Today and tomorrow! October 9-10, Wednesday and Thursday from 12:10pm until around 1pm,G9 (Wednesday); Falcon’s Nest (Thursday)
Next month, Spanish Table meets on November 13-14
Remember: Students are required to attend three (out of eight) Spanish Table events at lunchtime in BCC’s Cafeteria (for at least half hour each time). Spanish Table meets one Wednesday and one Thursday each month from 12:10pm until around 1pm. (This is one of the many elements that count for students’ participation grade (20%) in the class.
Students are encouraged to bring English or Spanish native speakers to enjoy conversation about Latino music, films, dance, politics… and to meet new friends. Bring your laptop if you want to share for favorite music and YouTube videos on countries you are interested in learning about.
The Little Cinema at the Berkshire Museum is showing a feature film, “La Camioneta,” Friday, September 13th until September 16th, at 7pm. There is a 2pm showing on Monday, September 16th. “La Camioneta” is a New York Times “critics’ pic,” a worthwhile film to see!
Every day dozens of decommissioned school buses leave the United States on a southward migration that carries them to Guatemala, where they are repaired, repainted, and resurrected as the brightly colored camionetas that bring the vast majority of Guatemalans to work each day. La Camioneta follows one such bus on its transformative journey: a journey between North and South, between life and death, and through an unfolding collection of moments, people, and places that serve to quietly remind us of the interconnected worlds in which we live.
Directed by Mark Kendall
Spanish with English subtitles
Profe’s students can earn bonus points for attending this film. (Bring her your ticket stub as proof of attendance!)
BCC’s Intermediate Spanish II class is a distance learning class, this spring! We’re “googling” it up on Google +, having “videocharlas” each week to have class and keep in touch…
IMPORTANTE:When you have viewed/used this presentation, leave a comment in the reply window, below.
You will earn one homework point for posting; two for using four elements of vocabulary or grammar from the presentation correctly; three points for six elements used correctly; five points for eight or more correctly used elements of vocabulary or grammar.
¡OJO! Students who post comments like “Profe, es una presentación muy útil” will receive NO extra credit. Use this as an opportunity to study and practice what you’ve learned…and to SHOW IT ALL OFF! 🙂
If you’ve accessed this page from “BCC Breaking News and Posts,” click on the title of this post (“Apuntes de Profe…”), above, to take you to the window that does have a reply window.
¡ Bienvenido a la página del Laboratorio de lenguas de BCC: “FRED” !
Spanish students at BCC must spend one hour a week in FRED working on collaborative projects, recording audio or video voicethread projects, making PowerPoint learning games or flashcards, or doing online homework.
We encourage you to come work or hang out in FRED in between classes. You will find you learn so much more if you set out small learning tasks for yourself that you can accomplish in small blocks of time.
Make certain to sign in when you arrive so that you earn credit for your time in the lab.
Have you not started attending FRED for an hour a week, yet, this semester! Start this WEEK! Remember: Every hour you spend in FRED improves both your performance and your grade! 😀
Click on the image, below, for FRED hour with FRED Facilitator’s schedules.
Aquí está una presentación que te ayudará a practicar y a aprender las preposiciones en español. Patrick “Maximiliano” Meunier la ha diseñado (designed it)… ¡Es fantástica! (Puedes verla también en la Caja de juguetes del capítulo 6 en la pestaña “SPA 102” en el Wikiblog del Programa de español… http://blogs.berkshirecc.edu/languages
Patrick “Maximiliano” Meunier has created this AWESOME presentation to help you study for the final exam and put in a BRILLIANT performance on that test! USE this presentation to help you review. ¿Tienes preguntas? ¡Ven a verme! (Come see me!)
April Tarbox’s latest PowerPoint creation to help you learn is on the vocabulary for the family (capítulo 5 ~ vocabulario útil 1). I think the vocabulary for in-laws and step-parents is particularly challenging! This is a very strong tool to help you get it all straight.
What is it like to grow up in two cultures in the Berkshires? Immigrants from four families will share their insights with service providers, educators, and community members on Thursday, November 17 from noon to 2 at the First Baptist Church, 88 South Street in Pittsfield.Forum to Explore “Growing Up in Two Cultures”
November 17, 2011 from 12 – 2
Sponsored by the Cross Cultural Action Network (CCAN), the forum is open to the public with opportunities for networking among more than 40 agencies that provide services to multicultural populations throughout the county. Light refreshments will be provided.
Among the panelists is Youlin Shi who first came to the U.S. on a student visa with her husband. When she realized she was pregnant, she made the decision to stay in this country so her daughter could enjoy the freedoms that she did not have growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution. “I wanted to stay in this country so I opened my mind to what was the best way to raise a child in this country. I wanted my daughter to be a part of this culture. I wanted her to have the best of both cultures.”
