SPANISH 111-212 COURSE GUIDE and FAQs
Course Web Sites:
Your instructor will maintain communication through your course website on Individual sections are also on Canvas at: learn.nmsu.edu – be sure to activate your MyNMSU account in order to have access to the Canvas course.
Important Contact Information:
Prof. Jeff Longwell, Coordinator–Breland RM 206 – email: jelongwe@nmsu.edu
Please contact him for general questions and concerns about the course.
PLEASE ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR FOR THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY GIVEN IT TO YOU.
Required Materials: Textbook indicated on course calendar
Recommended: A bilingual dictionary (español/inglés, inglés/español)
¡¡¡IMPORTANT!!! Specific course calendars, grading components and attendance policy for individual courses are available in your CANVAS course and will be handed out on the first day of classes.
Is this the right class for you?
Spanish 111 and 112 are the first two courses in the four-course sequence (111, 112, 211, 212) which fulfills the Departmental Language Requirement for many departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students who enroll in Spanish 111 will need a “C” or better in order to proceed to Spanish 112. Likewise, students in 112 will need a “C” or better in order to move on to Spanish 211. The minimum standard for an S grade in a course taught through the College of Arts and Sciences (which includes all Spanish courses) is also a “C”. If this is your first Spanish class at NMSU, you are required to take the Spanish Placement Exam.
The Spanish Placement Exam may be taken online from your home or any of the computer labs (http://babel2.nmsu.edu/quizzes/SP.asp ).
The free test will do an excellent job for recommending the right Spanish course for you. When you are finished, read carefully the evaluation at the end of the test. If you have any questions, call the Language office at 646-3408. There is no time limit for the test.
Spanish 111 IS for students that:
1. Have never had Spanish before, or
2. Have placed into Spanish 111 by taking the Spanish Placement Exam (please show your Exam results to your instructor), or
3. Have had one semester in high school,
4. Had Spanish in middle school or a long time ago.
Spanish 111 IS NOT for students that:
1. Have had more than one semester of Spanish in high school. If you have had more than this, please take the Spanish Placement Exam and/or move on to Spanish 112, or
2. Have lived for an extended period of time in a Spanish-speaking country, or
3. Have received credit for college-level Spanish via the AP test or some other exam that offers college credit, or
4. Grew up around other Spanish-speakers (grandparents, parents, etc.), or
5. Grew up speaking Spanish.
Spanish 112 IS for students that:
1. Have successfully completed Spanish 111 at NMSU (with a C or better) or an equivalent course at another university or community college, or
2. Have placed into Spanish 112 by taking the Spanish Placement Exam, or
3. Have had one year of high school Spanish
Spanish 112 IS NOT for students that:
1. Have had more than one year of Spanish in high school. If you have had more than this, please take the Spanish Placement Exam and/or move on to Spanish 211, or
2. Did not successfully complete Spanish 111 at NMSU (with a C or better) or an equivalent course at another university or community college, or
3. Have lived for an extended period of time in a Spanish-speaking country, or
4. Grew up around other Spanish-speakers (grandparents, parents, etc.), or
5. Grew up speaking Spanish.
Spanish 211 IS for students that:
1. Have successfully completed Spanish 112 at NMSU (with a C or better) or an equivalent course at another university or community college, or
2. Have placed into Spanish 211 by taking the Spanish Placement Exam (please show your Exam results to your instructor), or
3. Have had two years of Spanish in high school.
Spanish 211 IS NOT for students that:
1. Have had more than two years of Spanish in high school. If you have had more than this, please take the Spanish Placement Exam and/or move on to Spanish 212, or
