Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module will:

1. focus on further developing students' written communicative and oral/ aural competence in the
foreign language gained in Level B (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range; register and pronunciation);
2. prepare students for the future study of the language (written communicative and oral / aural skills);
3. facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with
speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken media during their intercalary year. This includes students’ ability to use and understand authentic material and produce their own written and spoken output.

Outline Of Syllabus

Communication: development of spoken and written communicative competence by study of the following thematic programme dealing with a range of aspects of Spanish and Latin American culture and contemporary society:

1. El mundo hispano
2. La sociedad
3. Literatura
4. La educacion
5. Los jovenes
6. El medio ambiente
7. El mundo del trabajo
8. El ocio y la cultura
9. La salud
10. La vivienda y el transporte

- further study and practice of a wide-ranging coverage of the grammar system of modern Spanish including the noun, adjectives, adverbs, articles, the major tenses, the indicative and subjunctive moods; and
- further systematic development of lexis in a wide range of contemporary themes and settings.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on oral communication skills while reading, listening and writing skills are developed in the preparation and in the associated work after the language seminar. The recorded lecture materials will focus on key study skills and the formal structures of the language.

2. Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through the means of online grammar videos and related activities, online guided tasks, pair and group work, assessment preparation and completion, and self-study, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas and the Language Resource Centre. Particular initiative is expected from students at this level, e.g. course participants will be asked to contribute their own materials to the classes and activities and be very pro-active in their language study.

3. All students will be supported in their study of formal and informal aspects of the Spanish language and their study skills via a weekly synchronous drop-in surgery.

Note if there are further Covid-19 restrictions the provision for the seminars will be to have one zoom hour with half of the group whilst the other half does some guided activities online and swap during the second hour.

THIS COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The portfolio (40%) will encourage regular work on language skills and enable students to receive regular formative (for learning) feedback. It will help students assess their progress and identify their strengths and areas for improvement, thus stimulating their independent and reflective learning skills throughout the year. The first task will be submitted online towards the end of Semester 1 (20%). It will test the students’ ability to produce a well-structured text in the target language based on the comprehension and analysis of written source material. The second task (20%) will be submitted online before the Easter break. This task will test students’ ability to produce a well-structured text in the target language based on the comprehension and analysis of audio / video source material (excluding written text).

- The oral examination (20%) will take place during the revision week of Semester 2. It will test students’ ability to conduct independent research, critically evaluate authentic material, and to produce and present their own output orally in a clear and structured manner. It will also assess their ability to speak freely and interact in a discussion on these findings and on general matters.

- The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (40%) will take place during the exam period and will test the students’ ability to produce and present a well-structured text or texts in the target language. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled. This formal examination provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in the target language at the end of this module.