Spanish for Elementary School Students, Advanced, Part II

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Course Description

Description

The objective of this course is to continue the introduction of literature to the novice Spanish reader. This course is the second course in a two-part series of literature courses designed for elementary students. The materials used in this course have been carefully created to introduce students to new vocabulary and grammar through the literature itself. Each chapter within Los viajes de Rosa and Ernesto Book 2 focuses on a specific grammar point and vocabulary theme.

Furthermore, this course is designed to provide the student with cultural and geographic knowledge of various Spanish speaking countries. Topics such as indigenous culture, religion, social justice, immigration, and environmental problems are introduced through the conflicts of the characters within the literature. This interdisciplinary approach allows the student to experience the language in a truly unique and age appropriate manner while simultaneously fostering critical thinking skills. The grammar, vocabulary, cultural, and geographic points presented in the literature are carefully woven together to present the material through an authentic and whole language learning approach. Through the journeys of protagonists, Rosa and Ernesto, the student will review the following grammar concepts:

• Imperfect Tense
• Preterit vs. Imperfect
• Plural command forms
• Relative pronouns
• Future tense
• Present subjunctive with “cuando”
• Diminutive and augmentative
• Possessive adjectives and pronouns
• Use of “vosotros”
• Expressing time with “hace”
• Double object pronouns
• El “voceo”
• Comparatives and superlatives
• Past participles and present perfect
• Conditional
• Present subjunctive with adverbial clauses
• Present subjunctive with noun clauses
• Past perfect tense
• Subjunctive with adjectival clauses
• Past (imperfect) subjunctive
• Use of the future for probabilities
• Reflexive verbs and expressions

Key vocabulary words will be introduced in advance of each chapter to alert the student to new or advanced terminology found in each chapter. Additionally, the grammar, vocabulary, and literature comprehension will be reinforced through the exercises manual and audio CD’s that parallel with the novel itself. 

The four basic language skills (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) will be developed during the course through practice and the application of specific learning strategies.

Students will read and analyze representative literary works and engage in literary analysis and Spanish grammar. The required readings will demand extensive writing and participation in class discussions. Therefore, the practice and application of grammatical features and vocabulary is critical to the content of the course, and students are expected to study and practice these grammatical structures through the explanations in the texts and assigned homework.

The course is conducted completely in Spanish, and students will be expected to communicate exclusively in Spanish.

Once students have completed this course, they should have:

• Advanced writing proficiency in Spanish in a variety of formats.
• Advanced reading proficiency and an advanced understanding of literary terms and techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of Spanish grammar.
• Advanced knowledge of Spanish vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
• An understanding of recurring themes in Spanish and Latin American literature and the ability to assess the relevance of these themes to modern society.
• The ability to discuss literature and culture and express personal opinions in scholarly discussions.

Materials Needed

Students will need a headset with microphone. In addition, the following materials are required:

• Sturam, R. Los viajes de Rosa y Ernesto (Rosa and Ernesto’s Journeys): A Step by Step Spanish Reader, Audio Book, and Grammar Guide (Book 2). Seattle: All Bilingual Press, LLC
  (ISBN: 987-0-9745032-6-4)
• Sturam, R. Los viajes de Rosa y Ernesto (Rosa and Ernesto’s Journeys): Exercises Manual and Audio CD (Book 2). Seattle: All Bilingual Press, LLC
  (ISBN: 978-0-9892579-5-4)

Although a Spanish-English dictionary is not required, it may be useful as a personal reference for the duration of this course.