2. Have lived for an extended period of time in a Spanish-speaking country, or
3. Have received credit for college-level Spanish via the AP test or some other exam that offers college credit, or
4. Grew up around other Spanish-speakers (grandparents, parents, etc.), or
5. Grew up speaking Spanish.
Spanish 212 IS for students that:
1. Have successfully completed Spanish 211 at NMSU (with a C or better) or an equivalent course at another university or community college, or
2. Have placed into Spanish 212 by taking the Spanish Placement Exam, or
3. Have had more than two years of high school Spanish
Spanish 212 IS NOT for students that:
1. Have had more than two years of Spanish in high school. If you have had more than this, please take the Spanish Placement Exam, or
2. Did not successfully complete Spanish 211 at NMSU (with a C or better) or an equivalent course at another university or community college, or
3. Have lived for an extended period of time in a Spanish-speaking country, or
4. Grew up around other Spanish-speakers (grandparents, parents, etc.), or
5. Grew up speaking Spanish.
Spanish Courses for Heritage Language Speakers
Spanish 111, 112, 211, and 212 are not recommended for those who have learned Spanish at home or in a setting in which Spanish is the dominant language, because there is a better, faster and easier way to learn to read, write, and speak professionally in Spanish if you grew up in a family where Spanish was spoken. Please take the Spanish Placement Test to find out your appropriate level (see previous section). If you have questions about this procedure or placement in general, it would be helpful to contact the Non-native Speakers Program Coordinator, Professor Jeff Longwell.
What will I be able to do after this course?
Spanish 111, 112, 211, and 212 are designed to develop basic proficiency in oral and written Spanish. This course is designed to teach Spanish in a communicative or natural way—that means we will learn by doing and participating in Spanish. Your instructor won’t speak English in the classroom, nor will he/she spend long sessions discussing grammar. He or she is, however, available to answer any questions (in English or Spanish) after class, during office hours, in the language lab, or by appointment. Come to class every day with an open mind toward learning about, and in Spanish, and this class will be one of your most exciting and successful ones. Pay particular attention to the sections on the Exam Review Guides called the Preguntas Personales, these are the basics of the course.
Absences and Makeup Exams
Please see the Course Calendar and Attendance Policy handout for specific details.
Plagiarism/Copying/Cheating
All work presented in this course must be solely the product of the individual student. Copying, cheating, or handing in identical work on any assignments will be considered academic misconduct and will result in appropriate administrative action. Important: Seeking help from a Native Speaker of Spanish on a composition and copying another’s workbook exercises are both considered cheating, and will be treated as academic misconduct according to the procedures listed in the student handbook. Sharing answers from the on-line quizzes is also considered as cheating.
Tutoring Assistance
Paid tutors are available through Student Support Services (646-1336). There is free tutoring available at the Zuhl Library. Also, students may consult with any of the instructors at the Language Lab located at Breland 170B.
Scholarships
Each year the Department of Languages and Linguistics offers a number of scholarships. To learn more about them, please visit:
www.nmsu.edu/~langling/scholarship.htm
Classroom Courtesy and the In-class Participation Component of the Grade
You will be expected to show common courtesy to your instructor and fellow students while in class, both of which will enhance your learning experience. This includes not yelling or disrupting the class in any way. Arriving late is an interruption to the flow of the class and we ask that if you do arrive late, that you please make every effort to enter with as little interruption as possible.
A student that WILL receive all the points allotted for the in-class participation component of the grade will:
1. always arrive on-time to class
2. always have homework and other assignments completed before class and turn them in when due as the instructor assigns them or as they are indicated in the course calendar, this includes on-line assignments
3. NOT work on homework during class
4. participate willingly and voluntarily when called upon by the instructor
5. participate in groups during class
6. be courteous to other students and the instructor
The Participation Component of the grade is a subjective portion of the grade and is left to the instructor to decide on the total number of points awarded to a student while taking into consideration the previously mentioned items.
On-line Participation Component:
Since our courses involve a significant amount of work online, the online work is just as important as coming to class. A student that WILL receive all the points allotted for the on-line participation component of the grade will:
1. check in regularly on the days the course is on-line by:
a. visiting the instructor in his/her virtual office hours or in the Language Lab
b. participate in any activities/assignments the instructor may post for the on-line class period
2. complete all the online activities/assignments given by the instructor. This includes, but is not limited to, the online work done in MySpanishLab, recommended chat or Skype sessions, and others.
3. complete all the online work assigned. Points will be deducted for assignments NOT completed.
4. be courteous to other students and the instructor in on-line discussions, and all types of on-line communication.
