SPN-90007 - Module Specification
Language Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Students must have completed Spanish 6 or equivalent (e.g AS-level grade 6-9 / A-B, CEFR level B1).

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This course is designed for students with a good knowledge of Spanish who have completed Spanish 6 or equivalent (e.g. CEFR level B1, AS-level grade 6-9/B-A,). It will develop their advanced communication skills in Spanish in everyday situations as well as in more complex contexts, in particular in discussing a range of topical issues in Spanish or understanding contemporary Spanish speaking countries.
You will both, consolidate the skills you have acquired at previous levels and build on them by moving beyond the situations of everyday life to more challenging and stimulating tasks such as how to write a CV and a cover letter, to broadcast information, to write reviews, tell anecdotes, understand culturally based sense of humour, etc. You will also extend your vocabulary base and be introduced to the more complex grammatical Spanish structures.
There will be a series of class materials, which will be supplemented by a range of other video and online resources. All language skills - reading, listening, speaking and writing as well as the pragmatic-socio cultural dimension of the language - are integrated in every tutorial. We will also investigate the ways we learn and acquire a language. Feedback on formative and summative assessments will be provided at regular intervals.
The language level of this module corresponds to B1 work leading to Level B1+ in the European Common Framework for Languages (CEFR).

This module aims to build on students' existing knowledge of Spanish and consolidate all areas of grammar, while at the same time expanding their vocabulary base. The module aims for the students:
- to develop an advanced mastery of Spanish and to enable communication, in both written and oral mode, in more formal areas of Spanish.
- to acquire a better understanding of contemporary Spanish society (such as education and social and political issues) as well as to introduce them more thoroughly to the various cultures and varieties of Spanish in the Hispanic world.
- to reflect on the language learning process and deploy language learning strategies appropriate to their level of competence.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand the main points of clear standard speech including radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively clear: 1,3
Interpret, summarise and extract key information from a variety of written texts that consist of everyday or job-related language and description of events, feelings and wishes: 1,2
Interact and enter unprepared into conversations on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events): 3
Write clear coherent texts on topics which are familiar, of personal interest, describing experiences and impressions or expressing points of view: 1,2
Recognise and use different complex linguistic structures in the target language and compare them to the English language: 1,2,3
Demonstrate awareness of cultural issues, as well as accurate use of the language with regard to vocabulary, grammar, register and style, and of different varieties of Spanish: 1,2,3

Study hours

22 hours of contact time in class.
40 hours assessment preparation and completion.
88 hours guided independent study.

School Rules

Admission to the module must be confirmed through completion of a language level self-assessment form.
Students are only allowed to take one Spanish language module per semester.

Description of Module Assessment