The amount of new material is small, but it assumes you have mastered the material from the day before.  For this reason, you have a homework assignment from the online Student Activities Manual (web-SAM) for every day we cover grammar in class.  The web-SAM is a site on the internet that has practice activities that go with our text, and it takes the place of a traditional paper workbook that students have been required to purchase in the past.  The Enfoques website will allow you to do web-SAM activities for any Lección up through 11:59 pm on the day before the exam for that Lección.  As with any university course, expect to spend 2 hours each night before class on homework and studying.  Homework assignments from the web-SAM are worth 12% of your final grade. 

If you did not use the web-SAM last semester, you may purchase a passcode at the bookstore at the Union and redeem it on the textbook´s website (http://enfoques.vhlcentral.com/).  Textbook Rental has approved this required purchase.  I will give you information via e-mail and in class about how to redeem your passcode and place yourself in the right section of our class.  If you purchased a web-SAM passcode last semester, do not purchase another one!   Your passcode from last semester is still valid this semester.  You will just need to place yourself in our class.

Homework—Textbook:Additionally, I will randomly collect activities from the textbook listed on the syllabus on unannounced days to make sure everyone is keeping up and looking at the material before coming to class.  These assignments are worth 7% of your course grade.  Since you do not know the days I will ask for homework from the textbook, you must complete all assignments neatly on your own paper.  Please do not submit assignments from the paper textbook using the Enfoques supersite.  I can only grade homework from the paper textbook that has been written out on paper and turned in during class.  There are no make-ups for randomly collected homework assignments from the textbook.

Class participation and preparation: Because language students must be active and engaged in class in order to succeed, you will be doing many activities in class in which you interact with your classmates to practice what we have learned.  When a student comes to class unprepared, s/he is often unable to participate fully in these group activities and pulls down the quality of the interactions, keeping her/his classmates from achieving the goals of the activities.  You will evaluate your own participation weekly using a rubric that I will give you.  I will change your participation grade only if I disagree with your own evaluation.

Participation in class includes:

• coming to class with your homework completed
• volunteering in class discussions (If I have to call on you, you’re not volunteering!)
• asking and responding to questions
• speaking frequently and in Spanish
• playing a pivotal role in completing group tasks. 

Activities that negatively affect your participation grade include:

• coming to class without your homework
• using English frequently or speaking infrequently
• failing to contribute to class discussions or sitting passively during group work
• arriving late, “popping out” during class, absence from class
• failing to turn off your cell phone ringer before class, texting during class 

Class Policies
Policy concerning late assignments and “make-ups”: Homework is due during class when I request it (not after class and not in my office or mailbox).  Unless you make prior arrangements with me, no late homework or composition assignments will be accepted without written, verifiable documentation from a medical professional (usually, a note from the health center saying that you were too sick to come to class.)  Also, make-ups of quizzes and exams given after the class has taken them will NOT be given except in extreme cases (verifiable illness, hospitalization, injury accident etc.) and only with documentation.  Your medical clinic may ask you to sign a letter of permission for the release of limited information (just the date you were seen by a medical professional) in order to verify your documentation to me.  Unexcused absences from any activity will incur a grade of zero (0) and may not be made up.  The last day of class (April 26th) is the very last day I will accept documentation for excused absences, late work, or make-up work. 

Policy concerning attendance: For each unexcused absence over two, 1% will be deducted from your final course grade.  Every three late arrivals will count as one absence.  I will excuse an absence in the case of a severe medical problem or death of a close family member.  In both cases, I require verifiable documentation.  Notes from medical clinics must indicate not only that you were there, but that you were too sick to attend class.  In the case of excessive excused absences, I may require additional written work to make up the lost class time.

Policy concerning cell phones:  Leaving your cell phone stowed away during class is a sign of your maturity and integrity.  Please turn off your cell phone ringer before you enter the classroom and leave your phone stowed during class.  If many cell phones on “manner mode” go off simultaneously, there may be a message from the University’s emergency notification system.  Only in this case is it appropriate to check phones.  Having a cell phone out during an exam for any reason is strictly prohibited, and I will treat it as a case of academic misconduct.  If you believe you have exceptional circumstances (small children, a very ill relative etc.), please let me know. 

Academic misconduct:  As stated in the EIU undergraduate catalogue, “it is assumed that students will honor the tradition of academic honesty”.  All work submitted for a grade, including homework and web-SAM activities, must be your own.  The following are just some examples of academic dishonesty (cheating):  copying work (including homework, exams, and compositions) from someone else; letting someone else copy your work; and using an on-line, electronic or live translator.  Don’t do any of these!  Show your integrity and do your work yourself.  Any suspected breach of academic honesty will be dealt with according to the provisions outlined in the Student Conduct Code (the usual penalty is an “F” for the course grade).

Tutoring: During most hours that the language lab is open, there is a tutor available for you to consult when you are having problems (in addition to seeing me in office hours).  This is a fabulous opportunity, unavailable at most universities—check the schedule on the language lab door (Coleman 1150) and take advantage of this extra help!

