Spanish Beginners (Part I)
| Module title | Spanish Beginners (Part I) |
|---|---|
| Module code | PLS1131 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Ms Jordina Sala-Branchadell (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
This module is intended for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Spanish and offers an introduction to the language. It will equip you with some basic vocabulary and grammatical structures to enable you to engage in a range of personal and public communicative situations. You will find this module particularly useful if you have less than 30 credits available for optional modules or are considering adding languages to your degree but are unsure of the commitment it will require.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module is broadly equivalent to A1 Basic User level of the Common European Framework for Languages and aims to:
- Provide you with the grammatical foundations of the target language to enable you to communicate effectively in oral and written interaction at a basic level and on a variety of day-to-day situations.
- Introduce students to some of the customs, cultures and social realities of the diverse countries, regions and communities where Spanish is spoken in the world.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an elementary understanding of the basic grammatical structures of the target language
- 2. Read and comprehend simple written and aural texts and extract specific, predictable information related to every-day situations
- 3. Communicate effectively on a limited range of situations requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters, both orally and in writing
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand the intellectual and interpersonal requirements of learning a new language and organise learning with guidance from the tutor and in cooperation with peers
- 5. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar books or bilingual dictionaries, to consolidate and expand your acquisition of language
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Communicate at a basic level in a second language
- 7. Show evidence of self-study and research skills used to develop language skills
- 8. Demonstrate a fundamental level of intercultural awareness in communication
Syllabus plan
Whilst the materials may vary from year to year, the course will cover the following grammatical items and topics whilst practising the skills of listening and reading comprehension and speaking and writing in the target language.
Grammar (non-exhaustive):
- Alphabet
- Numbers
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Nouns and adjectives: gender and number
- Personal pronouns
- Demonstrative pronouns
- Possessives
- Main prepositions
- Main adverbs
- Verbal modes and tenses: infinitive, present
- Reflexive verbs
- Use of indirect verbs like gustar
Topics (non-exhaustive):
- Self and family: introducing oneself, stating name, age, nationality etc., and talking about others, such as describing members of the family
- World of work: professions
- Home and surroundings: describing house/flat, towns and villages, finding the way around town.
- Leisure activities and personal preferences
- Routines
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 106 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 44 | In-person seminars where attendance is compulsory. The teaching approach is based on hands-on interactive language development tasks, such as pair / group work and role-playing, and include the study of short texts and spoken dialogues. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video, and, where appropriate, computer software. The module is taught as far as possible in the target language. |
| Guided Independent Study | 106 | Consolidate learning by preparing exercises and activities for class, including short presentations and written assignments, reading short texts and watching clips in the target language to develop receptive skills and expand vocabulary. Learning activities are supported by various media including handbooks and online materials. You will be expected to spend between 3-5 hours per week studying outside the class and tutors provide guidance, facilities, and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. You may also be expected to complete the exercise book/workbook on a self-study basis, and you will receive regular feedback on your progress from class activities, homework assignments etc. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Task | 1 hour | 1-8 | Written (oral upon request) |
| Oral Presentation | 5 minutes | 1-8 | Written or oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 60 | 40 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Exam | 40 | 5-6 minutes | 1-8 | Written or oral |
| Written Exam | 60 | 1 hour | 1-8 | Written or oral |
| 0 | ||||
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Exam (5-6 minutes) | Oral Exam (5-6 minutes) | 1-8 | Referral / Deferral period |
| Written Exam (1 hour) | Written Exam (1 hour) | 1-8 | 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
- Virgilio Borobio Carrera, Ele Actual: Libro del Alumno + CDs A1 – New Edition (SM, 2014) ISBN: 9788467551815
- Virgilio Borobio Carrera, Ele Actual: Cuaderno de Ejercicios A1 (SM, 2011) ISBN: 9788467547382
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Miquel López et al, Gramática básica del estudiante de español - Versión panhispánica: A Comprehensive Review of Spanish Grammar (Difusión, 2022) ISBN: 9788418907371
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 15/04/2024 |
| Last revision date | 15/04/2024 |
