Undergraduate Program - Spanish 101-202
Student Information

Administrative policies:

• Add/drop
• Grading
• Participation
• Absences and Attendance

Learning Strategies

Web-based activities and links of interest

How to do accents

• Using accents on the computer
• Accentuation rules in Spanish

Placement

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

Add/drop guidelines

• Students must enroll in Spanish courses via ISIS.
• After the second day of class, all pre-registered students who do not attend class will be dropped from the class roll to open up spaces for other students.
• To drop a Spanish course, students must drop the course in ISIS.
• All non-registered students must attend class regularly to know whether openings will be available and to keep up with the material in the course.
• No course action forms will be signed by the instructor to add students into a SPAN 101-202 course.
• Students are added via the online wait list established by the College of Arts & Sciences.
• On the second day of class you will be asked to provide proof of placement by showing your instructor a copy of your AP Exam score, SAT II Exam score, or U.Va. Spanish placement exam score.
• Students may not enroll in a course different from the one into which they have placed.
• If the class you want is full, consider taking the course the following semester or perhaps during Summer Session or in the Summer Language Institute.

Grading

Assignments are due at the beginning of class and on the date indicated on the syllabus. No late work and no make-up work will be accepted. Students who will not be in class should either turn in their assignment ahead of time or have a friend turn it in before class.All homework and lab work will be completed online using Quia.

Instructors will assign a grade for each homework not based on how many answers a student got right or wrong but based on whether the student has completed all of the assignment and has clearly self-corrected the entire homework. The grading scale used in all Spanish courses is the following:

Participation

Good participation includes much more than just volunteering a few times each class. Your attendance, daily preparation for class, cooperation and enthusiasm, and active participation during class will not only contribute to your learning, but are also important factors in determining your grade. For each hour spent in the classroom, it is expected that you spend an average of two hours at home on homework and class preparation. Students are expected to come to class having prepared the material on the syllabus for that day and ready to participate actively in class. Students are expected to participate in Spanish only during each class period. The instructor will monitor student participation closely on a daily basis and deduct points for those students speaking in English during class.

Frases útiles

If you have questions or problems in class, it is your responsibility to ask your instructor in Spanish. The words and phrases below will help you participate and interact effectively in the classroom.

• Tengo una pregunta. I have a question.
• ¿Cómo se dice cat en español? How do you say "cat" in Spanish?
• Otra vez, por favor. Again, please.
• No entiendo/ No comprendo. I don't understand.
• ¿Cómo? What?
• Un momento, por favor. Just a minute, please.
• No sé. I don't know.
• ¿Cómo se escribe ____?
• How do you write ____?
• ¿Cómo se deletrea ____? How do you spell ____?
• Siéntese. Sit down.
• Levántese. Get up.
• Abra el libro en la página 20. Open your book to p. 20.
• Cierre el libro. Close your book.
• Lea en voz alta. Read out loud.
• Escriba. Write.
• Saque un papel. Take out a piece of paper.
• Vaya a la pizarra. Go to the board.
• Busque un compañero. Look for a partner.
• Trabajen en parejas. Work in pairs.
• ¿voluntarios? Voulnteers?
• ¿Hay preguntas? Any questions?
• ¿Comprenden? Do you understand?
• Formen grupos de 4. Get into groups of 4.
• Levanten la mano. Raise your hand.

Grading Participation

Your participation will be assessed using the rubric below.

Superior

Attends class and arrives on time. Does all the homework and preparation assigned for class. Listens attentively when others speak. Speaks only in Spanish. Asks questions in Spanish. Participates in all activities with patience and a willingness to learn. Demonstrates ongoing very active involvement. Helps others do all the above too.

Average

Attends class and arrives on time. Doesn't always pay attention when others speak. Speaks mostly Spanish but uses English on occasion. Participates in all activities, sometimes reluctantly. Overall shows a willingness to learn. Does not make participating in class difficult for other students.

Unsatisfactory

Arrives late for class. Uses more English in class than Spanish. Doesn't listen when others speak. Does not participate effectively in class activities. Distracts other students or is disruptive in class.

