Spanish Beginners Fast-Track

Module title	Spanish Beginners Fast-Track
Module code	FLS2130
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Jose Tenreiro Prego (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	35

Module description

Spanish Beginners Fast-Track covers the equivalent of Spanish Beginners and Spanish Intermediate 1 in one year. It is intended for students who have a successful track record of learning another modern foreign language (e.g. GCSE A*-B grade or equivalent) and may also be suitable for re-starters wanting to review the basics of Spanish. You will need to understand basic terminology for grammatical structures. Spanish Beginners Fast-Track is also strongly recommended for incoming Erasmus students or those with a mother-tongue in a Romance language (e.g. Italian, French or Portuguese).

Spanish Beginners Fast-Track can be taken towards achieving ‘with proficiency in Spanish”, see http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/flc/undergraduate/proficiency/

Module aims - intentions of the module

Spanish Beginners Fast-Track provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential grammar structures in a communicative context. The module is taught as far as possible in Spanish.

Spanish Beginners Fast-Track aims to:

Provide you with a solid foundation of the basic grammatical structures of Spanish and the linguistic tools to enable you to communicate effectively in everyday situations across the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
Enable you to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations.
Provide an introduction to the customs, cultures and societies of the regions/countries in which Spanish is spoken and to develop your awareness of the general social and cultural background of Spanish.

Spanish Beginners Fast-Track exit level is broadly equivalent to A2 Basic User level of the Common European Framework.

Students who successfully complete this module will progress directly to Spanish Intermediate Fast-Track, FLS2430.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of Spanish
2. Read and comprehend straightforward written and aural texts on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, study, leisure etc. in Spanish
3. Communicate effectively on a broad range of general topics which are familiar or of personal interest, both orally and in writing, and produce short descriptive and narrative texts, formal and informal letters

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Understand the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise your learning with guidance from the tutor
5. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar and bilingual dictionary, to consolidate your learning

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Give a presentation on a topic pertinent to everyday occurrences in your field and hold a conversation in Spanish which may involve expressing opinions and making value judgments
7. Make progress through developing skills of self-study and application and develop an awareness of and sensitivity to a foreign culture

Syllabus plan

The course provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential grammar structures in a communicative context and in accordance with the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following grammar points/topics:

Grammar:

Grammatical terms
Definite and indefinite articles
Nouns and adjectives: number and gender
Adverbs
Numbers
Possessives
Prepositions
Verb Tenses
- Present Simple and Present Continuous
- Perfect
- Simple Past
- Imperfect
- Pluperfect
- Future
- Conditional
- Present Subjunctive
Comparative clauses
Conditional clauses
Relative clauses
Time clauses
Causative clauses
Concessive clauses
Final clauses

Topics:

University studies
Degrees and subjects
Languages
Countries and cities
Nationalities
The days of the week
The months
The four seasons
The weather
Parts of the body
Sickness
Giving advice
Describing character and personality
Foods and drinks
Shopping
Clothes and complements
Colours
The time
Plans and intentions
Talking about recent events
Asking for permission and favours
Giving excuses
Talking about experiences
Celebrations
Holidays and travel
Biographies
House chores
Free time
Hobbies
Describing daily objects
Childhood
Family

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
88	212	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	88	Language classes
Guided independent study	212	Consolidate class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Spanish. Prepare exercises and activities for class, write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video / DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
4 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking.	Variable	1-5, 7	Written and oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	25	25

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Portfolio	50	As described on the ELE page	1-7	Written and oral
Written Exam	25	1.5 hours	1-5, 7	Written and oral
Oral Exam	25	8-9 minutes	1, 3-7	Written and oral
	0
	0
	0

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
Portfolio	Portfolio	1-7	Referral/deferral period
Written Exam	Written Exam	1-5, 7	Referral/deferral period
Oral Exam	Oral Exam	1, 3-7	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%.

You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic Readings:

Nuevo Prisma Fusión (A1+A2) – Libro del alumno + CD, (Edinumen, 2015). ISBN: 9788498485202.
Nuevo Prisma Fusión (A1+A2) – Libro de Ejercicios + CD, (Edinumen, 2014). ISBN: 9788498485226.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11287

Key words search

Spanish Beginners Fast-Track

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	07/02/2012
Last revision date	29/07/2020