MySpanishLab and Online Assignments
In Spanish 111, 112, 211, and 212 we will be using the MySpanishLab a lot for the online meetings in our course. You will need to have access to this RIGHT AWAY, so don’t hesitate in gaining access to this valuable tool. If you purchased your text at the NMSU Bookstore, this is the book key code that you purchased. DO NOT THROW THIS AWAY! If you purchased your text from another place, you will have to buy access at the MySpanishLab Website: www.myspanishlab.com .
Some Great Recommendations for Completing Online Assignments in MySpanishLab.
There are several activities assigned for each chapter. You are required to complete ONLY the assignments that are assigned (this will appear on the date that they are due (please see both the Calendar in your MySpanishLab course and the Calendar in Blackboard). There are additional exercises as well that will be great for extra practice, but you will not receive points for them.
As you may already know, completing online assignments requires a great deal of self discipline. There is not an instructor over your shoulder making sure that everything is done. So, we recommend completing a few of the online assignments at a time, rather than waiting until the last minute.
Here are some VERY WISE words on what to do and what not to do. Please feel free to try whichever suits your style.
NOT GOOD: Complete the online exercises the night before they are due. Plan on a long night!! ☺
GOOD: Complete all the activities within a day or two of them being due. Plan on a couple of longish nights!!
BETTER: Work on the online activities on the days we are scheduled for online meetings – that means doing a little over 10 activities on each of those online days. This is very doable, but may take a little more than an hour to complete.
BEST: Work on a few activities every day – and if you do this – only on weekdays (feel free to work on weekends as well, that would only reduce the number of activities per day) – you will only need to do about 5-6 activities per day. These can easily be completed in 30 minutes to an hour depending on the activity. Then, the last few days before the test, you can review the ones that may have given you some trouble.
Please remember that your class will not wait for students to catch up, you need to be responsible enough to do your part. Your instructor will be monitoring the activities in MySpanishLab, if they see that the majority of the class is waiting until just before the due date to complete all the activities, they will shorten the time available on future assignments.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: You do not need to get 100% on all the activities in order to receive full credit, though I recommend that you repeat the activity as many times as you would like until you achieve 100% (this would be the best practice). You actually receive full credit for obtaining 80% or above.
ONE REALLY COOL WAY TO DO THIS WORK. Come to the NMSU Spanish Lab to complete your MySpanishLab work. That way, as we say en español, “matas dos pájaros con un solo tiro.” You’ll kill two birds with one stone. You get credit for doing the MySpanishLab acitivities AND you’ll get credit for being in the Spanish Lab!!!
Culture, Connections, Comparisons (3 Cs) Component
Community Service (20 points)
There are many opportunities to serve the Spanish-speaking community here in Las Cruces and the surrounding area. Contact agencies like La Clínica de Familia, the Munson Senior’s Center, ESL classes (at elementary, middle or high schools) or similar places and arrange to perform some type of service for them. Things might include reading to children (in Spanish), chatting with the elderly (in Spanish). Visit the course website for a form that you will fill out each time you perform community service, this form will ask for proof of service and the signature of someone at the agency/class. Two service opportunities will fulfill the requirement for 20 points. This opportunity may be repeated for up to 40 points.
Guest Speaker (20 points)
Invite a native speaker (or a non-native speaker who is really good) to your class to talk with your classmates for 10 to 15 minutes in Spanish. This activity counts for 20 points out of the points available for the Communities component of the grade and must be scheduled with your instructor. See the Procedure for Guest Speaker Guidelines for information in this guide to see what is expected of you for this activity. May only be done once per semester.
Community Bilingual Scavenger Hunt (10 points)
Discover at least 10 (ten) or more examples of bilingual accommodation in Las Cruces, El Paso, or your hometown. Bilingual accommodation is written instruction provided in at least two languages (i.e., Spanish and English). You must provide physical evidence of the bilingual object (take a picture of a sign, collect pamphlets in both languages, etc.) Include a brief paragraph on why you think it is important for such bilingual accommodation. NOTE: Your scavenger hunt items must all be arranged in a/an notebook/album with the paragraph in the front. Items turned in separately will receive no credit. You must find these things outside your house/apartment/room. We no longer accept labels from products. May be done ONE time.
