SPAN 3125: ORAL PROFICIENCY
SYLLABUS

Spring 2012 / Dr. Folkart

CLASS TIME: MWF 1:25 - 2:15

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is the first semester of the sequence 3125-3126. This course provides opportunities for students to improve their oral proficiency in Spanish through participation in a variety of oral exercises and exchanges: performances, debates, controlled discussions, narrations, and interviews. While conversing on a variety of topics, around structured exercises and contexts, students will explore and evaluate cultural differences between Hispanic and Anglo cultures.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The ultimate course objective is to achieve a proficiency rating of "Intermediate High" on the ACTFL scale. This means that by the end of the semester the student should be able to:

• "handle successfully most uncomplicated communication tasks and social situations;
  
• initiate, sustain, and bring to closure a general conversation
• with a number of strategies appropriate to a range of circumstances and topics;
• and provide evidence of connected discourse, particularly for simple narration and/or description."
  

Students will further learn to overcome linguistic shortcomings with communicative strategies such as pause fillers, stalling devices, and circumlocution. In order to reach the goals of the course, students will need to take advantage of every possible opportunity to speak, both in class and in other venues. Reading, listening, and writing skills will be practiced along with oral proficiency, since language building requires the integration of all these four major skills.

PREREQUISITE:

Students will be admitted only after an oral interview administered by the professor during the first week of class. Students should attend class on the first day to make an appointment with the professor for an individual oral interview. Only those who demonstrate an Intermediate-Mid level of proficiency in their interview will be admitted. No native or Advanced-level speakers will be accepted. Since class size is limited to ten students, priority will be given to students according to the listing in the Force Add Policy found on the Spanish Program webpage, http://www.fll.vt.edu/Spanish.

CLASS FORMAT:

The class will consist of hands-on oral practice so as to improve the students' oral proficiency skills. In class students will be guided through a variety of communicative contexts that will engage them to speak appropriately within them, using adequate vocabulary and grammatical structures. Homework, to be completed in advance, is assigned in order to maximize class time. It is essential that written homework and class activities be conscientiously prepared.

TEXTBOOK AND WEBSITE:

Mejor dicho. García, Carmen and Emily Spinelli.
Class website: http://www.fll.vt.edu/Folkart/newdatabase/wholething.htm

• Username: hosting.spanish
  
• Password: spanish
  

TESTING AND EVALUATION:

Evaluation:

This is a PASS/FAIL course. The final grade will be determined primarily on the basis of the student's preparation of the assignments and participation at the level of Intermediate-High in class discussions and activities. Students are expected to have reviewed the assigned readings before each class meeting. Most of the assignments review grammatical concepts and present useful communication strategies, which will then be reinforced in the daily oral activities. The final oral interview will weigh significantly in determining the student's level of proficiency. The student must reach the level of Intermediate-High to pass the course. Furthermore, students who have not attained the level of Intermediate-High will not be admitted to 3126.

Attendance:

Since attendance is crucial to your success in this course, more than THREE absences will result in failure of the course. This policy will be strictly enforced. Do not squander your three absences! Save them for the very end of the semester, since things usually go wrong when you least expect it and you do not want to fail the course because you got the flu or your car broke down one day during the last week of class. Only serious and documented illness or personal situation will be considered as a justification for absence beyond the third absence and are excused only in rare cases, at the discretion of the professor.

Class Preparation and Participation:

Language building is not a fragmented endeavor. It stands to reason, then, that oral proficiency cannot be separated entirely from other language skills. Instead, language learning is a spiraling process: what you learn in one area strengthens your skills in other areas. Indeed, studies show that oral proficiency is improved with practice and development of the other skill areas (reading, writing, listening). To help you attain the Intermediate High level, you will be assigned homework that will help you speak orally, without notes, in class. Your thorough preparation before class and active participation (this means volunteering, not waiting to be called on) in class are key components of your grade in this course. Homework will be posted in the "Tarea" folder of the class website. The specific URL is http://www.fll.vt.edu/Folkart/3125/folkarttarea/index.html

Class Presentations:

Throughout the semester each student will be assigned a number of topics which he or she will prepare in advance and present orally in class without notes. Detailed requirements will be announced in class.

Final Exam:

The final exam is the individual oral interview administered the last week of class. Students are expected to attain a proficiency level of Intermediate High (see description above).

DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS:

Any student who has a condition that may prevent full demonstration of his or her abilities should contact the professor personally to discuss learning needs and accomodations. The student should also contact the The Office of the Dean of Students (231-3787), which will send me the necessary documentation. Other helpful services provided by the university include The Cook Counseling Center (231-6557) and Services for Students with Disabilities (231-3788).

HONOR CODE:

All Virginia Tech students are responsible for knowing and abiding by the university's honor code. Please consult the Virginia Tech Honor Code. Your professor subscribes to the Honor System as stated in the University Policies for Student Life Handbook.

 

CLASS SCHEDULE:

SEMANA 1
18 de enero	Entrevistas
20	Entrevistas
SEMANA 2
23	Introducción a la clase; Discusión del sílabo; Entrevistas y presentaciones personales
25	Capítulo preliminar
27	" "
SEMANA 3
30	Capítulo preliminar
1 de febrero	" "
3	Capítulo 1
SEMANA 4
6	" "
8	" "
10	" "
SEMANA 5
13	Capítulo 2
15	" "
17	" "
SEMANA 6
20	Capítulo 3
22	" "
24	" "
SEMANA 7
27	EXAMENES PARCIALES. No hay clase
29	EXAMENES PARCIALES. No hay clase
2 de marzo	EXAMENES PARCIALES. No hay clase
VACACIONES DE PRIMAVERA
SEMANA 8
12	Capítulo 4
14	" "
16	" "
SEMANA 9
19	Capítulo 5
21	" "
23	" "
SEMANA 10
26	Capítulo 6
28	" "
30	" "
SEMANA 11
2 de abril	Capítulo 7
4	" "
6	" "
SEMANA 12
9	Capítulo 8
11	" "
13	" "
SEMANA 13
16	Capítulo 9
18	" "
20	" "
SEMANA 14
23	Capítulo 10
25	" "
27	EXAMEN FINAL - No hay clase
SEMANA 15
30	EXAMEN FINAL - No hay clase
2 de mayo	EXAMEN FINAL - No hay clase