Advanced Spanish Language Skills
| Module title | Advanced Spanish Language Skills |
|---|---|
| Module code | MLS3111 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Ms Isabel Moros (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
Module description
This module is designed for students who follow the Year 2 module MLS2001 the previous year or equivalent. It will provide you with the opportunity to enhance your language skills through translation from and into the target language as well as through working with different genres and styles of writing. There will be an introduction to different journalistic forms such as interviews and leading articles, as well as the chance to practice creative writing. The oral classes will continue expanding the knowledge of contemporary Spanish and Latino American culture, and to discuss relevant topics to future career developments. The aim will be to expand the range and accuracy of expression in written and oral form, in order to attain proficiency in the use of the language.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to:
- Enhance and develop further skills in the translation of the variety of texts from and into the target language
- Improve writing skills in Spanish a study of styles of writing, including journalistic texts such as editorials, feature articles, essays, speeches and short stories
- Revise grammatical structures and expand the range of expression including idiomatic usage
- Develop oral and aural skills to an advanced level
- Emphasise the values of grammatical accuracy, without prejudice to individual expression
- On completion of the course, you should have achieved levels C1/C2 (Proficient User) within the Common European Framework of References for Languages
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Apply knowledge of a broad range of grammatical features of the target language (including some complex and advanced structures) to a range of linguistic exercises
- 2. Tackle complex translation passages into and out of the target language, based on a wide range of topics and written in a variety of styles
- 3. Argue a case in written Spanish in answer to challenging questions on a broad range of abstract and contemporary issues
- 4. Develop the necessary skills to write short stories in the target language including the development of plot and characters
- 5. Understand the main differences between journalistic styles and be able to compose leading articles and interviews
- 6. Discuss complex topical and abstract issues in an appropriate register of oral Spanish, using a broad range of vocabulary and idiom
- 7. Give a structured oral presentation in the target language on an independently researched topic of your choice addressed to a small group of listeners, and engage in debate on the issues raised by the presentation
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Use bilingual and standard monolingual dictionaries to research conventions of usage, find synonyms and antonyms, and explore nuances of meaning
- 9. Understand and use in class discussion a broad range of linguistic terminology, using this terminology to a certain extent to conceptualise your mistakes in the target language and to identify strategies for improving your linguistic accuracy
- 10. Engage critically with the Spanish language media (printed and electronic, including television and radio), using it as a resource for independent research
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 11. Communicate information and arguments of some complexity in the target language
- 12. Advance your linguistic competence independently, with limited guidance (with potential for learning new languages independently in the future)
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Translation skills from Spanish into English in Term 1, and from English into Spanish in Term 2
- Styles of writing in Spanish including essay writing, leading comments and other journalistic forms, speeches and creative writing
- Weekly small group discussions, according to topics suggested by staff or presented by students related to current affairs in Spain, Latino America or of general interest
- Revision of specific grammatical points regarding the use of prepositions, subordinate clauses and complex structures
- Comprehensive study of the importance of the use of connectors in the written and oral expression in order to give more coherence to the discourse
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 234 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Translation from Spanish into English |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Translation from English into Spanish |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Writing skills |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Oral skills |
| Guided independent study | 44 | 2 hours work outside class each week (5 translations, 4 individual pieces of writing skills and two group pieces) |
| Guided independent study | 190 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translation Class Test | 1 hour | 1, 2, 9, 12 | Written and oral feedback |
| Prose Class Test | 1 hour | 1, 2, 9, 12 | Written and oral feedback |
| Regular assignments in translation, prose and writing skills | 2 hours per week | 1-5, 8-10, 12 | Marked work and reviewed in class |
| Oral presentations and discussions | n/a | 1, 6-8, 10-12 | Written and oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 75 | 25 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written examination (Translation) (Winter) | 25 | 1 hour | 1, 2, 8-10, 12 | Generic written feedback |
| Written examination | 50 | 2 hour | 1-5, 9-11, 12 | Generic written feedback |
| Oral examination | 25 | 15 minutes | 1, 6-8, 10-12 | Individual written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written examination | Written examination | 1-5, 8-10, 12 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination | Oral examination | 1, 6-8, 10-12 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Ejercicios de léxico (Nivel superior). Pablo Martínez Menéndez. Editorial Anaya 2001
- Gramática y léxico del español. Josefa Martín García. Editorial Anaya 2001
- Construcción e interpretación de discursos y enunciados: Los marcadores. Manuel Martí.Editorial Edinumen 2003
- Construcción e interpretación de oraciones: Los conectores oracionales. Manuel Martí andMaría Jesús Torrens. Editorial Edinumen 2001
- S Hervey, I Higgins, and L M Haywood Thinking Spanish Translation (Routledge, 1995).
- J Butt and C Benjamin, A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish Hodder Education 2004
- Javier Muñoz-Basols, Marianne David and Olga Núñez Piñeiro, Speed up your Spanish. Strategies to avoid common errors. Routledge 2010
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1452
- El atril del traductor -www.cervantes.es
- A very useful umbrella website: http://www.linguanet-worldwide.org/
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Regular showings of Spanish and Latino American films during the year and a very comprehensive audiovisual section in the library. Very good set of resources also for developing language skills at the Foreign Language Centre.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | MLS2001/MLS2156 or equivalent |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/07/2013 |
| Last revision date | 28/01/2019 |