Spanish 320

Fall 2012 Instructor: Office: E-mail: Phone: Prerequisite: Course Meetings: Spanish for Professional Contexts 3 hrs. credit

Dr. Karen Martin PAC A-28 kmartin@uu.edu 661-5225 One 200-level Spanish course; a strong grammar background TR 12:15-1:30, Language Lab

Course Description: This course offers a foundation for the utilization of Spanish in a broad range of professional contexts. To this end, we will focus intensely on perfecting oral and written communication skills as well as deepening cultural knowledge. Students will strengthen their Spanish skills through a variety of translation and interpretation practices, often with the requirement of incorporating discipline-specific jargon or relatively uncommon vocabulary as a simulation of the types of situations they will encounter on the job. Students will develop expertise in professional written communications in Spanish through the preparation of several professional documents. Correction and revision of prepared documents will strengthen this process. Oral and aural comprehension skills will also be refined through a series of video and audio media featuring native speakers in authentic business contexts. We will study each Spanish-speaking country in terms of demographic and economic indicators. Students will also demonstrate linguistic and intercultural competence through a final oral presentation dealing with a contemporary issue and its impact on professional contexts. Objectives: By the end of the course students will be able to: Discuss each Spanish-speaking country in geo-political and economic terms Prepare a variety of professional documents in Spanish Demonstrate proficiency in Spanish telephone protocol Successfully translate and interpret professional Spanish communications Translate and interpret in spontaneous situations, both with and without reference materials Successfully edit Spanish documents Comprehend native speech with greater facility Demonstrate increased intercultural understanding as the basis for professional interactions in Spanish-speaking countries The textbook provides in-depth studies of each Spanish-speaking country from linguistic, economic, and political perspectives. Additionally, it offers important cultural readings on topics such as linguistic diversity, urban/rural dichotomies, gender in the workplace, attitudes toward work in Hispanic and Anglo cultures, telephone protocols, vocabulary and forms for job interviews, holidays, attitudes toward time, driving in another country, to name only a few of the

many specific cultural topics we will discuss.

Required Texts: Doyle et al. Exito comercial. 5th ed. Thomson/Heinle, 2011. ISBN 1-4390-8612-5. A Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary (brought to class daily) Wordreference.com will be extremely helpful with translation work.
*The textbook publisher supplied me with the following link to the textbook: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/isbn/1439086125?cid=D2S They offer rental of the book for the semester for about $50.

Attendance Policy, Makeups, and Pace of Course: Students are expected to arrive on time and attend each class meeting. Late work will not be accepted. In case of illness or an excused absence, students should notify the instructor prior to class, either by e-mail or voice mail, and should ask a friend to turn in their work for them if possible. Makeup work and makeup tests will not be given. The instructor will reduce final averages by three points for each absence in excess of four. Missing more than 25% of the course meetings for any reason will result in a final grade of F. Policy on Student Cheating Including Plagiarism/Academic Integrity: The following is taken from your Student Handbook: Union University upholds the highest standards of honesty. Students are to refrain from the use of unauthorized aids on examinations and all graded assignments, to refuse to give or receive information on examinations and all graded assignments and to turn in only those assignments which are the result of their own efforts and research. Faculty are to accept the responsibility for discouraging cheating. They are to make every effort to provide physical conditions which will deter cheating. They are to be aware at all times of activity in the testing area. Any student found guilty by the instructor of cheating will be subject to disciplinary action by the instructor. If the instructor determines that you have cheated on a homework assignment or did not contribute to your groups work, you will receive a zero on that activity. Plagiarizing (copying work from other students or from sources such as the Internet without crediting those sources) on a paper will result in a failing grade for the course. Cheating on an exam will also result in a failing grade for the course. Method of Evaluation: Final grades will be determined as follows: I. Participation grades (10%) will be given daily based on completion of homework, involvement in that days activities, and participation in group practice activities. Absence from class for any reason results in a zero daily grade. Lack of preparation also results in a daily grade of zero. Be aware that your translation or other homework may be projected on the screen (anonymously!) as the basis for our editing, so be prepared and complete assignments on papers that can easily be distributed in class for peer review or collected by the professor. 2

II. Tests (55%) will include geography, country profiles, culture, and professional communication skills. Given the breadth of material covered, please expect to devote 6-8 hours of study to each exam. III. In-class professional writing (15%) assignments will allow you demonstrate your ability to write clearly and accurately in Spanish. You will be allowed to use your dictionaries or grammar guides as a reference. These assignments may include case studies, translations, and cultural scenarios rooted in our readings. IV. The group final presentation (20%) serves as a final exam. Students will work in groups of 3-4 to prepare a 15-20 minute formal presentation similar to one you might be required to give in a business context. Each individual member of the group will be graded based on his/her apparent contribution to the project, meaning that it must be obvious that each person has pulled the appropriate share of the load in preparation and presentation. You are also responsible for the content of the presentation as a whole, which means that poor planning, inaccurate content, incorrect use of Spanish, errors on slides and the like by one person will lower every group members grade. Grades are determined in part by degree of attentiveness to peers presentations, as well as the quality of questions asked. Students making presentations must dress professionally, provide a Power Point, Prezi or other significant visual and written support, and utilize well-formulated Spanish to address an issue of their choosing which incorporates business/economic, cultural, and/or political issues. Past presentations have included issues such as human trafficking, nationalization of Venezuelan oil reserves, immigration policy, NAFTAs impact on Mexican agriculture, and maquiladoras, for example. It would be helpful to think of the formats used in capstone presentations as a model in planning your presentation. Topics should be discussed with the professor well in advance of the presentation. Students should diligently seek to become acquainted with contemporary events in the Hispanic world throughout the semester in order to competently participate in this project. A B C D F 93-100 85-92 75-84 65-74 Below 65

Key Dates Tests: In-class Writing: Final presentation:

Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 29 Sept. 27, Oct. 30 Week of Dec. 3