Study information

Cornish for Beginners

Module titleCornish for Beginners
Module codePLC1130
Academic year2024/5
Credits30
Module staff
Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

10

Module description

Cornish for Beginners is intended for students in Years One or Two who have little or no previous knowledge of the Cornish language – Kernewek.  The course provides an introduction to the language and culture in a general context with the emphasis on enabling you to communicate in the Cornish language. This module is broadly equivalent to A1 Basic User level of the Common European Framework and can be taken towards achieving ‘with proficiency in Cornish” (see http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/flc/undergraduate/proficiency/).

Seminars are taught in-person in Penryn (Cornwall) but are also available as remote teaching to students based on Streatham campus

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module is intended for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Cornish and offers an introduction to the language and culture. Seminars are taught in-person in Penryn (Cornwall) but are also available as remote teaching to students based on Streatham campus.

This module is broadly equivalent to A1 Basic User level of the Common European Framework and aims to:

Provide you with a solid foundation of the basic grammatical structures of the target language thus enabling you to communicate effectively across the four key language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) at an elementary level on a variety of general topics

Enable you to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations

Offer an introduction to the customs, culture and society of the region in which the language is spoken and to develop your awareness of the general social and cultural background of the language.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

  • 1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of Cornish.
  • 2. Read and comprehend simple written and aural texts and extract specific, predictable information related to every-day situations
  • 3. Communicate effectively on a variety of general topics requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters, both orally and in writing in Cornish

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

  • 4. Understand the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise your learning with guidance from the tutor.
  • 5. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar and bilingual dictionary, to your learning.
  • 6. Demonstrate intercultural awareness and ability to engage in discussions about discourses and policies related to language endangerment, maintenance and revitalisation

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

  • 7. Make progress through developing skills of self-study and application and develop an awareness of and sensitivity to a different culture.

Syllabus plan

The course provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential grammar structures in a communicative context and in accordance with the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Seminars are taught in-person in Penryn (Cornwall) but are also available as remote teaching to students based on Streatham campus.

The syllabus plan covers the following grammar / topics:

Basic uses of the definite article, singular and plural nouns, personal pronouns, infixed and possessives pronouns, and prepositions. Adjectives: qualifying, comparative, possessive and demonstrative adjectives. Verbs: the infinitive, the imperative, the present, the past and the future. Mutations.

Topics (non-exhaustive):

  • Self and family: introducing oneself; stating name, age, nationality etc., talking about the family and describing members of the family
  • World of work: professions, holiday jobs.
  • Home and the environment: describing house/flat, towns and villages, finding the way around town. Shopping: buying food, clothes
  • Talking about leisure activities
  • Holidays and travel: buying train tickets, using various means of transport, booking various types of accommodation.
  • • Food and drink.

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
882120

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching 88Seminars are taught in-person in Penryn (Cornwall) but are also available throughas remote teaching to students based on other university campuses.Streatham campus. The module is taught as far as possible in Cornish.
Guided independent study212Consolidate class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Cornish. Prepare exercises and activities for class, write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video / DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
4 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking.As described on the ELE page1-7Written and oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
502525

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Portfolio50As described on the ELE page1-7Written and oral
Written Exam251.5 hours1-5, 7Written and oral
Oral Exam25-8 min1, 3-7Written and oral
0
0
0

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

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
PortfolioPortfolio1-7Referral/Deferral period
Written ExamWritten Exam1-5, 7Referral/Deferral period
Oral ExamOral Exam1, 3-7Referral/Deferral period

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

Basic reading:

  • Bora Brav – Learn the Cornish Language by Polin Prys (published by the Kesva/Cornish Language Board).
  • Holyewgh an Lergh – Graham Sandercock (Kesva)
  • A Learner's Cornish Dictionary in SWF - Steve Harris (available from Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek / Cornish Language Fellowship)
  • Cornish Grammar for Beginners in SWF - John Page (Kowethas)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Key words search

Beginner, Cornish, Kernewek

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

21/01/2021

Last revision date

27/01/2021