Photo Collage/Essay (10 points)
If you enjoy photography, take your camera out about in the community (El Paso, Las Cruces, Doña Ana, Mesilla, and communities between Las Cruces and El Paso like La Mesa, La Unión, Vado, etc.) and take pictures of things that identify the Hispanic culture. Arrange the photos in an album or make your own scrapbook presentation of the photos. Include a few lines about why you think the photos show the area’s culture. May be done ONE time.
Experiencia cultural (10 points)
Visit a museum exhibition, a concert, or other activity that is based on Hispanic Culture. Check with your instructor if you are unsure whether the event you are considering qualifies. (Some annual events in the area include the celebrations of el 16 de Septiembre, el Día de los Muertos, and Mariachi Conference during fall semester, the Border Book Festival, the Siglo de Oro theater at the Chamizal memorial in El Paso, and others during the Spring semester). There are other events on campus sponsored by the Center for Latin American and Border Studies, international student organizations, museums, and more. Upcoming events are updated at: www.quia.com/pages/culturalactivities.html
Study Abroad Fair (15 points)
Near the beginning of each semester, the NMSU Office of Study Abroad presents a Study Abroad Fair. This fair is held in Corbett Center and lasts all day long. There are representatives from many universities and language institutes from foreign countries. They present a number of opportunities for you to receive credit at NMSU while studying abroad. Classes that are normally held on the day of the fair are cancelled to allow you to attend. Go to the Department of Languages and Linguistics table at the fair to collect your Passport/Questionnaire in order to receive points.
Noche de Cine (15 points)
Participate in one of the Noche de Cine activities to be held during the semester. Visit the Noche de Cine link on the web page for information on dates, times, and movies to be shown. You will receive a handout at the movie that you will fill out and turn in to your instructor. The number of Noche de Cine activities you may do each semester is up to your instructor.
Tutor Another Student (10 points)
Talk with your instructor about the availability of this option.
Noche Cultural (10 points)
Participate in one of the Noche Cultural activities to be held during the semester. Visit the Noche Cultural link on the web page for information on dates, times, and cultural items to be covered. Possible subjects include: different types of foods, dances, countries, etc. There will be a handout for you to complete and turn in to your instructor.
Historia Familiar (10 points)
Research your family history (family roots) and prepare a pedigree chart or written description of names and places of where your family is from. This chart or write-up should show a minimum of 3-4 generations. Include a paragraph where you discuss what it means to have the heritage you researched.
Video Scavenger Hunt (10 points)
If you want to try your hand at video production (and it doesn’t need to be fancy), videotape a cultural event and present it in DVD or VHS format to your instructor. You must appear in the video and be heard talking about what you are seeing or doing.
Discover Languages (10 points)
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is inviting all to Discover Languages. Visit their website at: www.actfl.org . Write a one page paper on the importance of learning a foreign language, and in this case – Spanish – in your future.
Comida en la clase (10 points)
Research a food dish from a Spanish-speaking show the recipe (in Spanish) to your instructor. Arrange to prepare the dish and bring it to class. When you bring it to class, be prepared to talk about the food, and the country from which it comes. There are a limited number of availabilities for this activity during the semester and YOU MUST SIGN UP with your instructor for a specific date.
Experiencia cultural (10 points)
Visit a museum exhibition, a concert, or other activity that is based on Hispanic Culture. Check with your instructor if you are unsure whether the event you are considering qualifies. (Some annual events in the area include the celebrations of el 16 de Septiembre, el Día de los Muertos, and Mariachi Conference during fall semester, the Border Book Festival, the Siglo de Oro theater at the Chamizal memorial in El Paso, and others during the Spring semester). There are other events on campus sponsored by the Center for Latin American and Border Studies, international student organizations, museums, and more. Upcoming events are updated at: www.quia.com/pages/culturalactivities.html
Cultural BLOG (10 points)
Your instructor may establish or recommend that you establish a space where you and your classmates and others can carryout a dialogue throughout the semester on things you learn about the culture of different Spanish-speaking communities and countries.
