SPN-90007 - 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

Students must have completed Spanish 6 or equivalent (e.g. AS-level grade B, A level grade D or lower, CEF level B1)

Barred Combinations

Description for 2020/21

The mastery of Spanish, the official language in 23 countries and the second language in USA, as well as of the cultural background of Spanish society and of the Hispanic world presented throughout the course is of great advantage for future employment in this vast job market or for those wishing to travel in South America. It is specially relevant for those studying American Studies, International Relations, History, Politics, or doing Geography or Geology fieldwork in Spain.
This course is designed for students with a good knowledge of Spanish who have completed Spanish 6 or equivalent (e.g. CEFR level B1, AS-level grade B, A-level grade D). It will develop their advanced communication skills in Spanish in everyday situations as well as in more complex contexts, in particular in discussing a range of topical issues in Spanish or understanding contemporary Spain and the Hispanic world.
You will both, consolidate the skills you have acquired at previous levels and build on them by moving beyond the situations of everyday life to more challenging and stimulating tasks such as how to write the biography of the ideal candidate for a job, to set rules in given contexts, to broadcast information, to write reviews, to design a manifesto, tell anecdotes, understand culturally based sense of humour, etc
You will extend your vocabulary base and be introduced to the more complex grammatical Spanish structures, including the use of past tenses, the difference between the subjunctive/indicative, ser/estar + adjectives, direct/reported speech, etc.
All language skills - reading, listening, speaking and writing as well as the pragmatic-socio cultural dimension of the language- are integrated in every tutorial. We will also enquire into the ways we learn and acquire a language, where the contributions of students will be of vital importance.
There will be a course book which will be supplemented by a range of video material and 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. Furthermore, we will make extensive use of Spanish/Hispanic resources available on the Internet to consolidate vocabulary, grammatical structures and themes dealt with in class. There will be further self-study opportunities via Keele Learning Environment (KLE). Feedback on formative and summative assessments will be provided at regular intervals.
The language level of this module corresponds to work leading to Level B2 in the European Common Framework for Languages (CEFR -B2).

This is a course taught predominantly in Spanish and aims for the students:
- to develop an advanced mastery of Spanish and to enable communication, in both written and oral mode, in more formal areas of Spanish.
- to acquire a better understanding of contemporary Spanish society (such as education and social and political issues) as well as to introduce them more thoroughly to the various cultures and varieties of Spanish in the Hispanic world.
- to reflect on the language learning process and deploy language learning strategies appropriate to their level of competence.

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand extended speech and lectures: 1,2
interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible: 1
present clear descriptions on a wide range of subjects: 1
write clear text, expressing points of view: 2
use Spanish online resources including Spanish and Hispanic media: 2
demonstrate awareness of correct grammar, register and style and of different varieties of Spanish
: 1,2
demonstrate awareness of cultural issues in Spanish speaking countries: 1,2
read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints, in different varieties of Spanish: 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 allowed to take one Spanish language module per semester.

Description of Module Assessment