While Youlin represents a parental view, two children of immigrant parents will share what it was like to grow up in two worlds. Pamela Melendez, who recently became an American citizen, was born in Ecuador and came to the United States when she was 16 years old with her family. She works as an Administrative Assistant in the BRIDGE program. Maya Bahl was born in the United States of immigrant parents from India. She is presently a student at Berkshire Community College.
For younger immigrants, growing up in two cultures can often have an impact at school. To help other educators and agencies understand the challenges in a school setting, Claudia Ooley, who immigrated from Northern Ireland 7 years ago, will share her experience as an ESL teacher and ELE Coordinator for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District.
All of us as parents and daughters and sons will learn from hearing these stories about the challenges facing parents and children in immigrant families. What is most amazing is the universality of many of the issues. We can identify with parents, who want the best for their children and with children who want to develop their own identity. Attendees will be encouraged to join in this interesting discussion .
Attendees are asked to enter the church through the side entrance near the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. Allow time for traffic and parking as construction continues on South Street. Parking is available on South Street, at the Colonial Theater and south of Housatonic Street.
CCAN is an informal network of cross cultural individuals and organization that support immigrants and other minority groups in the Berkshires. The group is committed to making the Berkshires a welcoming community through events, advocacy and education. Sponsoring this month’s forum are the Adult Learning Center in Pittsfield, Berkshire Adult Literacy Committee, Berkshire Immigrant Center, Literacy Network of South Berkshire, and South Berkshire Educational Collaborative.
April Tarbox has designed three excellent presentations: two on the vocabulary of the Internet, one colors. You will find them very helpful as you prepare for your chapter four test!
Second: Post this research in ENGLISH on your blog by November 16th, 5pm.
Third: Choose three countries from among those your classmates have chosen for their Segunda vida projects.
Fourth: Start learning the information they researched and posted on their blogs. Have that information learned by November 21 (SPA 101.01) or November 22 (SPA 101.02). We’ll have our Pasaportes activity on those days, in class.
Fifth: Create a passport for your own country. Ask Profe to show you samples from previous years.
Aquí tienes el Voicethread del capítulo 12: ¿Qué síntomas tienes?
Entrégame por correo electrónico el borrador de tu guión (script) de tu tercer Voicethread para miércoles, el 8 de noviembre. En cuánto recibas mis correcciones y comentarios, puedes grabar tu Voicethread. De todas formas, tienes que grabarlo para viernes, el 18 de noviembre, antes de las 5pm.
Yo tengo un amigo hipocondríaco, también. Voy a repetirle los consejos que tú le darás a tu amigo hipocondríaco porque ¡nunca sé qué decirle! Espero que te guste este proyecto… ¡Diviértete mucho!
Puedes descargar la presentación PowerPoint del proyecto. Es posible que sea más fácil leer las instrucciones en la versión descargada (downloaded). >>>SPA 201-Voicethread #3 – Capítulo 12
Bring any friends you know who would like to have the chance to practice speaking Spanish and to make friends with native Spanish speakers on campus. Do you have Spanish-speaking friends? Invite them! Tell them that La Mesa de español is a great place to connect, make friends, share what they know about their native cultures, music, favorite foods…
By the way: Alex Muñoz and Lina Silva, our FRED Facilitators from Colombia, reminded me to remind you that you can come to FRED during their hours to practice speaking! (Click on this link to access the FRED Facilitator Schedule: http://blogs.berkshirecc.edu/languages/fred_lab/
Come to the "Día de los muertos" lunch in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 1!
Have a photo of taken of you and your classmates at the Day of the Dead Buffet Luncheon in the cafeteria. Email your photos to Profe to get bonus points in your Spanish class!
Bring an item that reminds you of someone you have loved who has passed away and place it on the Día de los muertos altar that you’ll find in the cafeteria.
Please submit the first draft of the script for your voicethread for chapter 3 by Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Please email it to me before 5pm! I will make corrections and email it back to you. You must record your Chapter 3 Voicethread by Tuesday, November 7th. Need HELP? Contact Profe!
¡Hola! Abajo, verás el Voicethread del capítulo 11: ¿Qué quieres ver?
Entrégame por correo electrónico el borrador de tu guión (script) de tu segundo Voicethread para lunes, el 24 de octubre. En cuánto recibas mis correcciones y comentarios, puedes grabar tu Voicethread. De todas formas, tienes que grabarlo para viernes, el 28 de octubre, antes de las 5pm. A mí me ENCANTA el cine… Y a ti, también, ¿no? Espero que te guste este proyecto… ¡Diviértete mucho!
Puedes descargar la presentación PowerPoint del proyecto. Es posible que sea más fácil leer las instrucciones en la versión descargada (downloaded). Si necesitas ayuda, ven a verme en la oficina o escríbeme un correo electrónico o llámame por teléfono.