No grade

Was absent or very late to class.

Adapted from Cheryl Krueger's French Resource Site

Absences and Attendance

Attendance is obligatory for all Spanish courses. In order for students to progress in their understanding and speaking of Spanish, they must be exposed to hearing and speaking it on a regular basis.

Students are allowed three (3) free unexcused absences in all 100 level courses and in the 200 level courses that meet MWF. In 200 level courses that meet TR, students are allowed two (2) free unexcused absences. Beyond that, for each additional absence, one percentage point will be deducted from the student's final grade.

University approved excused absences are those that occur because of hospitalization, death in the student's family, severe illness, important religious holidays, or authorized University activities (see p. 60 of the Undergraduate Record). Student athletes must provide the instructor with an official team schedule of away games that may cause him/her to miss class before the instructor can excuse that absence or provide arrangements for make-up work. Students anticipating the need to miss class must notify the instructor before the absence or within 24 hours of the missed class.

Excessive absences

An excess of a certain number of absences in Spanish courses will result in a withdrawal from or failure in the course. That number is 8 for 100 level courses, 6 for 200 level classes that meet MWF, and 4 for 200 level classes that meet TR. If a student has exceeded that number of absences, we will either drop him or fail him from the course.

Latenesses

Students are expected to arrive to class on time. Being late to class counts as half an absence. Arriving to class late is disruptive to the learning environment and disrespectful to the class.

LEARNING STRATEGIES

Tips on how to succeed in a foreign language course:

A. Preparation outside of class

1. Know the guidelines of the course syllabus and make a note of test, composition, oral exam and final exam dates in advance.
2. For each hour of class time the student should dedicate two hours of study outside the classroom.
3. Small study groups (2-4 people) are useful to practice vocabulary and grammar.
4. Correct your work (homework, lab, quizzes, exams).
5. To learn vocabulary - memorize words by making flash cards in advance, write sentences using words, pronounce words aloud.
6. To learn grammar - write out verb conjugations, do as many drill exercises as possible (practice and repetition is key).
7. Get to know instructor during office hours or set up an appointment - ask questions and provide feedback.
8. Use resources wisely - language lab, Internet, tertulia, cine club, International Center.

   B. Maximizing class time

9. Be punctual
10. Come to class prepared
11. Participate actively
12. Ask questions
13. Work with different students

WEB-BASED ACTIVITIES AND LINKS OF INTEREST

A. Dictionaries

1. http://www.spanishdict.com
2. http://www.rae.es

B. Grammar explanations and practice exercises

1. http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/spanish/puntos (Puntos de partida)
2. http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/foreignlang/
   aven/main.htm (Pasajes)
3. http://www.studyspanish.com (See useful links)
4. http://www.auburn.edu/forlang/Spanish/
   buck/index/99m/302main.htm
5. http://colby.edu/personal/bknelson/
   grammar.html
6. http://mld.ursinus.edu/~jarana/
   Ejercicios/
7. http://www.indiana.edu/~call/ejercicios.html
8. http://www.rae.es
9. http://aries17.uwaterloo.ca/lando/verbos/
   con-jugador.html
10. http://www.elemadrid.com/spanish_verbs.htm
11. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/6177
12. http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Island/
    9069/ConjugationTrainer

C. Search engines

1. http://www.yahoo.es
2. http://www.yupi.es

D. Newspapers

CNN

1. http://www.cnnenespanol.com/

Spain

1. http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Newspapers/
   By_Region/Countries/Spain/Complete_List/ (list of Spanish newspapers)
2. http://www.elpais.es/
3. http://www.abc.es/

Argentina

1. http://www.lanacion.com.ar/

Chile

1. http://www.elmercurio.cl/

E. Music

Spain

1. http://www.el-castellano.com/radios.html
2. http://www.cope.es
3. http://www.radioazul.es/
4. http://www.weblandia.com/radio/esca1.htm (Catalán)

