Spanish Language Stage 4

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• enhanced competence in productive skills (speaking and writing in the target language)
• increased speed of understanding in passive skills (written and spoken target language)
• increased knowledge and understanding of contemporary country-ies- and cultures-specific issues
• more regular use and understanding of more advanced structures and lexis orally and in writing, and growing awareness of different genres and registers
• recognition of most grammatical structures of the TL, and command of most of them, and know sufficient metalanguage (terminology), where necessary in English, to understand and construct accurate descriptions of grammar and of how language is used.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources
• engage in analytical and evaluative thinking appropriate to language-learning skills
• develop problem-solving skills and develop your use and understanding of language-learning skills

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply learning, research and organisational skills, including mnemonic skills
• Manage your tasks effectively
• Evidence intercultural and interpersonal skills
• Engage in a range of communication skills: written, oral, and IT

This module will integrate topics and, where appropriate, specialist cultural, grammatical, linguistic areas with the study of the language appropriate to the language stage. Course books, reference material and topic-based material will be used as appropriate. Much of the material will be derived from authentic print and audio-visual media. Independent learning material will be available in the relevant self-access area, the Library and on Blackboard.

The combination of direct teaching, opportunities for participation, and support for resource-based independent study are specifically designed to ensure that you can achieve communicative competence as outlined in the learning outcomes above.

Classes

Although part of any class session is likely to involve direct teaching, the emphasis is on student participation and you will be expected to take part actively in discussion and in tasks like small group and pair work, role play, and individual or group presentations. As much of the class as possible will be taught in the target language. While all this may seem daunting, the tutor will give you plenty of support to build your confidence and, particularly in the case of assessed work, will provide feedback which will help you to improve.

Independent Learning

You will also be expected to spend time studying outside the class, and we provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. As you progress through the language stages, you will learn to understand, monitor and improve your own learning style; you will also acquire some expertise as a researcher and develop the kind of key skills which are valued by employers.

You are encouraged to use the self-access area at Avenue Campus and the Hartley Library on the main campus in the University where relevant. These facilities include on-line and computer-based resources, films on DVD, current newspapers and magazines (soft and hard copies), books (fiction and non fiction), grammatical resources, dictionaries and other self- access materials. Some of the resources are available on short loan.

For this Stage, you will be asked to consolidate your class work, to read, watch or listen to material in the target language, to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write assignments, undertake projects and continue to build a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Written assignment

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Oral feedback from the teacher on any aspects of your performance in this module in optional one-to-one meetings during office hours or by appointment. Oral and written feedback on written and oral performance throughout the year.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.