SP250G TOPICS IN SPANISH Course Syllabus - Stahley

Term
Fall 2026
Section
Abbreviated Session I
Course Delivery
ln person­[FTF]
Class Program
Credits 2.00
A thematically focused examination of a selected topic in Modern Language and/or Hispanic culture. Course content will emphasize Hispanic experiences or cultural traditions. Topics vary. May be repeated when topics differ.
Prerequisites
SP131G or placement

Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details

Meeting Days:
M-W-F
Meeting Times:
12:40-1:40
Location:
Kelly #10

Contact Information

Instructor:
Stahley
Instructor Email:
jeff_stahley@wilmington.edu
Office Location:
Kelly #5
Phone Number
937-481-2245
Social Media
N/A
Office Hours:
M-W-F 10:10-11:30
Course Materials

Textbook
Name: N/A
Edition:
ISBN:
Author:
Publisher:

Instructor's Course Objectives

Students will be able to function at the intermediate-mid level on the ACTFL proficiency guidelines. This means they will be able to participate in simple, direct conversations on topics beyond daily activities and personal life. Linguistic tasks students will be able to perform are: obtain and give information, synthesize information, narrate stories, defend personal opinions and challenge opposing perspectives. Students will be able to initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation with a number of strategies appropriate to a range of circumstances and topics.

A variety of authentic reading selections will provide the students with many opportunities to read and express themselves clearly and creatively orally. Also, throughout the semester, there will be brief grammar reviews on all tenses in the subjunctive. Students are expected to use the grammar points covered in class during their oral and written exams.

Course Schedule

Tentative Schedule

Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.

agosto

24 

Introducción al curso

Actividades comunicativas

 Tarea para la próxima clase: Take CAPE test. You will need an invitation to take this test. It will come in an email but PLEASE NOTE, the email will NOT be from me but rather an administrator. The subject heading will read: Spanish Reading/Grammar Test has been added to your dashboard. Read and sign the syllabus. Know present tense conjugations.

26

 Gramática: Tiempo presente

28 

Gramática: Tiempo presente

 

GOBIERNO AMERICANO

31 

Lean y estudien el vocabulario: Principios de la democracia americana, pág. 12-15

septiembre

Lean y estudien el vocabulario: Sistema de gobierno, pág. 15 – 19

Gramática: Mandatos Vocab quiz #1, pág. 12-19

Gramática: Mandatos

Lean pág. 20-24 y Derechos y responsabilidades, p. 24-28

Estudien el vocab pág. 20-28

11 

Repaso: Capítulo 1 pág. 12-28

Vocab quiz #2, pág. 20-28

14 

Examen #1

Tarea: composición #1 para entregar (hand in) en dos clases (no la próxima). Tema: El gobierno de `Yololandía (not a real country). Write a composition on the form of government in Yololandia, a country where You Only Live Once and you have to live it to the max. Pleasures, thrills and no limits is the philosophy of the government. Chapter one questions will be a good guide to help you with the type of information to include in your composition + a healthy imagination. Write only in the present tense.

16 

Gramática: Pretérito / Imperfecto

18 

Gramática: Pretérito / Imperfecto

Entregar composición #1

HISTORIA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS

 

21 

Lean y estudien el vocabulario: Período colonial y la independencia, pág. 29-33

Gramática: Pretérito / Imperfecto

23 

Lean y estudien el vocabulario: Los años 1800 y Historia americana reciente y otras, pág 33- 38

Gramática: La voz pasiva

Vocab quiz #3, pág. 29-38

25 

Gramática: La voz pasiva

28 

Gramática: La voz pasiva

30 

Más trabajo con gramática: La voz pasiva 

Tarea: composición #2 para entregar en dos clases. Tema: ¿Por qué quieres hacerte ciudadano de EU? For this composition you are to play the part of an hispanic immigrant living in the US who is about to take the citizenry test. As part of the test you must write a convincing composition to US government officials explaining why you want to be an American citizen. Write about the quality of life, civil rights denied to you, government & societal disfunction that you experienced (past tense) in your native country. Feel free to make up a brief story of government persecution that caused you to abandon your country. Use information learned in class to explain why you like the system of government in the US.

octubre

Examen #2

CIVICA INTEGRADA

 

Lean y estudien el vocabulario: Geografía, Símbolos patrios y Días de fiesta pág. 39-44

Estudien el vocabulario pág. 39-60

Repaso: Capítulos 2-3: La historia de los Estados Unidos y La cívica integrada, pág. 39-44

Vocab quiz #4, pág. 39-60

Entregar composición #2

Día de repaso

12 

Examen final: Examen de ciudadanía oral

Course Assignments

See syllabus

Evaluation of Work

The grading scale will be as follows:

A 4.00 (94-100) B 3.00 (84-86) C 2.00 (74-76) D 1.00 (60-66) A- 3.67 (90-93) B- 2.67 (80-83) C- 1.67 (70-73) F 00 (below 60) B+ 3.33 (87-89) C+ 2.33 (77-79) D+ 1.33 (67-69)

Instructor Course Policies

Instructor's Course Attendance Policy

Classroom attendance is taken every day and is required. The Department allows only two unexcused absences. For every absence over two, one point will be taken from your final average. Excessive absences may result in failure. Do not come to class late. Class will always start on time. Arriving late on 3 occasions = one absence. Arriving late on the day of a vocab quiz (late = after the 3rd word of the quiz is given) means you will receive a 0% for the quiz. See the current Student Handbook for the college’s attendance policy especially as it pertains to excused absences

Instructor's Academic Integrity Policy

See student handbook

Institutional and Program-Level Policies

Final Exam Schedule
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.

Undergraduate:  FA26 Final Exam Schedule    

 

Out-of-class Work Expectation

A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.

Instructional Course Delivery                                                                                                            

Definition of Courses

Academic Integrity Policy

The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.

Academic Integrity Policy

Class Attendance Policy                              

Institutional Class Attendance Policy