HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Department of Romance Languages and Literatures

SPANISH Ca Course Head: Nina C. de W.

Ingrao
Fall 2007-2008 326 Boylston Hall
495‑1868/495‑2546
Office Hours: Monday 2-4

TEXTBOOKS (available at the Harvard Coop)

‑ Rojas-Curry, Gramática esencial, 2nd Edition (Houghton Mifflin)

‑ Kiddle‑Wegman, Perspectivas, 7th Edition (Heinle)

‑ Mullen, El cuento hispánico, 7th edition (McGraw Hill)

Spanish Ca is an intermediate language course conducted in Spanish. It aims to

greatly improve the student's communication skills in Spanish so that he/she may
feel confident enough with the language in any situation. Great care has been taken
in the selection of the reading material in order to provide a source for a balanced
variety of topics to be discussed in class to satisfy the tastes and interests of all the
students.

Spanish Ca demands faithful and regular preparation of assignments and active

participation in class. A grade for participation will be included in both your
Midterm and Final grades.

TESTS

There will be 3 compositions and/or essays, 3 oral‑written tests (you are allowed to
miss one test during the semester)*, a midterm examination **, 2 oral proficiency
tests and a final examination.

Please see attached information about Make-ups for bi-weekly tests.

If you don't miss a test, your lowest test grade after

the Midterm will be dropped.

No make up will be given for the midterm examination.

COMPOSITIONS (see attached page for the topics)

Compositions should be 1 1/2 to 2 pages long. They should be turned in on the due
date as shown in the syllabus. If you are not going to be in class that day, please
turn it in the class before, or ask someone to turn it in for you. Compositions turned
in one day late loose 10 pts, 2 days late 20 pts; after that they won't be accepted. If
you have a particular situation, please get in touch with Sra. Ingrao. For topics of
the compositions, see p. 3. On the same page, see "Aviso importante".

SPANISH TABLES

Attendance at the Spanish Tables held at most of the Houses is strongly

recommended.

ABSENCES

After the first week of classes any student who accumulates three absences without
an official excuse must see the Course Head to discuss the situation. Students who
continue being absent from class after receiving a warning may be recommended
for exclusion from the course, in accordance with the Rules Relating to College
Studies.

TAPES

"Caminos peligrosos," is a suspense story in 20 episodes. Students will be required

to listen to 2 episodes per week. The tapes are available at the Modern Language
Center* and at Hilles Library.

Comprehension will be tested in class as well as in the oral‑written tests, midterm

and final examinations.

ARTICULOS DE PERIODICOS (from any newspaper or magazine in Spanish,

or the Internet).

Choose a short article and prepare it to present it in class on the day indicated in the
syllabus.

* Available in Audio and Computer (Acquisition #2-236-001-020)

 Computer: 1. Click on Languages Courses
2. Go to Spanish Ca
3. Click on episode you want

Spanish Ca/Cb
Course Head: Nina C. de W. Ingrao
326 Boylston Hall
495-1868

IMPORTANT

Make-ups for the Bi-weekly Tests are only given with Sra.
Ingrao's authorization. You must obtain authorization
from Sra. Ingrao herself before the test. Do not ask this
authorization via E-Mail.

The written permission will be forwarded to the TFs/TAs.

No make-ups will be given without this written
authorization. Also note that approved make-ups are
only given on the Monday following the test.

SPANISH Ca Sra.
Ingrao

Topics of the Compositions

Comp. #1 Contaminación y turismo

Comp. #2 Ventajas y desventajas de la televisión

Comp. #3 Crónica para el "Crimson" sobre lo ocurrido en el aeropuerto

de Ezeiza (basándose en "Caminos peligrosos")

AVISO IMPORTANTE

Compositions/essays are expected to be written solely by the student. Therefore,

you should not ask assistance of any kind to another person (including suggestions,
comments, correction, etc.).

You should cite your source(s) of information (books, magazines, etc.) on the last
page of your composition/essay as endnotes.

Compositions/essays that are note the sole work of the student will not be accepted,
and therefore will receive a zero.

Please, consult "Handbook for Students" on the subject of Submission of

Written Work, Preparation of Papers and Other Work: Plagiarism and
Collaboration.
SPANISH Ca-Cb Course Head: Sra.
Ingrao

Preparation of Assigned Readings

Oral communication is stressed in Intermediate Spanish I (Sp. Ca) and in

Intermediate Spanish II (Sp. Cb), therefore you will be expected to participate
actively during the class time. In order to participate in class, a good preparation at
home is essential.

