Unit information: Brazilian Portuguese Level 2 Grade 2 in 2015/16

Unit name	Brazilian Portuguese Level 2 Grade 2
Unit code	LANG20004
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Mrs. Ramos-Alvaro
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	LANG 10005
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is designed to follow on from LANG10005 Brazilian Portuguese Level 1 Grade 1 unit (ab-initio entry level)

The unit aims to consolidate and develop general language structures and functions, and to introduce basic specialist concepts and terminology. This will enable students to develop their existing knowledge of the language into areas related to professional life, with particular emphasis on the skills necessary for working in an international environment. The unit includes: practice in the four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing), grammar and vocabulary development, cultural and social aspects of the language, presentation skills and academic writing.

The unit will include:

• General communication skills
• Academic listening and note-taking skills
• Academic and sub-technical language
• Academic reading and writing skills
• Subject specific language
• Oral presentation skills
• Cultural and social aspects of the language
• E-learning opportunities

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will:

1. be able to communicate effectively on a variety of general and specific topics, having achieved a confident level of communicative competence in everyday situations and in a foreign academic environment.
2. have developed specific academic skills (note taking, giving oral presentations and academic writing) necessary for studying in an academic environment in Brazil
3. be able to apply their language skills into areas related to their specific field of study (i.e. language for special purposes)
4. have acquired knowledge and awareness of the general social and cultural background of the target language
5. have made full use of e-learning opportunities at the University, for example blogs and wikis in Blackboard, , etc.)

The expected exit level in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at the end of the 12 week unit is level A2 and part of level B1 of the Common European Framework.

Teaching Information

The communicative approach will be used; learners will be involved in a variety of interactive and stimulating activities with maximum use of the target language. This will be supported by e-learning opportunities; a Blackboard site, wikis, blogs and use of self-study facilities. There are three contact hours per week.

Assessment Information

The four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are assigned equal weighting for the purposes of assessment (25% each).

For reading there is a formal examination in the summer examination period, which comprises 25% of the total mark. This assesses ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Writing is assessed by a coursework assignment, which comprises 25% of the total mark, and is completed over the course of TB1 and TB2. This assesses ILOs 1, 2, 3 and 5.

Listening is assessed by continuous assessment, consisting of listening assignments and class tests, which comprise 25% of the total mark. Both assess ILOs 1 and 2.

Speaking is tested by continuous assessment, which comprises 25% of the total mark. It consists of marked coursework (oral presentation at the end of TB1, - assessing ILOs 1, 2 and 3) and an oral exam at the end of TB2 (assessing ILOs 1, 2 and 3).

Reading and References

Students will be required to make full use of material provided via Blackboard and self-access facilities including TV, internet on-line language learning resources, print materials, text books and subject specific foreign language magazines. Classrooms need to be equipped with audio equipment and ideally have digital projectors, internet access and interactive white boards