Syllabus for SPAN 101DL, summer 2011 session

1. SPANISH 101 DL – Summer Session 2011
Instructor: Dr. Sofía Ramírez-Gelpí Allan Hancock College, SM campus
Voice Mail: 922-6966 or 735-3366, ext. 3608 Email: sgelpi@hancockcollege.edu
Office: C-305, Office hours TBA Web: www.blackboard.hancockcollege.edu
WARNING!
SPAN 101DL is an online course that is intensive during a regular semester. The weekly commitment
for this course, during a regular semester, is 12 hour/weekly, as a minimum. During the summer, the
intensity is doubled, with a weekly commitment of 24 hours weekly AS A MINIMUM! Some of you
may require more. Make sure to schedule and organize your time accordingly.
Furthermore, this is NOT a course for students with little or no experience with online courses. If you
have never taken an online course before, this course IS NOT for you…
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 101 is an introduction to current Spanish at the beginner's Level. Not open to students who have
received credit for SPAN 120/121. (F,S,U) 5 units. (GR/CR) CAN SPAN 2 CAN SPAN Seq A, acceptable
for credit: CSU, UC. Enrolled native Spanish speakers need to contact the instructor ASAP.
DESCRIPTION:
Spanish language course emphasizing oral and written communication skills. Other aspects of class
organization include listening and reading comprehension skills, grammar and vocabulary development,
and writing skills (composition). Instruction will be conducted mainly in Spanish. Course also includes
introduction to cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. You will not understand everything at the
beginning, but with the help of simplified grammar, repetition, familiar commands, and visual cues, you
should be able to follow 80% of what goes on.
Important: SPAN 101 is a college-level class. The material we read, think about, write about, and
discuss in class assumes an adult audience. Being able to freely and openly discuss, and question
ideas, is part of this course; it is also essential to the well being of our pluralistic, democratic
society. In this college level course we will critically examine cultural and social perspectives that
may include religion, and/or politics. Students who may have strong personal reservations about
participating in the free and open inquiry of such academic perspectives should consult immediately
with instructor in order to preview course material before continuing in the class.
HOW DO I DROP/WITHDRAW FROM THE COURSE? It is the student’s responsibility to drop or
withdraw from this course if they no longer wish to participate. You can drop/withdraw any course via
Admissions and Records. After the last date for withdrawing, instructors are required to give letter grades
to ALL students still enrolled in the course [whether they are active or not].
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Attendance and participation are crucial to the success of students in this class. Students are required to
participate and maintain an online presence. These are calculated based on regular Blackboard activity.
Attendance is 10% of he final grade. Participation is 100% of the final grade.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To achieve comprehension and command of Spanish language skills (speaking, reading, and writing) at the
elementary level through:
• Active use of the language (i.e. oral communication) using real-life situations, activities, and games.

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• Progressive vocabulary building.
• Progressive grammar and lexical choice exercises.
Gradual command of communication skills is achieved via listening and reading comprehension activities,
diverse grammar and vocabulary exercises, and writing skills assessments (compositions) that will increase
in sophistication. Also included is an introduction to cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Use practical vocabulary related to school, travel, and home, orally and in writing.
2. Understand and use grammatical concepts necessary to continue the study of the language
3. Read and understand short texts and cultural selections.
4. Write short compositions incorporating the vocabulary and grammatical structures learned.
5. Demonstrate knowledge on various topics of Hispanic culture.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE DL STUDENT?
• Set up a daily and/or weekly schedule for this course and stick to it.
• You need to read the assigned pages in the textbook.
• Check your email frequently for reminders and/or updates.
• You need to log into Blackboard frequently to:
o Read the announcements and/or updates in the Announcements page
o Do the vocabulary/grammar exercises and activities within the ELECTRONIC
WORKBOOK and Blackboard
o Read, reply and post in the Discussion Board
o Find out what is the composition topic
o Take the unit exam.
o Complete one oral proficiency test with instructor
• The homework requires two separate items:
o the ELECTRONIC WORKBOOK work [100 points],
o the composition topic [20 points],
• Composition is done via Blackboard. The ELECTRONIC WORKBOOK is done via the Electronic
workbook website, CENTRO.com.
• There are deadlines for the homework and exams. You can complete homework/exams early. Late
homework is neither accepted nor corrected.
• Stay in touch with your instructor via email. Keep and maintain a presence online.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
1. ¡Apúntate! Español introductorio, by Dorwick & Pérez-Gironés. New York: McGraw Hill.
(Textbook)
2. The ¡Apúntate! electronic workbook, Volume One.
3. Versant Oral Proficiency Test for Spanish
4. Access to a computer with High-Speed Internet connection.
All texts and resources are available via the Hancock bookstore.
BLACKBOARD:
All info regarding this course will be posted on Blackboard. This includes such items as the online
orientation, exam grades, homework points, participation and attendance points, online exercises, alerts,
class updates, date reminders, and much more. In order to log into Blackboard, you will need access to the

