University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > School of Modern Languages > Modern Language Studies (BA) > Specification
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Programme code | 1MODL023U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Debbie Pinfold
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Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | School of Modern Languages |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
In addition to the Independent Research Project, students will be offered the opportunity to attend the relevant level-6 language units but would not be required to do so. JH students with two or three languages will be allowed to drop one, two or all three language units. They will not be able to continue to study more than two languages. Students will in effect decide if they continue to study one or two languages. They will study these languages through the mandatory Independent Research Project and the optional language units. In each language they study, they will also be required to choose at least one cultural unit coded in that language. The structure is designed in such a way that students who continue with only one language will be required at a minimum to study either two cultural units in that language, or to take the corresponding optional language unit and one cultural unit in that language. This will ensure that students have enough exposure to the language of study. In addition, students will be able to choose up to two MODL units, including those that have a vocational content. Units that require a particularly high level of language proficiency such as translation and interpreting units will not be available to them unless they concurrently attend the relevant language unit.
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 | |
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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. Students are given guidance on the use of electronic resources and independent research is also mandatory in the final year. |
Methods of Assessment | |
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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 and informed of opportunities for C&IT training, |
Methods of Assessment | |
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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 living and working abroad through the usual second-year School preparations for spending a year abroad (in year three for students on the four-year Modern Languages programmes), including language classes, seminars and dedicated briefing sessions at departmental and School level. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
In Year 3, there will be an emphasis on independent learning, self-directed study and research skills, to be developed through an Independent Research Project. Students are expected to expand 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, and to engage in sophisticated evaluation of language texts. These skills will be perfected in the writing of a longer research project and more demanding essays. Students will also be expected to develop writing and presentation skills in the creation and assessment of public-facing content. |
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.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Students transfer into year 3 of this programme having done years one and two of one of the language programmes. | |||||
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Students transfer into year 3 of this programme having done years one and two of one of the language programmes. | |||||
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
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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