Spanish Language and Society II

Aims

Aims

This module is intended to enable students to acquire knowledge of the key aspects of modern Spanish speaking world culture and society. Through the analysis of a variety of written and aural materials, students will be able to develop their linguistic competencies as well as their cultural understanding. This is in order to allow them to achieve a high level of fluency and accuracy in their production of written and spoken Spanish.

After satisfactorily completing the module you should be able to show:

• An understanding of Hispanic culture, society and politics.
• The ability to understand authentic materials including videos and audio texts and discuss them critically using historical, political and cultural knowledge for reference
• An understanding of a variety of spoken and written registers in Spanish
• The ability to structure and argue a topic/problem in appropriate written or spoken  Spanish
• A high degree of fluency and accuracy in spoken Spanish
• An accurate and sophisticated use of written Spanish in the production of a variety of texts

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed:

• S05C Spanish language and society I (LAN00005C)
• S08C Spanish grammar (LAN00008C)

OR

• S21C Ab initio Spanish language skills (LAN00021C)
• S22C Ab initio Spanish language and society (LAN00022C)

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

The module lasts the whole year. The programme will consist of two seminar hours per week. Weeks 3 and 4 of the summer term will focus on the oral presentations.

Teaching programme

All the lessons are conducted as seminars in order to encourage discussion and interaction. Therefore, completing weekly tasks in preparation for class discussion is an essential part of students' commitment. The classes will cover a range of themes related to current issues in modern Spanish speaking countries. Particular emphasis will be given to the development of analytical and critical skills, using authentic materials from a range of sources (television broadcast, newspaper articles, books, and websites). The medium of instruction is Spanish.

Teaching materials

A reader has been created for this module, as well as a bibliography, which will be given as the term progresses.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

• Oral commentary and dialogue within class on oral and written language work. Given immediately both to individuals and to group
• Oral commentary and dialogue on seminar presentation, given to the individual presenter following the seminar
• Written comments and mark on University scale given to individual students for practice essays, with opportunity for individual consultation; the essays will be returned to students two weeks after seminar
• Model answers may be given for class exercise/ past exam papers, with class discussion of difficulties

Summative assessment and feedback

• Written assignment (Paper 1), submitted in Week 10 of Term 2.
  • Weight: 30%
• Paper two exam period term 3
  Reading and writing closed paper (Paper 2)
  • Weight: 40%
• Oral presentation, term 3 
  • Weight: 30%
  • Feedback: Individuals will be given a feedback sheet for the oral examination, and will be allowed to see their exam paper with comments, under supervision, at an appointed date after the external examiner has reviewed the papers.