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internet. Go to www.blackboard.hancockcollege.edu. Your username is created using the first letter of your
first name, the first letter of your last name, and the last five digits of your student ID, all in lowercase. For
example:
Jane Doe 123-45-6789 username: jd6789, password: jd56789
Cesar Chavez 123-45-7890 username: cc7890, password: cc57890
KEY TO SUCCESS:
• Keep and maintain an online presence from the start.
• Plan some 24-26 hours of work per week. Some students will need more; others will need less.
• Try exercises not assigned as part of the homework or class discussion. Practice makes permanent!
• Use the language!! You are learning a language, so use it, and have fun doing it!
• Important: Students with a learning disability must contact instructor immediately to discuss student’s
situation. Furthermore, the student must contact the appropriate office (i.e. Learning Assistance
Program, ext 3380) so that testing, homework and/or other class requirements may be taken care of in
regards to student’s specific disability. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate
office/officers, not the instructor.
GRADE SCHEME:
Attendance 10.0% Unit Examinations 20.0% Final Exam 10.0%
Participation 10.0% Oral Proficiency 20.0%
Homework 30.0% 40.0%
50%
ATTENDANCE POLICY (ABSENCES):
• Students who “disappear” from the classroom environment without contacting the professor IN
WRITING may be dropped from the class. Students who do not post a valid, current email address by
the due date may be dropped from the class.
• Students who do not drop the course on or before the last day to withdraw will receive a grade [whether
student is active or not].
• Be aware that it is the student’s responsibility to DROP/WITHDRAW from the course by the due
date, not the instructor’s. Check the Schedule of Classes for appropriate dates, such as the last
day to withdraw.
• Attendance and participation are crucial for the success of this class. 20% of the final grade
depends on these two items. Therefore, non-activity is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED. However, there are
situations when non-activity could be excused. A valid excuse takes place when the student can verify
that s/he was prevented from maintaining an online presence and/or completing required assignments
(i.e. homework or unit exams) due to:
(1) verifiable illness (“verifiable” means that medical documentation is available);
(2) religious holidays;
(3) performance at university-sponsored events (such as fine arts performances or athletic events in
which student will participate);
(4) death in the immediate family;
(5) jury duty and/or other appearances before the court;
(6) work-related, such as mandatory training; and
(7) military responsibilities.

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• The student must verify his/her absence with proof via OFFICIAL documentation. Such documentation
must include: name of the student; address and telephone number of agency; emblem of agency plus
signature of agent; date when the student was absent. A handwritten note will NOT count for excusing
absences. Telephone messages will not count towards excusing absences. Students have until the last
day of instruction to show documentation.
• Personal reasons for missing class cannot and will not be excused. These include, but are not limited
to, personal trips, family visits, attend weddings, roommate turning alarm clock off, it’s your 21st
birthday, great surf/snow at XXX, spring fever, etc.
• Homework and exams may be completed early. However, instructor will NOT accept nor correct any
late homework under any circumstance.
• There will be neither make-up exams nor extra credit work. Do NOT ask for them. Start working on
your A from day one. Do not wait until one week before the final exam to realize you are failing the
class.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES – WARNING
Technical difficulties are part of the online learning experience. Students enrolled in this course
are expected to solve technical difficulties on their own and with minimal help/supervision from the
instructor. Allan Hancock College does NOT provide technical support for students.
Students who run into technical difficulties will not be excused from completing homework,
required assignments and/or exams. If the student’s computer is no longer available, the student is
encouraged to use a different computer, or to come to campus to complete their work. If a student
loses his/her Internet connection, the student is encouraged to use the computers on campus.
Students are also encouraged to use computers available via a neighbor or family member, at the
local public library, or Internet café.
HOMEWORK POLICY:
• Homework consists of: (1) ELECTRONIC WORKBOOK, and (2) composition topics.
• Late grammar homework will not be accepted under any circumstance. You may turn in homework
early (especially if you know you will be absent on a day when homework is due), but homework
turned in late will not be accepted nor corrected.
ORAL PROFICIENCY TEST
During a 16-week session, this DL course requires two oral proficiency tests. During the summer session,
only one is required. For further details, refer to the online orientation in Blackboard.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
You are enrolled in a language course, and thus, participation and cooperation are highly encouraged.
Getting together with classmates and/or others for activities such as to:
• review material together,
• practice communication skills with others [classmates included],
• share ideas and opinions,
• help, tutor and/or mentor each other,
• provide guidance to each other so you may understand/complete homework tasks,
are not only a good idea but highly encouraged.

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HOWEVER, what is highly discouraged is copying someone else's work or allowing someone to copy
your work, or having someone else take your exams. This is Academic Dishonesty and your instructor will
heavily penalize you for this sort of activity, more so with online courses. Don't even try it!
All homework and unit exams are individual work. You may discuss material, share ideas, review and
practice material, and help/tutor/mentor each other but when it comes to the actual process of DOING the
homework or completing a test, work on your own!
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Online Access to Learning Assistance Program Services: Online access to Learning Assistance
Program services including e-text, books on CD, study skills training/videos, etc. You must be a
Learning Assistance Program student to access this site. If you are registered with the Learning
Assistance Program and unable to log on please call 922-6966 ext. 3274.
Tutorial Services: Free subject specific tutoring is available on campus!
Health Services Office: The Health Services Office handles a wide range of health-related
situations including emergency first aid, illness/injury assessment, psychological counseling,
student insurance and health education programs.
Off Campus Resources:
Department of Rehabilitation The California Department of Rehabilitation works in partnership
with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment,
independent living and equality for individuals with disabilities. ((805) 928-1891 (Voice/TTY)
Central Coast Assistive Technology Training Center (CCATC) The CCATC has helped
hundreds of consumers learn to use assistive technology for computer access, augmentative
communication, environmental control, low vision assistance, ergonomic workplace safety, and
home, work-site and school access.
The Braille Institute offers services to help people with limited or no vision lead independent and
enriched lives. Phone: (805) 682-6222. Fax:(805) 687-6141. E-mail: sb@brailleinstitute.org
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