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ACC's Hybrid Spanish Course

 

A hybrid course is one in which the primary teaching methods are split evenly between face-to-face and web-based formats. It will combine the best practices and take advantage of the respective strengths both kinds of courses. A standard, face-to-face Spanish course meets twice a week for 2 hours and 15 minutes each time. In a hybrid course, you will still meet twice a week, but for half the time. There will be web-based activities in place of the rest of the class time. Back to Top

While anyone is welcome to enroll in this course, it was really designed with four different situations in mind:

  • You have had some Spanish before and feel like you won't need lots of extra explanations about the grammar because you already know how to do a lot of it or you think the information in the textbook is enough for you to understand .
  • You or your family speak Spanish already, so you don't feel like you need as much attention from the professor.
  • Your schedule makes taking a 5-hour course that meets twice a week very difficult, but you are not comfortable taking an entirely web-based course.
  • You really like learning with computers, but feel like you still need some face-to-face interaction with other students and the professor. Back to Top

 

In the Fall of 2007, the hybrid course have two course meetings per week, for an hour and 5 minutes each day. Synonym 09022 (section 56) will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:20 pm until 1:25 pm in portable building 3. Synonym 09006 (section 37) will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:35 pm until 2:40 pm in that same room. Back to Top

 

Class time will be spent primarily in practice we will do a lot of group and paired activities, so if you do not like working with others; this is probably not the best format for you. Class time will not be spent with the professor lecturing about grammar structures, instead you are expected to study those items on your own with the text book and web materials, including a new series of podcasts developed specifically for this course. If there are items you do not understand, there will be time to ask questions or request more examples. If you find that you learn best by having someone explain it to you, then you should be prepared to spend time with a tutor in the learning center, visiting your professor during office hours or enroll in a different course. Back to Top

 

 

We will be using Blackboard over the internet for the online part of the course. In the Blackboard class there will be links to online tutorials ans podcasts to help you understand the grammar as well as links to practice sites were you can practice vocabulary and grammar before doing assignments for credit. The assignments for credit will include automatic feedback for most of the exercises. These items will have deadlines and while you can do them day or night at your convenience, you will be expected to keep up the class. It is not a "work at your own pace" course. There will be timed vocabulary quizzes, video clips to watch and respond to questions about them, reading comprehension practice, listening comprehension practice and grammar exercises. Back to Top

 

 

No, the computer applications are easy to use. Lab techs, fellow classmates, and the instructor will all be available to help you.This is a great opportunity to become more comfortable with computers and benefit from learning via computers. Back to Top

 

 

No way.You are expected to work with the course materials throughout the week – just as you would in a traditional class setting. Even with the tutorials and activities online, you will still need to read in your textbook, do workbook pages and study your notes. Back to Top

 

 

At the moment I plan to give exams during a regularly scheduled class meeting. This could change as the situation dictates. Back to Top

 

 

If for any reason, you lose internet access during the semester, you can always work in the open computer labs at your campus. If you do not have access at home, you should carefully consider the hours of the computer labs available to you. You should be able to get online just about every day at least to check for announcements. If you wait until the last moment before the deadline, you won't be able to deal with any glitches that might arise. While things usually go smoothly, whenever you work worth technology, there is a chance that something might happen to get in your way. The best way to prepare for that is to give yourself plenty of time so that you would be able to ask your professor any necessary questions and still have time to finish. Back to Top

 

 

This is not a good course for you. This is every bit a 5-hour course, so you should expect to spend an equal amount of time online as you would have spent in the classroom PLUS the time spent doing homework and generally studying for the course outside of class. Back to Top

 

 

You will need to look at the online orientation in order to get a better understanding of the mechanics of blackboard and the class exercises. The syllabus will also be available online and information about the first assignment. Yes, you will have homework before class actually starts. There is also a face-to-face orientation meeting on Monday, August 20, or Tuesday, August 21, from 6 pm - 7 pm. If you do not attend one of those sessions you will be dropped from the course. If you are unable to attend either of those sessions, please contact Scott Gibby at sgibby@austincc.edu as soon as you know. Back to Top

 

 

    
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