Use this presentation to help you gain fluency in telling time. These slides are TIMED… At first, you will think to yourself: “Wow! This is going really fast! I’ll never be able to recognize the hour and remember how to say it in Spanish at this speed…!” But, YES YOU CAN! YES YOU WILL! Use these slides to get you there… 😎
Aquí está una presentación de GREG ALEXANDER que te ayudará (will help you) a aprender cómo usar el verbo GUSTAR y los verbos que terminan por -AR. Es una presentación muy útil… :-
You can view the SPA 101 Voicethread assignment for chapter 2 on your “MyVoice” tab at voicethread.com Click on this link to access the updated Voicethread #2 Project:
Here is the assignment.
Important: You must go to voicethread.com or to the Voicethread tab for SPA 101 on our Spanish Program Wikiblog to view my comments and my audio/video samples. There is a special surprise on my Voicethread presentation. Don’t miss seeing it! 😎
Did you know you can record your voicethread directly from that Voicethread page for SPA 101, right on the blog? Click on “Comment” to make your recording choices (audio or video recording) appear.
Let Profe know how you’re doing… If you have not already had your voicethread script corrected, send your script to Profe as soon as possible, and she will provide you with corrections. Learn your corrected script and record it onto this voicethread page.
Remember: No reading your script! You can refer to a list of palabras claves (key words) to help you remember what you wanted to say…
Profe will be randomly calling on students in class to reproduce some or all of their script in class… So, please DO memorize your scripts! 😎
Remember, too: You can record your voicethread as many times as you wish…until you are satisfied with your recording. Recording and re-recording is terrific practice, as well! And, recording multiple times will help your remember your script!
The “Música en español” page has been updated… Check out the music…!
Also: Remember, that you can get a bonus point for posting on the “Música en español” page the titles of tracks and names of artists you would like to see on this page…
If we can find the tracks on playlist.com or youtube.com, we’ll post your favorite music!
If the playlist does not display, playlist.com is probably updating the site. ¡No te preocupes! (Don’t worry!) Vuelve, pronto, otra vez… (Come back, again, soon!)
Check out the next two videos, suggested by Sarah Morley (Leandra):
¡ Bienvenido a la página del Laboratorio de lenguas de BCC: “FRED” !
Spanish students at BCC must spend one hour a week in FRED working on collaborative projects, recording audio or video voicethread projects, making PowerPoint learning games or flashcards, or doing online homework.
We encourage you to come work or hang out in FRED in between classes. You will find you learn so much more if you set out small learning tasks for yourself that you can accomplish in small blocks of time.
Make certain to sign in when you arrive so that you earn credit for your time in the lab.
I you have not yet joined a study group, do so THIS WEEK! Don’t put this off! You’ll notice how much progress you make when you study with classmates (and BUDs!) …
Mondays: 8am
Wednesdays: 10am
Tuesdays: noon
Thursdays: noon
Thursdays: 3:20p
Leave a message, below, telling us which activities and resources you would like to see in FRED!
Want to strengthen your willpower? If you do, you’ll strengthen your ability to resist distracting temptations and get your work done. That’s what you really want to do, right? Check out this NPR interview with John Tierney, one of the authors of Willpower, the Greatest Human Strength. (Click on the link, below, to read the whole article on the NPR web site.) http://www.npr.org/2011/09/18/140516974/resistance-training-for-your-willpower-muscles
Utiliza esta presentación para ayudarte a repasar los mandatos, el pretérito y el imperfecto.
Haz clic para descargar (download) esta presentación PowerPoint para el repaso sobre los mandatos, el pretérito y el imperfecto del 9 de septiembre de 2011:
Use this PowerPoint presentation to help you learn vocabulary for common commands (mandatos) you will be using in every Spanish class!
Remember: The best way to learn is to get into the habit of SPEAKING SPANISH as much as you can! Don’t worry about making mistakes; we ALL have to make mistakes in order to learn… 🙂
Emily Ruel, Foreign Languages Program Alum, January 2011, is currently finishing work toward her BA degree at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, in North Adams. She has granted us permission to post her final project for her SPA 202 class. Emily spent six weeks reading a news story of her choice in a Bolivian newspaper, online. She (as Palomita Sánchez de Reca) summarized the issues she learned about and then commented on the impact the story had on her own (invented) life. In her final project, she created this video, in which she presents the news as if she, herself, were broadcasting the story.
Watch Emily Ruel’s outstanding video, below.
Students in Spanish at BCC adopt an Hispanic alter ego and write most of their compositions and video projects in the “voice” of their adopted identity. This project is called Segunda vida. It has evolved since our students began doing these cultural projects, in the fall of 2007. Our students presented their work on their Segunda vida projects at the NECTFL (Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), in New York; at Middlebury College for the NEFDC (New England Faculty Development Conference) and on campus in the Spring of 2009. We have been invited back to NECTFL for their Spring 2012 conference to present on Segunda vida 2.0. Teachers at other schools have adapted Segunda vida for their French classes. BCC students and their instructor will present along with these teachers at NECTFL, this spring.
La Fogata ~ 770 Tyler Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
I M P O R T A N T: RSVP by contacting Profe: lcooper@berkshirecc.edu (413.236.4615) by Thursday morning, 11am. You may also RSVP by posting on this page, below!
