Course Structure

Course Description

This course is the 2^nd part of 1^st year college Spanish. Students will improve basic language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing at the novice level (see ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines pp. 9, 14, 19, 24).  This course is designed for those with basic Spanish skills and/or those with no more than 3 years of high school Spanish. Not appropriate for native speakers, Spanish-speaking returned missionaries or those with strong intermediate-advanced Spanish skills. You can find more information about class placement here.

Course Objectives

1. Speak about the past, present and future using simple sentences and answer basic questions with appropriate responses.
2. Identify the main points and some supporting details of short readings and native-speaker speech.
3. Write simple paragraphs; identify and correct basic written mistakes.
4. Identify various similarities and differences between local cultures and Hispanic cultures.
5. Describe the ways in which learning Spanish and about Hispanic cultures helps to become a better disciple of Christ and identify how the Lord can help in learning languages.

Course Schedule

The course has been designed to follow a weekly schedule in which students complete two lessons—book chapters—every three weeks. The instructor may shift the order of completion for some assignment and may even extend the deadlines on a few assignments if circumstances warrant it for the whole class. However, for most assignments and quizzes, students are expected to have them all completed by Saturday 11:59 p.m. (mountain time) each week. For most assignments, there will be a penalty of 5% per day late.

In order to help students plan out their weekly schedule, every Thursday at 12:00 p.m. (mountain time) students will be given access to the following week’s learning activities for the next week's lesson. Essentially, students will be given access to two weeks at a time. This is done so that students will be able to work on those lessons over the weekend if they choose to do so. Students are not required to complete the following week’s learning until the week it is due.

On average, it takes approximately 12 hours to complete all the learning activities for each lesson. With these classes, there is no "time off" for holidays like students might get in face-to-face classes. Consequently, students should make sure to arrange their study schedule so that holiday activities do not keep them from completing learning activities.

Feedback on assignments will be provided regularly through Canvas, the McGraw-Hill platform, and on occasion Google Docs. Students are responsible for ensuring they have consistent access to each of these platforms in order to review instructor feedback and assessment details in a timely manner.

Required Materials

This course uses a low-cost, auto-access textbook. Read the information in the Textbook Information module to learn how to access your textbook.

IMPORTANT: This course requires McGraw-Hill Connect access to complete the activity and assignments as well as reading book Esperanza. Please DO NOT OPT OUT of materials for this course. It is necessary for the integration to properly work in the course.

Resource Title/Description (books, software, etc.)	Author/Provider	Ed./Vol.	13-Digit ISBN (if applicable)
Puntos de Partida (comes with course; charged first day of class)	Thalia Dorwick McGraw-Hill Education	11e	9781259991684
Esperanza (digital version) (purchased seperately)	Carol Gaab Wayside Publishing	n/a	I9781935575290

McGraw-Hill Account

This course uses McGraw-Hill Connect activities. If you have not previously created one for a BYU-Idaho course, you are required to create a McGraw-Hill account. Instructions, found on the About Your Textbook page, guide you to complete the necessary steps for setup.

Esperanza

Instructions to purchase/access Esperanza:

1. Sign up for a free Learning Site Student Account here. (For instructions on how to sign up, click here)
2. Purchase a digital copy of Esperanza here. Be sure to select the "Student Digital Package (FlexText®+Explorer)" from the drop-down menu and follow the steps to purchase the eBook. This will get you a code to access to the digital version of the book (you will NOT receive a printed copy).
3. Return to your Wayside Learning Site Student Account and follow these instructions to unlock and activate your FlexText with your student access code.
4. You can now access your eBook on the Learning Site by clicking on "FlexText".

*If you run into any problems or have any questions, please call Wayside customer support at (888) 302-2519 or visit their Customer Service Website Links to an external site

Conversation Lab Attendance

Students will be required to attend two Conversation Labs each week (expect for the midterm and final weeks when there are oral exams). They may sign up to attend Sessions offered on the google calendar. This will offer a variety of times and will be posted on the announcement page in the first week of the semester.  The calendar will have times available to attend. The student will choose the times that work best with their schedule.  If the student has concerns about their schedule, please reach out to the instructor during the first week. Plan on attending 2 during each week. The Conversation Lab Leader or the instructor will direct all of the learning activities through out each session. These learning activities will reinforce what students have learned in the previous learning activities for this lesson.

It is students' responsibility to come prepared to each Conversation Lab. They can do this by making sure they have completed all of the learning activities that are listed before each Conversation Lab. Because the sessions involve all group members interacting with one another, it is crucial that students come to each session prepared to teach one another. If it is obvious to the Conversation Lab leader or the instructor that students have not completed the previous learning activities, they will be asked to leave the lab session, and will loose attendance points for that session.

If students miss more than two lab sessions, or if they are unprepared for more than two lab sessions, their grade will be reduced by one grade step (for example, from a B+ to a B) for each lab session this occurs. For example, if students miss two lab sessions and come unprepared to a third session, their grade would be reduced by one grade step (for example, from a B to a B-). If students miss or come unprepared to a fourth session, their grade would be reduce by another grade step (for example, from a B- to a C+). Missing the Conversation Lab sessions will have serious consequences to their grade! Please make sure students work out their weekly schedule so that they will be able to attend all of the lab sessions.

Grading Policies

Grading Scale

Grades will be based on a percentage of the total number of points students may earn from assignments and exams, participation in online class meetings, and completion of any other learning activities assigned by the instructor. Grades will be determined as follows:

Letter Grade	Percentage Range
A	93%–100%
A-	90%–92%
B+	87%–89%
B	83%–86%
B-	80%–82%
C+	77%–79%
C	73%–76%
C-	70%–72%
D+	67%–69%
D	63%–66%
D-	60%–62%
F	below 60%

Students may check their total number of points for all assignments and exams at any time using the "My Grades" link on the Course Menu.

Extra Credit

You will have the opportunity to get extra credit throughout the semester:

• Complete the optional "LearnSmart" activities to review grammar and vocab. For each LearnSmart activity you complete, you can earn 1 extra credit point for the exam (or 2% per point). 
• Complete the Mid-semester Feedback Survey to get 2% extra credit on the midterm exam.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this Course

AI tools can be valuable assets to assist your language learning, but they cannot replace your own personal effort. You may use AI as a supplementary tool to enhance your language abilities. For example:

• As a tutor to explain grammar concepts or practice vocabulary
• As a conversation partner for practice outside of class (including up to 3 conversation practices)
• To generate example sentences or dialogues for study

However, using AI to complete assignments or produce work that you submit as your own is considered academic dishonesty and is strictly prohibited. When in doubt about the appropriate use of AI for a specific task or assignment, please consult your instructor for guidance.

University Policies

Course Accommodations

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with special needs. If you have special needs due to a learning, physical, or other disability/disorder, please contact Accessibility Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented needs. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Accessibility Services Office.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor
  • Academic Honesty
  • Student Conduct
    • Sexual Harassment
• Student with Disabilities
• Complaints and Grievances
• Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

Resources

Help Desk

If any technical difficulties arise through out the course, contact the Help Desk before contacting the instructor.

Help Desk:

BYU-Idaho Help Desk 1-208-496-1411 or helpdesk@byui.edu