BA English Language and Spanish / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

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Course unit details:
Catalan Language & Culture 1

Course unit fact file
Unit code	SPLA53010
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 1
Teaching period(s)	Full year
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

The course consists of language tuition for beginners in spoken and written Catalan. The course aims to provide students with intensive teaching in Catalan grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Further it also aims to provide students with writing, oral and comprehension skills in the Catalan language, through a range of written, communicative and practical exercises. At the end of the unit, students are expected to perform in Catalan at level A2 of the Common European Framework.

The course will also provide students a working knowledge of some key areas of Catalan culture and literature. Through a set of presentations, students will be given insights into a variety of topics related to sociolinguistics, history, music, and literature, among others.

Aims

• to gain a broad understanding of Catalan grammar and syntax.
• to use spoken Catalan to cope with real-life situations and to communicate confidently
• to write compositions in Catalan and write summaries in Catalan of adapted Catalan texts
• to gain familiarity with Catalan culture and literature
• to make links between Catalan language and culture

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this unit students will be able to:
• perform in Catalan at level A2 of the Common European Framework
• demonstrate a broad active and passive knowledge of the grammatical structures of the Catalan language
• communicate effectively in written and oral Catalan with a degree of confidence and accuracy in a variety of situations
• reflect upon some aspects of Catalan culture and literature

Intellectual skills

By the end of this unit students will be able to:
• develop powers of analysis and use them to solve language problems and misconceptions
• demonstrate cultural awareness
• work in groups
• express coherent ideas and arguments in spoken Catalan

Practical skills

• Students will have the opportunity to get one of the scholarships offered by the Catalan Government to take a Catalan Language and Culture course in Catalonia in order to enhance the skills learned during the course

Transferable skills and personal qualities

• the ability to manage time effectively and to work to deadlines
• the ability to communicate and to improve presentation skills, both oral and written
• the ability to undertake independent learning
• the ability to participate in team work, both inside and outside the classroom

Employability skills

Other: This unit will be useful for those considering careers in Catalonia, Catalan-speaking territories and Spain, and with public institutions / private organisations that deal with these territories or others where Catalonia has cultural, political and economic investments.

Assessment methods

Assessment task	Formative or Summative	Weighting within unit (if Summative)
Grammar and vocabulary test at the end of Semester 1	Summative	30%
Written examination at the end of Semester 2	Summative	30%
Oral examination at the end of Semester 2	Summative	15%
2 Oral group presentations (in English) on a cultural topic; one each Semester	Formative and Summative	Semester 1: 10% Semester 2: 15%

Resit Assessment

Assessment task

Exam

Feedback methods

Feedback method	Formative or Summative
Individual written feedback on completed and marked assignments and presentations.	Formative and Summative
In-class comments on homework and other exercises.	Formative and Summative
Global feedback (delivered orally in class/posted to Blackboard/as a handout) on frequent errors or omissions will be provided to the whole class.	Formative

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	10
Seminars	20

Independent study hours
Independent study	170

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Macarena Garcia	Unit coordinator

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