REGISTRATION time....

Whooo Hooo! :)

This week is summer registration. If you are taking one of my classes: SPI114 Analytical Skills of Spanish Interpreting or SPI214 Intro to Translation the cap is at 10. If I'm your advisor, email me or text me and I'll sign you up.

FALL registration starts next week... MONDAY, 4 April 2011. I suggest you grab a Fall 2011 Class Schedule or Look on the website and begin looking for classes and getting a back up plan ready... just saying

If you're interested in Spanish classes, here's what's happening in the fall:

• SPA111-OA   ... MW   ... 10:30-11:45
• SPA111-IHS   ...TTH   ...  1:00-2:15
• SPA112-OA   ...  TTH   ... 10:30-11:45
• SPA112-OB   ...  MW   ... 12:30-1:45
• SPA211-HB  ...   MW   ... 2:30-3:45  1st 8weeks
• SPA212-HB   ...   MW   ... 2:30-3:45 2nd 8weeks
• SPA215-HB   ...  MW   ... 2:30-3:45  1st 8 weeks / stacked with SPA211
• SPA231-HB   ...  MW   ... 2:30-3:35  2nd 8weeks / stacked with SPA212

Ciao

Definite Article mystery...

In English, the definite article, the, is used before a noun to identify a specific person, place, animal, thing or idea. The Spanish Definite Article has to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, this means that in Spanish we have 4 definite articles: el, la, los, and las all translating into English as "the."

 

When do we use them?

 

1. Whenever we are speaking in general terms...

• In English we say: I like sports. (no sport in specific, just sports).
• In Spanish we need the definite article before the noun, even though it doesn't translate...we still need it. Me gustan los deportes.

 

2. Definite articles are used with some cities...you'll have to memorize them. Here are the few that I know, there may be more:  el Cairo, la Florida, el Congo, las Filipanas, el Líbano, la Habana, la Mancha, la Argentina, el Canadá, la Florida, el Japón, el Tibet, el Uruguay, el Paraguay, el Perú, la China, los Estados Unidos

 

3. Definite articles are also used when discussing languages: el italiano, el francés, el español...
However, if the language is after en, de, hablar, or saber the definite article is usually omitted...

• El español es fácil, pero el ruso es difícil. Spanish is easy, but Russian is hard.
• Habla español es fácil, pero habla ruso es difícil. Speaking Spanish is easy, but speaking Russian is hard.
   

4. It is used when talking about a person with a title, but not directly to the person. If you're using the titles "don, doña, san or santo" you don't use the Definite Article.

• Voy a hablar con la Señora Moore.  "Hola, Señora Moore."
• Don Julio es muy amable, pero doña María es muy mandóna.

5. It is used to show possession with reflexive verbs and body parts, clothing or other very personal items.

• Me lavo la cara.
• Te vistes los pantalones.
• Ponte la chaqueta, hace mucho frío.

6. El vs La... there are nouns that are FEMININE, but they use "el" and NOT "la" in the singular form, BUT the plural form uses "LAS". These nouns begin with a stressed "a" sound (usually spelled with an "a" or  "ha"). Here are some of the more common examples:

• el agua   ...   las aguas (water)
• el ama   ...   las amas (soul)
• el hambre   ...   las hambres (hunger)
• el águila   ...   las águilas (eagle)
• el hacha   ...   las hachas (axe)

NOW... "el" is used if it comes directly in front of the noun, but the noun is FEMININE...

• el hacha nueva
• el hambre excesiva
• el alma amable .... BUT
• la pura agua
• la gran águila

7. We use the definite articles in SPANISH before the days of the week, but not in ENGLISH.

• Trabajo los lunes por la mañana. ... I work on Mondays in the morning. (I work Monday mornings.)
• Hay una prueba el martes en la clase de español. ( There's a quiz on Tuesday in Spanish class.)

