By the end of the course, the successful student will develop a basic foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening and speaking to accomplish a variety of basic everyday needs in the host culture as described in the learning outcomes below.
Research has demonstrated that study abroad can enhance every aspect of language ability. One of the most important general findings of this research is, however, that study abroad is most beneficial for the development of abilities related to social interaction. Students who go abroad can learn to do things with words, such as requesting, apologizing, or offering compliments, and they may also learn to interpret situations calling on such speech acts in ways that local people do…In short, and logically, study abroad has been shown to enhance the aspects of communicative competence that are most difficult to foster in classroom settings (IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication, p. 6).
Prerequisites:
No previous knowledge of Spanish is required for this course.
Attendance policy:
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve some of the outcomes for the Novice Abroad level as defined by the MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. The key learning outcomes from the MAP are summarized below:
1.Intercultural Communication
A. Students will be able to meet basic everyday needs using verbal communication, they will be able to use compensatory strategies when they do not know the word or expression (repetition, body language, etc.), and they will be able to identify some basic non-verbal communication strategies.
B. Students can recognize basic appropriate and inappropriate expressions and behaviors in the host language.
C. Students will be able to distinguish between basic representations of formality and informality in the language.
D. Students will understand that there may be differences between cultural stereotypes and generalizations between the home culture and host culture.
II.Listening
A. Students will be able to understand basic statements, requests, descriptions, and questions in specific cultural context relevant to them (hosts’ interactions, Center interactions, studying, shopping, transportation, meals).
B. Students will be able to use context to understand the gist of some basic spoken language they overhear, including the media, conversations between others, and announcements.
III.Speaking
A. Students will be able to use some basic phrases appropriately in some everyday situations (home, the IES Abroad Center, and the community).
B. Students will be able to express some basic needs by asking questions, and get what they need in uncomplicated, everyday situations.
IV.Reading
A. Students will be able to identify and understand basic sentences.
B. Students will be able to interpret main ideas in short passages and news headlines, but their understanding is often limited to the words or groups of words that they have seen in class.
V.Writing
A. With limited accuracy, students will be able to write short sentences and short paragraphs about basic and concrete topics they have studied, such as themselves, their families, their friends, their likes and dislikes, and their daily routines.
B. Students will be able to send basic emails, text messages, and fill out some basic forms.
Method of presentation:
The course contents will be delivered by applying a communicative student-centered methodology. The first approximation to the contents will be through texts (written and oral). Students will work individually and in groups in order to acquire and to practice (written and orally) the new structures and vocabulary. Also, homework will be assigned so that the students can systematize, practice, and clarify doubts.
There will be special assignments related to field study trips. The city of Barcelona and its people are the perfect scenario for practicing the target language and learning about the ways people live. Therefore, we will draw on this setting to collect pieces of information for our class discussions and to develop a firsthand appreciation of Spanish language. Information and communication technology will be very present in the classroom. Some assignments will involve internet research; others will involve blog posts, a podcast or twitter. The e-learning module Moodle will provide instructions, assignments, and ancillary materials and activities.
Field study:
Visit to “Els Encants”, one market of Barcelona.
Visit to “La Boqueira”
Required work and form of assessment:
Midterm: 10%; Final Exam: 20%; Oral Exams (2 exams): 10%; Quizzes (6 quizzes minimum on listening, speaking, reading, writing, intercultural communication): 15%; Video/Oral presentation: 10%; Compositions: 15%; Field studies: 10%; Class participation: 10%.
content:
Week 1 (Unit 0 and 1)
1. Functional: Talking about personal identity. Useful class language.
2. Grammatical: Sounds and letters. Present tense: ser, tener, llamarse. Personal pronouns. Por qu?, porque, para. Y, o, tambi?n. Interrogatives (Qu?, qui?n, c?mo…).
