Course+Information

Below is a copy of the class syllabus.


 * Participation Grade**

Your participation grade is all self-evaluated using the "Informe" found under the "Assignments" tab of this website. The Informe is composed of five sections. (Everything listed in this posting is available in the syllabus or in the Introduction of your textbook.)


 * Asistencia (Attendance)**

This section has little places for you to check when you attend class. If you arrived to class less than five minutes late and stay until the end of class, you can check the box and award yourself all five points. For every five minutes of class missed, you lose one point. At the end of the lesson/chapter, add up all of your points and write the total at the column on the right.

If you are absent one class period, you may make it up by attending another teacher's class. For example, if you miss the second day of Lesson 3, you may attend another day of Lesson 3 with a different teacher. If you choose to do this, you must get the teacher to sign and date the comments section of your informe, so that I have evidence that you attended the alternate class. You can only make up seven (7) total absences this way. Remember as well, that you can only have three (3) unexcused absences before your grade starts to be affected. Although you give your own participation grade, it is important to know that I also keep track of attendance. Remember to be obedient to the honor code.


 * Manual para estudiantes [Actividades Escritas] (Workbook)**

It is expected that you complete the entire workbook over the course of SPAN 101 and 102. After each lesson, you will score your completion of the workbook. If you did everything, give yourself five points. If you completed half of the workbook exercises, give yourself 2.5 points. I may ask you to hand in some of your workbook. In this case, you will receive homework points separate from your participation points. Be sure to complete the entire workbook and all of the assignments.


 * Manual para estudiantes [Actividades Auditivas con Online Media] (Online Media Activities)**

At the end of every workbook section, you will find a section titled "Actividades Auditivas". You will complete these exercises by following the link titled "Online Media" in the "Important Links" tab of this website. Select the correct language, workbook, chapter, and file (there is usually only one file per chapter). The audio will then start playing. You should listen to the file to fill in the blanks found in the workbook. These activities increase your hearing comprehension. There are also several sections where you will be asked to repeat words, phrases, or sentences. This will help increase your pronunciation accuracy. Be sure to complete the whole section. It should not take more than 45 minutes for each lesson. It may seem like a lot of work, but it will only take about 7 hours of time through the whole semester. These activities are extremely beneficial to your ability to speak Spanish.


 * Learning Web**

Learning Web is an interactive program meant to help in your reading and listening comprehension. You need to visit the link titled "Learning Web" in the "Important Links" tab on this website. At the bottom of the webpage, you will find a link to install the software on your computer. Once you have it installed and open, select Hablame and the current lesson. Use this program to read and listen. Once you can read the dialogs and escenas, listen to them to see if you can understand everything that is being said. If you do not, click on the line to hear it again. Follow along until you can understand everything being said. Sentences like the ones used in Learning Web will be used on the tests. You must do one hour of practice every chapter. This is worth another five points


 * Laboratorio de conversación (Conversation Lab)**

Starting in the third week of class, you will be able to attend conversation lab. This will give you the opportunity to practice Spanish with a native Spanish speaker. It is required that you do at least one hour of conversation lab per lesson. If you complete it, award yourself 15 points. If not, then write a zero. More details on these labs will be available later. Until the third week, you need to replace this hour of practice with an additional hour of practice with a classmate or friend.


 * Práctica oral con compañeros (Oral Practice with Colleagues)**

This section is simple conversation practice with a classmate or friend. Each lesson/chapter, you are required to speak Spanish for two hours. You may do dialogs from the book or unscripted speech. Bring a dictionary. It is good to practice new sentences and words. If you are unsure about how to say something, write it down and bring it to class or conversation lab. That way, you can learn what YOU want to say, and not just what I want you to be able to say. For each hour you speak Spanish, award yourself ten points.


 * Trabajo adicional (Additional Work)**

Each chapter, I will give you some activity that you can complete in order to gain 5 extra credit points. It could be a cultural activity or a worksheet. If you complete it, award yourself five extra credit points.


 * Testing Center Information**

Operating Hours: M-Th: 8 am - 9 pm F: 8 am - 6 pm Sa: 10 am - 6 pm

All exams are administered in **B153 JFSB** (north hallway in the lower level). Taking an exam is accomplished in two steps:


 * First, sign up for an exam**

You must sign up for an exam first in order to take it. Students who are not signed-up for an exam will not be allowed to take it. The sign-up computers are located in B153, but are accessed through the secondary entrance to that room. Click where it says “Sign up for an Exam.” You must then enter your student ID number and choose your course. Then, click on "Search for my name."

The first time you do this, the computer is going to ask you for a password. It can be any password you want and it can include letters or numbers.

The computer then shows you what exam and times are available for you based on the course in which you are enrolled. Choose which time you want to take your exam by clicking on the circle next to the time you want. Once you have chosen your time, click on “Sign me up.” The computer confirms the time and date when you will take the exam. You can sign up one week in advance for an exam.

If you need to change the time you signed up for, follow the same process. When you sign up for the new time, the computer will inform you that you are already signed up for a different time and ask you if you want to change or keep the old time.

If you have forgotten what time you signed up for, you can click on the “Edit Your Tests and Info” button. The computer will ask for your ID number and password. A screen will come up that shows you what exam you are scheduled for and what day and time the exam is. You can erase that signup information from this screen. You can also change your password. If you need to take an exam late or early, you will need to obtain the late form from your teacher.

Early exams are granted in extreme cases only. Late tests require you to pay a $5 late fee at the desk in the HLRC (1141 JFSB) before you will be admitted to the lab. For either case, the lab attendant will help you sign up for the exam.

Remember that password because you will need it every time you sign up for an exam. Once you have entered a password, the computer will ask you to enter it every time you sign up for an exam. **Second, show up for the exam**

Exams start every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour during regular hours of operation. We start admitting students at 5 minutes before the testing period (55 and 25 of each hour) and continue until 10 minutes past the testing period (10 and 40 of each hour). At this latter time, vacant slots are given to others. No one will be allowed to take an exam any later than that. Latecomers will be required to sign up for a different time. This procedure ensures available computers for students coming the next hour.

Please leave your bags, packs, and coats in the cubbyholes provided inside the lab. No books of any type are allowed. You are allowed, however, to bring one sheet of empty scratch paper, for which you must leave your ID card with the lab assistant. Since you are working with computers, there is a categorical ban on all food, drink, and any other type of comestibles inside the lab. BYU standards are upheld, so please come dressed appropriately. Those not adhering to the dress and grooming standards of the Honor Code will not be allowed to take an exam.

Bring your BYU ID card. Persons who do not present an ID card will not be allowed to take the exam. If you bring scratch paper, you must leave your ID card with the lab assistant.

Once your ID has been checked, you are free to sit down at an available computer and take the exam. The computer will provide you with a list of available exams. Click on the exam you need to take, and the computer will start that exam. Click on “Begin.” The computer will then ask for your student ID and confirm your identity. Then the exam will begin. Once you begin an exam, you will not be allowed to leave the room for any reason, so it is important to take care of any personal business before entering the room and beginning an exam.

Follow closely the directions in the exam. The exam itself has characteristics much like a paper exam in that you may jump to different sections, return to skipped questions, and change responses. The “Menu” button will take you to the last page where you can check for questions you have not answered. Clicking on the list of missed questions, as well as the list of all questions within the exam, will take you the pages with those particular questions. Click on “The End” once you are satisfied with your work. The exam will end at that point, and you will receive your results from your teacher later.

You are then free to leave. Please make sure to push in your chair behind you and retrieve any items you may have left inside the cubbyholes. If you encounter any problems with the exam, make sure to inform the lab attendant on duty.