This module covers three stages of language learning: stages 1, 2 and 3, broadly equivalent to GCSE, AS and A Levels.

STAGE 1

Stage 1 content:This stage provides an introduction to the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of the Spanish language and to the cultural context in which it is used. A number of key language structures will be introduced and integrated with basic strategies for communication. There will also be a focus on the development of reading skills.

STAGE 2

Stage 2 content:This stage of the module builds upon the linguistic knowledge acquired in stage 1. It presents and practises key language structures, integrating them with strategies for communication. You will learn the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of the language and also about the cultural context in which it is used.

STAGE 3

Stage 3 content:The language studied at this stage will introduce you to some aspects of Spanish culture. There will be a particular emphasis on consolidating the knowledge and use of grammar acquired in stages 1 and 2.

On successful completion of the module a student will be able to:

STAGE 1

Learning outcomes:At the end of this stage you will be able to:

⁃           Understand basic spoken information/interaction in conversation with a sympathetic Spanish speaker relating to predictable everyday situations.

⁃           Provide and ask for simple information relating to areas of immediate concern.

⁃           Read simple texts for general meaning.

⁃           Construct short written texts to communicate basic information relating to familiar topics.

⁃           Communicate using grammatically simple phrases and sentences with a relative degree of accuracy.

⁃           Academic and key skills developed include learning, research and organisational skills; communication and IT skills; intercultural awareness and interpersonal skills.

STAGE 2

Learning outcomes:At the end of this stage you will be able to:

⁃           Understand the gist of spoken information and general interaction.

⁃           Initiate and maintain conversations relating to common everyday contexts.

⁃           Understand the gist and some detail of short authentic written texts taken from the press or literature.

⁃           Construct short written texts in order to communicate information, narrative and description.

⁃           Express opinions and ideas with some grammatical accuracy.

STAGE 3

Stage 3 content:The language studied at this stage will introduce you to some aspects of Spanish culture. There will be a particular emphasis on consolidating the knowledge and use of grammar acquired in stages 1 and 2.

Learning outcomes: At the end of this stage of the module,you will be able to:

⁃           Understand the gist of spoken language dealing with everyday matters delivered at normal speed in a familiar accent.

⁃           Engage with a degree of grammatical correctness and some spontaneity in conversations relating to everyday topics, and give simple presentations on some specialised topics.

⁃           Extract data and ideas from media texts of general interest with the support of reference materials and the dictionary.

⁃           Transfer simple texts from English into the TL.

⁃           Write coherent texts in a limited range of registers on everyday topics.

⁃           Organise and express facts and concepts clearly in the target language.

Academic and key skills developed include learning, research and organisational skills; communication and IT skills; intercultural awareness and interpersonal skills.

4 contact hours per week

-          2 hours of Grammar

-          2 hours of  listening, speaking, translation English into Spanish and reading 5 short stories

STAGE 1

Teaching and learning methods:Teaching, learning and assessment are designed to enable you to achieve the learning outcomes via pair work, role play, and individual or group presentations. Your tutor will give you plenty of support to build your confidence, and in the case of assessed work, will provide feedback which will help you to make progress. While part of any class 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 a variety of language tasks. Whenever possible, the target language will be used.

Independent learning:You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class. We provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. At stage 1, you will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and simple linguistic structures, and by reading, watching and/or listening to material in Spanish. You will also be expected to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.

Course materials: Teaching materials will be derived from authentic print and audio-visual media. Up-to-date advice and information will be provided in class.

STAGE 2

Teaching and learning methods:Teaching, learning and assessment are designed to enable you to achieve the learning outcomes described above. While part of any class 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 a variety of language tasks. Your tutor will give you plenty of support to build your confidence, and in the case of assessed work, will provide feedback which will help you to make progress. Whenever possible, the target language will be used.

Independent Learning:You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class. We provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. At stage 2, you will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching and/or listening to material in Spanish. You will also be expected to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.

Course materials: As in stage 1.

STAGE 3

Teaching and learning methods: Teaching, learning and assessment are designed to enable you to achieve the learning outcomes described above. While part of any class 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 a variety of language tasks. Whenever possible, the target language will be used.

Independent learning:You will 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. At stage 3, you will be asked to consolidate your class work, to read, watch or listen to material in Spanish, to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write assignments, and generally acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.

Course materials: As in stages 1 and 2.

-          To develop their 4 language skills in Spanish (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

-          To develop the skill of translating short passages from English into Spanish.

-          To develop and encourage spoken communication in Spanish.

-          To practise writing short paragraphs in Spanish.

-          To develop and encourage reading short stories and newspaper articles in Spanish.

-          To develop and practise listening to easy television and radio broadcasts.

Formative assessment

Weekly grammar exercises: multiple-choice, fill in the blanks, short answer.

