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Unit information: Spanish Language in 2021/22

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Spanish Language
Unit code HISP20101
Credit points 20
Level of study I/5
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Ms. Marga Menendez-Lopez
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

Relevant core language unit at level C/4

Co-requisites

None

School/department Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

To revise and deepen knowledge acquired in 1st year of the specified language, to practise and develop students’ oral, aural, reading writing and translation skills; to give students further linguistic skills and cultural background in preparation for residence abroad.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. be able to communicate orally in the target language with a good degree of accuracy and fluency
2. be able to communicate in writing in the target language with a good degree of accuracy and fluency.
3. be able to work at an upper 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 B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Teaching Information

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.

Assessment Information

  • Portfolio of 1000 words of written work to test Composition – 25% - assesses ILOs 2, 3 and 4
  • Individual presentation / speaking exercise to assess Oral – 20% - assesses ILOs 1, 3, 4 and 5
  • Two submitted pieces of translation coursework to test Translation - 25% - assesses ILOs 3, 4 and 5
  • Examination – to include Reading Comprehension / Guided Writing / Grammar / Listening – 30% - assesses ILOs 2, 3, 4 and 5

In order to progress into Year 3, students would need to achieve an overall pass mark (40) and to have attempted all assessment components. 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.

Resources

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. HISP20101).

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.

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