Email Señor Fackler

As always the views expressed herein are never those of the University of Tennessee at Martin, but solely those of Sr. Fackler who must live them and bear full responsibility. Please contact him concerning errors or issues concerning this page. The copyright to any graphic image is exclusively owned by Ken Fackler unless otherwise noted.

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General Information

This course is intended for students who have studied Spanish in high school and/or who have completed the course Spanish 200, or with the approval of the Dept. of Modern Foreign Languages. Students who have a basic knowledge of Spanish will benefit most from Spanish 211 which targets the early intermediate level. While Spanish 211 assumes a basic knowledge of Spanish vocablulary, reading and listening comprehension, grammar and writing, as a foreign language course it focuses on skills development in the classroom which may not be readily available outside.

The skills of listening comprehension and speaking in particular can only be developed through practice, thus you will be expected to listen to and speak Spanish in the classroom about 95% of the time. There are many ways of communicating meaning without the use of translation such as pictures, mime, etc. I use these and others to make meanings clear. Now, you know and I know that I can and do speak and understand English. However, the course is Spanish and I will and do expect you to use Spanish in the classroom. This does not mean you can never speak English. But, I prefer that you try to use Spanish and make many mistakes than speak only English perfectly. Making mistakes, by the way, even gross errors, and then noticing them is one of the principal ways in which we develop competence in a foreign language. Have you ever made a mistake when speaking, or writing English? Well, it is likely you will hear or see me make a mistake, so please point it out discretely and I intend to do the same for you. Of course, if you must broadcast it on WLJT, I can't stop you, but doing so is not very becoming of you, is it?

On a brighter note, Spanish 211 will be an opportunity to develop an awareness of Hispanic culture through its people and the arts. Music and people themselves are a powerful medium of cultural expression, and I intend to bring both into the classroom. Don't be surprised if native speakers appear in class or suddenly you MUST use Spanish instead of English. Or, you may see someone behaving quite differently from what you would expect amidst an English speaking culture. Please show respect for customs and people that appear different from what you are used to... It is a course requirement.

Syllabus

The syllabus which is determined by the Department of Modern Foreign Languages is distributed in the classroom. See me if for any reason you didn't receive a copy. on-line copy

Classroom Rules/Procedures

Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Please pay attention. Pizza is not permitted and crunchy potato chips interfere with listening comprehension. Baseball caps may not be worn during tests. Respectful and polite behavior are expected. Attendence is mandatory for success.

Calendar/Schedule

There will be a test at the end of each chapter completed in class. Ideally, we are going to finish six chapters. There will be a vocabulary quiz about the mid-point of each chapter. After the first week of each chapter there will be a vocabulary quiz. Each chapter will be completed in two weeks after which there will be a chapter test.

Each chapter of the textbook assumes that you have studied the previous chapters. So, the chapters incorporate previously studied vocabulary, grammar, etc. Similarly, the tests for each chapter may include knowledge you have gained previously. However, each test will focus on the chapter you just studied. Both the mid-term and final tests will be chapter tests.

I will announce specific test and quiz dates in class, but as a reminder here is the University Calendar...

Fall Semester, 1999

Aug. 16, M	Classes Begin
Sept. 6, M	Labor Day
Oct. 8, F	Mid-term Progress Reports Due
Oct. 11-12, M-T	Fall Break
Nov. 25-26, Th-F	Thankgiving Holiday
Dec. 2, Th	Classes End
Dec. 3, F	Study Day
Dec. 6-10, M-F	Final Exams

Bulletin Board

Use this bulletin board to write and discuss in Spanish only. I will give you a topic and credit for each posting of each discussion. I will announce the topics in class and we will spend at least one class session in the computer lab to review the process together.

You may post at any time (even if it's off the topic) if you do it in Spanish. If a Spanish speaking friend helps you (I will likely recognize this), be sure you do the typing and you understand what you are posting. I may quiz you on your own message.

¡Quiero hacerlo ya!

Please do not post graphics, midi files, or anything other than text. You will be wasting your time if you attempt to do so.

Tools/On-line Practice

I really enjoy using computers in language instruction for a number of reasons. Computers make no humanlike judgements of you, so you can feel at ease. There are not enough opportunities for you, the foreign language student, to be exposed to the real human experiences which create the impressions necessary for quick and vibrant language acquisition. (For that, you'll need to travel to a Spanish speaking country. I highly recommend that you live in one for a while as I did.) In my opinion, certain aspects of grammar and mechanics like spelling, punctuation and so on are better practiced with a computer than a teacher because it is easier for a computer to give you its full attention in the lab than it is for a teacher in a classroom with many students.

So, here are some links you can use...

I'll be adding links here...

Español a granel del 'horreo' hispano... My page of Spanish related links

(Please be patient. I am an adjunt for M.F.L. and the University has never paid me for writing a web page.)

Email Señor Fackler - Read this first:

If you are a Spanish 211 student, you may use electronic mail to communicate your questions about the course material which is Spanish. I will be happy to answer your questions about Spanish via e-mail. But, you must see me in person regarding absences, illnesses, late assignments, missing tests, and anything related to excuses. I will disregard any e-mail which is an excuse. You must see me in person to deliver any excuses. In addition, homework must be completed and turned in on time.

I have a real question and I want to ask Sr. Fackler about Spanish or Spanish 211 class, so I am going to send him email.

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HELP ME, I'M GOING CRAZY!!

Do you feel like everyone must be nuts to run around at this pace with a cell phone in each hand while studying for a test and swallowing coffee all in the same breath? Well, don't get me started on this one... remember, you are responsible for each course and job you undertake.

BUT, if you have a problem and you need to talk, please come to my office. I usually help international students with their English questions. But, we often talk about culture shock or how strange some things in U.S. are (of course we speak only English). If you want to talk about Spanish, world travel, or any other topic that is important, I encourage you to contact me.