Spanish

W80 Mayans Past and Present in Yucatán . . Students in this course spend three weeks immersed in Mexican culture in Mérida, Yucatán. Mérida, a moderate-sized city, is the site of two universities and a center for several mission organizations. Students participating in the course live with families and attend daily lecture classes, which focus on various aspects of Mexican culture such as Mexican and Mayan history, the history of Catholicism and Protestantism in Mexico , and the current political context. Students also take excursions to Mayan ruins and attend religious and cultural events. They keep a detailed journal consisting of notes from lectures and discussions as well as personal observations on Mexican culture and their experiences during their stay. Evaluation is based on satisfactory achievement of course goals, including active participation in course activities, increased understanding of various cultural and religious phenomena of Mexico in general and the Yucatán in particular, and growth in personal awareness and maturity—all as measured by journal entries, a language journal, a class presentation, and reflection papers. This course will meet the Cross Cultural Engagement (CCE) core requirement. Prerequisites: Spanish 201 and permission of Spanish program advisor. Fee: $1700. M. Bierling. Off campus.

W81 Spanish Grammar through Translation . Translation is an activity that combines the intellectual with the practical. Using a wide variety of texts and exercises, we will focus on lexical and grammatical detail in order to produce acceptable translations. Although this course will not produce professional translators, it will provide Interesting opportunities to use and improve Spanish language skills. Evaluation is based on daily written translations and a final exam. Prerequisite: Spanish 301 with a grade of "C" or better. C. Slagter. 8:30 a.m. to noon.

122 Intermediate Spanish (core). This course is the second part of the closely integrated 121-122-202 sequence, which fulfills the requirements for foreign language. Students attend large-group sessions in the morning and small-group sessions in the afternoon to acquire skills in speaking, listening to, reading, writing Spanish, and discussing cultural topics. Chapter tests, vocabulary and grammar quizzes, compositions, oral presentations, and a final exam are required. E. Miller, J.Polonowski, L. Rodriguez.

356 Foreign-Language Education in the Elementary School. This course focuses on the theory and practice of foreign-language teaching in the elementary school. Students in this course study the development of language skills, second-language acquisition, methodologies, curriculum, and programs. The course is required for K–12 foreign language endorsement and for elementary education Spanish majors and minors. It must be taken prior to Education 346 (Directed Teaching) and Spanish 359 (Seminar in Student Teaching). Course work is evaluated by means of reflection papers on readings, classroom observations, and mini-lessons. M. Pyper. 8:30 a.m. to noon.

358 Aiding in the Foreign-Language Classroom. The goal of this course is to give advanced students of Spanish the opportunity to experience firsthand the teaching of a foreign language and to develop their oral skills by leading practice sessions completely in Spanish. In addition, students enrolled in this class are an essential part of the successful teaching of Spanish 122. Students participating in this seminar assist in the planning of and aiding in small-group sessions for Spanish 122. Morning activities include meeting with other aides, observing master teachers, and preparing class plans, materials, and activities. During the afternoon aides lead their own practice groups and tutor students with problems. A daily journal, an activity card file, lesson planning, prepared materials and quizzes, and classroom techniques are used to evaluate a student's competency in oral and written Spanish and in pedagogical skills. In addition students are evaluated twice by the students in their small groups, and they are regularly observed by the instructor of Spanish 358. Prerequisites: Spanish 301 or 302 with a grade of B or better and permission of the instructor. M. Rodriguez. 8:30 a.m. to noon.

IDIS-W81 Argentina : Language, Landscape, Legacy. D. Zandstra. Note: The dates for this Interim course are May 22–June 20, 2006.