SPANISH Language Programs
Placement (at which level should I start?)
If you studied Spanish in high school, you will need to take a number of factors into consideration as you decide at what level to enter our program.
In order to fulfill the OU College of Arts and Sciences language requirement, you cannot enroll above the level suggested in the following table. In other words, this table outlines the highest possible level course for number of years studied in high school:
1 yr HS Span 111
2 yrs HS Span 211
3 yrs HS Span 211
4 yrs HS Span 213
5 yrs HS Span 341
4 + AP placement depends on score on AP exam (visit the OU Admissions Office pages for information –
http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/transcredits/
All incoming students are encouraged to take the placement test before registering for a class. This is required in order to enter SPAN 111.
If you are unsure of how well your high school Spanish study prepared you for the college level indicated above, we offer several resources to help you decide where to start. You can stop by the Language Resource Center in the basement of Gordy Hall and take a computerized placement exam that will generate a score, which, together with the number of years you studied in high school, corresponds to a specific course. The exam takes about 20 minutes to complete, and you should talk to an advisor afterwards. You can make an advising appointment in the Department of Modern Languages (Gordy 283). The exam requires no appointment.
If you begin at a level that soon feels uncomfortable, either because it’s too easy or too challenging, speak to the appropriate language program director. For first-year classes (111-113) contact
Dr. Francia Martínez.For second-year classes (211-213) contact Dr. Mary Jane Kelley.
First-year Language Program (Spanish 111/112/113)
Elementary Spanish I, II, and III are beginning Spanish classes designed for students with little or no language study in high school. If you have taken three or more years of high school Spanish, the elementary series is probably not for you. See “placement" above for suggestions on placing yourself in the appropriate level class.
The overall goal of Spanish 111, 112, and 113 is to develop proficiency in the four language skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing. In class, we ask students to work cooperatively and make active use of Spanish while completing a wide range of activities that recreate real life contexts. At home, students study the textbook and complete writing, reading, and listening activities in the Activities Manual and on the interactive CD-ROM, which provides immediate feedback. Consequently, students acquire structures and vocabulary through homework; the instructor’s in-class explanations are brief and center around specific questions and problem areas. Valuable class time is devoted to meaningful communication that reinforces learning through practice.
The current textbook for the course is Sol y viento, which features a full-length film that students view in class to improve listening comprehension skills. Language from the film illustrates grammar points, and the film’s content provides a point of departure for readings and discussions on cultural themes. The Sol y viento program offers diverse, engaging resources that foster communication in a dynamic classroom.
Second-year Language Program
(click on the links below for individual course homepages)
-Spanish 211
-Spanish 212
-Spanish 213
