Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)How do I get enrolled in one of the courses?The enrollment process for these courses is atypical. You CANNOT register for these courses yourself. You will need to complete the following steps in order to get enrolled in one of the courses:
Once you have completed steps 1-4 above, the instructor will notify both you and Claire as to whether or not your language level is sufficient to be enrolled in either of the courses and if so, in which course (613 or 615) you should be enrolled. Once she has been notified by the instructor, Claire will provide the registrars with the names of qualified students and the registrars will do the official enrolling. Claire will continue to take the names of any interested students until the end of registration. At that time or soon after, she will notify students of their status. Who can take these courses?Currently, students enrolled in degree and credit certificate programs and faculty in the five health science schools and the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill are eligible. If you are not a student or faculty person in one of the health science schools or the School of Social Work and would still like to take the course, please contact Claire Lorch at clorch@email.unc.edu to find out about other options. How much Spanish do I need to have taken?There is no set number of semesters or years that will determine whether or not you are at the intermediate level. In general, if you had a few semesters of college-level Spanish (or years of high school Spanish) and generally remember basic verb conjugations in the present, basic vocabulary, and some of the basic grammar, then you are probably an intermediate speaker even if it has been years since your last class. Although you do not necessarily need to remember how to use the preterit and the imperfect, pronouns, and the subjunctive, it is important that you have previously studied them so that this information is not totally new to you when it is covered in the course. How do I know which level to take? Should I register for 613 or 615?Some students have had two semesters of college Spanish and are ready for 615 while others have had two years and are more appropriately placed in 613. Complete the assessment check and we will place you. What is the Language Skills Assessment Check like?The Language Skills Assessment Check consists of several questions in Spanish. Write the answers in complete sentences, being sure to say enough so that we get an idea of where to place you. Do NOT use dictionaries, grammar books, or any outside resources as this may result in your being placed in a class that is at a level too high for you. The assessment check has no bearing on your eventual grade in the course. What if my Spanish is at a level too low for either course?Try taking a refresher course through the Spanish department at UNC. You can also call Chicle, a Spanish language institute, located at Carr Mill Mall. You may also want to consider hiring a tutor or study on your own. How many hours per week will I need to spend on these courses?Students typically spend between 3 and 5 hours per week on these courses. Are there any required meeting times?Students must attend an orientation session at the beginning of the semester. There may also be a required meeting at the end of the semester. Aside from those meetings, there are no specific times you will have to meet. You will need to set aside 15 minutes per week to speak with your instructor on the phone (you will sign up for a time slot at the beginning of the semester) and 15 minutes per week to speak with a conversation partner from the class. The meetings with your conversation partner may take place on the phone, in person, or via webcam. Throughout the semester you will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with your instructor and fellow classmates in conversation hours; these are optional and attendance will not affect your grade. What if I can't make the orientation session?There will be two orientation dates scheduled. The course director will let you know what they are prior to the course start date. You must attend one of them in order to get enrolled in one of the courses. What is my grade based on?These courses are pass/fail. Students must speak with their instructors and conversation partners weekly, as well as submit weekly homework assignments, and post on the discussion forum. Students are allowed to skip three of each of these and still receive passing grades. There are also unit tests and a final exam. Where do I purchase the course materials and how much will they cost?The course materials will be available at the Health Affairs Bookstore. Although the cost of the materials has not yet been finalized by Yale University Press, it is anticipated that they will be $95.00. Will I have to pay any additional tuition to take one of these courses?Medical studentsFirst and second year students will not have to make any additional payment to take the course. Third and fourth year students will have to pay the equivalent of a six-hour course to get elective credit. Students should contact Claire Lorch at clorch@email.unc.edu to discuss other options. All other studentsFull-time on-campus students will not incur additional tuition charges. Part-time and distance students enrolled in degree or certificate programs for which tuition is determined by the number of credit hours will be charged tuition as they would for any other course. Part-time and distance students should check with their program registrar if they have any questions about tuition. Some schools have a block tuition program. Students in these schools would not pay extra for one more course. |