Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module SPAN2131: SPANISH LANGUAGE 2A AND YEAR ABROAD

Department: MODERN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES (SPANISH)

SPAN2131: SPANISH LANGUAGE 2A AND YEAR ABROAD

Type	Open	Level	2	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2006/07	Module Cap	80	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

Spanish Language 1A (SPAN1011).

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

Spanish Language 2A (SPAN2011) OR Spanish Language 2B (SPAN2111) OR Spanish Language 2B and Year Abroad (SPAN2121). Not available to students following the European Studies programme; Spanish in Society II (LANG2091).

Aims

In respect of work undertaken in Year 2: to improve and expand linguistic competencies (oral and written).
In respect of Year Abroad: to further improve and expand linguistic skills, knowledge of the culture of a country where the target language is spoken, and to stimulate intercultural awareness.

Content

This module builds on the skills acquired in Spanish Language 1A and will involve the further development and consolidation of writing, speaking and comprehension skills in Spanish and preparation for the year abroad project.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Students experience total immersion in the linguistic and cultural environment of a Spanish-speaking country, acquiring increased knowledge and the ability to observe, absorb, and evaluate cultural differences.

Subject-specific Skills:

To improve their written and oral skills, expanding on the foundation of grammatical and syntactical accuracy consolidated at Level 1, so as to explore more sophisticated modes of verbal expression and a variety of linguistic registers.

Key Skills:

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Year 2: regular, assessed practice in a variety of written and oral exercises extends linguistic accuracy and verbal manipulation.
these exercises include some relevant to functioning well in a Spanish-speaking country.
Summative assessment tests competencies acquired in formative practice.
Year Abroad assessment consists of an essay to demonstrate: accuracy of language.
appropriateness of language (register and idiom).
range of language (lexis and structure).
originality of content (evidence of personal experience and response.
sophistication of reflection and analysis.
insight into the target language culture).
quality of information in content (breadth and/or depth of information).
structure and presentation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Practicals	42	1 Per Week	1 Hour	42
Preparation and Reading				158
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
two-hour written examination		50%
oral examination		25%
one-and-a-half-hour video comprehension		25%
Component: Essay		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
2000 word essay produced during the year abroad		100%

Formative Assessment:

Regular written assignments/oral practice.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University