Elise Claire Schell - Teaching With Technology

Navigation Links
Home

Using Technology
Course Description
Useful Links
Teaching Philosophy

Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese

ANGEL

Spanish 002 at Penn State

Spanish 002 is an introductory Spanish language class that is part of the Spanish Basic Language Program (SBLP) at Penn State.  The SBLP emphasizes communication in the target language with a focus on form through student-centered content and coursework.   Spanish 002 is designed for students who have taken 2 or 3 years of Spanish in high school, or who have completed Spanish 001 at Penn State.   Spanish 002 blends personal interaction in the classroom with a technology component that appeals to students’ visual and auditory learning capabilities. 

Spanish 002 is a 4-credit course that meets in a classroom twice a week for 50 minutes.  Students fulfill the remaining credits by completing listening, reading and other activities in the form of weekly assignments online.   

The goal of the SBLP is to develop and improve communication skills when listening, reading, speaking and writing in Spanish.  The technology component allows for self-paced learning while providing immediate feedback.

Students are evaluated on class participation, brief writing assignments known as escrituras, 3 exams, ANGEL (online) homework, and a short oral exam / conversation.    

Topics Covered

Grammar

• Review of present indicative, ser vs. estar, saber vs.conocer, ir + a + infinitive
• Preterite tense
• Direct / indirect object pronouns
• Gustar & similar verbs
• Reflexive verbs & pronouns
• Pronouns after prepositions
• Imperfect tense
• Preterite vs. Imperfect
• Comparatives & Superlatives
• Se impersonal
• Formal Commands
• Present Subjunctive Tense

Vocabulary

• Clothes & Shopping
• Sports
• Weather & Seasons
• Holidays, Traditions, & Celebrations
• Professions
• The Interview
• Food & Dining

Prerequisites

Spanish 002 is designed for students who have successfully completed Spanish 001 at PSU, or the equivalent level at another university, or who have had the equivalent of two or three years of high school Spanish within four years immediately preceding admission to college.

Homework

The ANGEL assignments for Spanish 002 focus on the acquisition of grammar and vocabulary, the development of listening, reading and writing skills, and exposure to Hispanic culture. Each week, students will complete online activitiesm, including:

1. Grammar and vocabulary: each grammar and vocabulary folder includes a presentation (normally a video with English explanations for grammar and a PowerPoint presentation for vocabulary), questions based on the presentation (multiple choice, matching, & fill-in-the-blank)
2. Pronunciation (1 activity per week).
3. Listening comprehension and culture (1 audio/video activity per week)
4. Reading comprehension and culture (1 activity per week)

Sample Reading Comprehension Activity: El potro del señor cura

Students will also write 8 escrituras over the course of the semester on topics relevant to themselves and their lives. Escrituras will be evaluated for content, grammar, vocabulary and organization/mechanics.

Evaluation & Grading

In addition to ANGEL homework and escrituras, students will take 3 written exams, (combining listening, reading, writing) and one oral exam / conversation. Because the goal of language is communication, class participation including individual participation in class activities and use of Spanish in the classroom is essential. Testing procedures will be representative of the type of instruction, content and practice offered in the course. The assessment components for Spanish 002 are:

Participation                                        15%    
On-line assignments                            10%    
Writing activities (escrituras)               10%
Exams                                                

1. Exam 1                                          20%
2. Exam 2                                          20%
3. Final exam                                     20%
4. Oral exam                                        5%

_____________________________________

Grading Scale (based upon dept. guidelines)

95.0-100%       A                 
90.0-94.9%      A-                 75.0-79.9%      C+
87.9-89.9%      B+                70.0-74.9%      C
83.3-87.8%      B                   60.0-69.9%      D
80.0-83.2%      B-                 59.9% ↓        F

The Pennsylvania State University. Copyright 2008.
Last updated on: April 29, 2008 9:32 PM
Email: ecs138@psu.edu