Self-study (located in Learning Central): grammar exercises, listening comprehension, videos.

translations: English into Spanish fortnightly during the spring semester

Oral presentations/listening comprehension during language classes during the second semester

AUTUMN SEMESTER

Outline of Grammar Course for Beginners

Here is a list of the main grammatical points which will be covered during the Autumn Semester.

1.       Introduction.

                  1.1 Importance of the Spanish language.                          

2.   Articles and nouns.                                                    

     2.1 Definite/indefinite articles gender/number.        

3.  Adjectives.

              3.1 The agreement of adjectives.

               3.2 The position of adjectives.

           4.  Personal Pronouns. Explanation of the verbs ‘ser’, ‘estar’ and

               ‘tener’.

         4.1 When to use ‘ser’.

        4.2 When to use ‘estar’.                                     

        4.3 Special phrases with ‘tener’.

 5.   Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns.

 6.  Possessive adjectives and pronouns. Use of ‘de’.       

 7.  Verb conjugation

      7.1 Present tense (regular verbs –ar, -er, -ir)

      7.2 Present tense (irregular verbs –ar, -er, -ir)

8.  Asking questions

    8.1 Word order

9. Adverbs (manner, time, place and degree)

10. Comparatives and superlatives.

11. Reflexive verbs (reflexive pronouns).

12. Present continuous (present tense of ‘estar’ followed by the

      gerund –ando, -iendo).

13. Verbs (gustar, parecer, encantar, interesar, etc.)

14. Future tense

     14.1 I am going to buy a car (ir + a + infinitivo).

            14.2 I will buy a car (compraré –endings are added to the whole   

                    of the infinitive).

 SPRING SEMESTER

Outline of Grammar Course for Beginners

1.  The past tense in Spanish (I): preterite.

2.  Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns.

3.  The past tense in Spanish (II): imperfect.

4.  The past tense in Spanish (III): preterite and imperfect together.

5.  The past tense in Spanish (IV): present perfect.

6.  Time expressions in Spanish: How long have you been?

(a) ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que estudias español?

(b) ¿Desde cuándo estudias español?

(c) ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas estudiando español?

7.  The past tense in Spanish (V): pluperfect.

8.  Relative pronouns.

9.  Conditional tense.

9.1. Conditional simple.

9.2. Conditional perfect.

10. Prepositions.

11. The Subjunctive in Spanish.

11.1. Formation.

11.2. Use.

11.3. Present Subjunctive.

11.4. Imperfect Subjunctive.

12. The imperative.

12.1. Formal and informal commands. Formation and Use.

12.2. Positive and Negative Commands.

VOCABULARY/CONVERSATION

AUTUMN SEMESTER

Contents

Introduction (Importance of the Spanish language, languages spoken in Spain, maps of Spain and Latin America).

1.     Pronunciation guide (The alphabet, how to spell words).

2.     Names of countries and nationalities.

3.     Talking about yourself.

4.1    Describing a person’s appearance and character.

4.2    Parts of the body.

1.     Talking about your studies, careers and jobs.

2.     Finding your way.

6.1    Asking and saying where places are.

6.2    Prepositions.

1.     Cardinal numbers (1- 100). Telephone numbers.

2.     Telling the time (Dates, days of the week, months of the year, seasons).

3.     Family (Members of the family, saying how old you are/they are, describing your family).

4.     Describing your house.

10.1Saying your address.

10.2Ordinal numbers.

1.     Shopping

11.1Food (Types of shops/types of produce/weight/quantity)

11.2In the bar and restaurant (Ordering food and drink).

11.3Clothes (Describing and buying).

11.4Cardinal numbers (100…). Prices.

1.     The weather.

2.     Health and illness.

CONVERSATION

SPRING  SEMESTER

Contents

            1. La vivienda.

            2. La educación y el trabajo.

            3. Viajes, clima. La ropa.

            4. Tiempo libre, deportes y cultura.

ALL students should buy:

Juan Kattán Ibarra & Christopher J. Pountain: Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide. 2^nd edition, London: Routledge, 2003.

ALL students should also own one of the following bilingual dictionaries:

Collins Spanish Dictionary: Complete and Unabridged(Spanish/English, English/Spanish). 9^th edition. London: Collins, 2009. (Also available in digital format)

[Alternatively: Collins Concise Spanish Dictionary (Spanish/English, English/Spanish). 7^th edition. London: Collins, 2008. (Also available in digital format)]

OR

Oxford Spanish Dictionary(Spanish/English, English/Spanish). 4th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

[Alternatively:Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary. 4^th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.]

Spanish Grammar Course Kit located in Learning Central.

Spanish Translation Course Kit located in Learning Central.

Spanish Short Stories Course Kit located in Learning Central.

Spanish Conversation Course Kit located in Learning Central.

Spanish Self-study exercises located in Leaning Central.