Unit information: Czech Language (Elementary) in 2014/15

Unit name	Czech Language (Elementary)
Unit code	MODL23015
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Ms. Nahodilova
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

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 and extensive vocabulary and understanding of the main grammatical structures. Students will also develop a basic knowledge of culture and society.

Aims:

• To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to second year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.

• To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.

• To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.

• Some options may prepare students for the experience of the Year Abroad.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

• be knowledgeable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;

• be skilled in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;

• be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at a high level;

• be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an high level of complexity;

• be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including study at a foreign university and on work placements during the year abroad.

Teaching Information

3-4 hours weekly, though pattern will vary, generally two hours spent on work with texts, vocabulary and grammar and one hour on oral/aural activities. Students will be given written homework for each week, in addition to other preparation.

Assessment Information

One 3hour exam (75%) continuous assessment (25%)

The exam assesses the three written skills. Continuous assessment tests the oral and aural skills.

Translation - 25% - 100% exam

Guided writing - 25% - 100% exam

Composition - 25% - 100% exam

Oral (70%)/Aural split (30%) - 25% - 100% continuous assessment

The four key skills are; ‘Composition’, ‘Translation’, ‘Guided Writing’ and ‘Oral/Aural’.

‘Composition’, assesses the students’ ability to communicate in the longer written form in the target language, which can include essay writing. ILOs assessed: i, ii

‘Translation’ assesses the students’ ability to translate accurately and fluently into and out of the target language. ILOs assessed: i, ii

‘Guided Writing’, sometimes also known as ‘Mediation into the Target Language’, assesses the students’ skills in reading comprehension and in expressing material in the target language (French) in prose form (including condensing, translation into the target language, rephrasing, asking them to respond to structured or guided questions related to a given text, etc). It may also assess students’ metalinguistic and lexical competence (i.e. grammar and vocabulary). ILOs assessed: i, ii, iii

’Oral/Aural’ assesses the students’ verbal and listening skills, communicating verbally and in comprehension of the spoken language. ILOs assessed: i, ii, iii

In order to progress into Year 3, students would need to achieve a pass mark (40) in their overall language mark. 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.

Reading and References

Selection of dedicated material prepared in-house (SML). Grammar texts and dictionaries as appropriate to language area