University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2019/20 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > School of Modern Languages > Modern Languages (Three Language Programme) (BA) > Specification
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Programme code | 1MODL024U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Ian Foster
|
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | School of Modern Languages |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Languages, Cultures and Societies (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
The three language programme draws on the seven major languages offered by the five departments within the School of Modern Languages to enable students to develop a high degree of fluency and accuracy in a combination of three modern languages of international importance.
The programme also allows students to combine that fluency with a range of related literary, cultural, historical, societal and linguistic interests. The programme makes use of units offered in Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish to allow students to acquire detailed specialist knowledge of aspects of the cultures associated with particular languages.
The University recognises that it is the inter-relationship between the mastery of foreign languages and the development of a broad and deep appreciation of these languages' cultural, historical and societal contexts which underpins the value of degrees in Modern Languages. At the same time, there is a growing sector of language-related careers (in Translation Project Management, multilingual support and shared service centres) in which advanced knowledge of several languages is a significant asset in itself.
The diversity of provision within these degrees beyond language acquisition itself allows space for interdisciplinary interests to be developed and for advanced study in translation and interpreting theory and practice and linguistics. Students can expect to acquire a high level of intercultural awareness through exposure to one or more cultures in each of the modern foreign languages they study, as well as on the basis of their personal backgrounds.
The three language programme will be an excellent preparation for students intending to pursue careers for which linguistic skills are central (translation, interpreting, teaching, Foreign Office, etc.), and for which a broader choice of languages is a distinct advantage. In common with the Joint and Single Honours programmes offered by the departments of the School of Modern Languages, the three language programme develops the key intellectual, cognitive, practical and personal skills offered by an Arts degree.
The third year of the programme is spent abroad, with opportunities to develop linguistic fluency and cultural awareness in all three languages.
In the first year, students will spend more time on a language that they are taking ab initio. The ab initio language units all provide both access to the threshold linguistic skills needed for further study and a basic grounding in the culture and history of the country or countries concerned. Students will divide their remaining time equally between the other two languages and associated cultural units. In the second and final years they are also required to divide their time equally between their languages (with mandatory units in each language) and associated cultural units, but may, if they choose, weight their studies towards the cultural units offered in one or more of the other languages. A small number of generic cultural or linguistic units may also be offered across all combinations. The core language units in the three languages remain mandatory throughout the degree programme.
Students enter the University to study two languages from A-level standard (or equivalent) onwards and one language at ab initio level or from GCSE standard (or equivalent).
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through group work in seminars, tutorials, oral presentations, essay writing and practical language work. Units are structured in such a way that the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of data are developed. Specific units focus on other intellectual skills: problem solving and research techniques. |
Methods of Assessment | |
• Essays (of varying lengths) and essay-writing exercises, testing understanding of a single topic in detail (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) • Group and individual presentations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) • Examinations, testing breadth of knowledge of different subjects (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) • At levels I and H, assessment is mainly summative. • In language classes, formative assessment takes place through regular coursework assignments, and summative assessment is mainly by examination at the end of each year (grammar and comprehension tests, translations, essays, oral presentations and aural comprehension, as appropriate to level). (1, 2, 3, 4, 7) |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, class discussions, oral presentations and essay writing, as well as by the independent reading and preparation these exercises require. Units are structured to promote the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of secondary literature Language skills are refined through a variety of practical exercises, including the language work students complete during their year abroad. Students are given guidance on the use of electronic resources and required to maintain electronic communication during the Year Abroad Independent Study is also available in the final year. |
Methods of Assessment | |
• Language development skills are tested through formative and summative modes of assessment - translations, language essays, oral presentations and aural comprehension exercises (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7) • Essay writing, formal presentations and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments (1,2, 3, 4, 5, 7) • Problem solving is assessed on the basis of the ability shown in addressing and responding to direct written and oral questions (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7) • Research skills are assessed through coursework and dissertations, including the Year Abroad essays and Independent Study (1,2, 3, 4, 5) |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions and to give short presentations to initiate discussion, including defending their interpretations in debate with other students and staff. Oral skills are further developed in the language classes. Research and written communication skills are developed through the writing of essays and tutors' feedback on these. Students are given guidance on independent learning, which is required in all language and non-language units. IT skills are developed when researching and producing course work. Students are given guidance on how to manage their time and work independently. Students are given guidance on the use of electronic resources, informed of opportunities for C&IT training, and required to maintain electronic communication during Year Abroad. |
Methods of Assessment | |
• Research and IT skills are assessed through coursework, including the year-abroad dissertation (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8) • Written skills are assessed through coursework essays; examinations; and class tests which also require the ability to process an understanding of foreign-language sources (written and/or aural) (1, 2, 3, 6, 7) • Oral skills are assessed in some final-year seminar presentations, and at all levels in foreign-language oral examinations (1, 4, 5, 8) • Students are expected to manage their work effectively, and are penalised for late submission. (1, 2, 6, 7) |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Year 1 of the programme has been expressly designed to lay the foundations which will allow students to fulfil the programme aims and objectives. Core units in languages are geared to lead the student in the development of their language skills. The year introduces and includes preliminary work on some of the main themes and key concepts of the relevant literature, culture, history and linguistics to provide a familiarity with these disciplines. It enables students to understand the cultural heritage, historical development and modern contours of the languages concerned. The expectation is that their work may require considerable direction from members of staff at this stage, and the Year 1 units are designed with this in mind. In particular, an intensive 40 credit unit taken in language taken ab initio in Year 1 provides a foundation for further study to reach an advanced level in that language and to engage with a study of its culture in the following years. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2 students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge in various areas of the relevant disciplines and their capacity to evaluate their work through the wide range of options available beyond the core language unit. The themes and language readings will be of greater depth and substance. Students will develop their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They will be encouraged in group work skills through active participation in seminars. They will be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and projects). Spoken and written language skills will be reinforced and enhanced. They will also be supported in developing relevant skills for the Year Abroad through language classes, seminars and dedicated briefing sessions at departmental and School level. In Year 3 (the Year Abroad) students are expected to exercise skill and sophistication in both oral and written communication in their target language. They will show understanding of how cultural difference and specificity manifests itself through national and / or regional identity by applying critical thinking to their experiences abroad. Also, they will demonstrate a focussed, individual approach to advanced language-learning, the acquisition of advanced language skills and an awareness of how to manage study projects. They are expected to organise themselves effectively and adapt with confidence to foreign environments. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
In Year 4, students are expected to have expanded the breadth of their knowledge through the study of optional units; the units are more closely linked to staff research interests developing the conceptual and methodological approaches used with more depth and complexity. Students will be expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information, to synthesise these in an appropriate way, to engage in sophisticated evaluation of language texts. These skills will be perfected in the writing of longer and more demanding essays, already introduced during their study abroad. There will be an emphasis on independent learning, self-directed study and research skills. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Workload Statement
In common with the rest of the University, units in the Faculty of Arts
adhere to the credit framework which sets out that 20 credits normally
equates to some 200 hours of student input. Some of this time will be spent
in class, with the remainder divided between preparation for classes and
preparation for, and completion of, the assessment tasks. Some of this
activity may occur within the University’s online learning environment,
Blackboard, which you may use to prepare wikis, to interact with other
students, to download tutorials or to receive feedback.
