SPAN 102 aims at increasing your ability to communicate in Spanish (orally and in writing) while learning about these thematic blocks, as they apply to the Spanish-speaking world:
Gender, Power, and Religion.
Race, Migration, and Society.
Memory and Identity in the Arts.
We will work on the grammar structures and vocabulary needed to engage these themes in discussions and in writing.
Decisions about what aspects of language need to be reinforced (in terms of grammar or vocabulary) will depend on student interaction and performance; in other words, it is not pre-planned, and therefore not on the syllabus.
By the end of the semester, you are expected to:
•attain global comprehension of authentic materials (news articles, film, literary pieces, native speaker conversations).
•develop self-expression across a variety of social, historical, and political issues.
•strengthen your grammatical competence (gain control of the expression of temporality, causality, agency, etc.) and discursive competence (coherence): i.e., to "make sense" and "make meaning" in Spanish.
•become a capable independent learner of a foreign language.
•be able to engage critically with issues and realities of the Spanish-speaking world.
•be able to write clearly and concisely in Spanish.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY AND YOUR ROLE AS A STUDENT
Language is best acquired in a content-oriented environment. This is why you will be learning Spanish (its grammar, vocabulary, how spoken and written texts are organized) by engaging with histories/narratives in various forms.
To make the most of the class I expect all students to become independent and self-reflective second language learners.
This means that you will be asked to determine your own specific learning goals and to assess your progress throughout the semester.
The recommended text for the class, Manual de gramática, is meant to encourage such independent behavior. You will use it to clarify doubts and gain a better understanding of areas where you are having difficulties, but which might not be addressed by the whole class. The Haverford Bookstore has a few hard copies of this book, but you can also rent it for one semester. See details here
You are expected to take responsibility for your learning, to work steadily throughout the semester (last-minute cramming does not work at all in language-learning), to be engaged, to take good risks, to work collaboratively with others, to ASK QUESTIONS, and to have a reasonable amount of fun.
Gender, Power, and Religion.
Race, Migration, and Society.
Memory and Identity in the Arts.
We will work on the grammar structures and vocabulary needed to engage these themes in discussions and in writing.
Decisions about what aspects of language need to be reinforced (in terms of grammar or vocabulary) will depend on student interaction and performance; in other words, it is not pre-planned, and therefore not on the syllabus.
By the end of the semester, you are expected to:
•attain global comprehension of authentic materials (news articles, film, literary pieces, native speaker conversations).
•develop self-expression across a variety of social, historical, and political issues.
•strengthen your grammatical competence (gain control of the expression of temporality, causality, agency, etc.) and discursive competence (coherence): i.e., to "make sense" and "make meaning" in Spanish.
•become a capable independent learner of a foreign language.
•be able to engage critically with issues and realities of the Spanish-speaking world.
•be able to write clearly and concisely in Spanish.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY AND YOUR ROLE AS A STUDENT
Language is best acquired in a content-oriented environment. This is why you will be learning Spanish (its grammar, vocabulary, how spoken and written texts are organized) by engaging with histories/narratives in various forms.
To make the most of the class I expect all students to become independent and self-reflective second language learners.
This means that you will be asked to determine your own specific learning goals and to assess your progress throughout the semester.
The recommended text for the class, Manual de gramática, is meant to encourage such independent behavior. You will use it to clarify doubts and gain a better understanding of areas where you are having difficulties, but which might not be addressed by the whole class. The Haverford Bookstore has a few hard copies of this book, but you can also rent it for one semester. See details here
You are expected to take responsibility for your learning, to work steadily throughout the semester (last-minute cramming does not work at all in language-learning), to be engaged, to take good risks, to work collaboratively with others, to ASK QUESTIONS, and to have a reasonable amount of fun.
- Teacher: Roberto Castillo Sandoval