Spanish Lab Community (points vary)
Go to Breland Hall 170 B during the scheduled times (see schedule at the Spanish Lab Community link). Please see days and times listed and what types of activities will be done. Activities may include: conversation groups, grammar reviews, test reviews, cultural presentations (music, videos, etc.), games, help with technological issues, and much more!
DO IT ON YOUR OWN!
If you decide to participate in or attend any cultural event related to Hispanic culture in this or another city during the semester that isn’t covered above, you may receive points for your experience. Let your instructor know ahead of time, and save a token of proof from the event. See your instructor if you need ideas, or just go exploring!
Procedure for Guest Speaker Option in Spanish
In Spanish 111-212, you have the option of inviting a Spanish speaker to class, and asking them a series of questions in front of the other students. The primary purpose is that we have many different people talking to us throughout the semester, about subjects that we are currently studying. The guest speaker option counts for 20 points in the Communities component.
Here’s how it works:
• Sign up for a day to bring a guest speaker. Even if you don’t know for sure what day would be best for you, sign up anyway, and then change your date later if you need to. There are limited opportunities for this and your instructor must pre-approve this activity.
• Think of whom to invite. Your guest should preferably be a native speaker of Spanish, but a very good non-native speaker is all right too. Your guest should be willing to commit a maximum of 15 minutes at the beginning of a class period, and for the sake of your own grade, should be reliable.
• Prepare 10 - 15 questions, with special emphasis on what we are studying at the time. (The section on Preguntas Personales is a good source of questions.) Go over them with your guest to make sure they feel prepared. Double check with your guest the time and place of the class.
• On the appointed day, make sure you and your guest arrive at class early. Ask your questions, and stand with your guest while the teacher and students ask theirs.
• Give your guest a thank-you note. You may wish to follow the model on the other side of this paper.
Your presentation of your guest speaker will be evaluated as follows:
Diarios
DO NOT USE AN ONLINE TRANSLATOR TO WRITE YOUR DIARIOS… WE CAN TELL IF YOU HAVE USED ONE!!!
You will write at least once per chapter in a journal that you will share with your instructor and, on occasion, with your classmates. You will always be allowed to start this writing in class, and often you will be able to finish it in class. Your Instructor will suggest certain topics related to the work you are doing in class, but you will always have the option to write on any topic you choose. When you turn your journal in for review, your instructor will review what you have written and respond with general comments and suggestions on grammar and content.
Your instructor will not give detailed corrections, though you may visit your instructor during their office hours for specific help. The journal is meant to stimulate more writing and more thought in Spanish on your part; consequently, you will not be graded on how many errors you make, but on whether you did make the effort to write at each opportunity.
A minimally satisfactory performance might include a full paragraph for each journal entry assigned in class. Writing just one or two lines is not considered satisfactory. However, students may write as much as they would like. This may be done via email with your instructor or using a paper notebook, your instructor will indicate which will be used in the class.
Clave para corregir composiciones
d -- deletreo/ spelling-wrong letters
o -- ortografía-acento diacrítico/ spelling-accent missing
f -- forma (de la palabra, verbo mal conjugado, etc.) incorrect form (word, verb)
t -- tiempo verbal equivocado/ wrong verb tense
a -- aspecto equivocado (imperfecto/pretérito)/ wrong verbal aspect
m -- modo equivocado (indicativo/subjuntivo/imperativo)/ incorrect mood (indicative/subjunctive/imperative--command)
v -- vocabulario (a common vocab. mistake is between ser and estar)
c -- concordancia (entre adjetivos y sustantivos, sujeto y verbo) agreement (between adjectives and nouns, subject and verb)
pf -- forma del pronombre equivocada/ wrong pronoun form
pt -- tipo de pronombre equivocado/ wrong pronoun type
prep -- preposición equivocada/ wrong preposition
art -- artículo incorrecto/wrong article (such as using el/la instead of un/una)
conj -- conjunción equivocada/ wrong conjunction
rel -- pronombre relativo equivocado/ wrong relative pronoun
(quien, que, de quien, de que, los/las cuales el/la/lo cual)
¿? -- ¿No entiendo!/ Huh!
