Que horrible

The good news: I am done with Spanish 201.

The bad news: The final was, as expected, bad (though not as bad as I thought it might be).

The worst news: The teacher announces before we take our exam that despite what it says in the catalogue, SHE will be teaching the next class — SPA 202 — and not the really cool, funny and...oh...extremely talented-as-a-teacher teacher that we all thought we were going to have. A mix of horror and panic fills the classroom. You can read the thoughts of...can I still rearrange my schedule to drop Spanish next semester.

I am stuck since that's all I take. I mentioned in an earlier post that I was considering taking a second, much harder class that was Spanish for native speakers. I looked at the teacher's syllabus the other day and had almost successfully talked myself out of taking it...waiting another semester. Now I think I have two options.

1. Look up the nearest four-year SUNY campus's schedule and see if any 202's fit my schedule and then drive the extra distance to take it there.

2. Skip 202 and go straight to SPA 902, using the summer to teach myself the future tense, which I will need in the class. The class description follows. Check out the oral presentations...that's what I'm in a blind panic over.

Well at least I have a few months before I have to decide.

Course Guidelines
Course description:
Spanish 902 is designed for Hispanic students who speak Spanish or have lived in a Spanish speaking, but educated in English. The students had a limited exposure to instruction in Spanish outside the home and desire formal training to acquire a truly bilingual-bicultural proficiency. An important aspect of the course is to explore and foster an appreciation of the Hispanic/Latino culture and heritage.

Spanish 902 introduces reading, writing skills and emphasizes the practice to complex grammatical structures through the
reading and writing of compositions and short essays. Classroom time is devoted primarily to developing spelling, enhancing vocabulary and developing reading strategies. The student also develops writing at the paragraph level using correct sentence structure. Our work in class along with the assigned homework will be based on the textbook, although occasionally we will discuss different subjects regarding Hispanic/Latino culture not present in your book.

During this course we will also view some videos and/or movies to introduce you to different aspects of the language and culture. You will also be required to write short dialogues or essays on material assigned in class. Oral participation in class is required. The frequency and quality of your participation will allow me to know how well you prepare for your lesson.

Goals:
By the end of Spanish 902 you will be expected to demonstrate the following:
a) SPEAKING: Use essentially correct pronunciation, narrate and describe in the present, future and past tenses, discuss
and/or relate topics related to personal or factual episodes.
b) LISTENING: Understand a variety of pronunciations and dialects.
c) READING: Read and interpret authentic texts (literature, poetry, articles) as native speakers do.
d) WRITING: Develop the writing of narratives (e.g., short stories, biographical information, etc.) and expository texts
(e.g., comparisons and contrasts). Use verb tenses correctly and adopt a variety of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.

Oral presentations:
Students will prepare individual in-class oral presentations, which must include the use of acceptable grammar and
pronunciation. The topic of the presentation will be given from a list by your professor. The presentation will not be a reading exercise, but an exposition of interesting and engaging facts about a particular topic, in order to stimulate class discussion. As a memory aid, you may use a small reference card. Before the presentation, the speaker will provide the professor and the rest of the classmates with a brief outline (in Spanish!) of the presentation. You will be graded on diction and effectiveness of communication, in addition to pronunciation, grammatical structures, vocabulary and fluency.

Homework:
Exercises from the textbook will be assigned during and at the end of each chapter. Exercises (ejercicios escritos)
will be collected and graded. Written homework is to be neatly done and handed in on time. Write your name on top of
your sheet and staple pages together. I will NOT accept late homework. It is your responsibility to complete and to hand
in homework on time. If you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to ensure that I receive the homework before our
next class meeting. Missing assignments will be given a grade of zero.

Tests and Exams:
There will be three tests during the semester session on dates that appear in this syllabus. There will be two major
exams: the mid-term and the final. The final exam will cover the material of the entire semester, with a concentration on the latest chapters. The content material of the tests will be announced the class session before their scheduled date. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the exam as soon as possible (only one make-up is allowed). Make-up exams are given only in extreme circumstances. Exams not taken will automatically count as zero. All work will be evaluated and be part of your final grade.

Ensayos:
Students will write two essays during the semester on subjects assigned by the instructor.