Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module will:

1. focus on further developing students' written communicative and oral/ aural competence in the
foreign language gained in Level B (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range; register and pronunciation);
2. prepare students for the future study of the language (written communicative and oral / aural skills);
3. facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with
speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken media during their intercalary year. This includes students’ ability to use and understand authentic material and produce their own written and spoken output.

Outline Of Syllabus

Communication: development of spoken and written communicative competence by study of the following thematic programme dealing with a range of aspects of Spanish and Latin American culture and contemporary society:

6. Lenguaje inclusivo
7. Arte callejero
8. Migraciones - Actualidad - Política
9. Inteligencia Artificial

- further study and practice of a wide-ranging coverage of the grammar system of modern Spanish and
- further systematic development of lexis in a wide range of contemporary themes and settings.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on oral communication skills (speaking and listening) while reading and writing skills are mainly developed in the preparation of and the associated work after the language seminar. The recorded lecture materials will focus on key study skills and the formal structures of the language.

2. Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through the means of online grammar videos and related activities, from the essential textbook, online guided tasks, pair and group work, assessment preparation and completion, and self-study, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas and the Language Resource Centre. Particular initiative is expected from students at this level, e.g., course participants will be asked to contribute their own materials to the classes and activities and be very pro-active in their language study.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The oral examination (30%) will be completed in Week 11, Semester 2. It will test students’ ability to conduct independent research, critically evaluate authentic material, and to produce and present their own output orally in a clear and structured manner. It will also assess their ability to speak freely, understand aural and/or audio visual input, and interact in a discussion on these findings and on general matters.

- The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (70%) will take place during the exam period and will test the students’ ability to produce and present a well-structured text or texts in the target language. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled. This formal examination provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in the target language at the end of this module.