Spanish Language (ex-beginners)
| Module title | Spanish Language (ex-beginners) |
|---|---|
| Module code | MLS2156 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Juan Garcia Precedo (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
Module description
The module is designed for students who completed MLS1056 or equivalent. Students will enhance their language skills through listening and reading comprehension, as well as through translation. The grammar classes will give students a sound understanding of the use of the Subjunctive in subordinate clauses as well as a complete revision of the grammatical features of the language. The oral classes will expand students’ knowledge on Spanish and Latin American culture, and will offer the chance to develop debating skills. In addition to this, students will expand their lexicon and will receive practical advice on their year abroad
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to:
- Increase your understanding of the Spanish in both its written and spoken forms
- Improve capacity for self-expression in Spanish
- Instil habits of accuracy and correctness of expression
- Develop an in-depth knowledge of the uses of the Subjunctive versus the Indicative in all the subordinate clauses
Written work consists of translation from Spanish into English and from English into Spanish, together with a variety of reading comprehension and compositional exercises; oral work includes a number of short presentations in Spanish, together with group debates, vocabulary expansion and clarification of grammar points where necessary.
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 to a variety of linguistic tasks
- 2. Translate passages from a variety of authentic written sources (literary as well as journalistic) into and out of Spanish
- 3. Present a detailed argument in written Spanish in answer to essay questions on a range of topics
- 4. Engage in discussion of a range of (mainly contemporary) topics in oral Spanish, articulating own opinions and responding to the opinions of others
- 5. Give short oral presentations in the target language on a defined topic to a small group of listeners and engage in group discussion and debate of the topic presented
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Recognise and understand core linguistic terminology individually and as part of a group
- 7. Use a bilingual and a learners monolingual dictionary to glean information about meaning, register, usage and grammatical forms
- 8. Engage, under guidance, with the Spanish language media printed and online
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Communicate competently in a target language
- 10. Express and discuss views in front of a group of listeners
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:
- Systematic coverage of aspects of the materials in the course books including a comprehensive study of the uses of the Subjunctive mode versus the Indicative in complex sentences and subordinate clauses in Spanish
- Development of translation techniques and strategies
- Acquisition of new vocabulary
- Enhancement of comprehension skills and ability to develop a natural and accurate form of expression in the target language
- Further development of the translation of texts from English into Spanish
- Oral work with regular small group discussions and debates as formative preparation for the oral examination
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 | 22 | Language seminar. Developing and enhancing reading comprehension and writing skills. Special attention is placed to the study of the subordinate clauses |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Language seminar. Developing and enhancing listening comprehension skills. Systematic grammatical points are covered |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Translation from Spanish into English and Grammar. Guidance in translation using a variety of texts. Discussion of the possibilities of translation and correction of the work done. Systematic grammatical points are covered |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Students and tutors engage in structured small group discussions in Spanish. The methodology followed is task oriented and student centred with special emphasis on following a communicative approach and encourages independent learning in a supportive environment |
| Guided independent study | 234 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 formative tasks (translation, reading comprehension, writing, listening and speaking) | Variable | 1-10 | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 40 | 60 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension examination | 20 | 1 hour | 1, 3, 6-9 | Written and oral |
| Written examination exam (term 3) writing and translation | 40 | 2 hours | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 | Written and oral |
| Oral examination | 20 | 20 minute debate | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 | Written and oral |
| Reading comprehension examination | 20 | 1 hour | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 | Written and oral |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension examination | Listening comprehension examination | 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination exam (term 3) writing and translation | Written examination exam (term 3) writing and translation | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination | Oral examination | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Reading comprehension examination | Reading comprehension examination | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 | 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
- M.C.Ainciburu, V.González, A.Navas, E.Tayefeh, G.Vázquez, Vía Rápida, Curso intensivo de español (Difusión, 2011). ISBN: 978-84-8443-655-3
- ¡Exacto! A practical guide to Spanish grammar. Arnold Publishers 2002
- Cuadernos de gramática española. Pilar Seijas, Bibiana Tonnelier, Sergio Troitiño. Difusión. 2011
- A bilingual dictionary, e.g. C Smith, Collins Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary (6th edition 2000)
- A monolingual dictionary, e.g. Larousse, Pequeño Larousse ilustrado
- Speed up your Spanish (Strategies to avoid common errors). Javier Muñoz Bassols, Marianne David and Olga Nuñez Piñeiro. Routledge 2010
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3497
- Virtual Classes: www.jmg223.wix.com/mls2156
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. A good set of resources also for developing language skills at the Foreign Language Centre.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | MLS 1056 or equivalent |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/01/1998 |
| Last revision date | 29/01/2019 |