Course Name & Number: SPAN 1411 Beginning Spanish I

Semester & Year: Fall 2019

Course Description: Basic Spanish language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing within a cultural framework.  Students will acquire the vocabulary and grammatical structures necessary to communicate and comprehend at the beginner level.

Instructor’s Name: Katie Ralph, M.A.

Instructor’s Office #: no physical office; virtual office only

Email address: kralph@nctc.edu

Office Phone #: 325-721-9629

Canvas and Office Hours: 10:30-12:00 M/W, 9:00-10:30 T/Th

Canvas Learning Management System. Our online classroom is located in Canvas. Canvas Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.). Canvas Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.).

Adobe Acrobat Reader. I frequently post information in pdf format, so you will need Adobe Reader or another pdf reader to access these documents. You can download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader here (Links to an external site.). Adobe Acrobat Privacy Policy. (Links to an external site.) Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.). Adobe Accessibility User Guide (Links to an external site.).

There is no required book. All materials are available to you on Canvas.

Technology Requirements

Screen Size

• A minimum of 1024x600. That is the average size of a netbook.

Operating Systems

• Windows XP SP3 and newer
• Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
• Linux - ChromeOS

Mobile OS Native App Support

• iOS 5 and newer
• Android 2.3 and newer

Computer Speed and Processor

• Use a computer 5 years old or newer when possible
• 1GB of RAM
• 2GHz processor

Internet Speed

• Along with compatibility and web standards, Canvas has been carefully crafted to accommodate low bandwidth environments.
• Minimum of 512kbps

Screen Readers (if students choose to use one)

• The latest versions of JAWS and VoiceOver

Canvas Tech Support: (940) 668-3335 use this number during office hours if you need immediate support, but it is preferred that you submit a ticket (Links to an external site.)

Minimum Technical Skills

In order to succeed in this course, you must be able to

• write, send, and receive emails
• navigate the internet to find information and access online learning components
• navigate and use Canvas and Connect (iLrn)
• upload content via the internet
• compose, edit, format and spellcheck documents using a word processor
• upload content via the internet
• record yourself using a webcam and microphone
• download and install software
• compose, edit, format and spellcheck documents using a word processor

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete SPAN 1411 will meet the following learning outcomes:

1.         Engage in conversations using level-appropriate grammatical structures including narrating events that take place in the present and producing questions and responses on a variety of topics dealing with everyday life.

2.         Demonstrate understanding of level-appropriate spoken Spanish.

3.         Write simple sentences and organize them into short paragraphs.

4.         Read and comprehend level-appropriate texts.

5.         Identify and discuss traditions, customs, and values of the Hispanic world.

6.         Compare and contrast the traditions, customs, and values of the Hispanic world with characteristics of their own culture.

Core Objectives

Foundational Component Area:  Language, Philosophy, and Culture

• Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
• Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
• Social Responsibility (SR)- to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
• Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

Grading Policy & Procedures

In general, I do not offer extra credit. However, if you find an error in any of my documents, you can let me know where you spotted the error, and I will give you an extra point on the next written exam. At the end of the semester, I apply standard rounding to everyone. An 89.44 will remain a B, but an 89.45 will round up to an A.

Tarea 10%

Oral exams (2) 18%

Cultural project (4th credit hour) 17%

Exámenes escritos (3) 55%

90-100% A

80-89%           B

70-79%           C

60-69%           D

0-59% F

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair.  The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action.  This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

The NCTC Student Handbook can be found here (Links to an external site.)

Attendance and Late Work Policy

Even though this is an online class, it is not self-paced. You must plan to log into Canvas two times a week. Language cannot be learned in big chunks. It must be learned in small bits with frequent review of the previously covered material in order to be acquired.

Each day you should begin by reviewing the reading pages, completing the iLrn work, and submitting the attendance and other applicable work through Canvas.

In order to show your attendance, you must complete the corresponding attendance activity for that day. There will be attendance activities every Tuesday and Thursday, and each will be due at 4:00 pm*. If you miss an attendance activity, you will be counted absent for that day. After 4 missed attendance activities, the student may be dropped. 

*As a general rule, your work will be officially due at 4:00 pm because that is when my office hours end. However, I will accept work through midnight without applying any penalty. You are not guaranteed I will be available to help you if you run into issues submitting work after the official deadline, and I will not give any credit for any work submitted after midnight. The final exam is not included in this extension. The final is due on the day and at the time listed in the syllabus.

ADA Statement

North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs.  The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department.  Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS Department of their need for assistance.  Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services. 

Disability Accommodations

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) (Links to an external site.) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.

On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

EEOC Statement

North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

Tarea

You will have activities assigned to you to complete in order to practice material you have just learned. It is important to stay up to date with your homework because language cannot be memorized in large chunks. It must be practiced and learned in small portions with regular review.

Oral Exams

The oral exam is about producing language on the spot and not rehearsing fully memorized scripts.

Cultural Project

The cultural project will be turned in part by part throughout the semester and then revised and formatted in order to create the final version. Work turned in late will not receive credit. Pay careful attention to the grading rubrics to know how you will be graded.

Exams

Due to the nature of language learning, all of the exams will be cumulative. This means you are still responsible for remembering vocabulary, conjugations, and material from prior chapters for each exam.

Grade input

I try to get work graded and back to you by the next week, but remember that the standard grade turn-around is two weeks.

Tobacco-Free Campus

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, accumulates unsightly tobacco litter, and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at 940-668-4240.

Course Calendar

Core Competencies and Learning Outcomes Alignment Chart