At Home

If Spanish Ca-Cb were courses conducted in English, reading for content would be
sufficient but, because you are studying a foreign language, you should also prepare
for the language.

I - Concentrate in sentences rather than trying to understand each word

 - Do not look up each word in the dictionary
- Do not translate
- Identify those words/idiomatic expressions that:

a) interfere with your comprehension

b) are essential to be able to talk about the subject
c) interest you; you would like to know ; amuse you

- As you read, learn as many new words/idiomatic expressions as you are

able to, but remember that the best way to build up your vocabulary (and to
commit it to long term memory!) is to learn new words within a context rather than
by memorizing a long list of isolated words.

It is useful to underline those words/expressions in red.

II Master the grammatical structures used in the readings

to express meaning

III Ask yourself: "Am I going to be able to talk about this in class ?"
It helps to actually "rehearse" aloud.

In Class

The readings in the books are your source to acquire:

1. Vocabulary - Be prepared to define, explain or give an example using the

words and, or, expressions that you have chosen from the
article/story (no translations allowed!).

2. Grammatical - Be prepared to "re-construct", or re-tell the article/story

structures incorporating the appropriate vocabulary.

You are now ready to express your own ideas, thoughts,

opinions, interpretations.

Your goal should be not only to be able to express yourself in Spanish but to
express yourself at a more advanced level as well as you incorporate in your oral
expression the appropriate vocabulary, and the more complex structures.

Do the same when you write your compositions!

 Preparation of Listening Material

At the beginning, listen to it several times. Do not try to understand each word: try
to understand sentences.

As with your preparation of the readings, listen for content, vocabulary,

grammatical structures but this activity is mainly to develop your aural
comprehension.

Get used to the sound of the language; its rythm; the way words come together; the
entonation; the inflexions...

As your listening comprehension develops, it should become easier and easier for
you to hear not only complete sentences but each word as well.

When you are able to sit back, and understand/hear everything clearly and without
effort, you have reached a very good level.

SPANISH CA SYLLABUS

Fall 2007-2008 Sra. Ingrao

Sept. 19 Gramática esencial - Capítulo 1

Wed. I. The present indicative (A-B-C-D-E)
Perspectivas: "Selvas tropicales", p. 21

Sept. 21 G.E. - Capítulo 1

Fri. II. Nouns (A-B)
P.: "Ecologístas desde...", p. 12
"Los turistas...", p. 15

Sept. 24 G.E. - Capítulo 1

Mon. III. Definite and Indefinite articles (A-B)
IV. Tomar, llevar(se) and other equivalents of "to take"
Artículos de periódicos

Sept. 26 G.E. - Capítulo 2

Wed. I. Tenses of the past: preterite and imperfect (A-B)
P.: "Diego Velázquez", p. 218

Sept. 28 G.E. - Capítulo 2 (C-D)

Fri. P.: "Guernica", p. 88
Oct. 1 G.E. - Capítulo 2
Mon. II. "Hacer" in time expressions (A-B-C)
P.: "Frida Kahlo", p. 226

Oct. 3 G.E. - Capítulo 2

Wed. III. Questions (A-B-C)
P: "Misterios de...", p. 56
Composition 1 due

Oct. 5 G.E. - Capítulo 2

Fri. IV. Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns (A-B)
V. "saber vs. conocer"
Artículos de periódicos

Oct. 8 HOLIDAY
Mon.

Oct. 10 G.E. - Capítulo 3

Wed. I. "Ser" and "Estar" (A-B-C-D)
P.: "Dos cuestiones difíciles", p. 165

Oct. 12 Oral-Written Test 1 (Cap. 1- 2)

Fri.

Oct. 15 G.E. - Capítulo 3

Mon. II. Descriptive adjectives (A-B-C)
P.: "El indio y los animales", p. 45

Oct. 17 G.E. - Capítulo 3

Wed. III. Comparatives and superlatives (A-B-C-D)
P.: "La teleadicción", p. 241

Oct. 19 G.E. - Capítulo 3

Fri. IV. Possessive adjectives and pronouns (A-B-C-D)
Artículos de periódicos

Oct. 22 G.E.: - Capítulo 3

Mon. V. Indefinite expressions and... (A-B-C)
Cuento hispánico: Genesis, p. 19

Oct. 24 G.E.: - Capítulo 3

Wed. VI. Spanish equivalents of "to become"
P.: "El fascinante mundo de...", p. 184

Oct. 26 General Review

Fri.

