SPA 100: Spanish for the Workplace

Course Description

This course is intended for students who do not speak Spanish or whose knowledge of Spanish is rudimentary. This Course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the Spanish language and culture in a working environment, with special focus on Health Care and Law Enforcement. The course will include reading and listening to interactive presentations and practice of written working environment dialogues, to acquire the basic skills to communicate more effectively in Spanish at work. Two voice recording activities will be assigned through the required online software. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will:

  1. Identify, interpret and discuss information in Spanish on an elementary level, both orally and in writing, with co-workers, employers, employees or patients.
  2. Identify situations and/or solve problems with Spanish-speaking people in the work environment.
  3. Use basic Spanish vocabulary and grammar skills to identify and develop dialogues within the discipline.
  4. Discuss key aspects of Latino culture.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (weekly)

37.5%

MySpanishLab (Lessons 1-8)

37.5%

Midterm Assignment (Week 4)

12.5%

Final Assignment (Week 8)

12.5%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore

  • Guzman, Elizabeth E. Unidos Classroom Manual: An Interactive Approach. MyLab Spanish with Pearson eText. 3rd ed. ISBN-13: 9780135304761
  • Special Computer Requirements:
  • Broadband/high-speed Internet connection (e.g. high-speed DSL, fiber-optic, or other equivalent is recommended).
  • More recent web browser (at least Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher or Firefox 5.06 or higher, Chrome or Firefox)
  • Minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 and a maximum screen resolution 1280 x 1024
  • Adobe Flash Player 11.2 or higher
  • Adobe Flash Reader 8 or higher
  • Java latest version

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignment(s)

1

1, 2, 3, 4

Bienvenidos (Welcome)

Lesson 1: Bienvenidos

  1. Introduce yourself, greet others and say good-bye
  2. Professions and trades
  3. Identifying and describing people: The verb Ser (Part I)
  4. Specify gender and number: Articles and nouns
  5. Cultural video: Mundo Hispano

Lecture 1:

  1. Greetings
  2. Professions and Job titles
  3. Cultural note: Introduction
  • Complete Lesson 1 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 1 Discussion Board Topic (graded)

2

1, 2, 3, 4

Mi vida (My life)

Lesson 2: Mi vida

  1. Expressing origin, inherent qualities and changeable conditions: The verb Ser
  2. Expressing location and states of being: The verb Estar
  3. Present tense of Regular Verbs
  4. Los miembros de la familia
  5. Cultural video: Hispanics in the US Part I

Lecture 2:

  1. Survival Spanish: requesting personal information
  2. Cultural note: Spanish name structure and Family values
  • Complete Lesson 2 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 2 Discussion Board Topic (graded)

3

1, 2, 3, 4

El lugar de trabajo (The work site)

Lesson 3: El lugar de trabajo

  1. Describe people, places and things: Adjectives
  2. Interrogative words
  3. Time expressions
  4. Giving directions: prepositions
  5. Speaking assignment: Introduce yourself and talk about your work site

Lecture 3:

  1. Buildings areas and City parts
  2. Asking and giving directions
  3. Cultural note: Verbal and no verbal communication
  • Complete Lesson 3 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 3 Discussion Board Topic (graded)

4

1, 2, 3, 4

Responsabilidades (Duties and obligations)

Lesson 4: Responsabilidades

  1. Expressing opinions, plans, preferences, and feelings: Irregular verbs
  2. Expressing obligation: Tener que+ Infinitive
  3. Ser and Estar review
  4. Express dates and tell time

Lecture 4:

  1. Expressing duties and obligations: Hay que, Deber, Es necesario.
  2. Requesting information: Basic Hiring and Job Application
Cultural note: Etiquette and Time
  • Complete Lesson 4 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 4 Discussion Board Topic (graded)
  • Complete the Midterm

Midterm Assignment
Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4

5

1, 2, 3, 4

Relaciones de trabajo (Employees and work relationship)

Lesson 5: Relaciones de trabajo

  1. Discuss the people, things, and activities you and others like and dislike: The verb Gustar
  2. Talk about careers and employment
  3. State what and whom you know: The verbs Saber and Conocer
  4. Courteous Expressions, Helpful words and Phrase
  5. Hispanics in the US Part II

Lecture 5:

  1. Job expectations
  2. Cultural Note: Hispanic Traditions and Religions
  • Complete Lesson 5 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 5 Discussion Board Topic (graded)

6

1, 2, 3, 4

Mi trabajo I (My Job I): Concentrations: General workplace, Health Care, Law Enforcement

Lesson 6: Mi trabajo I

  1. Giving instructions or suggestions: Formal Commands
  2. Clothing
  3. Parts of the body
  4. Speaking assignment: talk about your job responsibilities and give job related instructions using formal commands

Lecture 6

  1. General Workplace: Office setting, Departments, Being courteous
  2. Health Care: Medical vocabulary I, Examination, Common injuries, Medical dialogue I
  3. Law Enforcement: Vehicle parts, Interview question and phrases, Arrest commands
  • Complete Lesson 6 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 6 Discussion Board Topic (graded)
71, 2, 3, 4

Mi trabajo II (My Job II): Concentrations: General workplace, Health Care, Law Enforcement

Lesson 7: Mi trabajo II

  1. More instructions using Formal Commands: Job related activities
  2. Expressing expectations and hopes: The Subjunctive (Softening Commands)
  3. Expressing emotions, opinions and attitudes: The Subjunctive

Lecture 7

  1. General Workplace: Rules, complains, Job performance
  2. Health Care: Medical vocabulary II, Prescription, History, Medical dialogue II
  3. Law Enforcement: Miranda warning, Weapons, Traffic law and accident, Raid.
  • Complete Lesson 7 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 7 Discussion Board Topic (graded)

8

1, 2, 3, 4

Mis planes (My plans)

Lesson 8: Mis planes

  1. Expressing movement and plans: Ir and Ir a + Infinitive
  2. Expressions using Tener
  3. Cultural video: Hispanics in the US Part III

Lecture 8:

  1. Helpful words and phrase
  2. Easy future: Spanish dialogues
  • Complete Lesson 8 in MySpanishLab (graded)
  • Read the lecture material in BB
  • Participate in Week 8 Discussion Board Topic (graded)
  • Final Assignment (Concentrations: General workplace, Health Care, Law Enforcement)
  • Complete the Course Evaluation

Final Essay Assignment
Concentrations: General workplace, Health Care, Law Enforcement SLOs 1, 2, 3, 4

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.