Module Identifier SP20130  
Module Title SPANISH LANGUAGE  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Professor Robert G Havard  
Semester Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)  
Other staff Mrs Esther Santamaria-Iglesias, Professor Gwynne Edwards, Dr Rob Stone  
Pre-Requisite (Normally) Eligibility for entry to Level 2 Spanish.  
Course delivery Other   60 Hours Contact Hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam3 Hours Written exam.  30%
Semester Assessment Oral and Aural examinations. The Oral Examination takes the form of a 15 minute interview with the oral class tutor. During this interview the candidate will be asked: (a) to offer a brief presentation (maximum 5-7 minutes), in Spanish on a selected topic and (b) to engage in a general conversation, arising in the first instance from the presentation itself. Listening comprehension 20%, will be assessed mainly in semester 2. 40%
Semester Assessment Continuous Assessment: Continuous Assesment (written assignments =20%: Oral = 10%)  30%

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, if you have made satisfactory progress, you will be able to:

- identify your own improvement in Spanish vocabulary and grammatical knowledge in written - and spoken language
- differentiate between major stylistic levels of Spanish
- recognise and understand different linguistic registers in Spanish
- translate selected Spanish passages showing idiomatic, authentic style and grammatical usage
- present independently prepared material in spoken or written Spanish
- discuss and debate topical issues in Spanish
- summarise in your own words selected pieces of written or spoken Spanish
- give your own insights into contemporary Spanish life and culture
- take part in role-plays in Spanish
- enter into conversation in Spanish with confidence in your ability to express youself

Language modules have, as an integral part of their structure, regular homework assignments and class tests as well as end of year examinations. All assessment is designed to measure your progress against learning outcomes at the appropriate level.

Brief description

Certain classes focus on written skills: here the aim is to further the student's understanding and active awareness of contemporary Spanish vocabulary, idiom and syntax in ways that are varied and interesting. Other classes focus on conversational skills, notably the oral class where the priority is to develop confident self-expression in a relaxed but active atmosphere. Oral skills will also be stimulated by a number of classes on 'temas de Espana' which deal with engaging or controversial topics (e.g. terrorism, gender, regionalism, pop culture, bullfighting) and are designed to provoke discussion and debate.

A weekly class, which utilises the course book and other selected material, seeks to develop expression by discussion and by the completion of exercises that include gap-filling description and oral commentary, while the written assignments for this class comprise comprehension, precis, essay writing and translation from Spanish. This is complemented by a fortnightly class which is primarily devoted to translation into Spanish and in which accuracy is stressed. Students have a written assignment at least every other week and are required to do assessed work regularly on CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) in the Language Laboratory.

Listening comprehension (a skill of considerable for the Intercalary Year) will be practised from time to time during the year in class. it will be assessed by tests which will contribute 20% of the total module marks. You are expected and strongly advised to practise listening comprehension in your time (e.g. in the language laboratories) : this is a skill where practise does indeed make perfect.

In the weekly oral class and the debate/discussion meetings students are required to offer presentations in Spanish on given topics and are expected to participate actively in role play games and discussions relating to contemporary issues.

Note: Students are expected to obatin a card-key for access after 5pm to the Language Laboratory and computer terminals.

Syllabus: 22 weekly classes using the course book (ciclos 1-6) and other material;
   11 fortnightly classes using prescribed translation material
   22 weekly conversation classes
   10-12 classes on 'temas de Espana' (5/6 temas, 5/6 debates)

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Lourdes Miquel Lopez y Neus Sans Baulenas (1989) ?A que no sabes ...? Curso de perfeccionamiento de espanol para extranjeros 6th. Edelsa, Madrid

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5