• Inactive for Year: 2024/25

• Module Leader(s): Dr Giuliana Borea
• Lecturer: Dr Nick Morgan

• Owning School: Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the School of Modern Languages, this module aims to introduce students to the study of a wide range of cultural practices in Latin America, introducing them to a relevant theoretical approaches and methodologies, and providing them with an in-depth understanding of cultural diversity in countries across the region.

In addition, this module aims to make aspects of the above available to students from outside the degree.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lecture materials and synchronous teaching activities (both present-in-person and online) will introduce students to the knowledge and skills required for the comparative analysis and study of Latin American cultures.
Case studies will be drawn from a wide range of countries (e.g. Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Panama, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela) and will be used to exemplify the problems attendant on the study of the complex relationship between the region’s different demographic groups.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

We will adopt flexible, blended learning methods and strategies to introduce students to a wide range of Latin American cultural practices and power relations. Lectures, both in the form of present in person sessions and in the form of non-synchronous online teaching, will outline general principles, illustrated by specific examples, and be supplemented by structured independent reading and guided online learning activities. Small group teaching will allow students to explore local contexts, allowing for detailed discussion and analysis as well as revisiting and reinforcing knowledge from the lecture materials and online guided activities. Seminars will provide the students with the opportunity to lead discussion on a topic through interactive activities that develop their independent thinking and critical analysis, and also allow them to engage with the thinking of academics and activists based in Latin America. Both types of learning activities will include advice on how to prepare for assessment. Surgery hours allow students to consult the module leader with any particular difficulties in understanding concepts, tasks, etc. Independent learning includes preparation for small group work, further reading and assessment. Our experience of using online material during the pandemic has shown us that we can cover more case studies, in more depth, using this approach.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The semester 1 written assignment allows students to demonstrate their grasp of the foundational concepts. The
semester 2 summative assessment allows students to build on the feedback gained from the formative assessment done in mid semester and the knowledge and skills developed over both semesters to plan and execute an assessed essay that asks them to apply their conceptual knowledge to a specific country context, in the same way that the seminars exemplify the concepts discussed in the rest of the course.

Reading Lists

• LAS2028's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• LAS2028's Timetable