| Unit name | Spanish Language (Ab-initio) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISP10116 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Ms. Marga Menendez-Lopez |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The unit concentrates equally on all elements of language learning –reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as translation. The main focus will be development of active and passive language skill. Students will develop an extensive vocabulary and understanding of the main grammatical structures. Students will also develop a basic knowledge of culture and society.
1. be able to communicate orally in the target language with a degree of accuracy and fluency.
2. be able to communicate in writing in the target language with a degree of accuracy and fluency.
3. be able to work at an intermediate level with authentic material and retrieve necessary information.
4. have acquired knowledge and awareness of the general social and cultural background of the target language.
5. be able to respond to, understand and interpret written texts at an upper intermediate level and mediate between the target language and English in an effective manner.
Overall, students will attain a level comparable to A2 / B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Learners will be involved in a variety of synchronous activities, mostly interactive with maximum use of the target language, but with attention devoted also to explaining the fundamentals of the target language’s structures. These activities will be supported and amplified by asynchronous e-learning opportunities and self-directed exercises.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Coursework 1 (15%) to include writing/grammar/comprehension [ILOs 2,3,4, 5]
Coursework 2 (15%) include writing/grammar/comprehension [ILOs 2,3,4, 5]
1 x Oral examination (in class) - to include presentation/speaking exercise (15%) [ILOs 1, 3, 4, 5]
1 x Listening examination (on line) - to include listening exercise (15%) [ILOs 3 & 4]
1 x 2 hour written examination - to include writing/grammar/comprehension (40%) [ILOs 2,3,4, 5]
In order to progress into Year 2, students would need to achieve a pass mark (40) and to have attempted all components of assessment. Marks of below 40 in any of the four language skills would not prevent a student from progressing, as long as the overall average remained above 40 and the student has attempted all components of assessment. Students who receive an overall mark of below 40 will normally be required to re-sit all failed or missed components.
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HISP10116).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
