Mini-dramatizaciones

ESPAÑOL 201
Due: Thursday, April 21, 2005

You will participate in a skit with two other members from class.  It will last about five minutes, during which you will demonstrate mastery of Spanish grammar and vocabulary from chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12.  I will provide a list of scenarios (see below) from which you will choose one to perform.  You may not use any notes or scripts.  You should plan and prepare lines and include props.

The skit is worth 5% of your final grade.  I will pass out a sign-up sheet so that you can choose the order in which to perform the skits.  The skits will be back-to-back, and will be performed in class on Thursday, April 21.  If you are late or if you do not show up, it is an automatic zero.  Only a note from the hospital will excuse your not being in class.
 

GRADING

You will be graded on FOUR elements of communication: pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary and grammar.  See the oral evaluation rating form for further details.  Each student will be evaluated individually based on pronunciation and fluency.  It is important to make yourself understandable to your partners and the class by pronouncing the words clearly and fluently.  Can you be understood, and can you comprehend what the others are saying?  This grade will be averaged with the group grade, a separate grade based on correct vocabulary and grammar usage.  I will be listening for varied chapter vocabulary and correct grammar.  Each group must turn in a typed (triple-spaced) version of your script.  This will be used in calculating the group's overall score.

HOW TO PREPARE

• Practice, practice, practice!  Meet with the members of your group several times before the actual performance.  Review the list of possible scenes below. Agree on a scenario and decide on an approach to tackle it.   Think of how you can best use the vocabulary and grammar, and practice it.

• Don't write out and memorize long complicated sentences.  Stick with the grammar and forms that you know.

• Be sure the skit does not go over 5 minutes! 

• Attend the Mesa Española where you can practice speaking Spanish with other students and eat great Mexican food!

• Have frequent conversations (in Spanish) with Spanish-speaking friends or co-workers.

• Review the chapter vocabulary lists.

• Avoid long periods of silence or muttering "um...um".  Don't make any one person in the group do all the talking!  Each person should contribute an equal amount of speaking time.

SKIT GOALS

• To demonstrate mastery of the following grammatical points and structures (learned prior to SPN 201): the present tense (regular, irregular, irregular "yo", stem-changing), adjective agreement, ser vs. estar, gustar, ir + a + infinitive to show the immediate future, the present progressive, and question words.
   
• To demonstrate a high intermediate/low advanced mastery of the following grammatical points and structures: the preterit tense, the imperfect tense, direct and indirect object pronouns, commands, the subjunctive (with influence, emotion, doubt, impersonal expressions & indefinite entities), the present perfect, the past perfect and the future tense.

• To use chapter vocabulary accurately; avoid relying on English
   
• To demonstrate natural flow of speech and accurate pronunciation

ESCENARIOS

Choose from one of the following scenarios:

1)  De compras: Pretend that you are out shopping for a special item for a birthday, anniversary, etc.  Your scene must include one salesperson and two customers or two salesmen and one customer.  (Remember to use the usted form between the customer and the employee.)  Include a problem: they do not have your size, the salesperson is rude, the store does not carry the item you want, etc.  You decide on the details.  Use chapter 7 vocabulary.

2)  En la sala de emergencia: Act out a typical scene in the emergency room.  Describe any aches or pains the patient may have, give advice from the doctor and his or her final prognosis.  You decide on the details.  (Remember to use the usted form between the doctor and the patient.)  Use chapter 8 vocabulary.

3)  El la oficina del consejero matrimonial: Pretend that a couple visits a marriage counselor.  The couple should express their problems, and then the counselor should give advice.  You decide on the details.  (Remember to use the usted form between the counselor and the couple.)  Use chapter 10 vocabulary.

4)  De viaje al extranjero: You are on vacation in a Spanish-speaking country.  Pretend that you run into problems at the airport or at the hotel.  You decide on the details.  (Remember to use the usted form between the customer and the employees).  Use chapter 12 vocabulary.

HOW TO MAKE AN A  

Come prepared and with props!  Don't go over 5 minutes.  Use chapter vocabulary correctly and confidently.  Try to include as many grammar points as you can from bullet two of "Skit Goals."  Stay away from vulgar or inappropriate topics or language.  Make your skit original, interesting and entertaining.

Break a leg and enjoy yourselves!