3. Vocabulary: Nationalities. Class activities: (leer, estudiar, traducir…)
4. Culture: Spanish speaking countries.
Week 2 (Unit 2)
1. Functional: Talking about shopping. Asking for prices.
2. Grammatical: Articles (genre and number). Nouns (genre and number). Preposition de.
3. Vocabulary: Numerals (0-100), some shopping items, shops (zapater?a, panader?a…).
4. Culture: Shopping in Spain.
Week 3 (Unit 3)
1. Functional: Talking about personal relationships and family. Describing people’s appearance.
2. Grammatical: Adjectives (genre and number). Possessives: mi, tu, su.
3. Vocabulary: Personal and familiar relationships. Occupations. Physical description (verbs ser and tener.)
4. Culture: Cultural Hispanic celebrities.
Week 4 (Unit 4)
Review of the contents from weeks 1 to 3.
1. Functional: Giving personal information.
2. Grammatical: Reasons and finalities: por qu?, porque, para, y, pero.
3. Vocabulary: Numerals (100-…). Quantities (todos, la mitad, la mayor?a…).
4. Culture: Migration in Spain. Names and last names in Spanish. Addressing forms (se?or, se?ora, don…).
Week 5 (Unit 5)
1. Functional: Talking about daily activities. Asking and saying the time. Talking about schedules.
2. Grammatical: The three conjugations. Present tense: regular and irregular verbs. Reflexive verbs. Se impersonal.
3. Vocabulary: Times and parts of the day. Daily activities. Dormir/dormirse. Verb tomar.
4. Culture: La siesta. Spanish schedules.
Week 6 (Unit 6)
1. Functional: Expressing likes and preferences about leisure time.
3. Vocabulary: Verbs with preposition (empezar a, salir de…) Ir/irse. Words to talk about people (la gente, todo el mundo, las personas mayores, …) Times and day parts (desde, hasta, entre…) Days and frequency (de lunes a jueves, todos los d?as…) Language about a healthy living.
4. Culture:
Week 9 (Unit 9)
1. Functional: Expressing location. Talking about cities. Comparing. Talking about climate.
2. Grammatical: Superlatives and comparatives (m?s/menos … que). Hay/est?.
3. Vocabulary: Climate and seasons. Language to describe cities. Cerca de, lejos, de, en… Al norte, al sur…
4. Culture: Spanish cities: C?rdoba and San Sebasti?n. Special cities: Ushuaia, Potos? and Mexico DF.
2. Grammatical: Tener que + infinitive. Poder + infinitive. Past Perfect. Past participles.
3. Vocabulary: Language of travelling and holidays. Transports. Weather. Ir a/desde/hasta, pasar por…
4. Culture: El Camino de Santiago. Costa Rica.
Week 11 (Unit 11)
1. Functional: Shopping for clothes and shoes.
2. Grammatical: Demonstratives (este/ese/aquel…).
3. Vocabulary: Colors. Language of economical activities. Clothes.
4. Culture: Companies in the Spanish speaking world.
Week 12 (Unit 12)
Review of the contents from weeks 9 to 11.
1. Functional: Describing and locating places.
2. Grammatical: Irregular Past Participle. Interrogative sentences. Superlative (el mejor/el peor…). Muy/bastante/no muy/un poco + adjectives.
3. Vocabulary: Ir/venir. Language about accommodations.
4. Culture: Holidays places in Latin America and Spain.
Course review.
Required readings:
Textbook:
N. Sans, E. Mart?n Peris, A. Garmendia y E. Conejo. (2011). Bit?cora 1: Libro del alumno. Barcelona: Difusi?n. [ISBN: 9788484437468]
P. Mart?nez y Mª D. Chamorro. (2011). Bit?cora 1: Cuaderno de ejercicios. Barcelona: Difusi?n. [ISBN: 9788484437475]
Notes:
This course is offered during the regular semester and in the summer. For summer sections, the course schedule is condensed, but the content, learning outcomes, and contact hours are the same.
By the end of the course, the successful student will develop a basic foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening and speaking to accomplish a variety of basic everyday needs in the host culture as described in the learning outcomes below.
Research has demonstrated that study abroad can enhance every aspect of language ability. One of the most important general findings of this research is, however, that study abroad is most beneficial for the development of abilities related to social interaction. Students who go abroad can learn to do things with words, such as requesting, apologizing, or offering compliments, and they may also learn to interpret situations calling on such speech acts in ways that local people do…In short, and logically, study abroad has been shown to enhance the aspects of communicative competence that are most difficult to foster in classroom settings (IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication, p. 6).