Assessment Statement
Please select the following link for a statement about assessment. This is University of Bristol access only.
https://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/current/under/assessment.html
The programme involves a compulsory year abroad either on study or work placements.
The 3 language units chosen are must pass. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Select one from the following: | |||||
French Language | FREN10029 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
German Language 1 (Post A-level) | GERM10009 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Italian Language 1A (Post A-level) | ITAL10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language (Post A level) | HISP10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Portuguese Language - Post A Level | HISP10307 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Russian Language (for qualified entrants) | RUSS10036 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Select one from the following: (It must be a different one to the one selected above) | |||||
French Language | FREN10029 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
German Language 1 (Post A-level) | GERM10009 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Italian Language 1A (Post A-level) | ITAL10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language (Post A level) | HISP10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Portuguese Language - Post A Level | HISP10307 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Russian Language (for qualified entrants) | RUSS10036 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Select one from the following: | |||||
German Language 1 (ab initio) | GERM19003 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Italian Language 1B (ab initio students) | ITAL10002 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language (Ab-initio) | HISP10116 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Portuguese Language | HISP10302 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Russian Language (ab initio) | RUSS10001 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Czech Language 1 | RUSS10015 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Students selecting Czech RUSS10015 must take the following | |||||
Czech Language and Society | RUSS10026 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Select TWO from the following:(in line with the Post A' Level language selected) | |||||
Shaping France | FREN10008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Representations of Francophone Cultures | FREN10013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
German Literature and Film: Genres, Texts, Contexts | GERM10035 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Language and Power: Introductions to German History | GERM10039 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Making of the Hispanic World, from 1492 to the present day | HISP10014 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Understanding Russia: Critical Approaches | RUSS10039 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
120 |
The 3 language units chosen at stage 2 level 5 must follow on from the language units chosen in Year 1. The 3 language units chosen are must pass. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Select THREE from the following: | |||||
French Drama | FREN20026 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
France 1940-44: Occupation and Resistance | FREN20037 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Paris 1857-1897 | FREN20041 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The French Language: Structures and Varieties | FREN20044 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to French Cinema | FREN20056 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Modern Critical Theory | FREN20061 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
France and Europe | FREN23013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
From Caligari to Hitler: German Film 1919-1945 | GERM20033 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Italian Memories of the 2nd World War | ITAL20016 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Sport, Culture and History in Twentieth Century Italy | ITAL20031 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Destination Italy: Cultural Responses to Migration | ITAL20032 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Writing, Society and Politics in Franco's Spain | HISP20038 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Republic, War and Dictatorship in Spain, 1931 - 1975 | HISP20076 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Novels, Poetry and Politics in Twentieth Century Latin America | HISP20077 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
El Siglo de las Luces: Literature and Society in Spain 1700-1814 | HISP20083 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Images of Power in Lusophone Culture | HISP20092 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Migration and Movement: Cultural Exchange in the Lusophone World, 19th to 20th Centuries | HISP20099 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
From Frontiers to Football: South American History 1850-1950 | HISP20102 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Women's Writing in Post-War Spain | HISP21309 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Russian Orthodox Culture | RUSS20044 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Select one from the following: | |||||
French Language 2 | FREN20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
German Language 2 (Post A-Level) | GERM20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Italian Language 2 | ITAL20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Russian Language 2 | RUSS20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language | HISP20101 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Select one from the following: | |||||
French Language 2 | FREN20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
German Language 2 (Post A-Level) | GERM20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Italian Language 2 | ITAL20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Russian Language 2 | RUSS20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language | HISP20101 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Select one from the following: | |||||
German Language 2 (Post A-Level) | GERM20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Italian Language 2 | ITAL20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Russian Language 2 | RUSS20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language | HISP20101 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Czech Language 2 | RUSS20029 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Portuguese Lang for Joints/ML | HISP20302 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
120 |
The Year Abroad is must pass. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year Abroad (3 Language Pathway) | MODL20013 | 120 | Mandatory | AYEAR | |
120 |
The 3 language units chosen at stage 3 level 6 must follow on from the language units chosen in Year 2. The 3 language units chosen are must pass. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
An oral distinction may be awarded.
The alternative classified honours degree of Arts (Modern Language Studies) may be awarded on this programme. For further details please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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