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Heredia

Spanish Language and Electives in English; Courses with Costa Ricans - Fall 1 2008
Beginning II

60
Language Level: High Beginning
Beginning II
Language of Instruction: Spanish
Course taken with: International Students
Inter-American University (Heredia, Costa Rica)

Course Description

Hours & Credits

60

Hours of Instruction

4

Semester Credit Units

6

Quarter Credit Units

Prerequisites and Language Level

High Beginning
Prior to enrolling in courses at this language level, students must have completed or tested out of a minimum of one semester (or two quarters) of college-level Spanish at their home university in the U.S.
Students are placed according to the number of semesters/quarters of college level Spanish they have taken. Students needing to take a course at a level higher than the number of semesters/quarters they have had, will sign a release acknowledging their intent to take a course not suggested for their particular language level.

Overview

Español 200 (C200SI)
Teaching Philosophy
The Universidad Interamericana teaching philosophy is to integrate each of the four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking through task-based activities and link them to real-world, contemporary topics in order to provide a global perspective of the Spanish language. In addition, practical life skills and learning strategies are taught in a student-centered, Spanish-only environment.

Course Guidelines
1. This course is taught in Spanish and it is mandatory that students communicate in Spanish in the classroom.
2. Classes start on time. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy. Three tardies equals one absence. Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates three (3) or more absences fails the course unless he/she makes up the missed classes. A student must attend make-up classes at his/her level or at a higher level. All missed classes must be made up within one week of the missed class. All make ups must be done before the last two classes. All make ups must be done before the last two classes. A professor has the right, but not the obligation to make special arrangements to make up missed time when there is an extraordinary case.
3. Homework assignments and all other assignments must be handed in on the due date.
4. Quizzes and Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of emergencies. If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the professor and make arrangements. There is a 13,500 colon charge for make-up tests/activities which require the professor’s presence; said fee may be waived by the academic direction in the case of documented emergencies.
5. The course evaluation consists of a class project (20%), an oral exam (20%), a mid-term exam (25%),
a final exam (25%), and in-class oral grade (10%). Course evaluation may vary. In said cases, students are informed of the variation within the first two class sessions.

Course Description: This course continues to develop on the skills acquired in Español 100 (C100SI), but students begin to work with more advanced communicative goals. This course is appropriate for strong students who have completed one semester of strong university level Spanish. Material seen in this class is at the A-2 level of the Common European Framework.

Course Goals: General course goals for the four areas of language are listed in the table shown below.

Listening Reading
The student is able to carry out physical tasks indicated by multi-step directions. Furthermore, the student understands the main idea of most common contextualized conversations. The student is able to independently use an English language learner’s dictionary as needed. The student understands a wide variety of common business letters and publicity-oriented materials. Timetables and directories can be used appropriately.
Speaking Writing
The student is able to carry on an extended personal conversation requiring clarification and expansion. Furthermore, the student can discuss immediate and future plans and wants. The student can write short personal messages in informal notes. Furthermore, he or she can write short descriptive texts about people, places, events and objects.

Required Text: En acción 1 student book, units 7-12, enCLAVE ELE, 2005. A different, but similar text may be substituted according to the criteria of the Universidad Interamericana.