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SPN 1140: Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture (M/W/F)

Winter 2018
Oakland University
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Main Department Office: 372 O’Dowd Hall, (248) 370-2060

Instructor: José Saenz, Ph.D. E-mail: saenz@oakland.edu
Instructor Office: 364 O’Dowd Office Phone: 248-370-2072 (Only during office hours)
Office Hours: M& W from 8:00am to 8:30 am and by appointment. Please always send email in advance.

Required Materials:
 Portales I: Introductory Spanish (Blanco. Vista, 2017) with online “Supersite”

The textbook is available in loose-leaf paper version, with 24-month access to the online textbook, or as a one-
semester only online version. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase the loose-leaf version directly from
the publisher. (Note: the same textbook will be used in SPN 1140, 1150, and 2140). Since computers, cell-
phones, and tablets are not allowed in class, you have to bring the hardcopy book to class every class.
Textbooks can be purchased at: https://vistahigherlearning.com/students

Course (Catalog) Description: (4 credits) Spanish 1140 is the first of a two-semester sequence in the fundamentals of
the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures. Prerequisites: none
This class satisfies the General Education requirements in Foreign Language and Culture Course Knowledge Exploration
Area

Welcome to Spanish 1140!

The purpose of this course is to start you on the path to developing the ability to communicate in Spanish with ease and
proficiency, and to learn about and appreciate Hispanic cultures. This course will be taught in Spanish though English
may also be used on limited occasion as deemed appropriate by the instructor. No prior study of Spanish is required. Our
objective in this course is to prepare you for "real-life" communication in Spanish so that you can understand and create
with the language. At the end of this course you will be able to:
 Use expressions of courtesy and enough vocabulary to negotiate basic real-life communication
 Participate in formal and informal exchanges about everyday life (studies, family, pastimes, food, travel)
 Provide and request personal information such as name, age, origin, interests
 Express in simple terms your opinions and preferences and ask others about theirs
 Comprehend short dialogues and paragraphs in written and spoken form, and respond accordingly
 Become familiar with various cultural elements of the Spanish-speaking world
 Write short paragraphs on topics studied
 Interact with classmates in a presentational mode

In this class, you will read, listen to, and discuss material on various aspects of Spanish and Latin American cultures, and
watch real-life interactions between native speakers of Spanish in the US and abroad, in professional or social settings, in
order to explore cultural topics presented in the textbook. By exploring how Spanish is used in a variety of contexts, you
will be encouraged to make comparisons across languages and cultures and recognize the ways in which Spanish extends
beyond the classroom and into the global community. Throughout the semester you will be developing the four skills
required for communicative competence: composition, reading, speaking and listening. Please note that these objectives
do not imply expecting you to speak fluently after one semester of study, but will provide basic communication skills and
the foundation for further study.

Placement: All Students with prior experience or study in Spanish, high school (1st year-AP), college (previous credits
/transfer), or heritage speaker (family speaks Spanish or has lived in a Spanish speaking country) must take the
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures’ online Placement Test before continuing in this class. Students
enrolled in this course, with prior experience, are asked to take the placement exam during the first week of classes. You
may take the exam in the Language Laboratory or from any computer with internet access at:

http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org?acct=oakland
user name = oakland user
password = grizzlies1

Please print a copy of the results and give it to your instructor. If you believe you are not enrolled at the proper level,
speak to your instructor immediately. It is your responsibility to ensure proper enrollment; enrolling at the highest level
for which you are qualified will result in a more challenging and exciting classroom experience!

Preferred Name: If you do not identify with the name that is listed with the Registrar’s Office, please notify me so that I
may appropriately amend my records. In addition, if you prefer to go by a different pronoun, please let me know.

Course procedures: Pair and group work, instructor-led discussions and practice, in-class composition.

Classroom Activities, Participation and Attendance: The syllabus for this course specifies what will be covered each
day in class. The corresponding online homework assignments present the new material before you begin to use it
creatively in class. This allows you to come to class prepared to engage in meaningful communication with your instructor
and classmates. The syllabus also specifies when writing assignments and exams will take place. Additional assignments
and brief quizzes may be given by your instructor. Long grammar explanations will not be provided in class, so it is your
responsibility to read and carefully study the grammar presented in your textbook and online activities in order to put to
use what you have studied at home.

Your participation in classroom activities will be evaluated and included as part of your final grade. You must be present
and prepared to take part in classroom activities in order to make adequate progress in this course, so attendance will be
taken daily and absences will lower your final grade. Should you become ill or have legal obligations that prevent you
from coming to class, you will need to provide valid documentation. Athletes and other students who will miss class due
to scheduled Oakland University events are asked to provide letters to that effect from the appropriate Oakland University
department. Tardiness will be noted and will affect your grade. Disruptive and inappropriate behavior will not be
tolerated. The use of cell phones will not be permitted.

