Mark Amengual Watson

Self pacing: you can take the time you need to do the online portion of the course as long as you submit the activities by the deadline.
Immediate feedback: you will receive your results immediately.
Opportunity for improvement: you can submit online activities more than once and thus be able to learn from your errors.
Easy access: you can complete online activities from any computer which accesses the internet through a reliable internet browser (preferably Explorer), and with QuickTime 7.1.6 plug-in and Flash plug-in
Varying activity types: the wide variety of activity types accommodates different learning styles.

On-line instruction concentrates on the acquisition of grammar and vocabulary, the development of listening, reading and writing skills, and exposure to Hispanic culture. Each week, you will devote a minimum of 6 hours to complete the following on-line assignments:

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, structured input and structured output.

Off-line homework

During the course of the semester you will write a total of 8 escrituras, 5 of which are due at the beginning of the class on dates indicated in the syllabus (see syllabus for topics and length). If you are not in class the day an escritura is due, you must email your escritura to your instructor by the time class begins on that day. Do not leave any escrituras in your instructors mailbox. You are still responsible for supplying your instructor with a hard copy of the escritura at the next class period. Late escrituras will be downgraded by 1 point if received after class on the due date, and 1 additional point for each day thereafter. These escrituras must be typed, double-spaced, and printed with Times New Roman 12 point font, 1 margins, and legible. If an assignment is not typed, there will be a .5 point deduction in the escrituras grade. The remaining 3 escrituras must be written in class on the dates specified on the syllabus. Your instructor will provide the topic in class on that day and you can use your textbook, notes and dictionary. If you miss class on one of these days, you will have to contact your instructor and provide a documented excuse within 2 class periods to make arrangements to write it in his/her office. All escrituras are worth 10 points each.

In-class learning

You will meet with your instructor and your classmates twice a week. Class time is tailored to promote speaking skills through communicative activities using the structures and vocabulary that students will have practiced on the computer prior to class. Therefore, your instructor will not provide extensive grammar and vocabulary instruction. Instead, the instructors role in the classroom is that of a communication facilitator. If you need help with grammar and/or vocabulary see your instructor during office hours. You are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. However, please do not expect your instructor to repeat a class that you have missed nor to answer questions about on-line assignments that you have never covered yourself on-line. Do this work first and then see your instructor if you have questions. Finally, please bare in mind that you are responsible for having the required materials for class.

Participation Criteria

Each week, your instructor will evaluate your participation level and determine a grade. You will have the opportunity to earn 100 points for each week.

You may contact your instructor during office hours to review your participation grades. Should there be any disagreement, you should resolve it immediately with your instructor. No excuses will be accepted to recover participation points lost because of absences. If you provide written documentation about your absence(s) and your instructor considers it acceptable, your participation grade will be adjusted accordingly.

Your instructor has the prerogative to give no participation grade or exams to students who arrive more than 10 minutes late to class or who leave more than 10 minutes early.

Exams

There will be four exams in this course: two exams, one final exam, and one oral exam. Please note that exam/course grades are not curved.

Exams 1 and 2:

these exams will include listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and a short essay (50 words). These exams are not cumulative. The exams will take place during regular class time on the dates specified in the syllabus.

A) Part I will consist of listening comprehension and writing (SPAN 1: 50 words; SPAN 2: 75 words; SPAN 3: 100 words) and will take place in class during your last class period.
B) A 1-hour 50-minute section (Part II) will consist of the following sections: grammar, vocabulary, and reading. Date and location will be announced during the semester. Do not make any plans (e.g., travel) for the week of final exams until you are notified via email by the Registrar of the date and time of the exam. Even though someone else makes travel plans for you, you are responsible to be at the exam on the day it is given. You are responsible for petitioning for a conflict final exam if necessary. Petitions for conflict final exams must be handled through eLion. See university calendar: (http://registrar.psu.edu/academic_calendar/calendar_index.cfm) for filing period for conflict final exams.

The oral exam: The oral exam consists of a 5-minute dialogue between two people. The pair will receive a card with a brief description of the topic for the dialogue and will be given 5/4 minutes to prepare the presentation prior to the dialogue. The dialogues will provide the students with the opportunity to use the verb tenses and other material learned during the semester. You can use the textbook, a dictionary and your notes to prepare for the presentation, but you will not be allowed to have anything with you during the presentation.

Assessment Components

Testing procedures will be representative of the type of instruction, content and practice offered in the course. The assessment components for this course are:

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

Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Final exam 20%
Oral exam 5%

Grading Scale (based upon department 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