Spanish Beginners
| Module title | Spanish Beginners |
|---|---|
| Module code | PLS1130 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Ms Jordina Sala-Branchadell (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
Spanish Beginners is intended for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Spanish and provides an introduction to the Spanish language and culture in a general context. It is also suitable for students with a GCSE (Grade C or below) in Spanish.
The emphasis is on enabling you to communicate effectively about a variety of general, everyday topics. It also provides you with an introduction to the cultures, customs and societies in countries where Spanish is spoken.
Spanish beginners can be taken towards achieving ‘with proficiency in Spanish”, see http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/flc/undergraduate/proficiency/
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module is intended for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Spanish and offers an introduction to the language. This module is broadly equivalent to A1 / low A2 Basic User level of the Common European Framework and aims to:
- Provide students with a solid foundation of the basic grammatical structures of the target language thus enabling them 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 participants to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations.
- Provide an introduction to the customs, cultures and societies of the regions/countries in which Spanish is spoken and to develop student 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 the target language
- 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
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 consolidate your learning
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Communicate at a basic level in the target language
- 7. Make progress through developing skills of self-study and application and develop an awareness of and sensitivity to a foreign 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.
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
Grammar (non-exhaustive):
- Alphabet and numbers
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Nouns and adjectives: gender and number
- Personal pronouns
- Demonstrative pronouns
- Indefinite pronouns
- Direct and indirect object pronouns
- Possessives
- Main prepositions
- Main adverbs
- Verbs: the infinitive, the gerund, the imperative, the present, the past and the future
- Reflexive verbs
- Use of verbs like gustar
- Other structures
Topics (non-exhaustive):
- Self and family: introducing oneself, stating name, age, nationality etc., and 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.
Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as pair / group work and role-playing, and include the study of short texts, oral development work and listening comprehension exercises. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video / DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software. The module is taught as far as possible in the target language.
You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class (between 3-5 hours per week) and we provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. For this module, you will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Spanish. You will also be expected to complete the exercise book/workbook on a self-study basis, prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write short assignments and generally acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. You will receive regular feedback on your progress from class activities, homework assignments etc
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | 212 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 88 | Language classes |
| Guided independent study | 212 | Consolidate class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Spanish. 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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking. | Variable | 1-5, 7 | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 25 | 25 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 50 | Variable | 1-7 | Written and oral |
| Written Exam | 25 | 1.5 hours | 1-5, 7 | Written and oral |
| Oral Exam | 25 | 7-8 minutes | 1, 3-7 | Written and oral |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Portfolio | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination | Oral examiantion | 1, 3-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination | Written examination | 1, 3-7 | Referral/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 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 Readings:
- Virgilio Borobio Carrera, Ele Actual: Libro del Alumno + CDs A1 – New Edition (SM, 2014) ISBN: 9788467551815
- Virgilio Borobio Carrera, Ele Actual: Cuaderno de Ejercicios A1 (SM, 2011) ISBN: 9788467547382
Suggested Readings:
- A Spanish Learning Grammar by Mike Thacker and Pilar Muñoz published by Routledge May 2012
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 31/01/2017 |
| Last revision date | 03/10/2022 |