op -- orden de las palabras/ word order
fa -- falta algo/ something missing
wo -- word order / switch the words around
Accents and International Characters in WORD
Written accents and other markings not used in English (ñ, the up-side-down exclamation point - ¡, and the up-side-down question mark - ¿) are part of written Spanish and should be included in your typed compositions and other written work. You can write in these accents and marks by hand after your document is printed, or, better yet, you can include these marks in the document itself. Instructions for adding accents and other important marks for the two major types of word processing programs are included here:
International Characters in WORD
The best way to use the international Spanish characters in your composition assignments is to select the Spanish language keyboard on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button and then Control Panel
2. Then Click on Regional and Language Options
3. Select the tab that says Languages
4. Now click on the Details button
5. Now click on the Add button
6. Under the Input Language menu, select Spanish International Sort
7. Click on the Apply button
8. You’re done
Each time you want to type using the Spanish keyboard now, you must select it. There should be an icon on the task bar down by the clock. If it says EN, then your English keyboard is selected, if it says ES, then your Spanish keyboard is selected. To switch keyboards, simply click on the icon and a menu will appear with the different keyboard styles. Click on the one you want to use.
To Produce: Press:
á the apostrophe key followed by the letter “a”
é the apostrophe key followed by the letter “e”
í the apostrophe key followed by the letter “i”
ó the apostrophe key followed by the letter “o”
ú the apostrophe key followed by the letter “a”
ü the shift and apostrophe keys at the same time, then “u”
ñ the colon and semicolon key
¡ the += key
¿ the shift key and the += key at the same time
If you have difficulty with this, here is another option:
To get: Hold down the “Alt” key and then press the following numbers on the number pad on the right hand side of the keyboard:
á 160
é 130
í 161
ó 162
ú 163
ü 129
ñ 164
¡ 173
¿ 168
If, for some reason, the proper characters do not appear, they are available by using the Insert Symbol command under the Insert menu on the Word tool bar.
How to Study for Exams in Spanish 111 - 212
Exams in Spanish courses are meant to support the efforts you will be making inside and outside the classroom to learn Spanish. Consequently, a student who thoughtfully prepares the short homework assignments, fully engages in classroom activities, and makes an effort at all times to make meaningful new words and structures as they are encountered, will find the tests to be very predictable and even fun. Remember to review important items from previous chapters as well because the purpose of an exam is to consolidate our learning.
Please take advantage of the Practice Tests in MySpanishLab. They, along with the sections in your text called ¿Cómo andas? are excellent reviews and preparations.
All Spanish exams are “cumulative” in the sense that we don't want to forget how to say “Buenos días” just because we have learned “Buenas noches.” This is good news, though, because structures and vocabulary previously encountered constantly reappear, gradually becoming second nature to us, and thus becoming fully-incorporated into our Spanish-speaking selves.
Minors and Majors in Spanish
To minor in Spanish, you need 18 credits past the 100 level, of which 6 can be at the 200 level (for example, 211 and 212). After these six credits at the 200 level, a student only needs 4 more classes (totaling 12 credits) at the 300 or 400 level, to receive a minor in Spanish. Two of these classes must be Spanish 313 (Advanced Grammar) and Spanish 314 (Spanish Composition). Students who complete these classes should fill out an application for a minor in Spanish in the Languages and Linguistics office, Breland 222.
To receive a double major in Spanish, you need 24 credits (8 classes) at the 300 or 400 level, two of which must be Spanish 313 (Advanced Grammar) and Spanish 314 (Spanish Composition). Student seeking a double major (or who wish to major only in Spanish) should go to the Languages and Linguistics office, Breland 222, to be assigned an advisor.
A minor or double major in Spanish can be obtained with surprising speed, especially if a student combines study on campus with intensive study in a Spanish-speaking country. For information about receiving credit for foreign study, see Information on Study Abroad below.
Information on Study Abroad
For students that complete Spanish 211 and 212 can participate in the intensive language experience mentioned above and receive credit at an accelerated pace. For example, if a student studies for one month abroad during the summer, they can receive up to 6 credits for Spanish 305 and 325. SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL AID ARE AVAILABLE. Students who wish to explore possibilities for studying abroad as part of their education at New Mexico State may wish to visit the Study Abroad Office Website at:
http://studyabroad.nmsu.edu
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