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Spanish Language (ex-beginners)

Module description

The module is designed for students who completed MLS1056 or equivalent. Students will enhance their language skills through listening and reading comprehension, as well as through translation. The grammar classes will give students a sound understanding of the use of the Subjunctive in subordinate clauses as well as a complete revision of the grammatical features of the language. The oral classes will expand students’ knowledge on Spanish and Latin American culture, and will offer the chance to develop debating skills. In addition to this, students will expand their lexicon and will receive practical advice on their year abroad

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• Increase your understanding of the Spanish in both its written and spoken forms
• Improve capacity for self-expression in Spanish
• Instil habits of accuracy and correctness of expression
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of the uses of the Subjunctive versus the Indicative in all the subordinate clauses

Written work consists of translation from Spanish into English and from English into Spanish, together with a variety of reading comprehension and compositional exercises; oral work includes a number of short presentations in Spanish, together with group debates, vocabulary expansion and clarification of grammar points where necessary.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Apply knowledge of a broad range of grammatical features of the target language to a variety of linguistic tasks
• 2. Translate passages from a variety of authentic written sources (literary as well as journalistic) into and out of Spanish
• 3. Present a detailed argument in written Spanish in answer to essay questions on a range of topics
• 4. Engage in discussion of a range of (mainly contemporary) topics in oral Spanish, articulating own opinions and responding to the opinions of others
• 5. Give short oral presentations in the target language on a defined topic to a small group of listeners and engage in group discussion and debate of the topic presented

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Recognise and understand core linguistic terminology individually and as part of a group
• 7. Use a bilingual and a learners’ monolingual dictionary to glean information about meaning, register, usage and grammatical forms
• 8. Engage, under guidance, with the Spanish language media printed and online

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Communicate competently in a target language
• 10. Express and discuss views in front of a group of listeners

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Systematic coverage of aspects of the materials in the course books including a comprehensive study of the uses of the Subjunctive mode versus the Indicative in complex sentences and subordinate clauses in Spanish
• Development of translation techniques and strategies
• Acquisition of new vocabulary
• Enhancement of comprehension skills and ability to develop a natural and accurate form of expression in the target language
• Further development of the translation of texts from English into Spanish
• Oral work with regular small group discussions and debates as formative preparation for the oral examination

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – If you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a?re-assessment?taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments. 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• M.C.Ainciburu, V.González, A.Navas, E.Tayefeh, G.Vázquez, Vía Rápida, Curso intensivo de español (Difusión, 2011). ISBN: 978-84-8443-655-3
• ¡Exacto! A practical guide to Spanish grammar. Arnold Publishers 2002
• Cuadernos de gramática española. Pilar Seijas, Bibiana Tonnelier, Sergio Troitiño. Difusión. 2011
• A bilingual dictionary, e.g. C Smith, Collins Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary (6th edition 2000)
• A monolingual dictionary, e.g. Larousse, Pequeño Larousse ilustrado
• Speed up your Spanish (Strategies to avoid common errors). Javier Muñoz Bassols, Marianne David and Olga Nuñez Piñeiro. Routledge 2010

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3497
• Virtual Classes: www.jmg223.wix.com/mls2156

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Regular showings of Spanish and Latino American films during the year
• Comprehensive audiovisual section in the library
• Set of resources for developing language skills at the Foreign Language Centre

Key words search

Spanish, written, oral ex-beginners