E-mail communication: Please check your Eastern e-mail account (Panthermail) daily.  I use e-mail to send you important information on policies, exams (such as your study guides and review exercises) and other assignments (such as composition topics and instructions for oral exams).  These will be considered addendums to the syllabus.

 Schedule

Changes to homework assignments or material covered will be announced in class or by e-mail.

noviembre 25-29 No hay clase.  ¡Comamos pavo!

Friday, November 22nd is the last day I will accept any documentation for absences, make-up work, or extra credit. 

 Tuesday, December 10 is the last day to submit web-SAM activities from Lección 11 at 11:00 pm.

Final exam:       
Wednesday, December 11, 12:30-2:30 in Coleman 1120

FLS 2292 (For those taking FLS2202 for honors credit)

Grade components for honors section 
exams (5 @ 5% each)                                     25%
final exam                                                             5%
quizzes and graded in-class activities       7%
oral exams (3 @ 4% each)                            12%
compositions (4 @ 5% each)                       20%
homework—web-SAM                                 13%
homework—textbook                                    8%
participation                                                       10%

In addition to the composition assigned to the whole class, you will chose three of the following topics to write three 450-600 word (1 ½-2 page) compositions, the first versions of which are due two class days after the corresponding exam (except for the essay on lesson 11).  You will then re-write the composition based on my comments over content, and then over grammar (so you may do 2-3 versions of each composition). 

The topics correspond to the essay questions on the exams.  On the lessons for which you choose to write an honors composition, you do NOT need to write the essay question on the exam for that lesson.  Your grade for those exams will be taken only from the other sections.

In general, the topics require analysis of a text or movie short (except for lección 6).  The essays should focus mainly on the text (or movie short), incorporating specific examples and quotes as evidence in the response.  The tone should be academic.

Tema sobre lección 6 (if chosen, due September 9)
¿Somos ecologistas?  ¿Cuánta conciencia tienen los estudiantes de Eastern del medio ambiente?  ¿Les preocupa mucho el cuidado del medio ambiente?  Describe los hábitos que tienen, o que no tienen, que demuestran la importancia que los estudiantes de EIU le dan a la conservación. 

Tema sobre lección 7 (if chosen, due September 26)
¿Bobo o no?  En clase, leímos un artículo de Arturo Pérez-Reverte, “Ese bobo del móvil.”  ¿Qué aspectos del uso del teléfono celular le molesta a Pérez-Reverte?  ¿Por qué crees que se molesta tanto por las personas que hablan por móvil en público?  ¿Estás de acuerdo con la crítica de Pérez-Reverte?  Responde su artículo, indicando si estás de acuerdo o no, y explica tus razones. 

Tema sobre lección 8 (if chosen, due October 15)
Un trabajo digno.  En el cortometraje “Clown,” Luisa le dice al payaso: “Pues, sí, estoy orgullosa de no tener que ganarme la vida humillando a la gente como haces tú.  No tengo nada, muy bien, pero tengo mi dignidad.”  Comenta.  (Por ejemplo, ¿es verdad que no tiene nada Luisa?  ¿cómo gana la vida Luisa?  ¿crees que en realidad ella tiene su “dignidad”? ¿qué revela esta cita de su carácter/personalidad?)    

Tema sobre lección 9 (if chosen, due November 1)
“Telenovela.”  Uno de los temas del poema “Telenovela” de Rosario Castellanos es el efecto de los anuncios publicitarios y de los publicistas en la sociedad.  Escriba una interpretación de las referencias a los anuncios publicitarios (comerciales) y los publicistas.  Puedes usar estas preguntas como guía: ¿Cuáles son las referencias específicas en el poema a los anuncios publicitarios y los publicistas?  ¿Cuál es la actitud de la poeta ante estos anuncios y las personas que los escriben?  El poema se escribió antes de 1974.  ¿Se puede aplicar lo que dice Castellanos sobre este tema a la sociedad de hoy? 

Tema sobre lección 10 (if chosen, due November 18)
Las odas de Pablos Neruda.  Discutimos en clase la colección de odas que escribió el poeta Pablo Neruda.  Discute cómo interpreta Neruda este género poético antiguo.  ¿En qué sentido son las odas de Neruda como las odas antiguas?  ¿Cómo son diferentes?   Describe la oda que leímos en clase, y explica por qué ejemplifica las odas de Neruda . 

Tema sobre lección 11 (due dates to be arranged—last version due no later than December 9)
Los conflictos.  Tal vez el tema principal de “Cirios” sea el del conflicto.  Escoja uno, dos o los tres conflictos de la lista y explique con sus propias palabras los varios conflictos que Agosín trata en el cuento.  Apoye su discusión con ejemplos tomados del cuento.

• el conflicto entre religiones y culturas distintas
• el conflicto entre los padres y su hija
• el conflicto sicológico