Module LZS-1003:
Spanish Beginners/Intermediate I

Module Facts

Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr David Miranda-Barreiro

Overall aims and purpose

In this module, students will acquire an understanding of Spanish basic grammar and develop a competence in listening to and comprehending Spanish in basic communicative contexts. They will also acquire and develop basic oral skills in Spanish. The module will enable students to read, understand and create basic texts in Spanish and to develop 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 ab initio and post GCSE students of Spanish and focuses on the development of basic oral, aural and written communicative skills. The module involves an introduction to (and in the case of those with GCSE knowledge of the language), a revision of key areas of grammar (present and past tenses, the future and conditional tenses, nouns, adjectives, prepositions) and general vocabulary and key expressions relating to self, family, daily routine, hobbies, likes and dislikes and role-play situations. Through selected audio/visual aids, students will also be introduced to Spanish culture and society.

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. Display an understanding of basic information and instructions in the target language in both formal and informal registers.

  2. Demonstrate an ability to produce short creative pieces of writing and informal letters in Spanish using basic tenses and vocabulary and key grammatical constructions.

  3. Read and pronounce a given Spanish text with confidence.

  4. Communicate competently on basic issues.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
COURSEWORK Assignment 20.00
GRAMMAR TEST Test 20.00
ORAL Oral Exam 20.00
EXAM Written exam 40.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study 152
Lecture

2 weekly grammar lectures and 2 weekly conversation classes for eleven week.

 48

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
  • 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)
  • 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).

Resources

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: