This module is designed as an introduction to the Spanish language for students with no previous knowledge. The module content follows the Languages Ladder framework, provides student with the basic structures needed at this level, and ensures progression in language ability and proficiency.
Language purposes and functions
- Taking part in simple situations (e.g. greeting/responding to greetings, expressing thanks, apologising)
- Giving simple information
- Asking simple questions
- Describing (e.g. colour, size, location, possession, appearance)
- Giving simple opinions
- Following/giving simple instructions
- Expressing ability
- Using numbers and expressing quantity
- Expressing time (e.g. clock, days, months
Educational Aims
The course will help students to develop strategies for coping with Spanish in real-life situations. At the end of this course students will be entitled to take Intermediate Spanish ~
This module is an intensive language course, which aims to bring beginners up to a standard in which they are able to communicate and understand basic ideas in Spanish. The module aims to develop language skills in all four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Furthermore, basic grammatical structures and vocabulary will be integrated into the learning process in meaningful contexts. The course is organized around interactive and communicative activities that will allow students to build all skills in the most effective way. On completion of this module students will have acquired the following skills:
Knowledge and understanding: students will be able to
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic grammatical structures of Spanish
- Understand and communicate basic factual information in Spanish, orally and in writing
- Listen to and understand in detail selected short samples of Spanish
- Read short adapted Spanish texts aimed at learners of Spanish
Cognitive skills: students will be able to
- Write short passages in Spanish on a range of practical and descriptive themes
- Extract key information from written and spoken sources
- Express opinions about basic topics of daily life
Subject-specific skills: students will be able to
- Use of basic grammatical structures
- Oral and written communication of factual information in Spanish
- Listen and read short text in Spanish
Transferable skills: students will have practised
- Using relevant reference materials
- Organising their own learning with guidance from the tutor, planning and managing time efficiently to get the most out of independent study
- Using a variety of learning aids, in a variety of media, to consolidate learning
- Working in pairs or groups
- Working independently
Communication in Spanish will be encouraged from the outset. Classes will be conducted mainly in the target language, enabling students to learn and practise the new grammatical structures and vocabulary covered in each session. In order to develop and consolidate skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, students will be expected to participate actively.
The course will consist of two hours per week. In addition, several hours a week should be devoted to Spanish outside the classroom to do work set by the tutor, and practise reading, writing and listening skills.
How is the total Learning Hours per module achieved?
| Contact Hours | 20 |
| Directed Learning | 20 |
| Private Study & Assessment | 60 |
| Total | 100 |
10 credits = 100 hours, 20 credits = 200 hours
Feedback will be given through:
Summative assessment
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3-min oral presentation and discussion in week 24. Students will prepare a topic in advance, by agreement with tutor, for this presentation. They will be able to use one page of A4, containing key words only, to assist with their presentation. The page of notes should be approved beforehand by the tutor. 20%
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2-hour and 20 minute exam (listening comprehension, grammar and vocabulary exercises, reading comprehension, and a written composition) (examination period), No dictionary allowed. 80%
Students are advised that all marks obtained in tests are subject to moderation, and that in case of cohort’s averages above the University norms, the group’s results will be scaled according to the list published in the Assessment Handbook for Undergraduate Programmes and on the UWLP website.
Coursebook
AVE [online]. Aula Virtual Cervantes (AVE). Available from <http://ave.cervantes.es>
Grammar books
Benjamin, C., and Butt, J. A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish. Hodder Education, 2011
Gil, C., and Holden, C. Foundations Spanish 1, Palgrave, 2005.
Ortega, A. ¡Exacto! A Practical Guide to Spanish Grammar. Hodder & Stoughton, 2002.
Spinelli, E. English Grammar for Students of Spanish. Arnold, 1999.
Dictionaries
The Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2000.Diccionario intermedio de lengua española. Ediciones SM, 2000.
A list of useful electronic resources is available on Blackboard
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