SPN 341-52061 ADVANCED
SPANISH CONVERSATION
TOPIC: Latin American Business Environment and Culture
Fall 2004 Dr. Luz Marcela Hurtado
Room: Pearce 327 Office: Pearce 321
T
& R @ 9:30-10:45 AM Phone:
774-3804
hurta1lm@cmich.edu
Office Hours: MW 1-2 pm & TR 8:30-9:30 am and by appointment
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND
OBJECTIVES.
Intended
for those with some skill in Speaking Spanish who wish to achieve greater
fluency. This course is designed but not limited to students whose major or
minor is related to business. The main objective is to develop speaking
abilities through a brief overview and discussion of topics related to Latin
American culture and its links with the business environment and practices.
Also, this course seeks to improve the students' pronunciation by means of
phonetic exercises, and to help students adapt to the use of spoken language by
creating life-like situations.
TEXTS REQUIRED: There is no text for this course. Instead,
students will find readings for every class, with their respective pre-reading
activities, in V. Blackboard (http://blackboard.cmich.edu). The articles come
from printed Latin American Magazines and web sites. It is expected that
students check the readings with enough time to let the professor know about
any complications before the day of any due activity.
REQUIREMENT: The class is conducted
entirely in Spanish so it requires previous completion of SPN 202 (or
equivalent) and SPN 214 (or equivalent).
METHODOLOGY:
Students
are expected to prepare weekly readings and pre-reading activities, which will
be helpful in class discussions. Other activities will include a short
presentation, weekly narration of current news and oral exercises
(pronunciation exercises, oral readings, dictation, giving instructions,
explaining charts, itineraries, maps, tables, agendas, etc). Students will
prepare and fully participate in debates, role plays, round tables, interviews,
etc. There are also required written and oral reports on films and TV programs.
Attendance to at least 5 Conversation Hours organized by the Spanish Club is
expected.
EVALUATION
Oral
Exams
(3)..........................................................................
..
35%
Vocabulary
Quizzes (oral and written)
.
...15%
Class
participation (attendance, presentations, oral exercises, and special oral
activities)
..40%
Homework
(pre-reading activities, reports on films and videos, Conversation
Hours)
10%
Oral Exams (3): There will be two oral
exams (20%) in the laboratory on the days established in the syllabus. Students
will record their answers in exercises similar to the ones done in class. The
last oral exam (15%) consists of an oral interview with a Spanish native
speaker, on the day set for the final exam. The topic and specific information
regarding each exam will be given in class some time in advance. You will be
evaluated on the aspects of fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and
development of information.
Class Participation: Active class participation
is essential. If the student is absent, s/he cannot make up in-class
participation. Participation will be measured according to the following
criteria:
a) attendance and
punctuality c)
initiative and being active e)
positive attitude
b) preparation for each
class d)
use of Spanish f)
primary on task
The
40 % is distributed in this way: 1 short
presentation and 2 narrations of current news (5%), Oral Exercises and
participation in classmates presentations and narrations (10%), Oral
Activities that require substantial student preparation such as debates,
interviews, role plays, round tables, etc., (25%).
Grade scale:
95-100 A 83-86 B 73-76 C 63-66 D
90-94 A- 80-82 B- 70-72 C- 60-62 D-
87-89 B+ 77-79 C+ 67-69 D+ <60 F
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance
is mandatory. It is imperative that you attend every class meeting and
programmed laboratory session. There are no make-ups of the laboratories nor
of in-class practical exercises.
Therefore, absences will directly affect your grade in participation and
class work. For more details on the Academic Senates policy on attendance and
the Missed Class policy please see the college web page.
ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT: CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable
accommodations to participate in
educational programs,
activities, or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to
participate in class activities or to
meet the course requirements
should first register with the office of Student Disability Services (in 120 Park
Library 774-3018, TDD
#2568), and then
contact the professor as soon as possible.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
In
May 2001, the Central Michigan Academic Senate approved the Policy on Academic Integrity. This
policy applies to all the students. Copies are available on the CMU web site at
http://academicsenate.cmich.edu/noncurric.htm
and in the Academic Senate Office, Bovee University Center 108. All
academic work is expected to be in compliance with this policy. All
work submitted for a grade must be the product of your own efforts. Academic
dishonesty in any form (e.g. cheating on tests, copying another persons
assignment, quoting from a text without giving credit to the author, copying
from internet sources, using an electronic translator) will result in a minimum
penalty of no credit for the work submitted and may result not only in a
failing grade for the course but in your being reported to the Office of
Student Life for prosecution. I encourage
working together with other students; however, work merely copied from another
person is a form of cheating.