SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish-Distance Learning

Summer 2012
Professors: Dr. Esperanza Romn-Mendoza and
Cristina Hernndez Gil de Lamadrid
Twitter: @eromanme
Telephone: (703) 993-1232 and (787) 504-6765

Department of Modern and Classical Languages

George Mason University
Offices: AQ329 and AQ374
Office hours: By appointment and via Collaborate
E-mail: eromanme@gmu.edu and
cherna10@masonlive.gmu.edu
Skype: e.roman.mendoza and cristinahgildelamadrid

Website: http://mcl.gmu.edu/people/eromanme

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Basic Spanish Program consists of the introductory (first-year) and intermediate (second year) Spanish courses.
These courses are designed to help students develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish and
to provide them with an introduction to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.
Because learning a language requires being exposed to large amounts of that language and getting accustomed to
communicating in that language, it is highly recommended that you try to use the Spanish language in all
communications with your teacher and fellow students, and outside the learning platform (Blackboard). Students should
not expect to comprehend every word that their instructors write and says; instead they should try to use what they do
know to try to comprehend the overall meaning. After a few weeks, they should understand much more. In addition,
students should be sure to ask questions when they do not understand. Students who are having difficulty are also
encouraged to request additional explanations during their instructors' office hours or on the platform forums.
As a distance learning course, SPAN 210-DL requires students to study and practice the language on their own following
the guidance of the instructors. Students are expected to read on their own grammar explanations including in the book,
before doing the grammar and cultural exercises on McGraw-Hill Centro. Questions about grammar will be discussed on
the Blackboard forums and during office hours. Students are also required to participate in several Blackboard forums,
to write three compositions and to prepare two oral projects. Learning a language on an online setting requires as much
work as learning in the class, along with a great amount of discipline.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Intermediate writing and reading skills in the target language.
2. Intermediate oral skills in the target language.
3. Knowledge of the target culture.
4. Ability to find resources, information and other tools to continue the study of the language.
5. Ability to communicate online with peers and instructors.
6. Knowledge of Internet ethics.
MATERIALS
Dos Mundos. 7th Ed. McGraw Hill (with code access to the e-workbook) ISBN: 9780078016578. (With used
textbooks, the code will not work and you will need to purchase it separately). You will need a 2nd code
that is available on Blackboard.
All other materials are accessible from the Blackboard site. Please make sure you are aware of all technical
requirements for this class.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Hardware:
You will need access to a Windows or Macintosh computer with at least 2 GB of RAM and to a fast and reliable
broadband internet connection (e.g., cable, DSL). A larger screen is recommended for better visibility of course
material. You will need speakers or headphones to hear recorded content and a headset with a microphone is
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recommended for the best experience. For the second oral project, you will need a webcam. For the amount of Hard
Disk Space required to take a distance education course consider and allow for:
1. the storage amount needed to install any additional software and
2. space to store work that you will do for the course.
If you are considering the purchase of a new computer, please go to http://itusupport.gmu.edu/stu_purch.html to
see recommendations.
Software:
This course uses Blackboard as the learning management system. You will need a browser and operating system that
are listed compatible or certified with the Blackboard version available on the myMason Portal. See supported
browsers and operating systems. Log in to myMason to access this course.
The textbook Dos Mundos is supplemented by an online workbook on the Centro McGraw-Hill website. You will
need two codes: one supplied by the publisher when you buy the materials and one supplied by your teacher to
access the materials for this course.
Access to a Computer Workstation with:
Web browser (See Blackboard supported browsers and operating systems)
Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download)
Flash Player (free download)
Windows Media Player (free download)
A word processor.
Note: If you are using an employer-provided computer or corporate office for class attendance, please verify with
your systems administrators that you will be able to install the necessary applications and that system or corporate
firewalls do not block access to any sites or media types.
ASSESSMENT
The progress made by students in this class will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Weekly discussions on Blackboard

Online exercises at Centro
Compositions and Reflecting on my Learning Blog
Oral presentations
Exams (3 Quizzes and Final)