No previous knowledge of Spanish is required for this course.
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve some of the outcomes for the Novice Abroad level as defined by the MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. The key learning outcomes from the MAP are summarized below:
1.Intercultural Communication
A. Students will be able to meet basic everyday needs using verbal communication, they will be able to use compensatory strategies when they do not know the word or expression (repetition, body language, etc.), and they will be able to identify some basic non-verbal communication strategies.
B. Students can recognize basic appropriate and inappropriate expressions and behaviors in the host language.
C. Students will be able to distinguish between basic representations of formality and informality in the language.
D. Students will understand that there may be differences between cultural stereotypes and generalizations between the home culture and host culture.
II.Listening
A. Students will be able to understand basic statements, requests, descriptions, and questions in specific cultural context relevant to them (hosts’ interactions, Center interactions, studying, shopping, transportation, meals).
B. Students will be able to use context to understand the gist of some basic spoken language they overhear, including the media, conversations between others, and announcements.
III.Speaking
A. Students will be able to use some basic phrases appropriately in some everyday situations (home, the IES Abroad Center, and the community).
B. Students will be able to express some basic needs by asking questions, and get what they need in uncomplicated, everyday situations.
IV.Reading
A. Students will be able to identify and understand basic sentences.
B. Students will be able to interpret main ideas in short passages and news headlines, but their understanding is often limited to the words or groups of words that they have seen in class.
V.Writing
A. With limited accuracy, students will be able to write short sentences and short paragraphs about basic and concrete topics they have studied, such as themselves, their families, their friends, their likes and dislikes, and their daily routines.
B. Students will be able to send basic emails, text messages, and fill out some basic forms.
The course contents will be delivered by applying a communicative student-centered methodology. The first approximation to the contents will be through texts (written and oral). Students will work individually and in groups in order to acquire and to practice (written and orally) the new structures and vocabulary. Also, homework will be assigned so that the students can systematize, practice, and clarify doubts.
There will be special assignments related to field study trips. The city of Barcelona and its people are the perfect scenario for practicing the target language and learning about the ways people live. Therefore, we will draw on this setting to collect pieces of information for our class discussions and to develop a firsthand appreciation of Spanish language. Information and communication technology will be very present in the classroom. Some assignments will involve internet research; others will involve blog posts, a podcast or twitter. The e-learning module Moodle will provide instructions, assignments, and ancillary materials and activities.
Visit to “Els Encants”, one market of Barcelona.
Visit to “La Boqueira”
Midterm: 10%; Final Exam: 20%; Oral Exams (2 exams): 10%; Quizzes (6 quizzes minimum on listening, speaking, reading, writing, intercultural communication): 15%; Video/Oral presentation: 10%; Compositions: 15%; Field studies: 10%; Class participation: 10%.
Week 1 (Unit 0 and 1)
1. Functional: Talking about personal identity. Useful class language.
2. Grammatical: Sounds and letters. Present tense: ser, tener, llamarse. Personal pronouns. Por qu?, porque, para. Y, o, tambi?n. Interrogatives (Qu?, qui?n, c?mo…).
3. Vocabulary: Nationalities. Class activities: (leer, estudiar, traducir…)
4. Culture: Spanish speaking countries.
Week 2 (Unit 2)
1. Functional: Talking about shopping. Asking for prices.
2. Grammatical: Articles (genre and number). Nouns (genre and number). Preposition de.
3. Vocabulary: Numerals (0-100), some shopping items, shops (zapater?a, panader?a…).
4. Culture: Shopping in Spain.
Week 3 (Unit 3)
1. Functional: Talking about personal relationships and family. Describing people’s appearance.
2. Grammatical: Adjectives (genre and number). Possessives: mi, tu, su.
3. Vocabulary: Personal and familiar relationships. Occupations. Physical description (verbs ser and tener.)
4. Culture: Cultural Hispanic celebrities.
Week 4 (Unit 4)
Review of the contents from weeks 1 to 3.
