Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2007-2008 (archived)

Module LANG1411: INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II

Department: Language Centre

LANG1411: INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II

Type Open Level 1 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2007/08 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • AS-Level Spanish or equivalent.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • to enable students to communicate competently in a variety of social situations
  • to develop basic essay writing skills
  • to foster an understanding of contemporary Spanish society and institutions
  • to develop basic presentation skills in Spanish

Content

  • most functional topics studied at this level will be determined by the main course book and will address issues such as education and the world of work, television and the press etc
  • course book materials will be supplemented with topic related sources from TV and the press
  • free role-play and group discussion exercises will provide the basis for developing confidence, flexibility and fluency in conversations
  • statistical tables and charts may be used to practice group presentations and discussions
  • as part of this module students are required to complete a small project which will include a presentation and a written component

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • On successful completion of the module learners will:
  • understand the main point of selected radio or TV programmes on current affairs or topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and clear
Subject-specific Skills:
  • On successful completion of the module learners will be able to:
  • give a short class presentation in Spanish
  • narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or a film
  • write a short essay demonstrating the ability to organise ideas in a logical and coherent sequence in sustained prose
  • express doubt, probability, dreams and wishes in personal letters
Key Skills:
  • At the end of this module learners will have enhanced their ability to:
  • enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life
  • demonstrate the ability to carry out basic research in the target language and present an aural and written summary

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

  • this module is delivered through seminar style classes and multimedia lab sessions
  • contact time will be used to introduce new material and to provide students with high quality target language input from the module tutor and from recorded material
  • small group teaching is particularly suitable for the development of oral/aural skills as it offers all students the chance to participate in role-play and other speaking exercises
  • in preparation for each session students will be expected to revise new material and complete formative language exercises
  • the assessment scheme for this module is designed to test students' level of attainment in language production (speaking and writing) and reception (listening and reading)
  • in order to reflect the continuous nature of the language learning process the module will be assessed by a combination of formative and summative in-course assessment and by formal written examination
  • summative assessments will also fulfil a formative function since feed-back on summative in-course assessments will be made available to students

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Seminars 22 1 per week 2 Hours 44
Practicals in Multimedia Lab 11 1 per fortnight 1 Hour 11
Preparation and Reading 145
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Examination Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Examination 100%
Component: Oral/Aural Assessment Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Oral Assessment 50%
Aural Assessment 50%
Component: Continuous Assessment Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Test 50%
Research Assignment 50%

Formative Assessment:

Students will be given short fortnightly assignments in preparation for seminars and to practice and consolidate new materialas well as to assess students' ability and transfer their knowledge to new situations. All formative assessment will be submitted to the module tutor during class time. Summative language portfolio tasks will also fulfil a formative role since full feed-back will be provided to students.


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