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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SPAN 202"
COURSE NAME: "Intermediate Spanish II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Sofia Sanz Alonso
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or SPAN 201 (As of Fall 2022: Placement or SPAN 201 with a grade of C or above)
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of SPAN 201. While continuing the review of grammar, the course emphasizes the development of reading and composition skills in the context of Spanish and Hispanic cultures. Literary readings, newspaper articles, and films, are an essential component of the course.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course is designed to review and study in-depth the following grammar points: verb tenses in the indicative and subjunctive moods, sequence of tenses, “if” clauses, relative pronouns, indefinite adjectives and pronouns, indirect discourse, and the use of prepositions and conjunctions. The course concentrates on consolidating specific communicative tasks, including stating opinions and constructing hypotheses, in both speaking and writing. Specialized vocabulary is expanded and appropriate variables in register are introduced in expository writing and conversation.

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:

- understand written and spoken Spanish at the upper intermediate level

- participate in complex conversations on a variety of topics, using present, past, conditional, and future tenses

- ask for and obtain information in a variety of settings

- express opinions, feelings, needs, approval and disapproval, possibility and make conjectures

- comprehend the general meaning and details of upper-intermediate level texts

- produce written texts on a variety of topics, using present, past, conditional, and future tenses

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Aula internacional Plus 4Corpas, Garmendia et al.Difusion978-84-18224-46-1   FeltrinelliAmazon.it
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
2 TESTSThe two tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary coverd, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability. 20%
Midterm examThe midterm exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered up to this point, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.25%
Final ExamThe final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered,their reading and listening comprehension, and the written ability.25%
Oral ProficiencyIn-class oral activities (5%) and final oral exam/oral presentation (10%). Students are examined singularly and in pairs or small groups. The types of tests are: conversation between the two students or the small groups, monologues, role playing. 15%
Class participation and HomeworkStudents are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Homework for each unit will include: -exercises from the textbook -grammar handouts -written and digital assignments -digital language learning diary. It is mandatory for the course to have and use the textbook in paper or electronic version. You are expected to log in to the Moodle platform of the course at least two times per week in order to follow the course schedule and to keep updated regarding all the required activities in case you should be absent. 15%
   

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cou
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

Students attending classes are supposed to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the language learning process requires considerable practice. 

During the course, students are allowed four unjustified absences that foresee occasional illness, bad day, schedule conflicts, travel plans, etc. For each additional absence the final grade will be lowered by 2 points. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule. 

 

In consideration of the classroom experience, students with an official excuse from the Dean's Office to be absent from class will not be invited to synchronously attend classes from remote, except particular situations. In order to ensure that students who are absent with an official excuse can keep up with the work of their courses, classes may be recorded and shared with the student(s) who missed class. Notes and material used in class will be shared on Moodle and the professor will be available during office hours to help students who missed classes. 

 

As was done in the past, if a student, due to illness, exceeds the number of allowed absences and wishes to petition for a waiver from the attendance policy (have the absence "excused" due to illness), you must submit the Petition: Exemption from Instructor's Attendance Policies.  If an illness makes you miss an exam or major assignment, the student should submit the Petition: Justification for Missing Exams. The links to both forms can be found on the Registrar's page of the JCU website.

MAKE-UPS

 

The Midterm and Final Exam can only be made up with approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs  (Please see the John Cabot University Catalogue and Student Handbook). The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. 
The same policy is applied for the Quizzes. Students who will be absent from a quiz must notify the Professor before the Quiz and individual arrangements for make-ups will be done only for students with medical emergencies or any other valid reasons. 

Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. 

 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1 - January 16 - 18

 

Presentations. Let’s know each other

Unit 1. Buenas noticias

Talking about news and social media, writing news

Grammar resources: review of forms and uses of the past tenses in Spanish (pretérito indefinido/pretérito perfecto/ pretérito imperfecto/pretérito pluscuamperfecto

Vocabulary resources: newspapers and social networks, verbs of transmission (manifestar, declarar, etc.), temporal markers

Written assignment: writing news / letter to the editor

 

Week 2 - January 23 - 25

 

Cont. Unit 1 Buenas noticias

 

Week 3 - January 30 - February 1

 

Cont. Unit 1 Buenas noticias

 

Unit 2. ¿Y tu qué opinas?

Expressing opinions, evaluating different options, expressing agreement and disagreement

Grammar resources: the use of the subjunctive mode to express evaluations and opinions (creo que + indicativo / non creo que + subjuntivo, es evidente que, es fantástico que…)

Vocabulary resources: talking about tourism, leisure, describing towns and cities

Written assignment: travel brochure

 

Week 4 - February 6 - 8

Cont. Unit 2 

Making a negotiation and establishing conditions

 

Week 5 - February 13 - 15 - 16

 

 Cont. Unit 2 

Grammar resources: solo si / siempre que, discourse markers (en primer lugar, en segundo lugar, etc.), the formation of nouns (sustantivación)

 

Tuesday February 13 - QUIZ 1

 

Friday February 16 - Make up day

 

 Week 6 - February 20 - 22


Unit 3. Yo nunca lo haría

Giving advice, expressing wishes and opinions in the present and the past, describing traditions, making hypothesis (first, second and third conditional)

Grammar resources: uses of the conditional tense, te recomiendo / aconsejo /sugiero que + subjuntivo, the imperfect tense of the subjunctive mode, the pretérito pluscuamperfecto of the subjunctive mode, sequence of tenses in relative clauses

Vocabulary resources: sports, traditions, dar miedo / pereza/ verguenza….

Written assignment: questionnaire for a survey

 

SPRING BREAK - February 27 - 29

 

Week 7 - March 5 - 7

Cont. Unit 3 

 

Week 8 - March 12 - 14 

  

               Tuesday March 12 - MIDTERM EXAM

 

Week 9 - March 19 - 21

 

Unit 5. Lugares con encanto

Talking about cities and describing their qualities

Vocabulary resources: vocabulary to describe cities and travels

Written assignment: travel journal

 

Week 10 - March 26 - 28

Cont. Unit 5

 

Week 11 - April 2 - 4

 

Unit 6. Se valorará la experiencia

Expressing requirements and conditions

Grammar resources: uses of se in impersonal sentences (se valorará, se tendrá en cuanta, etc.), the infinitivo compuesto (haber estudiado, haber trabajado…), the present perfect of the subjunctive mode

Vocabulary resources: politics and society, education

Written assignment: motivation letter for an international exchange program

Week 12 - April 9 - 11

 

Cont. Unit 6. Se valorará la experiencia

 

Tuesday April 9 - QUIZ 2

 

Week 13 - April 16 - 18

 

Cont. Unit 6. Se valorará la experiencia

Final review

 

Week 14 - April 23

 

ORAL EXAMS/PRESENTATIONS

Final examinations (date to be confirmed)