The document discusses meeting the needs of non-native advanced beginner Spanish students at community colleges. It defines advanced beginners as students who have studied Spanish for up to three years but test into beginner level courses. While some colleges offer courses for these students, most do not. The document argues that colleges should create dedicated courses for advanced beginners to address issues of transferability, prepare students for majors/minors more quickly, and improve course design.

1. Meeting the Needs of Non-Native Advanced Beginners John M. Zyck, Jr. Montgomery College Rockville, MD

2. Opening Questions What is your definition of an advanced beginner in Spanish? How has your college placed these students in the appropriate course? Do you believe this to be effective?

3. Possible Definition of a Non-Native Advanced Beginner “ This student has studied Spanish for up to three years in some cases but nevertheless finds that she or he has been placed as a ‘beginner’ – a failure right off the bat! Even though we know that student motivation is linked to success in language learning, this is a common scenario.” (Fechter and López, 2007)

4. Spanish Courses in Maryland Community Colleges Most community colleges in Maryland currently offer two years of college-level Spanish Many community colleges offer courses past the intermediate level, including Anne Arundel Community College (Spanish 221—Intermediate Spanish Conversation), College of Southern Maryland (Spanish 2050—Advanced Composition and Conversation), and Harford Community College (Spanish 203 and 204—Survey of Spanish Literature I and II)

5. Spanish Courses in Maryland Community Colleges (Continued) Yet, only 2 community colleges offer at least one course for non-native advanced beginners (Montgomery College, Prince George’s Community College)

6. What to do? Create a course for the advanced beginner!

7. 3 Issues Transferability Quicker Preparation for Potential Majors and Minors Course Design

8. I. Issues of Transferability Many four-year colleges and universities currently offer at least one course designed for advanced beginners Beware the title of the course, lest it be designed for native or heritage speakers

9. Examples of Advanced Beginner courses 1. California State University—Fullerton Spanish 105—Intensive Review of Fundamental Spanish 2. Sacramento State University Spanish 1C—Intensive Beginning Spanish 3. Baylor University Spanish 1403—Pre-Intermediate Spanish 4. Texas Tech University Spanish 1507—Comprehensive Spanish Review-First Year 5. University of Florida Spanish 1115—Elementary Spanish-Review and Progress 6. University of South Florida Spanish 1130—Accelerated Spanish for Near-Native Speakers and Others

10. Examples of Advanced Beginner Courses in the Region University of Maryland—College Park Spanish 103—Intensive Elementary Spanish University of Maryland—Baltimore County Spanish 103—Intensive Review of Elementary Spanish Morgan State University Spanish 105—Intensive Elementary Spanish St. Mary’s College of Maryland Spanish 110—Accelerated Elementary Spanish

11. Examples of Advanced Beginner Courses in the Region (Continued) Loyola College in Maryland Spanish 161—Comprehensive Beginning Spanish McDaniel College Spanish 1103—Elementary Spanish for Advanced Beginners Catholic University of America Spanish 112—Review of Elementary Spanish

12. II. Quicker Preparation for Potential Majors and Minors Encourages students to continue their study of the language Helps reinforce self-esteem in successfully using Spanish Encourages students to seek Study Abroad programs before making the transfer

13. Examples of Community College Study Abroad Programs http:// www.mc.maricopa.edu /services/ international/ study_abroad/index.html (Mesa Community College) http://studyabroad.fullcoll.edu/ (Fullerton College) http://www.cccd.edu/studyabroad/ (Coast Community College District)

14. Examples of Community College Study Abroad Programs in the Region http://www.howardcc.edu/academics/international/office_international_education/study_abroad.html (Howard Community College) http://www.ccbcmd.edu/studyabroad/short_term_intprog.html (The Community College of Baltimore County)

15. III. Course Design Separate course rather than using the traditional two-course system in one term (i.e. textbooks, lab program) Credit hours—same as the other courses? More hours? Use a writing sample and an oral activity as first or second-day activities to verify appropriate level (refer to handouts)

16. Questions?