|
ADVANCED SPANISH CONVERSATION |
| 45
HORAS |
|
COURSE DESCRIPTION |
This
course introduces the student to the subtleties
of the Spanish language in conversation,
through the use of a theoretical and practical
methodology. Classroom and homework exercises
are aimed at refining the students’
knowledge and skills.
The classes will have a mixed methodology
of lectures imparted by the professor, class
discussions on a variety of topics to practice
oral communication between students and
daily readings of the local newspapers as
reading comprehension exercises and to acquire
information to be discussed in class. |
|
OBJECTIVES |
At
the end of these courses, the students should
be capable of the following skill in Spanish:
• Eliminate speaking and writing vices
that hinder the fluidity of communication.
• Increase and apply their critical-analytical
capacity.
• Use theoretical instruments for
self-correction.
• Elaborate and execute public interventions
such as: talks, conferences, speeches, and
presentations.
• Project their voice and their appearance
to the public to increase the effectiveness
of expression.
• Combine their oral expression with
body language: visual, facial gestures.
• Breathe and articulate adequately
during a public presentation.
• Improvise during a public presentation.
• Confront unplanned situations while
presenting to an audience.
|
|
SPECIFIC
OBJETIVES |
1.
Make brief and extended speeches.
2. Give a speech with calm and assurance
.
3. Eliminate speech habits which hinder
communication.
4. Combine oral expression with other forms
of nonverbal communication during a presentation.
5. Have and develop informed decisions on
the current social, economic, and political
situation of Costa Rica and of Latin America.
6. Have a general knowledge of Spanish literature. |
|
COURSE CONTENTS |
1.
Economics
a. Elements
b. The last recession and the effects of the
war on Iraq
c. Cases of specific countries: Costa Rica,
Venezuela, Argentina, Nicaragua
2. Social Effects
a. The high, middle, and lower classes in
Latin America.
b. Obstacles and difficulties for communication
and progress
c. Traditions and Customs
3. The international political environment
a. Surviving during and after the declaration
of war on Iraq
b. International political and economic summits
c. International relations in Latin America:
The new alignments
4. Literature
a. Means of expression for the masses
b. Reflection of the social situation at a
particular time
c. Storytelling: The “not so hidden”
meanings
5. The Costa Rican Political System
a. The players and their communication to
the rest of society
b. The modern presidents, their benefits to
the country.
c. The role of unions in government
6. Central American Free Trade Agreement:
CAFTA or TLC
a. Economic repercussions: Export markets
of the world
b. Sections of the economy that are most affected
c. The effects on government monopolies: ICE
and INS
d. Agriculture and Industry |
|
TEACHING METHODOLOGY |
The
Advanced Conversational Spanish language
course uses a methodology based on the progressive
model, which consists on the sequential
individual process of accessing the cognitive
structures of the level immediately above,
using the previous knowledge. With this
process the student increments the cognitive
zone of proximity and is therefore able
to step up to the next level of knowledge.
Thus, the course methodology seeks, first
of all, that the student has the opportunity
to activate the previous knowledge, generates
appropriate expectations and faces the activity
of learning as an intentional activity.
Secondly, the new information will be presented
so that the student has the opportunity
of working with it, alongside the professor.
Finally, the students will have the opportunity
of integrating, consolidating, and increasing
the information for themselves; as well
as working with their peers to compare perspectives
and learnings. |
Direct
Teaching Methodology Using this
model of guided discovery, the professor
will use the following strategies:
• To achieve an adequate class participation
and interaction, the professor will try
to construct a joint version of the students’
knowledge. In this way, during the presentation
of the course topics, the professor will
repeat, reformulate and explain both the
opinions of the students and the main themes
in discussion.
• Illustrations (demonstrations) and/or
diagrams will be used in each session so
that the student understands the topic under
discussion.
• The professor will also use similarities
and proposals, based on the previous knowledge
of the students and as a means to explain
the difficult concepts. This process is
focused on taking the knowledge to a higher
level and expanding the cognitive zone of
proximity. |
|
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES |
Prepare
a variety of practices and short presentations.
Independent Reading: A book chosen by the
students, by a Latin American author Various
short speaking exercises throughout the
course, to be prepared by the student. |
|
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
•
Daily local Periodicals: LA NACIÓN,
EL FINANCIERO, LA REPÚBLICA, LA PRENSA
LIBRE |
| Evualuación |
| Class participation
and Homework |
15% |
| 4 Oral Presentations (15% each) |
60% |
| Final Oral Presentation of the independent
reading |
25% |
| Total |
100% |
|