Oct. 29 MIDTERM EXAMINATION (Caps. 1-3)

Mon.

Oct. 31 G.E. - Capítulo 4

Wed. I. The future tense (A-B-C-D)
II. The conditional tense (A-B-C)
Cuento hispánico: "Rafael", p. 48

Nov. 2 G.E. - Capítulo 4

Fri. III. Object pronouns (A)
Artículos de periódicos

Nov. 5 G.E. - Capítulo 4

Mon. III. Object pronouns (B)
Artículos de periódicos

Nov. 7 G.E. - Capítulo 4

Wed. III. Object pronouns (C-D)
C.H. - "El loco de Sevilla", p. 3

Nov. 9 G.E. - Capítulo 4

Fri. IV. the personal a (A-B)
V. constructions with gustar and verbs like gustar (A-B)
VII. Spanish equivalents of to realize
C.H. - "El árbol de oro", p. 40
Composition 2 due

Nov. 12 HOLIDAY
Fri.

Nov. 14 G.E. - Capítulo 5

Wed. I. The present participle (A-B)
II. The progressive tenses (A-B-C-D)

Nov 16 Oral-Written Test 2 (cap. 4)

Fri.

Nov. 19 G.E. - Capítulo 5

Mon. III. The infinitive (A-B)
IV. Prepositions (A-B-C)
C.H.- "Emma Zunz", p. 120
 El video de "Emma Zunz" está disponsible en el "Language Resource
Center", Lamont Library

Nov. 21 G.E. - Capítulo 5

Wed. IV. Prepositions (D-E)
Artículos de periódicos

NOVEMBER 22 TO NOVEMBER 25 - THANKSGIVING RECESS

Nov. 26 G.E. - Capítulo 5

Mon. V. preguntar vs. pedir
IV. Prepositions (F-G-H)
Artículos de periódicos

Nov. 28 G.E. - Capítulo 6

Wed. I. The past participle (A-B)
II. The perfect tenses (A-B)
C.H. - "El eclipse," p. 24

Nov. 30 G.E. - Capítulo 6

Fri. III. Reflexive, reciprocal and impersonal constructions (A)
Artículos de periódicos

Dec. 3 G.E. - Capítulo 6

Mon. III. Reflexive, reciprocal and impersonal constructions (B-C)
P. - "Los mexicanos", p. 280

Dec. 5 G.E. - Capítulo 6

Wed. IV. Passive constructions (A-B)
V. Spanish equivalents of to miss
C.H. - "Casa tomada", p. 98. Este cuento, leído por Julio Cortázar,
está disponible en el "Language Resource Center,
Lamont
Library". Ask for: "Casa tomada" tape, special drawer # 2.

Dec. 7 G.E. - Capítulo 7

Fri. 1. The forms of the present subjunctive (A-B-C)
P. - Los cubanos", p. 306

Dec. 10 G.E. - Capítulo 7

Mon. II. The subjunctive in noun clauses (A-B)
C.H. - "Continuidad de los parques", p. 92
Dec. 12 G.E. - Capítulo 7
Wed. II. The subjunctive in noun clauses (C)
III The subjunctive in independent clauses
P. - "Los puertorriqueños, p. 294

Dec. 14 Oral-Written Test 3 (Cap. 5-6)

Fri.

Dec. 17 G.E. - Capítulo 7

Mon. IV. Direct and indirect commands (A-B)
Artículos de periódicos

DECEMBER 19 TO JANUARY 1 - WINTER RECESS

Jan. 2 G.E. - Capítulo 7

Wed. IV. Direct and indirect commands -Repaso
Artículos de periódicos

Jan. 4 G.E. - Capítulo 7

Fri. Repaso
V. trabajar, funcionar, and similar verbs
P. - "La luz es como el agua", p. 264

Jan. 7 G.E. - Capítulo 7

Mon. Artículos de periódicos
Composition 3 due

Jan. 9 General Review

Wed. Artículos de periódicos

Jan. 11 General Review

Fri. Artículos de periódicos

FINAL EXAMINATION: to be announced