Requirements

 

Course Requirements

Video and Computer Lab
The class will meet in 407 Math every Thursday. This session will be dedicated principally to video and computer based activities. As these materials are not available to students elsewhere, timely attendance is essential. Students are also required to bring a diskette to the weekly lab sessions.

Class Bulletin Board
Weekly participation in the discussion is required. Your weekly contributions will form part of the grade for class participation.
Technical note: It is a bulletin board restricted to the participants in the course, so you may have to configure your browser to use SSL (usually under Security preferences) for connections to the secure web server. You will need to use your kerberos handle and password, which in most cases is the same as your cunix account. Students who need help with their password should go in person to the Computing Support Center in 102 Philosophy.

Homework
Homework assignments from the Cuaderno de ejercicios will be assigned for each unit. I will generally not accept late homework assignments. If you cannot complete your work on time, please contact me to arrange a schedule for completion.

Oral Preparation
There will be at least one required oral report. In addition, there is daily preparation of assigned work using the taped programs. Due to heavy emphasis on the development of oral and listening comprehension skills in this course, it will not be sufficient to study the assignments in silence. Students should regularly listen to the tapes that correspond to each lesson of the text. Tapes are available for sale to students at the Columbia University Bookstore. In addition, the tapes are available for use in the Language Lab in Lewisohn Hall, or the Media Center will copy tapes for you for a small fee.

Attendance
Attendance at all class meetings is a requirement. I will take roll at each class meeting. No more than two unexcused absences are allowed during the semester. On the third absence, your final grade will be lowered one grade (that is, an A becomes an A-).. After three unexcused absences, you will be asked to drop the course. Absence from a class is not an excuse for missing homework assignments, tests or exams. You should make sure you contact a classmate in order to obtain the missed work and assignments.

Lateness
You should arrive on time to all class meetings. Late arrivals disrupt the class. Three late arrivals will be considered the equivalent of one absence

Tests
At the end of each major unit, you will have an announced, short written and/or oral test, or composition. In addition, you will give at least one formal oral presentation. You will also have a mid-term and a final examination. The mid-term and final will include oral testing.

Lesson Tests and Exams
There will be no make-up tests. If you miss one, you will receive a score of zero. In special circumstances, I may be able to arrange for an alternate day for the tests. Arrangements must be made prior to the test date or backed with doctor's note.

There will be a mid-term and a final exam. There are no make-ups for the tests and midterm exam. The final exam date for this course will be May 8, 2000. Only in case of an exam date conflict, an alternative date may be arranged with the Spanish Department.

 

Evaluation
The final grade will be determined based on the following factors:

20% Final exam
15% Midterm exam
20% Chapter tests
15% Compositions
20% Homework, class preparation, class and bulletin-board participation
10% Oral exam

Grading scale

97-100 A+ 93-96 A 90-92 A-
87-89 B+ 83-86 B 80-82 B-
77-79 C+ 73-76 C 70-72 C-
70-72 C- 59-0 F