Aquí está tu voicethread para el capítulo 9. Practica el texto que escribiste a alta voz. Luego, memoriza el texto. Es importante hablar con fluidez en tu voicethread. Si no estás satisfecho/a con tu video, puedes tirarlo en “la basura” y grabarlo otra vez… ¡Practica, practica, practica! 🙂
Aprende a hacer las repochetas…y practica los mandatos (informales, afirmativos) y las expresiones impersonales con “se”…
Mira esta presentación para aprender a hacer repochetas, un plato colombiano/salvadoreño riquísimo… Puedes repasar cómo formar los mandatos informales (afirmativos) y también puedes aprender a cambiarlos en expresiones impersonales (con SE). Puedes bajar (download) la presentación a tu computadora si haces clic en este enlace: >>> Las repochetas ~ la receta (mandatos informales afirmativos/expresiones impersonales con SE)
Students from the Hospitality and Culinary section of Spanish in the Workplace (SPA 131.02) will be preparing repochetas in the BCC kitchen with a team of native Spanish speakers on May 12, 2011. In order to be able to communicate well in Spanish in the kitchen and to speak about the ingredients they use to create this meal, they will have to study the slides in the presentation, below. YOU can learn this vocabulary, as well. Study the slides, here, or download a copy of this presentation by clicking this link: >>> Ingredientes que necesitas para hacer repochetas
Use this presentation to help you learn to tell what time of day it is…FAST!
Remember: In this class, one of the things that really matters is learning toGET THE WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTHat a reasonable speed, close to that of a normal conversation.
This is a timed presentation, so after the first click on the second slide, you don’t have to click. Just look at the time displayed and practice telling the time.
Tammy Beet created this excellent presentation to help you master the vocabulary for chapter three. View it here, but note: You may download this presentation by clicking on the link, below:
Tammy Beet created this excellent presentation to help you master the vocabulary for chapter three. View it here, but note: You may download this presentation by clicking on the link, below:
Use this fabulous presentation to learn the vocabulary (and some grammar!) for places in the university…
¿Conoces todo el vocabulario para los lugares en la universidad? Este vocabulario es útil. Puedes hablar de tu horario en la universidad y puedes decirles adónde vas en el campus… ¡Apréndelo! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Guess who designed it? The wonderful Tanya Record!!
Use this presentation to help you learn to tell what time of day it is…FAST!
Remember: In this class, one of the things that really matters is learning toGET THE WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTHat a reasonable speed, close to that of a normal conversation.
This is a timed presentation, so after the first click on the second slide, you don’t have to click. Just look at the time displayed and practice telling the time.
Use this wonderful PowerPoint flash card presentation authored by Tanya Record to help you learn the vocabulary for areas of study in universities.
¿Qué estudias tú? ¿Te gustan las matemáticas? ¿…los idiomas? ¿…las ciencas? Pues, aprende el vocabulario de lo que te interesa y de lo que estudias aquí en BCC…
This presentation, by April Tarbox, provides information on “Hispanos en Norteamérica” … Use this presentation to study for the cultural component of the chapter 2 test.
Use this PowerPoint presentation to learn how to use the verb, GUSTAR and then to practice, practice, practice! You will also find a slide to help you learn a few of the adjectives for nationality.
This is a very useful presentation to help you learn gender rules for nouns, definite and indefinite articles. Use it! You’ll like it!
Do you need help with any aspect of the chapter? Don’t hesitate to stop by Profe’s office (M223) during office hours (MW: 12:30p-1:30p; TTh: 2:45p-3:45p). Or, call for an appointment: 413.236.4614. Or, email her: lcooper@berkshirecc.edu.
Need a tutor? See Profe and she’ll tell you how to get one! 🙂
Here is the presentation we have used in class while studying and learning the material for Chapter 1 in our textbook. Click to advance to the next image slide. Also, you can click to use slides with nouns (and articles) and those with the months of the year as flash cards. Use this presentation to review what you learned in chapter 1.
Use the PowerPoint, below, as you would use flashcards to learn the gender of lots of nouns, many of which are of a different gender than what you’d expect them to be! (Yes! Gender-bending nouns!!) You will learn both the definite and indefinite articles for these nouns, as well.
Aquí está el Voicethread para el capítulo 8. Puedes grabar (record) tu comentario, aquí…
Empieza a escribir tu guión para el Voicethread del capítulo 8. Vas a entregarla (hand it in) miércoles, el 6 de abril. Voy a hacer las correcciones a devolvértelo (return it to you) viernes, el 8 de abril.
Vas a grabar (record) tu Voicethread y subirlo (upload it) para miércoles, el 13 de abril. ¡Diviértete mucho! 🙂
Nexos Voicethreads: Each of you will produce four Voicethreadsover the course of the semester. We will cover five chapters in Nexos, this semester. You will choosefour out of fivechapters on which to develop Voicethread scripts to record and post on our blog. The topics, vocabulary and grammar you must use in each of the Nexos Voicethreads will be posted to the blog in advance of the due date for each Voicethread.
