Module LZS-1004:
Spanish Beginners/Intermediate II

Module Facts

Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr David Miranda-Barreiro

Overall aims and purpose

This module will enhance students' basic understanding of the Spanish language, and to develop a more complex understanding of grammatical structures. It will enable students to translate short texts into English and produce more advanced pieces of writing in Spanish, such as short essays and letters. Students will also develop intermediate oral skills, and become confident with Spanish phonology as well as understanding and responding to more complex spoken information in Spanish in both formal and informal registers.The module will enable students to read and understand intermediate texts in Spanish and to enhance their vocabulary acquisition.

Students on this module will be working towards achieving B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Course content

This module is aimed at all first year students who have completed Spanish for Beginners and Intermediate Students 1. The module aims to develop the basic oral, aural and written communicative skills acquired in semester 1 in order to bring students up to and beyond a level of proficiency equivalent to 'A' level. Students apply the grammatical principles learned in semester 1 to extended pieces of writing and also focus on more complex grammatical structures. Aural communicative skills are developed through audio and video tape comprehension exercises and students are required to make individual presentations on more sophisticated topics.

Textbook: Muñoz, Pilar and Thacker, Mike, A Spanish Learning Grammar (3rd edition), Routledge

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40-49%: A limited knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and a limited ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Basic oral and aural competence.

good

50-69%: A good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and a good ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Good oral and aural competence.

excellent

70+%: An excellent knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and an excellent ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Excellent oral and aural competence.

Learning outcomes

  1. Produce extended pieces of writing and formal letters.

  2. Communicate competently in the target language on a selection of more sophisticated topics.

  3. Incorporate new vocabulary and grammatical structures into oral and written expression.

  4. Read and understand notices, advertisements and journalistic texts in the target language.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Assignment 20.00
Test 20.00
Oral Exam 20.00
Written Exam 40.00
Self study portfolio 0.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

Seminars - 4 hours per week for 11 weeks (3 classes on written skills, 1 on oral/aural skills).

 48
Private study 152

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Studying the countries or regions where the target language is used, including aspects of their literatures, cultures, linguistic contexts, history, politics, geography and social or economic structures. (Benchmark statement 5.10)
  • The ability to extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.14)
  • Sensitivity to and analysis of grammar and syntax in the target language, as well as basic morphology and phonology. (Benchmark statement 5.8, and 5.9)
  • Basic reading and listening skills in the target language as well as vocabulary acquisition. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, and 5.10)
  • The ability to make effective use of notes and to carry out independent study. (Benchmark statement 5.15)
  • Develop verbal communication skills in the target language through group work and class discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.8)
  • The ability to read, understand, translate, and write short texts in the target language (benchmark statement 5.13, 5.14, 5.15 and 5.16)
  • Sensitivity to and analysis of more advanced grammar and syntax in the target language, as well as morphology and phonology. (Benchmark statement 5.8, and 5.9)
  • More advanced reading and listening skills in the target language as well as more advanced vocabulary acquisition. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, and 5.10)
  • Further develop students's verbal communication skills through group work and class discussions.
  • The ability to read, understand, translate, and write more complex texts in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.13, 5.14, 5.15, and 5.16)
  • 1. The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in short written assignments in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.14)
  • 2. The ability to translate short passages into and out of the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 3. Engaging with, interpreting and critically evaluating short and longer contemporary texts (short stories, films, novels) in the target language (Benchmark statement 5. 8, and 5.9)
  • 4. Effective oral communication and presentation skills (including delivery and argument development, discussion and defence) in the target language through individual and/or group discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 5. The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in oral assignments, showing familiarity with a range of topics and registers in formal and informal situations. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 6. Develop aural comprehension skills in the target language, supported by a wide range of appropriate materials in different media. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 7. The ability to read, understand and summarise written texts in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • Sensitivity to and analysis of more advanced grammar and syntax in the target language, as well as morphology and phonology. (Benchmark statement 5.8, and 5.9)
  • The ability to critically understand cultural studies concepts on cultural hybridity and their application to core Italian postcolonial texts. (Benchmark statements 5.7, 5.10).

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: