Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To provide students with the following:

i. The ability to survive in the most typical situations met by visitors when travelling abroad for a few days.
ii. An awareness of the nature of language and language learning.
iii. An interest in the countries where the language is spoken and the people from these countries.

This is the first part of a Spanish Beginners course designed with the non language specialist in mind. It is intended for absolute beginners and covers the four skills: writing, reading, speaking and listening. At the end of the module, the students will have gained an awareness of the basics of the language. They will understand and use some familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Greetings/goodbyes; Getting acquainted; the Spanish alphabet
2. Nationalities, occupations,
3. Introducing ourselves and others
4. Family, numbers (0-100); regular verbs
5. Irregular verbs
6. Reflexive verbs
7. Daily routine and expressions of time
8. The weather
9. Describing your country

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

All areas of grammar, vocabulary and background knowledge related to the skills listed below.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Speaking:
Introducing yourself, locating things, counting, saying what you like or dislike, describing your daily routine: including days and times, favourite hobbies, etc.

Listening:
Understanding native speakers when they deal with situations similar to those listed above, provided that they speak fairly slowly, addressing the listener directly and with a reasonably clear accent.
Writing:
Simple compositions such as short notes, e-mail messages, order forms, etc. based on the topics and situations listed above.
Reading:
Relevant information from tourist leaflets, common public notices, menus, timetables, instructions for use, etc.

Cognitive/intellectual skills:
Students will learn:
- To understand the functions and structures of a foreign language at beginners level.
- To locate and make use of materials appropriate for this level other than those provided by the teacher.
- To evaluate their own performance
- To apply a range of strategies for language learning appropriate for this level.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on communication skills. Grammar will be taught systematically to enable students to produce and manipulate the foreign language. Use of the target language will be made as much as possible to develop listening skills. All four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking are fully integrated in the language seminars and associated work and preparation, and will be tested equally.

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

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The portfolio will help students assess their progress and identify their strengths and areas for improvement. It will test student’s ability to communicate effectively, identify relevant information and produce a structured text in the target language.

General Notes

N/A