Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module CFLS1S61: Spanish Stage 6

Department: Centre for Foreign Language Study

CFLS1S61: Spanish Stage 6

Type Open Level 1 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2023/24 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Successful completion of Spanish Stage 5, achievement of DELE B2 certificate or an equivalent qualification, subject to decision by the module's language coordinator. No higher entry Spanish language qualification permitted.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Any Core Language Module offered by the School of Modern Languages & Cultures

Aims

  • To consolidate and widen further the knowledge of the Spanish language, including grammar and lexis;
  • To enhance communicative proficiency in Spanish further, in both writing and oral (presentation and interaction);
  • To develop further listening and reading skills;
  • To broaden the knowledge of the contemporary Hispanic world;
  • To develop intercultural awareness

Content

  • The development of the students' language skills (reading, writing, listening, spoken production and interaction) will be integrated into a framework focussing on various aspects of contemporary Spanish-speaking countries (culture, politics, everyday life, social issues, etc);
  • Course materials will be supplemented with handouts abnd digital resources;
  • The module is conducted in Spanish.
  • There will be two one-hour seminars each week, which will be used to consolidate and develop grammatical and lexical knowledge as well as to practice oral, aural and writing skills.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of this module, students will be able to:
  • demonstrate the ability to carry out basic research in the target language and present an oral and written summary;
  • demonstrate a sound broad knowledge of some aspects of the contemporary Hispanic world;
  • demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the cultures and societies in Spanish-speaking countries gained through the study of cultural products;
  • demonstrate a sound broad knowledge and understanding of the main Spanish linguistic principles, structures and registers used in various types of documents (essays, newspaper articles, songs, adverts, websites, etc.).
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of this module, students will be able to:
  • write on a wide range of various contemporary Hispanic issues, expressing and discussing views;
  • enter unprepared into conversation and issues related both to familiar and unfamiliar topics;
  • understand and report on the main points of clear standard speech and authentic aural passages on various topics;
  • use a range of language learning techniques and skills effectively by independently developing strategies to extend communicative competence in written and oral forms.
Key Skills:
  • By the end of this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand a wide range of demanding, longer clauses, and recognize implicit meaning;
  • Express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions;
  • Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes;
  • Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

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;
  • Contact time will be used to introduce new material and provide the students with high quality target language input from the module tutor and multimedia sources.
  • Small group teaching will allow for the development of oral/aural skills as it offers all students the chance to participate in various communicative activities in pairs and groups stimulating the students and encouraging them to fully participate in the class.
  • 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.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Seminar 40 2 per week 1 hour 40
Student prepaartion and reading time 160
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Writing, Reading & Listening Component Weighting: 75%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
In-course summative portfolio: three written entries (600 words in total) based on the research of various textual and audio-visual sources from or related to the culture(s) of the target language. The different formats of entries will range from informal text production to writing for academic and professional purposes, and will test the flexible and effective use of the target language. N/A 100% Yes - one submission
Component: Speaking Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
In-course summative assessment. Oral presentation and critical analysis of the tasks from the reading, writing and listening portfolio. 20 minutes 100% Yes - individual presentation

Formative Assessment:

Regular homework/assignments will be given to the students to practise and consolidate what they have done in class and to prepare the following session, some of which will be submitted and marked as formative assignments and regular feedback will be given to the students accordingly.


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