Detailed Course Information

Course Details

Week 1

Class 1:

• Introduction to the course: syllabus, technology, expectations
• Assignment:

1.  Read: Resumen del Libro I pages iii and Ecuador(1976) La Petrotex: pages 1-2.

Class 2:

• Review Day 1 Reading for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: The Imperfect Tense
• Assignment: 

1. Read Chapter 1: El arqueólogo: pages 4-8
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 2

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 1 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structures: Preterit vs. Imperfect and Plural Command Forms
• Assignment: Read Chapter 1: El arqueólogo: pages 8-12

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 1 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structures: Relative Pronouns and Future Tense
• Assignment:

1. Read Chapter 2: En el Pacífico: pages 13-21
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 3

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 2 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structures: The Subjunctive Part I and the Diminuitive and Augmentative.
• Assignment: Read Chapter 3: Tecún Umán: pages 22-25.

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 2 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Possessive Adjectives, Use of “vosotros”, and Expressing time with “hace”

1. Read Chapter 3: Tecún Umán: pages 26-35
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 4

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 3 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns together.
• Assignment: Read Chapter 4: La violencia: pages 36-41.

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 4 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Voceo (The use of “vos”)
• Read Chapter 4: La violencia: pages 41-44

1. Complete grammar activities
2. Weekly Quiz

Week 5

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 4 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Comparitives and Superlatives
• Assignment: Read Chapter 5: El encuentro: pages 45-47.

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 5 for content comprehension
• Assignment:

1. Read Chapter 5: El encuentro: pages 48-51
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 6

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 5 for content comprehension
• Content Review of Chapters 1-5 for the Mid-term Exam

Class 2:

• Review of grammar concepts for Mid-term Exam
• Assignment:

1. Complete Mid-term Exam

Week 7

Class 1:

• Review of Grammar Structures: Past Participles and Present Perfect
• Assignment: Read Chapter 6: Moreno Xequijel pages 52-55.

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 6 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Conditional

1. Read Chapter 6: Moreno Xequijel: pages 56-64.
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 8

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 6 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Present Subjunctive in adverbial clauses.
• Assignment: Read Chapter 7: Segunda frontera: pages 65-69.

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 7 for content comprehension
• Assignment:

1. Read Chapter 7: Segunda frontera: pages 69-72
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 9

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 7 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Present Subjunctive in nominal clauses
• Assignment: Read Chapter 8: El tren de la muerte: pages 73-77

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 8 for content comprehension
• Assignment:

1. Read Chapter 8: El tren de la muerte: pages 77-80
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 10

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 8 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Past Perfect (Pluperfect) tense
• Assignment: Read Chapter 9: En tierra de los Quichua pages 81-84.

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 9 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structure: Present Subjunctive in adjectival clauses
• Assignment:

1. Read Chapter 9: En tierra de los Quichua pages 84-87.
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 11

Class 1:

• Review Chapter 9 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar Structures: Past Subjunctive and Use of future tense for probabilities.
• Assignment: Read Chapter 10: Última frontera: pages 88-92

Class 2:

• Review Chapter 10 for content comprehension
• Review of Grammar: Reflexive Verbs
• Assignment:

1.  Start preparing for the Final Exam
2. Complete grammar activities
3. Weekly Quiz

Week 12

Class 1:

• Review of Chapters 6-10 
• Assignment: Review for the Final Exam

Class 2:

• Grammar Review for the Final Exam
• Assignment:

1. Complete Final Exam

Technical Requirements

This course requires a properly maintained computer with high-speed internet access and an up-to-date web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox). The student must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses an online virtual classroom for discussions with the instructor. The classroom works on standard computers with the Adobe Connect Add-in or Adobe Flash plugin, and also tablets or handhelds that support the Adobe Connect Mobile app. Students who are unable to attend live sessions will need a computer with the Adobe Connect Add-in or Adobe Flash plugin installed to watch recorded meetings. The Adobe Connect Add-in, Adobe Flash plugin, and Adobe Connect Mobile app are available for free download. Students who do not have the Flash plug-in installed or enabled on their browsers will be prompted to download and install the Adobe Connect add-in when accessing the virtual classroom.

Most course lectures may be viewed on mobile devices, but in some cases assignments and quizzes must be completed on a desktop or laptop computer.