8. We use the Definite articles for some phrases that use "a" or "en."

• en la escuela   ...   in or at school
• al colegio   ...   to school
• en la clase   ...    in class
• en la iglesia   ...   in or at church
• en la universidad   ...   in or at college

Hope this helps...
Ciao,
MLMoore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPA112: Reflexive Verbs...

I LOVE Reflexive Verbs for 2 reasons:

1. They drive students nuts (once they learn that you can  make ALMOST any verb Reflexive by adding -se to the end, you get some pretty funny verbs.
2. They're just fun to teach.

Technical Definition:
Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject of the sentence has performed an action on itself.

What does that mean? That means, we use reflexive verbs when the subject is the same as the object.

Not as Technical Definition:
Reflexive verbs are used when the direct or indirect object of a sentence is the same as the subject. Not so common in English, but used frequently in Spanish, Reflexive verbs describe actions that a person does to, for, from, or off him or herself. Key here is "-self." Reflexive Verbs are used to indicate "oneself." I did it myself. She bathed herself. ...

Not technical at all:
Think about your hands or the hands of the subject of the sentence... now think of the placement of the hands of the subject... if the hands are on the subject, then it's reflexive and if the hands are anyplace else other than the subject... it's not reflexive.

Examples:

• I wash my car.   Where are my hands?  On the car, therefore NOT reflexive.
• I wash my hair.  Where are my hands?  On my hair, on my body, therefore REFLEXIVE 
• Jane dressed her doll.  Where are Jane's hands? On her doll, therefore NOT reflexive
• Jane got dressed.       Where are Jane's hands? On her clothes, on her body, therefore REFLEXIVE

When a verb is reflexive in Spanish, the verb ends in "-se."
Lavar - to wash   ...   Lavarse - to wash oneself

Now looking at the above examples.

• I wash my car.   Uses the Spanish verb:  Lavar
• I wash my hair.  Uses the Spanish verb:  Lavarse

Before you panic, the conjugation of Reflexive Verbs is EASY, you just have to remember that there are 3 parts to the verb now, instead of 2.

LAVARSE - to wash oneself

1. AR:  the word family... no panic here, because you've already mastered conjugating -ar verbs in the present tense and you are on the path to conquering them in the preterit. Endings are the same = no worries.
2. LAV: the stem... no panic here, because finding the stem is the same no matter what type of verb we are conjugating... it's ALWAYS the letters RIGHT BEFORE the -ar, the -er, or the -ir. Stem = piece of cake.
3. SE: the SIGNAL for reflexive verbs... STILL no panic, this will be only thing "new" you'll have to learn, the Reflexive Pronouns. Reflexive Pronouns go IN FRONT of the conjugated verb, JUST like your Direct Object Pronouns and the Indirect Object Pronouns... doesn't that take away a bit of the stress!

Reflexive Pronouns

• me  (may) ...  myself
• te  (tay) ...  yourself (friend, informal)
• se (say) ... himself/herself/yourself (stranger, formal, respectful, old person...)
• nos ... ourselves
• * os ... yourselves (Spain)
• se ... themselves/yourselves (Latin America)

 I hope this helps...

 

Ciao

 

la semana de 21 de marzo 2011

¡Cumpleaños Feliz el Presidente Benito Juarez!

SPA111
Present tense verbs: ar, -er, and -ir http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/verbs.htm
Possession with "de" http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/possession_de.htm
Tener and Tener expressions http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/tener_and_expressions.htm

SPA112
Preterit http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/preterit.htm
Indirect Object Pronouns http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/indirect_object_pronouns.htm
Verbs like Gustar  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/verbs_like_gustar.htm

SPI113
Begin Interpreting...

SPA161
Final Project details posted NLT Friday, 25 March 2011
Researchg Travel and Tourism Blogs and start thinking of ways to create your own...

SPA112 preterit...again

Ok, so all classes will be working with the preterit... the past tense.

Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. You already know how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, so the actual conjugation in the preterit should be easy.
In Spanish there are two way to discuss the past: the preterit and the imperfect. We are going to learn the preterit and it's uses first:

· For actions that can be viewed as single events
Last week it rained.

