Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

Students must choose which strand they would like to take this module in: French, German or Spanish.
Students must take the co-requisite module in the language they want to take this module in.
This module is not available to Stage 1 students studying French, German or Spanish at level A.
This module is not available to students taking French, German or Spanish at Level B in Stage 2.
As a pilot, this module is capped at 54 students (18 students maximum per strand). Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in SML, the main aims of the module are:

- to enable students to gain a range of 21st-century graduate, study and reflective skills within a foreign language learning context.
- to develop and refine these skills by planning, creating and executing language or culture-related projects via group work and technological tools.

Outline Of Syllabus

The content will be taught via workshops, seminars and drop-ins.

The topics covered will include:
-       What makes a higher-education language learner
-       Group work and project management skills
-       Language learning and technology, including language learning tools.
-       Reflective learning
-       Presentation skills
-       Feedback / forward in learning

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module, the students will have gained knowledge in:

- Managing group projects from their planning to their evaluation stages, using a variety of productivity tools and team building strategies.

- Reflecting on their learning and contribution to the module, and how their reflection will inform future knowledge and skill development, using a variety of reflective tools and strategies.

- Using and evaluating (language) learning and technological tools based on their appropriateness to specific learning objectives or tasks.

- Researching, acquiring and applying specific knowledge relevant to the completion of specific learning objectives or tasks/projects.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module, the students will have gained and developed experience in:

- Leadership and project management
- Collaboration and Team work
- Information technologies and information gathering
- using creativity and initiative
- Reflective and critical skills
- Communication, presentation and feedback / forward skills
- Social & Cross-cultural Skills
- Language learning skills

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module talk will be used to introduce the module, its aims and objectives, its methods of assessments, what will be expected from students etc and will give students the opportunity to meet their peers and the teaching team, and ask questions.
The workshops will act as interactive lectures during which students will be introduced to the topics listed in the syllabus and be given the opportunity to apply this newly acquired knowledge via small group tasks. These workshops will take place with the whole cohort and will be taught in English.
Small group teaching (seminars) will be conducted mostly in the target language, with one seminar group per strand. These seminars will provide both the students and teaching team the opportunity to reinforce the content of the workshops in a language-specific context, hence developing student language skills at the same time. The smaller size and frequency of these seminars groups will also allow students to better know each other, which is an important aspect to consider in the early months of Stage 1, especially when group work is required.
Drop-in sessions will allow students to discuss their projects with the teaching team either in groups or individually, depending on student needs.
Guided independent study hours will include Assessment preparation and completion; Project work; independent Reflective learning activities; Student-led group activities; Independent guided study and Canvas Discussions. This range of activities will allow students to develop the knowledge and skills that they will need throughout the other 3 stages of their studies.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The two group portfolio tasks will give students the opportunity to work together on two separate projects and present their outcome to a variety of audiences, and to receive feedback from their peers and the teaching team.
The final reflective report will give students the opportunity to reflect on what they have learnt and achieved throughout the module, to demonstrate their acquired reflective skills and to plan for their future learning.
The portfolio of short reflective logs will enable students to practise reflective skills regularly, to reflect on the process and outcome of their group portfolio tasks, and to prepare for the final reflective report.

General Notes

N/A