1. Functional: Giving personal information.
2. Grammatical: Reasons and finalities: por qu?, porque, para, y, pero.
3. Vocabulary: Numerals (100-…). Quantities (todos, la mitad, la mayor?a…).
4. Culture: Migration in Spain. Names and last names in Spanish. Addressing forms (se?or, se?ora, don…).
Week 5 (Unit 5)
1. Functional: Talking about daily activities. Asking and saying the time. Talking about schedules.
2. Grammatical: The three conjugations. Present tense: regular and irregular verbs. Reflexive verbs. Se impersonal.
3. Vocabulary: Times and parts of the day. Daily activities. Dormir/dormirse. Verb tomar.
4. Culture: La siesta. Spanish schedules.
Week 6 (Unit 6)
1. Functional: Expressing likes and preferences about leisure time.
2. Grammatical: Verbs gustar and interesar. Tambi?n/tampoco. Hay/no hay/est?. Ning?n, ninguna.
3. Vocabulary: Qualifying adjectives (bonito, bueno…). Ir a/en/de. Jugar/tocar/hacer. Leisure and hobbies. Internet. Language to describe cities.
4. Culture: Spanish language cities (Madrid, Barcelona and others).
Week 7 (Unit 7)
1. Functional: Talking about food and eating habits. Asking in a bar and restaurant. Asking about products and ingredients.
2. Grammatical: Gustar mucho/ bastante/ nada… Demasiado, mucho, poco, bastante, nada +Verb. Otro/a. Esto, eso, aquello. Present Tense.
3. Vocabulary: Food. Meals and ingredients. Daily meals. Food habits. Comer, beber and tomar.
4. Culture: Las tapas. Latin American food. Menus and meals in Spain.
Week 8 (Unit 8)
Review of the contents from weeks 5 to 7.
1. Functional: Talking about daily activities.
2. Grammatical: Me gustar?a+Infinitive. Demasiado, mucho, poco, bastante, nada + noun/adjective.
3. Vocabulary: Verbs with preposition (empezar a, salir de…) Ir/irse. Words to talk about people (la gente, todo el mundo, las personas mayores, …) Times and day parts (desde, hasta, entre…) Days and frequency (de lunes a jueves, todos los d?as…) Language about a healthy living.
4. Culture:
Week 9 (Unit 9)
1. Functional: Expressing location. Talking about cities. Comparing. Talking about climate.
2. Grammatical: Superlatives and comparatives (m?s/menos … que). Hay/est?.
3. Vocabulary: Climate and seasons. Language to describe cities. Cerca de, lejos, de, en… Al norte, al sur…
4. Culture: Spanish cities: C?rdoba and San Sebasti?n. Special cities: Ushuaia, Potos? and Mexico DF.
Week 10 (Unit 10)
1. Functional: Expressing opinion (Yo creo que…) Expressing traveling movements. Expressing obligation. Expressing recommendations.
2. Grammatical: Tener que + infinitive. Poder + infinitive. Past Perfect. Past participles.
3. Vocabulary: Language of travelling and holidays. Transports. Weather. Ir a/desde/hasta, pasar por…
4. Culture: El Camino de Santiago. Costa Rica.
Week 11 (Unit 11)
1. Functional: Shopping for clothes and shoes.
2. Grammatical: Demonstratives (este/ese/aquel…).
3. Vocabulary: Colors. Language of economical activities. Clothes.
4. Culture: Companies in the Spanish speaking world.
Week 12 (Unit 12)
Review of the contents from weeks 9 to 11.
1. Functional: Describing and locating places.
2. Grammatical: Irregular Past Participle. Interrogative sentences. Superlative (el mejor/el peor…). Muy/bastante/no muy/un poco + adjectives.
3. Vocabulary: Ir/venir. Language about accommodations.
4. Culture: Holidays places in Latin America and Spain.
Course review.
Textbook:
N. Sans, E. Mart?n Peris, A. Garmendia y E. Conejo. (2011). Bit?cora 1: Libro del alumno. Barcelona: Difusi?n. [ISBN: 9788484437468]
P. Mart?nez y Mª D. Chamorro. (2011). Bit?cora 1: Cuaderno de ejercicios. Barcelona: Difusi?n. [ISBN: 9788484437475]
This course is offered during the regular semester and in the summer. For summer sections, the course schedule is condensed, but the content, learning outcomes, and contact hours are the same.