Latin American

1. http://www.netradio.net/channels/
   latin/index.html

F. Literature

Argentina

1. http://www.literatura.org

G. Other links

1. http://cvc.cervantes.es/portada.htm (El instituto cervantes)
2. http://www.ugr.es/~clm/recursos.htm (see other useful links)
3. http://www.interciudad.com/elhuevodechoc/
   default.htm (games)
4. http://www.internenes.com/programas/
   categoria.php3?c=Idiomas (games)
5. http://www.cec-spain.org.uk/Pub/
   tecla.html (reading comp. exercises)
6. http://www.rcp.net.pe/peru/peru.html (Perú website)

HOW TO DO ACCENTS

Using accents on the computer

Go to: http://www.lingolex.com/spanishascii.htm

Accentuation rules in Spanish

1. For words ending in a consonant other than n or s, the stress falls on the last syllable unless otherwise indicated by a written accent mark. e.g., tomar, invitar, papel, reloj, universidad, matiz.

2. For words ending in a vowel, n, or s, the stress falls on the penultimate syllable (unless otherwise noted by written mark). e.g., clase, tomamos, casas, sombrero, corbata, comen.

3. A written accent mark must always be used to indicate an exception to the ordinary rules of stress. e.g., sábado, escribí, lección, fácil, ánimo, cenábamos. Note: Words stressed on any syllable except the last or penultimate will always carry a written accent mark. Verb forms with attached object pronouns are frequently found in this category. e.g., explíquemelo, levantándose, preparárnoslas.

4. A diphthong is any combination of a weak vowel (i, u) and a strong vowel (a, e, o) or two weak vowels. In a diphthong the two vowels are pronounced as one syllable sound with the strong vowel (or the second of the two weak vowels) receiving slightly more emphasis than the other. e.g., piensa, almuerzo, ciudad, fuimos. A written accent mark is used to eliminate the natural diphthong so that two separate vowel sounds will be heard. e.g., cafetería, tío, continúe.

5. Written accent marks are also used to distinguish between words with equal spellings and pronunciation, but with different meanings.

a. Interrogatives and exclamatory words have a written accent (their relative pronoun counterparts do not).

b. Demonstrative pronouns have a written accent to distinguish them from the demonstrative adjective forms.

c. In nine common word pairs, the written accent mark is the only distinction between varying meanings. These words are pronounced equally.

el = the	dé = give (present subjunctive, 1st/3rd singular)
mas = but	él = he
de = of, from	más = but
mi = my	mí = me
se = him/herself, themselves, itself, oneself	sé = I know
si = if	sí = yes
solo = alone	sólo = only
te = you (object pronoun)	té = tea tu your tú you (subject pronoun)

 

6. Words whose stress falls on the penultimate syllable are called palabras llanas (flat). Words whose stress falls on the last syllable are called palabras agudas (sharp). Words whose stress falls on the third-to-last syllable are called palabras esdrújulas (proparoxytone).

PLACEMENT

In order to take UVa’s online Spanish placement test, please follow these steps:

1) Go to http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org?acct=virginia

2) Type in the Exam Password: cavaliers1 (notice there are no spaces)

3) Disable any pop-up blockers you may have activated. You will need to consult your individual Internet browser, or any additional software that provides pop-up blocking in order to do this. Usually there are directions in the Help menu of relevant software programs.

4) Fill out the information page. Please include your first and last names only. We do not need middle names and/or suffixes, such as “III”.

5) Your “ID” is your UVa ID, which is the 9 digit number, usually your social security number, that the University uses to identify you, NOT your email address. YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR ID NUMBER OR YOUR SCORE WILL NOT BE RECORDED.

6) Take the test. YOU MAY TAKE THE TEST ONLY ONCE. If you experience a technical or computer malfunction, you must obtain permission to take the exam again by e-mailing spa-pla@virginia.edu.

7) When your score comes up, you must wait for the official score report to pop-up. PRINT THIS PAGE! YOU WILL NEED HARD COPIES OF YOUR SCORE TO PRESENT TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. KEEPING THIS RECORD IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

If you have questions, please e-mail our Spanish Placement Advisors at spa-pla@virginia.edu

Placement grid

FAQs

Degree requirements

Foreign Language Placement Index

IB Exams