THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

Fall 2008

SCHOOL: Arts and Humanities

COURSE TITLE: Beginning Spanish

COURSE NUMBER: SPAN 1312.001

CREDIT HOURS: 3

COURSE HOURS: MWF 2:30-3:20 p.m.

INSTRUCTOR: María Engen

OFFICE HOURS: MWF 3:30—4 p.m. or by appointment

Sat. 12:30—1 p.m.
Office: JO.5203
Phone number: Ext. 2054
E-mail: engen@utdallas.edu

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Jarvis, A., Lebredo, R., Mena-Ayllón, F. Basic Spanish.Houghton-Mifflin, 2002.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to develop the foundation for Spanish-language acquisition through listening
comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. This course will be conducted mainly in Spanish.
Students will also explore the Spanish-speaking world through its culture.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To develop linguistic skills for communication at an elementary level

2. To gradually develop all language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
3. To explore the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking countries and their peoples.
4. To develop grammatical concepts in general and thus increasing your English vocabulary by
comprehending and adopting words of Latin origin via Spanish.
5. To widen the students’ intellectual perspective, open avenues for new areas of study and research
6. To sharpen thinking analytical and problem solving skills.
7. To widen the student’s intellectual perspectives, open avenues for new areas of study and research
applicable to other courses in the context of the School of Arts and Humanities, and gain new
perspectives of one’s own culture.
8. Lastly, to sharpen thinking analytical and problem solving skills.

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COURSE EVALUATION:

Grading Scale
U.T. Dallas adopted the following grade scale for all undergraduate students effective Fall 2000. Grades
for courses completed prior to Fall 2000 accrue point values as shown in the appropriate catalog.
Grading Description Grade Points Per Semester Hour

A+ 4.00
A Excellent 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.50
B Good 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.50
C Fair 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.50
D Poor 1.00
D- 0.67
F Failure 0.00
X Incomplete
CR Credit
NC No Credit

A student may withdraw from a course before the final drop date listed in the Academic Calendar in
which case W will be entered on the student’s transcript.

Grade Point Average

Grade points are computed by multiplying the points for each grade by the number of credit hours; for
example, 4 (A) x 3 (hours) = 12 grade points.
A student’s grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of grades points earned
by the number of semester hours for which a grade other than X, NC, or CR is received. Only grades
earned at U.T. Dallas are used calculating the GPA.

Incomplete Grade (X)

A grade of Incomplete may be given, at the discretion of the instructor of record for a course, when a
student has completed at least 70% of the required course material but cannot complete all requirements
by the end of the semester. An Incomplete course grade (grade of X) must be completed within the time
period specified by the instructor, not to exceed the last day of classes the following semester, excluding
summer. Upon completion of the required work, the symbol X may be converted into a letter grade (A
through F) by the instructor. If the grade of Incomplete is not removed by the end of the specified period,
it will automatically be changed to F. Extension beyond the one-semester limit can be made only with the
permission of the instructor and the student’s college master (or the Undergraduate Dean in the case of
students without declared majors). A student may not re-enroll in a course in which a grade of X remains.
Students may obtain a petition/documentation form for an Incomplete in the office of the student’s
college master. The form is to be submitted to the instructor from Whom the Incomplete is sought.
Students should be aware than an Incomplete is only appropriate for work unavoidably missed at
semester’s end. Students should contact their school office for school policies on Incompletes.

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PERCENTAGES*
30% Participation*: attendance, active engagement, preparedness, and written assignments.
10% Friday Quizzes on material presented that week.
60% Major tests (four). No make up tests/quizzes will be given.

*PARTICIPATION GRADE/ATTENDANCE POLICY

To successfully complete this course, students must
• Attend class consistently and must attend for the ENTIRE class period
• ATTENDANCE IS RECORDED BY SIGNING THE ATTENDANCE SHEET AT THE
BEGINNING OF EACH CLASS. Students are expected to actively participate in Spanish.
Native speakers of Spanish language or near-native fluent students will have to speak slowly,
clearly, and deliberately in the discussions, looking at the non-native speakers of the language.

HOMEWORK
• Students will be expected to complete exercises outside of class following every session.
• LATE WORK OR INCOMPLETE WORK = ZERO
• Correct spelling and accents will be enforced in homework and tests.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Given the nature of language acquisition, which is a slow process, I recommend that you work on
both sections of your workbook or written activities on a daily basis. This reinforces the concepts
taught in class. Furthermore, learning a language is an active process, thus your presence and
participation in class are essential.

NO LAPTOP OR CELL PHONE USE IS PERMITTED IN THE

CLASSROOM. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS POLICY
WILL RESULT IN AN ABSENCE FOR THE DAY.
HELPFUL TIPS THAT MAY HELP YOU STUDY A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
A foreign language MUST be study differently than most other academic subjects. Consistent study is
imperative.
Recommendations:
• Study in short, fifteen or twenty-minute sessions. This is more effective than studying hour-long
blocks.
• Label objects around your home, office, etc.
• Quiz yourself (for example, write lists in Spanish)
• Create and use flashcards
• Listen to Spanish radio and TV stations:
ƒ RADIO KESS “LA FABULOSA” 1270 AM
ƒ KHCK “PURO LATINO” 99.1 FM
ƒ KLNO “ESTÉREO LATINO” 94.1 FM
ƒ Univisión and Telemundo stations
• Read magazines and newspapers, and watch videos in Spanish
• Become involved with the local Hispanic community
• Practice your Spanish with native speakers

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FALL 2008
SPAN 1312 BEGINNING SPANISH- SEC. 001
MWF 2:30 – 3:20 p.m.
Basic Spanish (BS)

Aug F 22 Introducción, Lección preliminar I, BS 5

M 25 continuación
W 27 Lección preliminar II, BS 14
F 29 continuación, Quiz
Sept M 1 Labor Day—No class

W 3 Lección 1, BS 26
F 5 continuación, Quiz
M 8 continuación
W 10 Lección 2, BS 42
F 12 continuación
M 15 Exam I (lecciones preliminares y lecciones 1 y 2)
W 17 Lección 3, BS 54
F 19 continuación, Quiz
M 22 continuación
W 24 Lección 4, BS 66
F 26 continuación, Quiz
M 29 continuación
Oct W 1 Lección 5, BS 80
F 3 continuación, Quiz
M 6 continuación
W 8 Preparación para el examen
F 10 Preparación para el examen
M 13 Examen II (lecciones 3-5)
W 15 Lección 6, BS 92
F 17 continuación, Quiz
M 20 continuación
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 W 22 Lección 7, BS 114
F 24 continuación, Quiz
M 27 continuación
W 29 Lección 8, BS 128
F 31 continuación, Quiz
Nov M 3 continuación
W 5 Preparación para el examen
F 7 Preparación para el examen
M 10 Examen III (lecciones 6-8)
W 12 Lección 9, BS 144
F 14 continuación, Quiz
M 17 continuación
W 19 continuación
F 21 Lección 10, BS 162, Quiz
M 24 continuación
W 26 continuación
F 28 Thanksgiving Holiday—No class
Dec M 1 continuación
W 3 Preparación para el examen final
F 5 Preparación para el examen final
M 8 Preparación para el examen final
M 15 Final Exam
The instructors reserve the right to make changes at any time.