BSc Biology with a Modern Language / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Spanish Language 6

Course unit fact file
Unit code SPLA51060
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course unit consists of language tuition in spoken and written Spanish at proficiency level and focuses on the practice of a wide variety of language and language-related skills which will help learners use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. On successful completion of the course, students should be able to perform at Level C1/C2 of the Common European Framework for Languages. 

Students on the Modern Languages and Business & Management Programme take a strand of the translation and writing skills seminars where the thematic focus is on business and management issues. 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Spanish Language 5 SPLA51050 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Spanish Language 4 SPLA51040 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Available on which programme(s)?  SPLAS Single Honours; all Joint Honours programmes with Spanish; Spanish minor post-A Level pathway. 
Available as Free Choice (UG) or to other programmes (PG)?  No
Available to students on an Erasmus programme  Only available for Erasmus/exchange students who will be at Manchester for the whole academic year. 
Pre/Co/Antirequisite units  Prerequisite: SPLA51040 or SPLA51050 
Medium of language  Spanish

 

Aims

  • to enable students to communicate with a high level of fluency, accuracy, and confidence in Spanish through oral, aural, and written exercises (prose and translation);
  • to enable students to produce texts in Spanish with a detailed knowledge of all areas of grammar and syntax;
  • to improve translation skills by increasing students’ sensitivity to issues of register, style and perspective when translating to and from Spanish across a range of media. 

Knowledge and understanding

Students should be able to demonstrate:

  • A good working knowledge, both practical and theoretical, of written and spoken Spanish including different registers of language
  • An understanding of the language in its broader cultural context
  • A broad knowledge and a critical understanding of the cultures and societies of the Hispanic world
  • An ability to translate to and from Spanish in a variety of different literary, journalistic, and semi-specialist contexts
  • An enhanced awareness of translation issues and the ability to critically evaluate the outcomes
  • Intercultural awareness, understanding and competence

Intellectual skills

  • Ability to summarise information from different sources in the target language, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. 

  • Capacity to use language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences. 

  • Ability to engage with and interpret layers of meaning within texts and other cultural products. 

  • Capability to contextualise from a variety of perspectives and organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument. 

  • Advanced ability to think critically and analytically. 

Practical skills

  • Capacity to use and present material in the target language in written and oral forms in a clear and effective manner. 

  • Further ability to manage own learning and work independently. 

  • Honed writing skills: production of clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects. 

  • Access resources and use information and communication technologies (ICT) appropriately. 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Further developed skills in oral, written, interpersonal and non-verbal communication. 

  • Ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team. 

  • Skills in mediating and negotiating. 

  • Increased self-reliance and adaptability. 

  • Intercultural skills and business awareness. 

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Generally, communication skills are developed through frequent presentations and teamwork; self-management skills are promoted through independent work; critical, research and problem-solving skills mainly through reading and translation, and IT skills through web and computer assisted language learning. Finally, creative skills are fostered through creative writing and a task-orientated approach.
Other
In order to promote intercultural skills and business awareness the course syllabus includes a variety of cultural topics strongly based on the experience of the Year Abroad touching on issues of law and justice, immigration, politics and marketing. Additionally, the MLBM strand of this module gives students an insight into the economy of a selection of Spanish-speaking countries and offers them training in writing business reports and proposals.

Assessment methods

Assessment task Formative or Summative Weighting within unit (if Summative)
A written examination (summary and translation into English)  Summative 25%
A written examination (essay and translation into Spanish)  Summative 50%
Oral exam Summative 25%
Weekly take-home coursework and online tests and submission of a piece of work every three weeks approx.  Formative  

Feedback methods

Feedback method Formative or Summative

Regular individual written feedback on completed and marked assignments and oral presentations plus face-to-face discussion if desired. The tutor will also provide in-class comments on homework, presentations and other exercises. 

Additionally, global feedback (delivered orally in class/posted to Blackboard/as a hand-out) on frequent errors or omissions will be provided to the whole class to indicate problem areas and allow questions and discussion.  

Formative
Peer feedback Formative
Marks and individual feedback given for all examinations.  Summative

 

Recommended reading

  • J. Butt and C. Benjamin, A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish. 6th edition (London: Routledge) /
  • Oxford or Collins Spanish Dictionary (not concise versions) / Real Academia de la Lengua Española dictionaries on www.rae.es 

  • R. E. Batchelor & M. A. San José, Using Spanish Vocabulary (CUP) 

  • C. Pountain & T. de Carlos, Practising Spanish Grammar: A Workbook (London: Arnold) 

  • M. Á. Novella & E. Mayorga, Crónicas de América Latina: narrativa de no-ficción (New York: Routledge) 

  • M. Benedetti et al, Colección audiolibros: Relatos del Río de la Plata. Habla con eñe. 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 33
Independent study hours
Independent study 167

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Luis Castellvi Laukamp Unit coordinator
Susana Lorenzo-Zamorano Unit coordinator
Blanca González-Valencia Unit coordinator

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