Here is the first Voicethread of the semester. Use chapter 6 of your textbook to review the vocabulary and grammar you need to complete your Voicethread.
Write a script that responds to the requirements of the topic. Hand it in to Profe. She will correct your script so that you can learn it. Once you are confident that you are ready to record your Voicethread, go for it!
If you choose to do one of your four Voicethreads on this chapter six Voicethread topic, please hand in your scriptno later than Friday, February 25th. The deadline for recording this Voicethread will be the following Wednesday, March 3rd.
See your Voicethread assignment for chapter 7, below…
Note that you should email Profe the script of your Voicethread no later than Monday, March 21. She will return your work by Wednesday, March 23rd. Then, you will have a week to learn your script and to record your Voicethread. You should have your Voicethread posted no later than Monday, March 28th. If you wish to use the webcams in FRED, let Profe know so she can help set one up for you. If you have a webcam and/or microphone on your own computer, feel free to record your Voicethread from home!
¡Diviértete! 🙂
Here is the link to the Voicethread page. If the Voicethread slides are too small for you to work with here, click on this link for access to these same slides in a larger format: Find Voicethread Project #7 by clicking on this link!
Below, you will find the links you need to follow to gain access to our first Voicethread Project. It is based on the work you have already done on the theme of “Mi restaurante favorito” and on the Spanish Proficiency Videos you studied on your own in these last weeks.
Voicethreads are due: Tuesday, September 28th, 5pm.
Once you have completed this Voicethread activity, you will have shown how well you have achieved your BATs (Be Able To’s) for chapter 9 . The first slide shows the first page of the document that accompanies the videos you studied to help train your ear and to help you learn related vocabulary and grammar. On this page, you will see me explaining the assignment in Spanish. The next page contains a video that is a good example of the kind of recording you should aim to produce.
Important: You MAY NOT read the text you prepared on the theme of “Mi Restaurante favorito.” You May use a bullet list with key words (palabras clave) to help you remember what you want to say.
You will have as many chances as you wish to record your Voicethread audio/video.
You will see next to your name, once you have logged in, a little trash can icon. If you are not satisfied with your recording, you can “throw your recording in the trash” and start again!
If you do not yet have a webcam or a microphone on your own computer, use the computers in FRED. All have microphones installed.
Note, too, that on some computers, voicethread videos do not play (the screen goes grey) on Internet Explorer. Should this happen, try to view the voicethread with Mozilla Firefox. I have had no trouble with videos on my Mac using Safari. Please post to this page any problems you are having with any of this technology. Sign your name, please!
To actually WORK with this voicethread and add your own audio and/or video, you must:
First, get your own voicethread account by subscribing at:
Click on the link, below, to receive an email invitation to join our Chapter 9 Voicethread. Once you arrive on this page, you will be able to record your own voicethread! ¡Diviértanse! (Have fun with it!):
¡Estoy ansiosa de ver sus videos! (I can’t wait…!)Voicethreads are due: Tuesday, September 28th, 5pm.
Here is the voicethread you have created! I believe this link is “hot,” meaning: the voicethread you see here updates more or less automatically. Check it out!
Below, you will find the SECOND voicethread (for capítulo 10):
I have changed the DUE DATE: Submit your guión via email no later than Thursday, October 28th.
You will receive corrections in class on Friday, October 29. Then, you will have until Tuesday, November 2nd to record your voicethreads.
Click on the following link to view the voicethread on that site. (On voicethread.com, you can enlarge the presentation for a full-screen view.)
¿Te interesa la tecnología? ¿Eres un tecnolo-adicto o un tecnofobo? ¿Puedes existir sin tu computadora o sin tu teléfono inteligente? ¡Yo, no! 🙂
Use this presentation to study and learn the material of chapter 4… You may download this presentation and work on it on your own computer by clicking here: >>>Apuntes de Profe del capítulo 4
April Tarbox has designed three excellent presentations: two on the vocabulary of the Internet, one colors. You will find them very helpful as you prepare for your chapter four test!
Below, you will find our first Voicethread Project. It is based on Actividad 17, in your Workbook (either in your textbook or online, at www.books.quia.com) . Once you have completed this Voicethread activity, you will have shown how well you have achieved your BATs (Be Able To’s) for chapter 1. The first slide shows you what the activity looks like; the second slide is a video of me (Profe) providing you an example of what you should be able to say in your own voicethread.
First, you will write out all the sentences you will learn and practice speaking. Second, you will email them to me or hand them in so I can correct them for you. You will learn the corrected version of your sentences.
You will have as many chances as you wish to record your Voicethread audio/video. You will see next to your name, once you have logged in, a little trash can icon. If you are not satisfied with your recording, you can “throw your recording in the trash” and start again!
If you do not yet have a webcam or a microphone on your own computer, use the computers in FRED. All have microphones installed.
To view this Voicethread to see what this first assignment is, click on the “Play” arrow in the middle of the screen, below. (Note: to actually record and submit your own work, scroll down to the voicethread links at which you will set up your voicethread account and then join either SPA 101.01 or SPA 101.02):
Note: To view the Voicethreads on the full screen of your computer, look in the upper right hand side of the Voicethread. You will see an “X” icon. To the left of it, there is a control button that will expand your screen. To return to the normal view of your Voicethread, press the “ESC” key on your computer (on the top left of your keyboard).
Note, too, that on some computers, voicethread videos do not play (the screen goes grey) on Mozilla Firefox. Should this happen, try to view the voicethread with Internet Explorer. I have had no trouble with videos on my Mac using Safari. Please post to this page any problems you are having with any of this technology. Sign your name, please!
To actually WORK with this voicethread and add your own audio and/or video, you must:
First, get your own voicethread account by subscribing at:
Click on the link, below, to receive an email invitation to join our Chapter 1 Voicethread. Once you arrive on this page, you will be able to record your own voicethread! ¡Diviértanse! (Have fun with it!):
Click on the “Comment” bar on the voicethread, above. You will see “buttons” for recording options: microphone or webcam. You know what do to from there… (If not, contact me!)
Remember: Click on the “Comment” bar on the voicethread, above. You will see “buttons” for recording options: microphone or webcam. You know what do to from there… (If not, contact me!)
¿Qué estudias en BCC? Para poder hablar de tus clases, de tu horario (schedule), de la hora, del calendario, y para aprender a hacer preguntas de todos tipos, estudia bien el vocabulario y la gramática del capítulo 3.
Use this presentation for chapter three to help you learn!
Need help with any of this? See Profe for help and/or any of the FRED Facilitators in the Language Lab!
¡Bienvenidos a la página de los Blogueros de SPA 202!
Los blogs cambian cada semana. Vuelve a menudo para descubrir lo que están pensando y aprendiendo Cristina y Hugo… (The blogs change each week. Return often to discover what Cristina and Hugo are discovering and learning…)
What’s a “voicethread”? How do you create a “voicethread”?
See, below, a PowerPoint presentation on how you can set up your Voicethread account so you can author Voicethread discussions on topics that interest you and participate in those created by your instructor and your classmates. If you have questions on how to do this, contact “Profe” or Emily “Palomita” Ruel or April Tarbox.
Here is the latest PowerPoint presentation to help you study the material for chapter 4: vocabulary of the family, professions in your workplaces, adjectives for describing personality traits and emotions, along with the verbs SER (that you need to use to describe “what you’re like and where you’re from”) and ESTAR (that you need to use to describe “how you feel and where you are.”)
IMPORTANTE:When you have viewed/used this presentation, leave a comment in the reply window, below.
You will earn one homework point for posting; two for using four elements of vocabulary or grammar from the presentation correctly; three points for six elements used correctly; five points for eight or more correctly used elements of vocabulary or grammar.
¡OJO! Students who post comments like “Profe, es una presentación muy útil” will receive NO extra credit. Use this as an opportunity to study and practice what you’ve learned…and to SHOW IT ALL OFF! 🙂
If you’ve accessed this page from “BCC Breaking News and Posts,” click on the title of this post (“Apuntes de Profe…”), above, to take you to the window that does have a reply window.
IMPORTANTE:When you have viewed/used this presentation, leave a comment in the reply window, below.
You will earn one homework point for posting; two for using four elements of vocabulary or grammar from the presentation correctly; three points for six elements used correctly; five points for eight or more correctly used elements of vocabulary or grammar.
If you’ve accessed this page from “BCC Breaking News and Posts,” click on the title of this post (“Apuntes de Profe…”), above, to take you to the window that does have a reply window.
See your Voicethread assignment for chapter 7, below…
Note that you should email Profe the script of your Voicethread no later than Monday, March 21. She will return your work by Wednesday, March 23rd. Then, you will have a week to learn your script and to record your Voicethread. You should have your Voicethread posted no later than Monday, March 28th. If you wish to use the webcams in FRED, let Profe know so she can help set one up for you. If you have a webcam and/or microphone on your own computer, feel free to record your Voicethread from home!
Here is the PowerPoint presentation to help you learn informal command forms…
Write a comment to let me know if you found it useful to help you learn… You can download the presentation directly to your computer by clicking on this link. >>>Sp 102-C7-Informal Command Explanations-3.2.11
April Tarbox created a very useful presentation on how to form commands for usted and ustedes forms. If you want to download it, click on the title, below. It will take you to the Slideboom site, where the presentation is archived, where you can download it to your own computer.
If you are interested in taking the one-credit Spanish Conversation class during this Winter Intersession, contact Profe at: lcooper@berkshirecc.edu and she will advise you on how to proceed. We will begin on Monday, January 3, 2011!
I want to thank every one of you who responded to the survey on the Spanish Wikiblog. Every single comment was extremely useful. You all had brainstorms about how to organize the blog, about features we should include that are VERY helpful. Further, your remarks help me understand how you use the blog, so that we can highlight and improve those features in the future.
So, THANK YOU, again!
I’m hoping to take advantage of your experience and your opinions as I plan next semester’s (and next year’s) classes. Please help me do the best job I can by responding to the class survey and providing your input.
I will be especially interested to learn your ideas on which components of our textbook, Nexos you have most often used and which components you think we ought to have students purchase, in the future. Questions on Nexos are in Part II of the survey.
Click on the links, below, to access both parts of the survey.
Once you have finished Part I, click on the second link to access Part II.
Here are the slides we have been using in class to study and learn the vocabulary and grammar for chapter 5… Use them well to prepare for the chapter 5 practice test and for the final exam… ¡Disfrutense! (Enjoy!)
You may already have heard that there will be an opportunity for students planning to move up to the next level of Spanish — current SPA 101 and SPA 201 students — to enroll in a one-credit distance learning course in Spanish during the January intersession.
At this moment, it is not clear whether the course will run as a regular course you can sign up for with an Add/Drop form through the Registrar’s Office or as an Independent Study course, for this January’s session. More information is forthcoming on that in the next two weeks.
For now, I am making available to you the draft syllabus for the course. If you are interested, download it to give you an idea of what will be involved.
In any case, if you ARE interested, do let me know by responding to this post, by emailing me, or by telephoning the office: 413.236.4615.
April Tarbox’s latest PowerPoint creation to help you learn is on the vocabulary for the family (capítulo 5 ~ vocabulario útil 1). I think the vocabulary for in-laws and step-parents is particularly challenging! This is a very strong tool to help you get it all straight.
In class, yesterday, Forrest “Diego” Hull asked why it is that Spaniards pronounce words that have the letters “z” and “c,” (after the letters “i” and “e”) with what sounds like a lisp (or a soft “th” sound). I told the class the apocryphal story of the lisping King Ferdinand, in the 13th Century, whose subjects were so fearful of offending him, they took on the lisping “th” sound. Clearly, this story could not be true. If it were, Spaniards would pronounce words beginning with “s” with this same, soft “th” sound. (Admire the image of King Ferdinand, lisping on his throne…!)
Gerald Erichson, on the about.com website, provided a message from a Spaniard, who is a grad student in Spanish to explain this linguistic phenomenon. He expressed his irritation with those who repeat the “lisping king” story:
“Firstly, the ceceo is not a lisp. A lisp is the mispronunciation of the sibilant s sound. In Castilian Spanish, the sibilant s sound exists and is represented by the letter s. The ceceo comes in to represent the sounds made by the letters z and cfollowed by i or e.
“In medieval Castilian there were two sounds that eventually evolved into the ceceo, the ç (the cedilla) as in plaça and the z as in dezir. The cedilla made a /ts/ sound and the z a /dz/ sound. This gives more insight into why those similar sounds may have evolved into the ceceo.”
BCC hosts a Diversity Films Series on Wednesdays at 6:30pm, once a month during the academic year. This is a film you will truly enjoy… Attend this film and send me an email with your opinion on it (just a few sentences long), and I’ll give you homework bonus points: 5 points if you write in English; 10 points if you write in Spanish.
La Quinceañera will be shown Wednesday, December 8th , at 6:30pm, Koussevitzky 111. (In English.)
Netflix summarizes:
This sensitive coming-of-age drama, a 2006 Sundance Film Festival award winner, tells the story of Magdalena (Emily Rios), who, on the brink of her 15th birthday, finds her comfortable existence shattered by the discovery that she’s pregnant. Cast out by her parents, the once-privileged teen finds safe haven with a great-granduncle and a gay cousin (Jesse Garcia), who introduce her to a world far different from her gentrified middle-class life.
April Tarbox has designed three excellent presentations: two on the vocabulary of the Internet, one colors. You will find them very helpful as you prepare for your chapter four test!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 – Priority Registration Day:
Hey, you have to be on campus for Priority Registration Day, anyway, RIGHT? And, you probably need to attend a few more FORUMS, RIGHT?
Head over to M-204 at 12:15pm, November 16th. You’ll be inspired to see if YOU can organize a trip to Spain, as well…
Beyond the Tour Bus: Student Travelers in Spain
What is it like to travel, learn, and live in a foreign country? BCC student Sara Chilson and Emilie Papa discuss their experiences as BCC students abroad in Salamanca, Spain.
Time: 12:15 PM -1:15 PM
Location: M-204
If you are taking SPA 101 or SPA 201, respond to Prof. Cooper’s questions about what you learned about Salamanca during class for 2 bonus points!
Remember: Click on the “Comment” bar on the voicethread, above. You will see “buttons” for recording options: microphone or webcam. You know what do to from there… (If not, contact me!)
We are so very proud of the efforts of these students! Michael “Jota Jota” Van Deusen and Beatriz Pereira are Spanish Program students. We are delighted that two of “ours” are involved in this grant.
