Holly Nibert
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Holly Nibert
Department:Spanish
Email:
Personal Web page
Research Interests
Key words or phrases:
- Spanish phonology
- Articulatory phonetics
- Acoustic phonetics
- Spanish intonation
- Second language acquisition
- Acquisition of second language pronunciation
- Second language teaching methodology
- Training of Teaching Assistants in Spanish
Description: My research involves the application of speech analysis software to elucidate aspects of Spanish phonology and phonetics, including intonation and the acquisition of Spanish pronunciation by adult second language (L2) learners. I also am interested in second language teaching methodology, both in a general sense and as it applies to pronunciation in particular. Finally, I work in the realms of teacher training and materials development. I educate and train our Teaching Assistants in Spanish and co-author Spanish language textbooks.
Courses Taught
Course prefix and number: SPAN 3240 |
Credit hours: 3 |
Course title: Introduction to Spanish linguistics |
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How frequently taught: Every Fall and Spring semester |
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When taught, number of sections offered: One or two sections each Fall and Spring semester |
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Course Instructor(s): |
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Brief description of course content/focus: A general survey of the different fields of Spanish linguistics, both formal (e.g., phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics) and applied (e.g., pragmatics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and bilingualism). Prepares students for more specialized studies. Prerequisites: SPAN 3160 and 3170.
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Course prefix and number: SPAN 4540 |
Credit hours: 3 |
Course title: Spanish Phonology and Phonetics |
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How frequently taught: Every Fall and Spring semester |
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When taught, number of sections offered: One |
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Course Instructor(s): Nibert |
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Brief description of course content/focus: Provides a practical approach to the improvement of non-native pronunciation and “accent”. Emphasizes the sound system of Spanish through aural/oral practice, written phonetic transcription, and contrastive analysis with English. Prerequisites: SPAN 3160, 3170, and one of the following: SPAN 3210, 3220, 3230, 3240, 3250. SPAN 3240 is recommended.
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Course prefix and number: SPAN 5400 (formerly SPAN 4900) |
Credit hours: 3 |
Course title: Studies in Spanish Linguistics |
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How frequently taught: Every Fall and Spring semester |
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When taught, number of sections offered: One |
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Course Instructor(s): Nibert, Pastrana-Pérez, Vann |
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Brief description of course content/focus: Varied topics in Spanish linguistics. Each course carries separate credit, although all are listed under 5400. Thus, a student may take any or all of the offerings at various times for credit. Prerequisites: SPAN 3160, 3170, 3240, plus 4520 or 4540. Representative topics which may be treated in this area include: Old Spanish (Evolution of the Spanish language from Latin); Spanish Language and Contemporary Society-The relationship between the Spanish language and modern Spanish culture; Spanish Word Formation-The creation of nouns, verbs and adjectives in Spanish; Spanish Sound Systems-The organization of sound patterns and stress in Spanish; Spanish Dialectology (Differences in Spanish pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar in different regions of the Spanish-speaking world); Spanish in Contact-How exposure to other languages affects the Spanish spoken by bilinguals; and Structure of the Spanish Language-Word order and principles of grammatical organization in Spanish. Topics of SPAN 5400 that I have taught include: Spanish Dialectology; Spanish Morphology; The Acquisition of Spanish. |
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Course prefix and number: SPAN 6400 |
Credit hours: 3 |
Course title: Topics in Spanish Linguistics and Methodology |
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How frequently taught (e.g., every semester, once every two years, etc.): Once per year |
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When taught, number of sections offered: One |
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Course Instructor(s): Nibert, Pastrana-Pérez, Vann |
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Brief description of course content/focus: The advanced study of selected aspects of linguistics and methodology. Course varies according to topic and may be repeated with permission of adviser. Representative topics include: General Survey of Spanish Linguistics; History of the Spanish Language; Sociolinguistics; Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis; Spanish Syntax; Acquisition of Spanish as a Second Language. Topics of SPAN 6400 that I have taught include: Spanish Dialectology; Spanish Phonology and Acoustic Phonetics. |
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Course prefix and number: SPAN 6500 |
Credit hours: 3 |
Course title: Methods of Teaching College Spanish |
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How frequently taught: Every Fall semester |
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When taught, number of sections offered: One |
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Course Instructor(s): Nibert |
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Brief description of course content/focus: For new teaching assistants in Spanish. Establishes the methodology for teaching Spanish language at the university level. Some areas covered are: how to teach in the target language; the development of appropriate classroom tasks and activities; evaluating and testing; and aspects of second language acquisition theory. Participants create and share materials to be used in their own language classrooms. Prerequisites: Acceptance into Spanish M.A. program, or PTG status and permission of instructor. Note: Open to graduate students only. |
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