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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SPAN 202"
COURSE NAME: "Intermediate Spanish II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Rossana Marchiaro
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 6:00PM 7:15PM
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:
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
Nuevo Español en Marcha 4 - Libro del AlumnoFrancisca Castro, Ignacio Rodero, Carmen SardineroSGEL9788497787826     
Nuevo Español en Marcha 4 - Cuaderno de ejercicios Francisca Castro, Ignacio Rodero, Carmen SardineroSGEL9788497787246      
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.25%
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.10%

-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 course.
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 REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. 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. 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. The final exam period runs until ____________
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 

Presentations. Let’s know each other

Learning from a past experience

 

Review of forms and uses of the past tenses in Spanish: pretérito indefinido/pretérito perfecto/pretérito imperfecto/pretérito pluscuamperfecto

 

Week 2 

Writing a personal letter

Describing the use of objects

Final clauses: para/para que

 

Week 3 

Technology and domestic objects in the future

The future tense and the future perfect tense to express probability

 

Week 4 

Review of the present tense of the subjunctive mode

The use of the subjunctive mode to express feelings in the present and in the past

QUIZ 1


Week 5 

Cont. forms and uses of the subjunctive mode

Imperfect tense of the subjunctive mode

Writing emails


Week 6 

Talking about food and cooking

Idiomatic expressions with food

 

Week 7 

Temporal clauses

Writing recipes

How to prepare an oral presentation. Discourse markers

Week 8

Midterm review

 

MIDTERM EXAM

 

Week 9

Health habits. Idiomatic expressions with the parts of the body

Conditional sentences: first, second and third conditional

Pretérito pluscuamperfecto of the subjunctive mode

 

Week 10 

Conditional sentences: first, second and third conditional (cont.)

Week 11 

Writing newspaper advertisements

Talking about living together

The formation of nouns (sustantivación)

Week 12 

Relative clauses (el que, el cual, del que, en el que, dónde)

 

Talking about immigration

QUIZ 2 

Week 

Writing an article for a news magazine

Reported speech

 

Week 14 

ORAL EXAMS/PRESENTATIONS

FINAL REVIEW