25%
20%
20%
10%
25%

The final letter grade for the class will be assigned as follows:
97+
93+
90+

A+
A
A-

87+
83+
80+

B+
B
B-

77+
73+
70+

C+
C
C-

60+
60-

D
F

1. Weekly Discussions on Blackboard

Students are required to contribute to all class discussions and are expected to do it in Spanish. In order to actively
participate in the discussions, students need to read the textbook pages assigned for each class and do the homework
and class activities assigned by the instructors. Students are expected to contribute with one original post of at least 75
words and two comments to each discussion (min. 50 words). First original posting is due every week on Tuesday by
midnight. Two comments are due every week on Friday by midnight.
George Mason University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment free
from any discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual
orientation, or age. Mutual respect and civility of others will be considered an essential component of students
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participation in the discussions. More details about how to contribute to the online discussions are available on the
Blackboard site.
2. Centro Homework
Students will submit the assigned homework on the due dates via the McGraw-Hill website (Centro/Quia). More details
on the Blackboard site. Centro homework is due every week on Saturday by midnight.
3. Compositions and Blog
Two graded written assignments of 150-words each will be collected throughout the summer session via the Blackboard
assignment tool.
Presentation of written assignments
All graded assignments must be typed according to the following guidelines:
Use your last name and name as the file name, following by the composition number, for instance
romanmendozaesperanzacomposition1
Use font Times New Roman 12 pt. and one-inch margins all around.
Include as a header on the first page: name, course number, the date, and a title.
One and a half-space the text and use standard 8 by 11 paper and legible black ink.
Write the number of words at the end of your composition.
Do not plagiarize, use translation programs, or turn in work used for previous classes.
Do not submit a paper without accents. While typing your work, if you have a PC you can use:
= alt + 160
= alt + 130
= alt + 161

= alt + 129
= alt + 164
= alt + 173

= alt + 162
= alt + 168
= alt + 163

Mac Users: Hold down the Option key, and while holding it down, type the letter e; then release those keys and type
the letter that you want the accent to appear on:
= Opt + e, then a
= Opt + e, then e
= Opt + e, then I = Opt + e, then o
= Opt + e, then u
Reflecting on my Learning Blog
Each week students will have to write a log of the errors they made in the discussions and in the compositions, when
applicable. Students will explain in Spanish why they made the errors and how they corrected. Other reflections about
the learning process are welcome, including those in English. Each entry should be at least 150 words long.
Compositions and learning blog entries are due on Sundays by midnight.
4. Oral Projects
Students will listen regularly to oral samples through Centro and via the PowerPoint slides provided by the instructors.
Also, during the first week they will record a video message that will be submitted via Blackboard. The final oral project
will be a video project that will be also submitted through Blackboard. Do not read when recording your presentation.
During the fourth week of the session, students will receive a call from one of the instructors to check how the course is
going and how the language skills are progressing.
Oral projects are due on Sundays by midnight.
5. Quizzes and Final Exam
There will be three online quizzes (that will last approximately 50 minutes) and a final exam at George Mason University.
These exams will cover vocabulary, grammar, cultures, and short-essay questions related to topics covered in the
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assigned chapters. A study guide and review session will be provided for students prior to each exam. There will be no
make-ups for missed quizzes and the final exam.
Quizzes will be available on Blackboard beginning Saturday at 8:00AM until Monday by midnight. You will have 75
minutes to take the quiz, so plan accordingly.
Our final exam in this course will be on Thursday, August 2nd from 10:00AM to 12:30PM at George Mason University in
the Fairfax Campus. The final exam will be cumulative, with a large emphasis on the final chapters covered in the course.
LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
A group of Spanish students from Spain who want to practice their English would like to contact you to organize a
language exchange through the Internet. If you are interested in participating, please go to the GoogleDoc that you will
find on Blackboard and add your name, hobbies, etc. and preferred form to contact you.
PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNICATION
Students are expected to participate in all online activities. Working 100% online requires dedicated efforts for the
instructors/facilitators and the students: check your GMU email box and Blackboard on a daily basis. We will rely on you
to communicate any questions or problems that might arise promptly.
HONOR CODE AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Exams, presentations, and all written assignments must be done independently unless your instructors tell you
otherwise. Consult the GMU Honor Code (http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/) for complete information and
description. Please note that the use of electronic translators is strictly forbidden. As mentioned above, students can use
the program Safe Assign to receive more specific information about proper citation for their written assignments.
DISABILITY SERVICES
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of
Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through ODS.
http://ods.gmu.edu/
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
The University Catalog, http://catalog.gmu.edu, is the central resource for university policies affecting student, faculty,
and staff conduct in university affairs. You are responsible for being aware of all policies that affect you and your studies
at GMU.
OTHER USEFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
Writing Center: http://writingcenter.gmu.edu
University Libraries Ask a Librarian: http://library.gmu.edu/mudge/IM/IMRef.html
Career Services: http://careers.gmu.edu/
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): http://caps.gmu.edu
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the "Buckley Amendment," is a federal law
that gives protection to student educational records and provides students with certain rights. [See
http://registrar.gmu.edu/privacy].
ADD AND DROP DATES
Last day to drop with no tuition penalty
Last day to add classes
Last day to drop with a 50% tuition penalty
100% Tuition Liability Begins

