Instructor:  Helen Ida Moyer

HIM3K@Virginia.edu

DuckyOaks@embarqmail.com

 

Instructor Bio:  Helen Ida Moyer holds a PhD in Spanish from the University of Virginia and has traveled extensively in Spain, Mexico, and Central and South America.

Dates/Times:  Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, April 2-May 7 (or May 14)

 

Location:  UVa School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Zehmer Hall Lounge

 

Course Description:  Provides reinforcement and continued development of communication skills for those with a knowledge of the basic structure of the Spanish language.  Improves fluency through conversations that focus on discussions of real- life dialogues, outside readings of short stories, and film clips from a movie in Spanish.  Reviews key grammar points, as needed.  Class materials vary each semester to provide on-going opportunities to strengthen conversational skills over time.

 

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:  The goal of this course is to give students an opportunity to maintain and improve their conversational skills in Spanish.  Emphasis will be placed on expanding vocabulary and developing listening comprehension in order to more effectively communicate in the language.  Students will also learn more about Hispanic traditions and way of life as a means to gain a better understanding of the language through culture.

 

Required Texts:  McGraw Hill’s Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation by Jean Yates; and Genevieve Barlow’s Stories from Mexico.

 

Suggested texts, helpful websites:

 

Harper Collins Beginner’s Spanish Dictionary,New York, 2001. 

http://studyspanish.com – Spanish grammar is explained with practice exercises and quizzes

http://spanishdict.com – Check the meaning of any word in this bilingual dictionary

http://spanish-word-a-day.com – Sign up for a bit of Spanish culture everyday!

http://123teachme.com – Featured is a Spanish verb conjugator

 

SCPS Inclement Weather/Emergency Hotline:  924-4364

(Information will NOT be on main U.Va. snow line)

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Class Instruction:  Students will spend the majority of time in class conversing in Spanish, using the vocabulary and structures introduced in the dialogue studied for that week, and they will be encouraged to create their own dialogues as well. The stories read each week will be discussed and set in context with graphics illustrating some of Mexico’s fascinating history.  Students will also practice their listening comprehension skills by watching video clips each week from a very dramatic movie in Spanish: it takes place in Chile where a small family’s traditional wine making business is about to be taken over by a big North American developer.

 

Class Expectations:  Students should study the dialogue and carefully read over the section discussing the key vocabulary and structures used in the dialogue, all designed to help students improve their conversation.  The exercises that follow should be completed and answers checked for immediate feedback.  Students will then be asked to create their own dialogue which should be turned in for feedback from the instructor.  Each week students will read two stories in the bilingual reader which will help them expand their vocabulary while giving them insight into some of the rich cultural heritage of the Mexican people.  In addition, listening comprehension skills can be practiced by using the free audio download of many of the stories.

 

Class Schedule:

 

April 2

• Dialogo: Introducing yourself and others
• Historias:  El sol y la luna (1-8), El enano de Uxmal (27-34)

 

April 9

• Dialogo:  Expressing opinions, likes, and dislikes
• Historias:  Las orejas del conejo (9-14), El leon y el grillo (15-20)

 

April 16

• Dialogo: Striking up a conversation
• Historias:  Los novios (21-26),  Un lecho de rosas (35-40)

 

April 23

• Dialogo: Making dates and appointments
• Historias:  Atzimba, la princesa (41-46),  La Virgen de Guadalupe (47-52)

 

April 30

• Dialogo:  Describing people, places, and things
• Historias:  La china poblana (53-58), El fraile y el alacran (59-66)

 

May 7

• Dialogo:  Expressing wants and needs
• Historias:  La Casa de los Azulejos (73-78), El misterio de la Calle de Olmedo (79-86)

 

*May 14    (Extra class)

          Fiesta  at the instructor’s home to celebrate the Spanish you have been learning

            Historias:  El animalito que canta (67-72),  El premio gordo (102-110)

 

Communication:  My goal is to respond to student e-mails within a day or two.

Resources:  The suggested materials are available at online booksellers, and the suggested websites can be accessed via the Internet.

Technical Support Contacts:

• Login/Password: scpshelpdesk@virginia.edu
• UVaCollab: collab-support@virginia.edu
• BbCollaborate (Elluminate) Support: idtteam@virginia.edu or

         http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com

U.Va. Policies:

University Email Policies: Students are expected to check their official U.Va. email addresses on a frequent and consistent basis to remain informed of University communications, as certain communications may be time sensitive. Students who fail to check their email on a   regular basis are responsible for any resulting consequences.

University of Virginia Honor System:  All work should be pledged in the spirit of the Honor System at the University of Virginia.   The instructor will indicate which assignments and activities are to be done individually and which permit collaboration. The following pledge should be written out at the end of all quizzes, examinations, individual assignments and papers:  “I pledge that I have neither given nor received help a on this examination (quiz, assignment, etc.)”.  The pledge must be signed by the student. For more information please visit Honor System.

Special Needs: It is the policy of the University of Virginia to accommodate students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state laws. Any SCPS student with a disability who needs accommodation (e.g., in arrangements for seating, extended time for examinations, or note-taking, etc.), should contact the Learning Needs and Evaluation Center (LNEC) and provide them with appropriate medical or psychological documentation of his/her condition. Once accommodations are approved, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the instructor about logistics and implementation of accommodations. Accommodations for test taking should be arranged at least 14 business days in advance of the date of the test(s). Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the LNEC: 434-243-5180/Voice, 434-465-6579/Video Phone, 434-243-5188/Fax. Further policies and statements available: U.Va. Special Needs Website

For further policies and statements about student rights and responsibilities, please see U.Va  Website