Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Successful completion of Stage 2 of a degree involving languages taught in the SML.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

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

- To build on skills gained at Stages 1 and 2 and to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of an approved topic relating to the country of residence.
- To aid the integration of the student into the local community of the country of residence through interviews, discussion and search for information relating to the subject matter of the project.
- To maintain and enhance written and/or oral skills in the target language during the year abroad.

For the purpose of this Module Outline Form, the term ‘work placement’ refers to either of the following Year Abroad activities: company-based work placement and British Council English Language Assistantship.

This module is available to students undertaking a work placement or work placements during their Year Abroad. Students splitting their Year Abroad between several work placements may choose which country to base their project on.

Students not undertaking a study placement during their Year Abroad are required to take SML3007, SML3008, SML3009 or SML3010. SML3009 is offered as an alternative to students who do not wish to take the SML3007 Year Abroad Work Placement Report (Semester 1) module and prefer to concentrate on a project on an aspect of the culture of the country of residence where they are on placement in Semester 1.

SML3009 is offered as an alternative to students who do not wish to take SML3007 Year Abroad Work Placement Report 1 and prefer to concentrate on a research project on an aspect of the country in which they are based. SML3009 and SML3010 are the same module, except that SML3009 runs in Semester 1 and SML3010 runs in Semester 2.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module asks students to choose one of the following:
Option A: to write a 3000-word project on an aspect of the culture of the country of residence, written in the target language.

Option B: to create and record a video presentation of 10-12 minutes about a cultural aspect of the country of residence in the target language.

At the beginning of the academic Year Abroad, the SML will provide students with a Module Guide including details on the assessment, marking criteria and guidelines.

Before starting work on their project, students will have to obtain approval of the subject matter and title via e-mail. Students will be provided with feedback on their proposal.



Given the nature of the module, there is no specific syllabus. The content of the learning will vary depending on the project identified by the student and approved by the relevant Year Abroad Officer, although generic language-writing and reading skills (in the target language) will inevitably be practised.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will know how to demonstrate:

- Detailed knowledge and critical understanding of an aspect of the culture of the country of residence.
- Improved, near-native knowledge of the target language.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Linguistic:

- Option A: writing to near native-speaker standard in the target language. Option B: speaking to near native-speaker standard in the target language.

- Option A and B: writing letters/e-mails in the target language for information

- Option A and B: writing / presenting orally in a detailed, critical and analytical manner in the target language.

- Option A and B: understanding written and audiovisual sources in the target language

- Option A and B: direct contact with native speakers in authentic linguistic situations requiring the comprehension and use of different registers and styles



Academic/study skills:

- close reading of texts and other source materials

- taking independent proactive and reactive action to gather information in a variety of contexts

- taking notes effectively from a variety of sources, including face-to-face interviews

- writing / presenting orally in a detailed, critical and analytical manner in the target language



Generic:

- working independently (including time management)

- interviewing skills (as an interviewer) when applicable

- IT skills

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Private study allows the students to develop their topic as well as their ability to learn independently.

The proposal students send and the feedback they receive are necessary to make sure that the topic is properly focused and that progress is made.

The project (option A) or video (option B) should be analytical and not merely descriptive, and should be firmly anchored throughout to the formally agreed title.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The aim of this assessment method is to give the students latitude to work on a project which interests them but to do so within defined guidelines (included in the Module Booklet). This allows students to choose a topic relating to some aspect of their residence abroad, and thus to reflect in a detailed, critical and analytical manner on the culture (in the broadest sense) of their country of residence. It provides an impetus to use the target language actively, gaining practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

Submission of proposal by deadline as stated in the Year Abroad Project Module Booklet. Submission is electronic only.

General Notes

N/A