- UCAS course code
- VR14
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Spanish Language 1
Unit code | SPLA51011 |
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Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The course unit consists of intensive language tuition in spoken and written Spanish at ab-initio level. Focussing on a variety of topics (food, customs, weather, music, professions, etc.) and using a range of teaching methods and audio-visual as well as printed media, the course aims to equip students with the language skills needed for basic spoken and written communication in common everyday situations.
Pre/co-requisites
Medium of language: Spanish
Aims
to provide students with thorough grounding in Spanish grammar and syntax;
to enable students to achieve basic communication in Spanish, through a range of written, oral and comprehension exercises, allowing them to interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations on familiar everyday topics.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students will be able to perform at Level A2 of the Common European Framework (CEFR) for Languages.
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of this course students will be able to perform at Level A2 of the Common European Framework (CEFR) for Languages.
Passive and active knowledge of a range of grammatical structures of the Spanish language.
An awareness of the nature and extent of cultural diversity within the Hispanic world.
Intellectual skills
Use of the target language with the skills acquired at a basic level.
Extract and synthesise basic key information from written and spoken sources.
Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured argument at levels of appropriate difficulty.
Develop deductive reasoning.
Practical skills
Communicate in written and oral Spanish.
Manage time and work to deadlines.
Work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Communication and presentation skills: oral, written and IT.
Self-management and study skills, including learning how to learn through self-reflection activities and self-evaluation.
Self-confidence, empathy and understanding others.
Intercultural awareness.
Employability skills
- Other
- - Communication and presentation skills developed through frequent presentations and teamwork. - Self-management skills which are promoted through independent work. - Problem-solving, decision making and creative skills, fostered through a variety of tasks such as creative writing, simulations, translations, etc. - IT skills through web and computer assisted language learning.
Assessment methods
Assessment task | Formative or Summative | Weighting within unit (if Summative) |
A grammar, reading and writing examination | Summative | 60% |
One piece of ACW (grammar test) | Summative | 15% |
An oral examination | Summative | 25% |
Weekly take-home coursework and online tests | Formative |
Resit Assessment
Assessment task |
A grammar, translation & essay writing examination |
Feedback methods
Feedback method | Formative or Summative |
Students will regularly receive 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. Finally, the collaborative group/pair work used in class to practice presented language also facilitates peer feedback. | Formative |
Written feedback on the in-class test and on oral exam performance. One-to-one feedback by request on written exam during office hours or by appointment during the School’s allocated feedback period. | Summative |
Recommended reading
Set texts:
F. Rosales et al., Campus Sur, Libro del Alumno (Barcelona: Difusión)
P. Muñoz and M. Thacker, A Spanish Learning Grammar (London: Arnold)
Diccionario Oxford español-inglés, inglés-español (O.U.P.)
Recommended texts:
E. Spinelli, English Grammar for Students of Spanish (Arnold)
R. E. Batchelor & M. A. San José, Using Spanish Vocabulary (Cambridge University Press)
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Seminars | 55 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 145 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Beatriz Macia Vega | Unit coordinator |