Friday, June 8th

Friday, June 8th
Friday, June 15th
Saturday, June 16th
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Spanish 210- Verano 2012 - Schedule (subject to changes)

Date

Textbook pages
(no submission
necessary)

Blackboard Forums
(first post by Tuesdays,
comments by Fridays)

Week 1(June 4-10). Getting ready

Read complete syllabus
Forum 1: Presentaciones.
and technical
information.
Post of picture of you.

Week 2 (June 11-17). Chapter 9

Read and do 9.1.
Descriptions. 9.2.
Prepositions 328-331.
9.3. The Imperfect 331333. 9.4. The imperfect
and Preterite 334-336.
Read and do: 9.5. The
Imperfect of Ir +
Infinitive. 336-337
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 327.
Week 3 (June 18-24). Chapter 10
Read and do 10.1 The
Present Perfect and
10.2. Exclamations. 365367.
Read and do 10.3 Por y
para, 10.4 Adverbs and
10.5 Verbs like gustar.
368-371.
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 363.

McGraw-Hill Centro Online

Homework
(due by Saturdays)

Compositions and Learning Blog

(due by Sundays)

Quizzes &
Exams (time
frame from
Saturday to
Monday. 75
minutes)

Register following guidelines

available on Blackboard

Record a video
message
describing
yourself, where
you learned
Spanish, what
you expect
from this
course

Forum 2: Canciones y rimas

infantiles. P. 319-20

Actividades escritas: 9.1C, 9.1H

Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: do all of
them
Actividades de pronunciacin y
ortografa: do all of them
Videoteca: do all of them
Actividades de lecturas: 9.61,
9.63A, 9.63B
Actividades de Yabla: do all of
them

Blog Post 1

Forum 3: Piense en un problema

climtico o ambiental y explique
el tema. Por qu le preocupa?

Actividades escritas: 10.1A,

10.1G
Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: do all of
them
Actividades de pronunciacin y
ortografa: 10.42
Videoteca: do all of them
Actividades de lecturas: 10.61,
10.63
Actividades de Yabla: do all of

Blog Post 2

Oral
(due by
Sundays)

Composition 1: Un da tpico en
la escuela primaria o secundaria.
Think about a typical day when
you were in grade school or high
school. What time did you get
up? What was your daily routine
in school like? After school
activities? Compare your life then
to your life now.

Quiz 1. Ch. 9
& 10

them
Week 4. (June 25-July 1). Chapter 11
Read and do 11.1. Polite Forum 4: Read Un conquistador
commands and 11.2.
original (pp. 390-391), and write
Softening commands.
your answer to question 1 on
398-402
page 391. For the comments add
Read and do 11.3
info about other conquistadores
Present subjunctive,
and compare them with Cabeza
11.4. Past actions in
de Vaca.
progress and 11.5.
Contrast between
Imperfect and Preterite.
402-409.
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 396397
Week 5. (July 2-July 8). Chapter 12
Read and do 12.1.
Forum 5: Escriba una breve
Haber, 12.2. Changes in
composicin contestando a las
States, 12.3. Making
preguntas de la Actividad 11 en la
requests 434-437
p. 423.
Read and do 12.4 Se and
12.5. Past experiences
438-443.
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 431433
Week 6. (July 9-July 15). Chapter 13
Read and do 13.1.
Forum 6: Lea el cuento de las pp.
Adjectives as nouns,
461-462 y explique cul es la
13.2.Demonstrative
moraleja del cuento. Conoce
pronouns and 13.3. Por
alguna historia similar? Cul?
and Para pp. 465-468.
Read and do 13.4
Indirect Object Pronouns
and 13.5 Direct and
Indirect pronouns pp.
469-473
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 463-

Actividades escritas: 11.1 D,

11.1E
Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: do all of
them
Actividades de pronunciacin y
ortografa: 11.4
Videoteca: do all of them
Actividades de lecturas: 11.61 A,
11.63
Actividades de Yabla: do all of
them

Blog Post 3

Actividades escritas: 12.1F,

12.1J, 12.1K, 12.1L
Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: 12.3B,
12.3C, 12.3D, 12.3G, 12.3I
Actividades de pronunciacin y
ortografa: do all of them
Videoteca: do all of them
Actividades de lecturas: 12.63
Actividades de Yabla: do all of
them

Blog Post 4

Actividades escritas: 13.1A,

13.1F, 13.1I
Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: do all of
them
Actividades de pronunciacin y
ortografa: 13.4
Videoteca: 13.51A, 13.51B
Actividades de lecturas: 13.61
Actividades de Yabla: do all of
them

Blog Post 5

Phone calls

Quiz 2: Ch.
11 &12

464
Week 7. (July 16-July 22). Chapter 14
Read and do 14.1
Forum 7: Lea Lazarillo y el ciego
Reciprocal Pronouns and en la p. 494. Y escriba su post
14.2. Ser and estar. pp.
basndose en Un paso ms
498-502.
siguiendo las instrucciones de la
Read and do 14.3 Direct p. 495.
commands, 14.4.
Softened commands and
14.5. Lets pp. 502-511
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 496497
Week 8. (July 23-July 29). Chapter 15
Read and do 15.1.The
Forum 8: Lea EL Eclipse p. 532 y
Future and 15.2.
escriba su post basndose en Un
Subjunctive and 15.3.
paso ms p. 533.
More uses of the
subjunctive pp. 538-544
Read and do 15.4.
Indicative and
Subjunctive and 15.5.
The Conditional pp. 544549.
Make sure you know all
vocabulary on p. 536537

Actividades escritas: 14.1A,

14.1B, 14.1E
Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: do all of
them
Actividades de pronunciacin y
ortografa: 14.4
Videoteca: 14.51B, 14.52
Actividades de lecturas: 14.61
Actividades de Yabla: do all of
them
Actividades escritas: 15.1F,
15.1G, 15.1J, 15.1K
Resumen cultural
Actividades auditivas: do all of
them
Videoteca: all of them
Actividades de lecturas: 15.53A,
15.53B
Actividades de Yabla: do all of
them

Blog Post 6

Blog Post 7
Composition 2: Escriba una
composicin de al menos 150
palabras contestando las
preguntas de la p. 527.

Quiz 3: Ch.
13 &14

ORAL 2.
Prepare un
video en el que
describa cmo
era usted al
principio de
esta clase y
cmo ha
cambiado,
sobre todo en
cuanto al
espaol que ha
aprendido.
Puede contar
qu hizo para
estudiar, cul
fue su rutina,
etc.

CUMULATIVE ON-SITE FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY, AUGUST 2ND, 2012 FROM 10:00AM TO 12:30PM
Forum 9: Valoracin. Explique
qu partes le han gustado ms
del curso y qu partes le han
gustado menos.
A selection of assignments for this class will be used for a self-study research project that the instructors are currently conducting about her teaching practices. Thanks for
your cooperation.
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