BA Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Catalan Language & Culture 2

Course unit fact file
Unit code SPLA53020
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

The course unit consists of advanced study of Catalan grammar and practice in oral, aural and reading skills, including all kind of texts, from written to audiovisual. Students will gain a thorough understanding of Catalan grammar and syntax with the revision and consolidation of the points learned in the preceding courses. They will be enabled to communicate confidently in Catalan through a range of written, oral and comprehension exercises, covering different registers and areas of vocabulary to develop students’ language learning skills.

The students will finish the course having core knowledge of the construction of Catalan national culture and identity, and the pivotal role the Catalan language has had in this process.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Catalan Language & Culture 1 SPLA53010 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Available on which programme(s)? 

All related to Spanish. 

Available as Free Choice (UG) or to other programmes (PG)? 

Yes. 

Pre/Co/Antirequisite units 

SPLA53010 

Aims

• to gain a broad understanding of Catalan grammar and syntax
• to communicate confidently in Catalan through a range of written, oral, and aural comprehension exercises covering different areas of vocabulary 
• to write compositions in Catalan and write summaries in Catalan of Catalan texts of an appropriate level of difficulty
• to use spoken Catalan to cope with real-life situations and to discuss a variety of topics
• to raise awareness of and responsiveness to the nature and extent of cultural diversity
• to understand, analyse and comment upon texts from a range of different genres

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this unit students will be able to:
• perform at Level B1 of the Common European Framework
• demonstrate a broad, active knowledge of Catalan grammar and awareness of different registers of language
• demonstrate the ability to communicate with confidence in written and spoken Catalan
• demonstrate an understanding of a range of social, cultural and intellectual issues in Catalonia and the Catalan speaking territories,  as reflected in the materials studied
• show an understanding of the language in its broader cultural context
 

Intellectual skills

By the end of this unit students will be able to:
• develop powers of analysis and use them to solve problems
• write compositions in Catalan and write summaries in Catalan of Catalan texts of an appropriate level of difficulty
• express coherent ideas and arguments in spoken and written Catalan
• reflect upon and improve their language-learning capabilities
• use spoken Catalan to cope with real-life situations and to discuss a variety of topics

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

• communication and presentation skills, both oral and written through presentations and teamwork
• assessing and evaluating others
• problem solving skills
• creative skills

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 and Catalan) on a cultural topic; one each Semester  Formative and summative 

Semester 1: 10% 

Semester 2: 15%

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  

 

Recommended reading

Materials will be linked from or posted on Blackboard as the course progresses. 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 10
Seminars 20
Independent study hours
Independent study 134

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Macarena Garcia Unit coordinator

Return to course details