· For actions that were repeated a specific number of times
Last week it rained on Monday, on Tuesday, and on Wednesday.
· For actions that occurred during a specific period of time
Last week it rained for 5hrs.

· For actions that were part of a chain of events
I woke up, I got dressed, I ate breakfast, and I left for school.

· To state the beginning or the end of an action
It started raining at 5am. It stopped raining at noon.

Preterit Conjugations
-ar verbs

-er verbs and -ir verbs

Stem change verbs...
Remember last chapter when we studied stem change verbs e-ie; o-ue; and e-i... well that was the conjugation of the verbs in the present, now that's look at those same verbs in the preterit.

GOOD NEWS:  -ar and -er verbs that change their stem in the present tense do not change in the preterite. They are conjugated just like other regular preterite verbs, using the regular endings.

Cerrar (e-ie) - to close
The store closes at 5.    La tienda cierra a las cinco.
The store closed at 5.    La tienda cerró a las cinco.

Recordar (o-ue) - to remember
I remember your name.         Recuerdo tu nombre.
I remembered your name.     Recordé tu nombre.

BAD NEWS: -ir verbs that change their stem in the present tense DO change in the preterite, but in a different way. They change e:i and o:u in the third person, singular and plural.

Preferir (e-ie) - to prefer
I prefer to eat chicken and she prefers to eat turkey.        Prefiero comer el pollo y ella prefiere el pavo.
I prefered to eat chicken and she preferred turkey.          Preferí comer el pollo y ella prefirió el pavo.


Dormir (o-ue) - to sleep
I sleep a little and he sleeps a lot.                        Duermo un poco y él duerme mucho.
Last night I slept a little and he slept a lot.     Anoche dormí un poco y él durmió mucho.

Hope this helps...

Sra Moore's sloooow moment SPA112-IHS

I assigned page 157 for homework, but I forgot to upload it... Go figure! It's uploaded now. Sorry.

MLMoore

la semana de 14 de marzo....

Holy Moly...I'm tired!

SPA111 Take Home Test for Lesson 2... START with Lesson 3
Present Tense Verbs... -er AND -ir verbs  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/verbs.htm
Possession with "de" http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/possession_de.htm

SPA112 Finish up testing... START with Lesson 7
Preterit Tense Verbs  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/preterit.htm
(expect a separate blog dedicated to the past tense ...)

SPI113 Stereotypes, Culture... ethics
http://www.publicinformationofficer.com/diverse.html

SPA161 Continue watching the Power Points
Expect the outline of your final project NEXT Week...here's a hint to what you're final project will look like... sort of..
http://www.elliott.org/blog/10-travel-blogs-you-should-bookmark-in-2010/

Ciao,
MLMoore

SPA111 Grammar preview

Next week we'll start on Lección 3: Los trabajos de la casa (household chores), I think a preview in grammar, may help, ESPECIALLY a preview of English grammar.

IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR....

Demonstrative Adjectives (this, that, these, those) show whether the noun that they refer to is singular or plural and whether it is located near to or far from the speaker or writer.


Example:
I'm standing next to a 1967 candy-apple red, mustang convertible. I say to you, "I want THIS car!" “This” is an adjective describing the car NEAR me. You may respond, "I don't like THAT car.” I’d say you were nuts, but "That" is an adjective describing the car, which is closer to me than it is to you. Make sense?

Same concept, different example:
I’m standing on Heinz Field with the Pittsburgh Steelers. (It could happen.) I say, quite calmly, “I love THESE guys!” “These” serves as the adjective describing the Steelers. You, unfortunately, are in the stands and reply, “I love THOSE guys, too!” “Those” describes my Steelers, who are NEAR me and NOT near you! Does that extremely, realistic, example make sense?


Now, what’s the difference between English Demonstrative Adjectives and Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives? Nothing...EXCEPT when using SPANISH Demonstrative Adjectives we also have to pay attention to gender. Is the noun we’re describing masculine? Or, is the noun we’re describing feminine?

