Introductory description

This module will consolidate existing skills in Spanish language acquired at A level or equivalent and extend them through translation, writing, reading, speaking and listening activities.
A range of assessments will be offered for students to track and reflect on their progress through the provision of regular feedback. Students will also be provided with complementary autonomous learning activities and directed to appropriate activities for self-study in order to develop independent learning strategies.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Every week, students will learn grammar, vocabulary and functional aspects of Spanish which they will then put into practice when writing, translating and speaking.
Each week will also be dedicated to study a cultural theme or topic of the Hispanic World, including climate change, history, politics, cinema, music, festivals, gender rights, and immigration among other.
They will also produce a language portfolio, which includes reflecting about their linguistic and cultural learning during their Virtual Exchange as well as a group-work audio-visual translation exercise into English.
Regarding writing skills, students will practice creative writing, summaries, film and book reviews, and argumentative texts.
Below it is the description of grammar, vocabulary and functional aspects of the language, which will be covered in this module:

1. Revision of ser, estar; narration and temporal expressions (en ese momento, de repente, al mismo tiempo).
2. Adjectives, verbs and adverbs interacting. Present subjunctive.
3. Use of preterites: indefinido vs imperfecto. Temporal expressions and constructions in the past (durante, al cabo de, poco después).
4. Verbs of change: hacerse, quedarse, ponerse. Periphrastic verbs.
5. Final constructions: para + infinitive, para que + subjunctive.
6. Expressing probability: quizás/probablemente + Indicative /subjunctive.
7. Temporal constructions with subjunctive: cuando, en cuanto, tan pronto como. Use and formation of Imperfect subjunctive.
8. Conditional sentences: si + Present indicative, si + imperfect subjunctive, siempre y cuando / a no ser que + Present subjunctive. Use of lo: lo más + adjective.
9. Use of conditional: habría que / deberíamos + Infinitive. Subordinated sentences.
   Connectors.
10. Sentences with verbs of affection or emotions: Indignar, estar harto de, no aguantar. Me gustaría + infinitive / Me gustaría que + imperfective subjunctive.
11. Causal constructions. Concessive constructions: a pesar de/ aunque.
12. Discourse markers: en cuanto a, por el contrario, a pesar de ello.
13. Pronominal verbs. Passive voice (se). Imperative negative.
14. Compound conditional. Pluperfect subjunctive.
15. Conditional constructions: Si + Pluperfect subjunctive. Compound conditional / Pluperfect

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Thorough grounding in the fundamental tenets of grammar, ensuring a firm platform for honours level study
• Thorough grounding in writing skills in various genres, registers and styles
• Accurate reading skills that include anticipating comprehension problems deriving from syntax, lexis and grammar
• The development of syntactical awareness, grammatical accuracy and vocabulary acquisition through translation into Spanish
• A sound understanding of the challenges inherent in translation into English (syntax, register, idiom) leading to the development of a range of translation strategies
• Accurate and idiomatic listening and speaking skills that include anticipating common areas of misunderstanding
• Sound understanding of selected aspects of contemporary Hispanic society and culture
• A systematic approach to proof reading with due attention to accuracy
• Development of independent language-learning skills

Indicative reading list

Essential:
Palencia del Burgo, Ramón y Luis Aragonés Fernández, Gramática de uso del español: teoría y
práctica Nivel B: B1-B2 (con solucionario) (Madrid: SM, 2014)
Rosa, Issac, Aquí vivió. Historia de un desahucio (Barcelona: Nube de tinta, 2016)

Recommended:
John Butt and Carmen Benjamin: A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (5th edition,
2011);

View reading list on Talis Aspire

International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will build students’ linguistic skills through activities that stimulate authentic target language production and develop sensitivity to the transference of meaning across languages. Students will work towards the production of nuanced, accurate and contextually sensitive materials through a range of language classes and guided independent learning.

Transferable skills

All SMLC culture modules demand critical and analytical engagement with artefacts from target-language cultures. In the course of independent study, class work and assessment students will develop the following skills: written and oral communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and analysis, time management and organisation, independent research in both English and their target language(s), intercultural understanding and the ability to mediate between languages and cultures, ICT literacy in both English and the target language(s), personal responsibility and the exercise of initiative.