• Sustain a conversation about themselves on selected topics of interest;
• Ask and respond to open-ended questions;
• Exchange feelings and ideas of self and others with some explanation;
• Express agreement and disagreement with some explanation;
• Read and respond to selected materials on a variety of topics;
• Identify the main idea and demonstrate understanding of some supporting details in authentic materials;
• Demonstrate understanding of written and spoken Spanish on a variety of topics;
• Write compositions with some guidance on a wider variety of topics in any time frame;
• Briefly narrate an event in the past;
• Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions (MnTC Goal 8);
  
• Analyze cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences between the target culture (products, practices and perspectives) and the student’s own culture within topics such as celebrations, health, technology, and homes (MnTC Goal 8);
• Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution (MnTC Goal 8);
• Describe and discuss contributions of other cultures such as artwork, architecture, music, dance and literature (MnTC Goal 6);
• Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities (MnTC Goal 6); and
  
• Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context (MnTC Goal 6).

I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Intermediate Spanish I

2. Course Prefix & Number:
SPAN 2401

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 4

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This course is a review of the fundamentals in grammar and vocabulary covered in the first year of Spanish language study, with amplification to more advanced structures and complex language usage. The remaining verb tenses (future, conditional, subjunctives) will be introduced through reading, writing and speaking. Graded level readers are used for pronunciation, comprehension and cultural information, providing topics in art, music, politics and current events. Short essays and conversations complete the language skill practices. SPAN 1402 or equivalent (2-3 years of high school Spanish) recommended. MnTC Goals 6 and 8

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level CLC or Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University, SPAN 2211, 3 credits
St. Cloud State University, Spanish 301, 3 credits
Metro State University, SPAN 301, 4 credits
Normandale Community College, SPAN 2100, 5 credits

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• CLEP
• Demonstration

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Spanish Transfer Pathway A.A.
Latin American Studies Certificate

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
• Goal 8 – Global Perspective

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Ask and answer basic conversation questions presented in the various verb tenses with the appropriate vocabulary, presented in a full sentence response.
Demonstrate written communication skills	Write complete sentences, matching verb/person/tense as required, demonstrating ability to match nouns and adjectives; utilize proper word order.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Read at the intermediate-graded level with accurate pronunciation, intonation and moderate fluidity.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Identify specific cultural vocabulary, mannerisms, and historical events relating to the Spanish-speaking countries they have studied particular to their course reading and study.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

Major Content

1. Social/ Cultural Themes
• Present selected works of literature, art, music, etc., in cultural and historical context.
• Present selected current and historical issues and events in comparative and historical perspective.
• Present cross-cultural differences and similarities, worldviews, beliefs, attitudes, values, etc.
• Assign analysis of the above in class discussions and written form.
2. Grammar and Structures
• Verb Review: (present, present progressive, stem-changers, preterit, imperfect (comparative use with preterit), formal and informal commands, present tense subjunctive and uses.
• New tenses include:  perfect (haber+ participle), future and conditional, and imperfect subjuntive
• Adverbial conjunctions with the subjunctive
• Nosotros commands
• Reciprocal verbs
• "If..." clauses (hypothetical)
3. Vocabulary
• Vocabulary review from Beginning Spanish; including family, school, daily activities, free time, food and clothing.
• Vocabulary related to cultural themes.
• Vocabulary for written exposition, such as expressions for causation, transitions, etc.
• Vocabulary for critical thinking and discussion in the language, such as asking for clarification, circumlocution, developing an argument, etc.
• Themes may include: personal relationships, free time activities, daily life, health and well-being, vacation and travel, nature and technology.
• Analysis of different forms of the same root word, cognates, etc.
• Strategies for effective communication, including vocabulary choice when using a dictionary or online language tools.
4. Writing
• Writing for various purposes.
• Critical thinking and self-editing skills.
5. Reading
• Variety of literary genres and authentic materials.
• Strategies for determining meanings, such as contextual and grammatical clues, cognates, previous content knowledge, prediction, logic, and knowledge of the genre.
• Literary and sociohistorical analysis.
6. Oral Communication (both interpersonal and presentational)
• Speaking for various purposes about a variety of themes.
• Strategies for changing topics, expressing opinions, agreeing, disagreeing, telling stories, etc.
• Strategies for circumlocution and negotiating meaning.

 NOTES:

Cultural themes are taught contextually, with special reading units that highlight history, indigenous culture, holidays, peoples, universal themes within the humanities and other topics as per the text and current events.

Listening:  Instructor gives topical lecture and/or plays authentic audio/visual content from various sources. Students answer questions in English and/or write a paragraph on what they understood (in English to assess comprehension, or in Spanish to assess communication ability).

Graded level reader: Choose book(s) with culture, conversation, and comprehension/vocabulary exercises, fully contextualized at an intermediate level.