Piece of cake!

Here are my notes for class, please feel free to print them off and have them ready for class...
1. Present tense conjugation of -er and -ir verbs http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/verbs.htm
2. Possession with de  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/possession_de.htm
3. The verb Tener/Tener expressions  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/tener_and_expressions.htm
4. Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/demonstrative_adjectives.htm

SPA112ON... UPDATE

Ok, so why do I have the strangest feeling that some of you don't check blackboard? No worries, that's why I'm sending this out for those of you who FB :).

I KNOW you know we don't have class this week... WHOOOOO HOOOOO (on so many levels).

BUT it's test time, so here's what you have to keep in mind for next week...

1. There's a studyguide posted in El Mercado Section. We will go over it in class next week. I would try it at home first, to see what I knew and what I didn't...just saying, if it was me.

2. You WILL have a test next week...it'll either be in online format OR take home format.

3. WE WILL start Chapter 7 next week too. We have to stay on task and we can't afford to get behind. We'll be starting the preterit and we need the time...

¡Ciao!

Sra Moore is getting an Ipad2

Whooo Hooo!

I'm getting an Ipad2 and I'm beyond my normal-excited-self. In my mind there are TONS of things that I'm going to be able to do with this Ipad that I can't do now.

Here are a few:

1. Get organized part 1... have all of my classes, all of my notes, presentations, movies... in one spot and with me. Right now I have things on my jump drive, my lap top, and on my desk top. Wouldn't be nice if everything is in one space and with me.
2. Get organized part 2...as the department chair of a fairly new program, I've so many administrative things to do pertaining to the program that I'm just barely making. Wouldn't be nice if my calendar was with me at all times and whenever I have a second to breathe...I could check it or it could be or something.
3. Blogging the second something hits my mind! Go figure...being able to blog the second a student asks for clarification or the minute I see something cool that I want to share!
4. Being able to check and send email from a source bigger than my phone is a plus too.
5. PODCASTING...I've been wanting to podcast for a long time, but just didn't want to carry the camera or the microphone or deal with all of the other things I have to deal with. I mean with 9 classes I lug enough stuff...How cool would it be to set up my IPad and podcast right from it...

I know there's more, like voki's, showing movies/clips, videos, music, journals...

As I learn all of the things that I can do, I'll be SURE to share.

Do you have an iPad or are you getting an iPad 2? I'd love to know about your experiences, good and semi-bad ;).

la semana de 7 de marzo 2011

This is a weird week... We have to make up the snow days... Sooooo

jueves, el 10 de marzo = MONDAY
viernes, el 11 de marzo = WEDNESDAY

What does this mean? Someone of you.. I'll see 4 times and some of you... only once, and I won't even see my Thursday night class (sad... I know :)) BUT we have to continue working...

SPA111 Elementary Spanish 1
ALL CLASSES TEST NEXT WEEK.....
Possessive Adjectives  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/possessive_adjectives_part_1.htm
Time  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/telling_time.htm
Calendar Vocabulary  http://www.sampsoncc.edu/staff/mmoore/calendarvocab.htm

SPA112 Elementary Spanish 2
ALL CLASSES TEST ONLINE... this week
Your test consists of multiple choice, short answer and a voki. THIS VOKI needs to be your voice.


SPI113 Intro to Interpreting
I really like the practice scenarios... it's time to take it up a notch...

SPA161 Cultural Immersion
SOUTH AMERICA... I promise!

Ciao,
MLMoore

SPA112 Direct Objects and Direct Object Pronouns

I guess to fully understand how to use Direct Object Pronouns in Spanish, you have to make sure you:

1. Know what a Direct Object is...in English
2. Know what Direct Object Pronouns are...in English. AND
3. Understand the purpose of substituting the pronoun for the object.

1. What is a Direct Object?

The DIRECT OBJECT is the object that receives the direct action of the verb. It answers the question Who? or What?  We use direct object pronouns to avoid saying the name of the OBJECT (person or thing) over and over again.

• I want a skirt.             SKIRT, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• He saw the money.     MONEY, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• We called Bob.          Bob, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• You know Sally.         Sally, is the DIRECT OBJECT

Notice in English, the DIRECT OBJECT follows the verb. When I was growing up, we had to diagram the parts of the sentence... I = Subject  ...  want = Verb  ...  skirt = Direct Object

I didn't appreciate it back then, but now it makes Spanish sentences easier to understand.

2. Direct Object Pronouns...in English

• me 
• LL Cool J loves me.
• Me = Direct Object Pronoun
• you
• I love you. 
• You = Direct Object Pronoun
• him, her, it
• She saw him.
• Him = Direct Object Pronoun
• us
• He likes us.
• Us = Direct Object Pronoun
• you (plural...or y'all)
• I told y'all.
• Y'all = Direct Object Pronoun
• them
• We bought them.
• Them = Direct Object Pronoun

3. Why substitute?

Easy! I bought a car. I like my car. My car is gold. My car is new. My car is shiny. My car is fast... I could do this all day, but why use the word car over and over again when I can SUBSTITUTE a pronoun...it for car.  NOW, using the Direct Object Pronoun...I bought a car. I like it. It's gold, new, shiny...

Now that you understand how to use Direct Objects and Direct Object Pronouns in English...Spanish should be a breeze!

1. Know what a Direct Object is...in Spanish
2. Know what Direct Object Pronouns are...in Spanish AND

3. Understand the purpose of substituting the pronoun for the object.

1. What is a "Spanish" Direct Object?
Same as in English, Spanish Direct Objects receives the direct action of the verb and answer the questions ¿Qué? o ¿Quién?

• Quiero una falda.                  FALDA, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• Él vio el dinero.                     DINERO, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• Nosotros llamamos a Bob.    Bob, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• Conoces a Sally.                   Sally, is the DIRECT OBJECT

Notice in Spanish (just like in English), the DIRECT OBJECT follows the verb. When I was growing up, we had to diagram the parts of the sentence... (yo) = Subject (remember sometimes we don't need the subject pronoun because the person is already in the verb)... quiero = Verb ... una falda = Direct Object

2. Direct Object Pronouns...en español

Notice that the Spanish direct object pronouns for 3rd person singular (it) and 3rd person plural (them) are based on gender. The pronoun you use depends upon the gender of the noun you're substituting. REMEMBER, in Spanish we have to make sure our number and gender agree...pronouns included.

For example: I want a skirt. Yo quiero una falda. Using pronouns...I want it, but that it in Spanish has to be "la" because it represents the skirt... Make sense?

NOW, the object in both languages is placed after the verb, BUT the DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN, is placed BEFORE the conjugated verb in SPANISH.

¿Quién compró el café?       Who bought the coffee?  

• direct objects/AFTER the verb in both languages

  Sally lo compró.                  Sally bought it.    (where it = el café)

• direct object pronouns
• after the verb in English
• BEFORE the verb in Spanish 

***As always pay attention to your gender and your numbers = make sure they agree***

NOW... there's always one little thing that's SLIGHTLY difficult ... no need to panic, just pay attention

When a conjugated verb and an infinitive are used together... In other words, when there are 2 verbs, the direct object pronoun can be placed

1. BEFORE the conjugated verb (this is the same way you do it if there is only ONE verb, so you only have to learn one way)

• I want to buy a car.          Quiero comprar un carro.
• I want to buy it.                Lo quiero comprar.

2. ATTACHED to the infinitive. (for those of you who have to translate everything, this is the one you'll like, because this translated exactly the way you would say it in English...you'll like it)

• I want to buy a car.           Quiero comprar un carro.
• I want to buy it.                 Quiero comprarlo.

If you need additional help check out the following sites:

http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/dopro1.htm

http://conjuguemos.com/home/docs/nologin/spanish_fillin_grammar_44.html


Ciao