SPN-90006 - Module Specification
Language Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Spanish 5 or equivalent (e.g. AS-level grade D, GCSE grade A or A*/7-9, CEF level B1)

Barred Combinations

Description for 2020/21

Both the mastery of a foreign language as widely spoken as Spanish and the awareness of cultural and linguistic specificities will prove essential when negotiating the world of work or when travelling around the world.
For those studying American Studies, International Relations, History, Politics, or doing Geography or Geology fieldwork in Spain, is most relevant, since this module equips you with an insight of Spanish/Hispanic language varieties and cultures.
This course is designed for students who have completed Spanish 5 or equivalent (e.g. GCSE grade A*, AS-level grade D or lower).
The core skills listening, speaking, reading and writing will be expanded and communicative competence and awareness of grammar will be developed further. Teaching will be based around a set course book which will be supplemented by a range of video material. We learn to describe a journey, compose a CV; to assess past experiences; to talk about habits in the past; to express obligation and possibility; to predict our future and offer hypotheses; etc. We will study some Latin American countries in more detail, such as Chile, through a DVD series.
There will be a variety of tasks and exercises during each class, such as discussion and role play; listening comprehension and reading and writing tasks and students will be required to complete a range of self study tasks for portfolio. For computer-assisted learning, KLE will enable you to enhance your self-study skills and research for some of the module tasks.
Upon successful completion of this module, students will normally have reached level B1 of the Common European Language Framework (CEFR - B1)

To improve students' fluency in the language and to consolidate previous grammatical knowledge as well as introduce some of the more problematic aspects of Spanish grammar.
To enable students to develop general language learning skills.
To offer insights into cultural specificity of Spanish speaking countries (mainly Spain and Latin America).

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand the main points of many radio and TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear: 1,2
enter unprepared into conversation on topics such as travel and current events: 1
give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans, and narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or film and describe their reactions: 1
write personal letters describing experiences and impressions, and write simple essays with the help of dictionaries, textbooks and authentic language materials: 1,2
demonstrate awareness of correct grammar, register and style as well as of different varieties of Spanish: 1,2
demonstrate awareness of cultural issues in Spanish speaking countries: 2
understand the written description of events, feelings and wishes : 2

Study hours

20 hours of synchronous and asynchronous class time
100 hours class preparation and revision and private study
22 hours revision for and completion of written exam
8 hours preparation for and attendance at spoken interaction exam

School Rules

Admission to the module must be confirmed through completion of a language level self-assessment form
Students are only permitted to take one Spanish language module per semester

Description of Module Assessment