Tests and Final Exam: You will be taking four chapter tests and a final exam. Learning to communicate in a second
language is a skill we build on as we progress, so all tests are cumulative by nature while focusing specifically on each
chapter’s material. The final exam will focus on material from all five chapters. The final exam will be given on
Thursday, April 19, from 3:30pm-6:30pm. **Please note--No make-up tests or exams are given without
proper legal or medical justification.**

Online Homework: Portales includes an online learning system that brings together a wide array of language-learning
tools and resources. Access to the Portales Supersite is required for this course since you will complete most homework
and class preparation activities online. These will be due before each class period. Also, you are strongly encouraged to
take advantage of the many other learning tools found there such as grammar tutorials, flashcards, and audio and video
programs. Please note: you will learn much more by working on these activities daily rather than completing them all at
once! Your instructor may make additional homework assignments at her/his discretion.

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In-class writing assignments: Throughout the semester you will be asked to complete 5 short writing assignments in
class. These will be peer edited and graded by the instructor.

Group Project: A final collaborative group project will allow you to creatively use your new Spanish skills. Details will
be provided in class.

Extra Help: First try to discuss your problems or concerns with your instructor after class or in office hours. Then, if
you still need more help, contact the Tutoring Center, 103 North Foundation Hall (https://www.oakland.edu/tutoring/).
The Tutoring Center provides free, individualized tutorials in most subject areas for the benefit of all OU students.

Evaluation:
Participation/Attendance 10%
Pop-up quizzes (8-12 quizzes) 5%
Tests (4) 32%
Final Exam 20%
Supersite Activities/ Homework 20%
In-class writing assignments (5) 10%
Group Project 3%

Grading Scale:
99-100 = 4.0 85-87 = 3.4 77 = 2.7 71 = 2.1 65 = 1.5 0-59 = 0
97-98 = 3.9 83-84 = 3.3 76 = 2.6 70 = 2.0 64 = 1.4
94-96 = 3.8 81-82 = 3.1 75 = 2.5 69 = 1.9 63 = 1.3
92-93 = 3.7 80 = 3.0 74 = 2.4 68 = 1.8 62 = 1.2
90-91 = 3.6 79 = 2.9 73 = 2.3 67 = 1.7 61 = 1.1
88-89 = 3.5 78 = 2.8 72 = 2.2 66 = 1.6 60 = 1.0

Specific course objectives that satisfy General Education Learning Outcomes: Students engage in conversation,
provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions and exchange opinions. Students understand and interpret
written and spoken language on a variety of topics. Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the
practices and perspectives of the culture studied. Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints
that are only available through the foreign language and its culture. Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of
language through comparisons of the language studied and their own. Students show evidence of becoming lifelong
learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.
Cross-Cutting Capacities: 1. effective communication
2. social awareness
Faculty Feedback. Students enrolled in 1000 and 2000-level courses who are not making satisfactory progress may be
contacted by their instructor using the Office of Undergraduate Education’s Faculty Feedback system
(https://wwwp.oakland.edu/uge/faculty-feedback/). The use of this system is intended to alert you to potential problems
and to provide you with an opportunity to take steps to improve your performance. If no evaluation shows for your name,
it indicates that you are making satisfactory progress.

Add/Drops: The University add/drop policy will be explicitly followed. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of
the University deadline dates for dropping the course.

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 Special Considerations: Students with disabilities who may require special considerations should make an appointment
with campus Disability Support Services (https://oakland.edu/dss/). Students should also bring their needs to the attention
of the instructor as soon as possible.
Academic Conduct Policy: Cheating on examinations, plagiarism, falsifying reports/records, and unauthorized
collaboration, access or modifying of computer programs are considered serious breaches of academic conduct. The
Oakland University policy on academic conduct will be strictly followed with no exceptions. See Catalog under
“Academic Conduct Policy.”
Examples of academic dishonesty: (it is not limited to these examples)
1. Using someone else’s work as your own (from Internet, native Spanish speakers or other resources): Plagiarism.
2. Using translation programs to write essays.
3. Copying from other students on exams, etc.
4. Turning in material or graded work from a previous class.
The professor will not tolerate academic dishonesty. Students will be penalized with an F on the assignment, F in the class
or an XF on the transcript. Whichever seems appropriate to the professor.

Tips for studying Spanish:

1. A foreign language must be assimilated little by little. Rather than cramming the day before a test, you should dedicate a
smaller block of time almost every day to preparation and homework. Try posting vocabulary lists around the house—on
the refrigerator, next to the computer, etc. For extra practice, watch movies in Spanish (subtitles in English ok), listen to
Spanish music, and/or try to use your Spanish with friends outside of class—whatever puts you in contact with the
Spanish-speaking world!

2. When practicing new vocabulary, say the words out loud as well as writing them. If you are unsure of pronunciation,
listen to them online or ask your instructor. Try to visualize the objects or actions that the Spanish words represent. This
way you can begin to “think in Spanish” leaving English out of the process and thus eliminating the need to translate.

3. If you have trouble understanding your instructor in class, remember that it is not necessary to understand every word
that is said. Try to listen for the main idea.

4. Study with someone whenever possible. Many of the exercises in the book are meant to be practiced with two or more
people. Review both old and new material daily.

5. Do your Supersite activities before class, as assigned, in order to get the most out of each lesson.

6. DON’T PANIC! Have patience with yourself; learning a language well is a long process. Perseverance and hard work
every day are the keys to improvement.

Please, let me help you! You should look to me as your primary resource. Feel free to come to me if
you need extra help or have questions. Finally, welcome, I look forward to working with you this
semester!