Newcastle University > Undergraduate > Find a Degree > Module

• Offered for Year: 2020/21

• Module Leader(s): Mr Samuel Anaya-Guzman
• Lecturer: Professor Ian MacKenzie
• Other Staff: Ms Gloria Alvarez, Miss Raquel Beltran Puig, Ms Maria Zubelzu de Brown, Ms Tatiana Gitman Ughetti, Ms Lucy Hill

• Owning School: Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

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

- Focus on developing the students' written communicative and oral communicative competences in the target language (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range, register and pronunciation);
- Facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with
speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken media. This includes students’ ability to use and understand authentic material and produce their own written and spoken output.
- Prepare students for the future study of the target language (including written and oral communicative skills, and intercultural awareness) and for their future learning experience (including independent learning and study skills; reflective skills and self-regulation).

This module is available to all students with an A-level or equivalent in the target language.

Outline Of Syllabus

- Communication; development of spoken and written communicative competence by study of a thematic programme which includes topics and aspects of Spanish and Latin American culture and contemporary society such as 'supersticiones, los jovenes, moda and racismo';

- A wide-ranging coverage of the grammar system of modern Spanish including study of the noun, adjectives, adverbs, articles, the major tenses, the indicative and subjunctive moods and the active and passive voices; 'ser' and 'estar'; pronouns, comparative constructions, prepositions, participles, negations, infinitives and gerunds; and

- systematic development of lexis in a wide range of contemporary themes and settings.

The module is taught and assessed in Spanish and English

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Jointly Taught With

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on communication skills while the lecture materials will focus on key study skills and the formal structures of the language. All four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking are fully integrated in the language seminars and associated work and preparation.

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 at home, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and in 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.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Exam Pairings

Other Assessment

Formative Assessments

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The portfolio (40%) will encourage regular work on the four language skills and enable students to receive regular formative 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 oral recording (20%) will test students’ ability to produce and present their own output orally and enable them to receive feedback on their work.

- One 24- hour written exam at the end of Semester 2 (40%). This assessment will test students’ ability to type in the target language and to produce a structured text based on the comprehension of written and audio and / or video sources.


*(Continued from Assessment above) Portfolio of 4 pieces of work covering reading, writing, speaking and listening (10% each), or of 2 pieces combining two skills (20% each) - set during Semesters 1 and 2.

Reading Lists

• SPA1071's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• SPA1071's Timetable