SPAN10010 Spanish Language I a

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module is designed for students who have acquired an intermediate level of Spanish. It is conceived primarily for students pursuing Spanish to degree level, but will also be suitable for students of other subjects and disciplines to take as an elective.
The core aims of SPAN10010 are to introduce students to Spanish language learning in a university context and to develop competent independent learners who reflect of their learning; the module therefore focuses on two aspects of language learning: a) reading and writing texts in Spanish, with emphasis on socio-cultural aspects of the Hispanic world, b) the development of a strong grammar foundation and vocabulary acquisition, so students can progress to the high level of accuracy they need for in-depth study of Spanish. The module takes an integrated approach to language learning, thus requiring students to participate actively in class and to work autonomously outside the classroom if they are to progress well.
Students who have achieved at least a B grade in this module are deemed to be successfully progressing towards B1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- employ relevant language strategies to write and read texts on everyday topics;
- recognize and use a range of vocabulary when engaging with written texts and in oral interaction on topics arising from the contents of this module;
- demonstrate competence when listening to authentic Spanish texts;
- recognize and use a repertoire of sentence structures with an appropriate degree of grammatical accuracy;
- reflect on their language learning

Indicative Module Content:

This module is divided into three units which integrate grammar, audio-visual, written, oral and socio-cultural elements of the Spanish language.
The topics covered include daily life (food, fashion and university experiences) in the first unit, Culture (music, literature and film/TV) in the second unit, and Technology (mobile telephones and the rise of digital technology) in the third unit.
The grammar sections cover the basic grammatical structures including prepositions, pronouns and verb conjugations in the present, past, future, and conditional tenses.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

24
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
An integrated approach to the learning of the language is adopted, requiring students to participate actively in class, and to work autonomously outside the classroom. This module is taught in small groups incorporating a range of learning materials, resources, types of assessment and in-class activities to enhance the learning process. It has been designed to cover a series of cultural topics through authentic contemporary sources while integrating aural, oral, writing and reading skills, and to provide with a solid foundation in the grammar of the Spanish language.
Students will be fully supported in their learning in small group teaching and are required to interact with their tutors as well as their peers during class, mainly in Spanish. In addition to that, full engagement with learning materials and tasks accessible in Brightspace is expected every week.
As the safety and well-being of students continue to be a main concern, at present students are asked to wear a mask during class time unless advised not to do so for medical reasons. While this might hinder communication in Spanish, all are encouraged to practise the language as much as possible.

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

To take this module, students are required to demonstrate a prior knowledge of Spanish at the level of at least Leaving Certificate Grade C (Honours) or equivalent.

Learning Recommendations:

Students who are unsure of their eligibility for this module should consult the co-ordinator as soon as possible. There are no transfers between Non-Beginners' and Beginners' modules.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
LANG10230 - Spanish Gen Purp 1, LANG10240 - Spanish Gen Purp 4, LANG10260 - Spanish Gen Purp 2, LANG20100 - Spanish Gen Purp 5, LANG20390 - Spanish General Purposes 3a, LANG20400 - Spanish General Purposes 3b, LANG20470 - Spanish General Purposes 4, SPAN10140 - Intensive ab initio Spanish Ia, SPAN10150 - Intensive ab initio Spanish Ib


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: 2 In-class writing tasks Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20
Class Test: Grammar and Audio Visual Test Week 10 n/a Graded No

25
Examination: 1 hour written examination: Reading comprehension & Grammar 1 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

40
Continuous Assessment: In-class tasks & weekly assignments: vocabulary quizzes in Quizlet/Brightspace, oral/audiovisual tasks, reading/listening comprehension & online discussion in Brightspace. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

15

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive written feedback on the two in-class writing tasks, as well as scores from their grammar and audio visual test. They will also receive online automated feedback from the online quizzes.