BCC Students Win Service Learning Grant!
Interested in doing a Service Learning project in Spanish, next semester? Talk to Jota and to Jonathan Dick, Bethany Fedell,Matthew Griffin, Ian Piazza or Tanya Record. They are doing a great job in area schools.
Tammy Beet created this excellent presentation to help you master the vocabulary for chapter three. View it here, but note: You may download this presentation by clicking on the link, below:
Kindly make every effort to attend the FORUM on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. If you attend and if you share what you learned at this performance with your class, you can earn up to five bonus points on your final grade for your Spanish class. See the flyer, below:
BCC FORUM ~ Tres Vidas ~ Tuesday, November 2, 2010
(Click on the flyer to see the full-sized image.)
Bring tons of friends, classmates, family members!
Please join us on Thursday, October 28th for the Day of the Dead Luncheon in the cafeteria from 11:30am – 1:00pm.
This holiday honoring the ancestors originated in Mexico, and has since spread to other Latin countries and other parts of the globe. Come and take part in creating a traditional altar and enjoy a Mexican feast buffet.
Bring a photo or a token of loved ones you have lost to place on the altar. It is a lovely way to celebrate the memory of the departed. (The altar will stay up in the cafeteria until November 1, 2010. You may have your objects back at that time…)
(Thank you, Mary Zanconato, for the text announcing this event!)
Emaila photo of yourself to Profe at: lcooper@berkshirecc.edu to earn two bonus points!! We’ll post your photos on this page!
The buffet will consist of; Tacos and all the fixings, Vegetarian Chili, nachos with cheese sauce, dessert and beverage. Cost: $2.00
Esta presentación es de Michael “Jota Jota” Van Deusen. JJ diseño esta presentación para los alumnos de la clase de SPA 101 ~ Fall 2010. Hizo muchas investigaciones útiles. Puedes utilizar esta presentación para aprender mucho sobre las costumbres y actitudes en el mundo hispano sobre la persona de la madre en la familia. ¿La familia hispana te parece muy diferente de la tuya? ¿Cómo? Vamos a discutirlo juntos en la clase.
You can download this presentation by clicking on the link, below:
Click on the following link to take you to Tanya Record’s latest fabulous PowerPoint presentation to help you learn the vocabulary for topics of study in the university. Use the slides like flash cards and you’ll learn this vocabulary in a flash !! This link lives in the “Spanish Learning Toybox” on the blog, so you can find it by searching in the right-hand sidebar.
The books.quia.com site has been servicing their site. This has made it impossible for me to input assignments on the site. YOU, on the other hand, can access the site and work on it with no problem.
Not all assignments for SPA 101.01 for Monday, October 18, are visible. This is what you can see:
I am sending you this alert to provide you with the work due for Monday:
In addition to what IS visible on the Quia site, please do Workbook activities for chapter 3: #1-3.
Assignments for SPA 101.02 for Tuesday are not posted, at all. For Tuesday:
1) Study and learn: Vocabulario útil 1-3. Make sure you know the vocabulary before you try doing the workbook activities. Once you are confident you know the vocabulary, try to produce answers (in your book) for the textbook activities that correspond to them.
2) Do Workbook activities for chapter 3: #1-6.
3) BATs (“Be Able To’s”): Come to class able to:
a) Talk about your class schedule and ask friends about theirs using the vocabulary for all the different kinds of courses people take in college.
b) Talk about where on campus you do various things using the vocabulary of places on campus.
c) Ask for and give the time of day (and night!)
d) Tell people on what date you do particular activities and ask them when they do them.
BCC is celebrating El Día de los muertos. We would love to have you all contribute a memento of someone you have lost whom you cared about. We will talk more about this in class!
Click on the image, below, to read the details.
BCC's Celebration of "El Día de los muertos" - Starting October 25th...November 1st, 2010
Did you know you can record your voicethread directly from that page on the blog? Click on “Comment” to make your recording choices (audio or video recording) appear.
Let Profe know how you’re doing… If you have not already had your voicethread script corrected, send your script to Profe as soon as possible, and she will provide you with corrections. Learn your corrected script and record it onto this voicethread page.
Remember: No reading your script! You can refer to a list of palabras claves (key words) to help you remember what you wanted to say…
Remember, too: You can record your voicethread as many times as you wish…until you are satisfied with your recording. Recording and re-recording is terrific practice, as well!
Click on the “Comment” bar on the voicethread, above. You will see “buttons” for recording options: microphone or webcam. You know what do to from there… (If not, contact me!)
You will be able to find syllabi for language courses at BCC, as well as learning tools and resources.
Check out the language learning archives here to help you study and to stimulate your curiosity! The learning archives store instructors’ and past and present students’ PowerPoint presentations, videos, voicethreads, xtranormal cartoons, and articles on cultural and grammatical topics. You will have the opportunity to create materials of your own to post for other Spanish students to use.
The “Música en español” page has been updated… Check out the music…!
