Spanish Level 4

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• comprehend native speech at natural speed with relative ease, eliciting unaided the main ideas in complex discourse, and to interact in Spanish with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, both within familiar and unfamiliar contexts, including discussions from technical and academic fields;
• identify and react to the main ideas and essential details of complex texts from a variety of genres and topics, including those pertaining to your own specialization, and to write detailed, well-structured texts dealing with a wide range of subjects using complex linguistic structures from the CEFR-B2 range (Common European Framework of Reference, vantage level);
• demonstrate an understanding of the target cultures by comparing cultural and socio-political practices and perspectives and by relating these to your own background and contexts of practice;
• develop your language learning skills repertoire, using a broad range of digital language learning tools competently to support your independent learning and to identify relevant sources in the target language to aid your research.

In this module you will:

• revise grammatical structures as appropriate (further work on preterite-imperfect applications, impersonal and passive structures, use of prepositions, ser and estar, reported speech, subjunctive, uses of the conditional);
• engage with a range of registers in speech and writing (literary, journalistic, academic, technical);
• practice formal and informal communication (idiomatic expressions, debating, presenting data, communicating science).

The study of linguistic structures will be contextualised within a variety of topics and debates, ranging from:

• academic life;
• science;
• current affairs;
• literature.

In line with MFL communicative and active learning methodologies, in-class activities cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and include: pair work (dialogue practice, information gap exercises, discussion and collection of key terms/ideas followed by report to plenum); group work (discussion, creation of posters); individual tasks (presentations [with PP as well as video uploaded to Blackboard]); discovery and formulation of rules; critical evaluation of texts, audio and video material. Homework and coursework tasks give you the tools required to participate in class and the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills while developing an awareness of how to use language learning tools efficiently. This approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks, but also supports different learning styles.

Your coursework will be marked and returned within two weeks. Rubrics and revision guidance (how-to guides) will be included as needed with each coursework. You will receive detailed feedback alongside suggestions for improvement and an overall percentage showing your provisional grade for that assessment.

• Coursework (15%): Mid-term 1. Integrated skills short project: listening, reading, speaking, writing (incl. essay of c. 350 words).
• Examination (15%): In-class test run on the virtual learning environment (bring your own device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of term 1. It will include a grammar/lexicon quiz, a reading comprehension and a writing task (220-250 words).
• Coursework (20%): Mid-term 2. Integrated skills short project: listening, data elicitation and presentation, writing (c.400 words).
• Examination (20%): In-class test run on the virtual learning environment (bring your own device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of term 2. It will include a grammar/lexicon quiz, a reading comprehension and a writing task (c.300 words).
• Practical (30%): Oral exam in term 3 including presentation/commentary on dossier and unprepared discussion (approx. 20 minutes).

Assessment information for students on a course with a year abroad

• 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
• Available to take for credit towards your degree where your department allows. Also available for extra-credit.
• You must be prepared to attend all classes and and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.

Module Materials: 

Materials will be provided in class and through Blackboard: articles from the press, selected texts on science and technology, excerpts from literary texts, appropriate audiovisual materials, etc.

Grammar support:

Gramática de uso del español: teoría y práctica A1-B2 by Luis Aragonés, Ediciones SM, 2005. ISBN: 8434893517.

Practica tu español: el subjuntivo, by Inmaculada Molina, SGEL, 2006, ISBN: 8497782461

Further information for Year Abroad/Year in Europe Students
Further information for BSc Hons and MSc Language for Science Degrees