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Spanish Level 2

Module details

Offered to all undergraduates
Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, 16.00-18.00 (depending on year of study)
Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
Two-term module, worth 7.5 ECTS
Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
Extra Credit, or Degree Credit where your department allows

Spanish advice

Contact the assistant coordinator:
Almudena Sanchez-Villen

(Student office hours: Mondays and Tuesdays. Any other days by appointment only)

Room S307, Sherfield Level 3

Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

Degree credit module options by department How to enrol

A communicative module for students with some prior knowledge of the Spanish language and the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.

This module will allow you to:

further develop all your basic language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the target language, revising and consolidating key basic grammar topics ,while introducing some new complex structures;
extend your vocabulary, preparing you to progress toward higher language levels;
provide you with further insights into the culture and daily life of Spanish-speaking countries.

By the end of the module, students should have reached approximately the A2+ standard of the CEFR.

To be eligible for this module, you need to have done one of the following:

Successfully completed Spanish Level 1
Gained a Spanish GCSE qualification
Already achieved A1+ or equivalent on the CEFR

Download a table of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels (PDF).

For students progressing from Spanish Level 1 to Spanish Level 2, we recommend making sure that you review topics covered in Spanish Level 1 during the summer months, and before the start of the following level.

Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be better prepared to:

respond to and produce a range of simple spoken language within familiar everyday contexts;
respond to and produce short written texts, applying your grammatical and lexical knowledge at a CEFR A2 Level (Common European Framework of Reference, waystage level);
demonstrate the relevant level of intercultural awareness in your handling of routine social interactions in Spanish and in your use of language;
use a basic range of digital language-learning tools to support your production and expand your knowledge.

Indicative core content

In this module, you will revise all the basic structures of the language, including:

pronouns, prepositions, ser/estar and impersonal verbs;
all indicative tenses (present, perfect forms, preterites, reflexives);
comparative and superlative forms;
reflexive and object pronouns, their use, position and combination;
new structures such as the future tense and the imperative will also be introduced.

These linguistic structures will be applied to the following topics:

leisure activities;
real-life communication;
health issues;
tourism and holidays;
lifestyle and traditions;
personalities from Spanish-speaking countries;
further aspects of the history, geography and culture of relevant countries.

Learning and teaching approach

In line with MFL communicative and active learning methodologies, in-class activities cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and include: pair work and groupwork (dialogue practice, information gap exercises, discussion and collection of key terms/ideas followed by report to plenum); individual tasks (face to face and online); discovery and formulation of rules; work with texts, audio and video material to develop learning and communicative skills. Homework and coursework tasks give you the tools required to participate in class and the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills while developing an awareness of how to use language learning tools independently. This approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks but also supports different learning styles.

Your coursework will be marked and returned within two weeks. Rubrics and revision guidance (how-to guides) will be included as needed with each coursework. You will receive detailed feedback alongside suggestions for improvement and an overall percentage showing your provisional grade for that assessment.

Assessment

The module includes formative as well as summative assessment. Homework tasks (theory revision, reading, writing, listening, etc) are set every week on the Virtual Learning Environment, following a flipped-classroom approach to ensure face-to-face time is devoted to interactional learning and communicative skills acquisition. This means that you will be provided with materials to study independently beforehand and then apply these during classroom time. Your lecturer will provide you with support materials and guidance to reinforce topics covered at your own pace.

You will need to complete two pieces of summative coursework (set toward the end of autumn term and mid-spring term), which will include rubrics and revision guidance to ensure you are supported when completing your work and so that you are aware of the assessment expectations. There will also be a 1-hour in-class examination (scheduled at the end of spring term), and one practical - in the form of an oral examination (at the end of spring term or during the summer term). The coursework, examinations and practical contribute to your final grade.

Coursework (25%): Integrated skills set of tasks, at the end of autumn term: receptive (reading/ listening), productive (writing/ speaking) skills, including written task (c. 120-150 words).
Coursework (25%): Integrated skills set of tasks, mid-spring term: receptive/ productive skills, including listening comprehension from a video/ podcast (3-5 minutes).
Examination (25%): In-class test, run on the Virtual Learning Environment (Bring Your Own Device). This 1-hour test will take place at the end of spring term. It will include a grammar/ lexicon quiz, a reading comprehension and a writing task (c. 200 words).
Practical (25%): Oral exam, in the summer term, including graded, open conversation on topics seen in class and unprepared communicative task (e.g. role-play, describing an image, Q&A, etc.) (approx. 15 minutes).

Assessment information for students on a course with a year abroad

Key information

7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
Available to take for credit towards your degree, where your department allows. Also available for extra credit. The Module options by department page has a full list of the credit options.
You must be prepared to attend all classes and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.

Coursebook

Aula Internacional Plus 2: Student's book + Exercise book + Mp3 audio download, Jaime Corpas et al. Ed. Difusión, 2020, ISBN: 9788418032202.*

*Please note that purchase of the designated coursebook will be required, as this is an essential tool for study and revision and will be used on a daily basis in the class.

Handout materials will be provided in class. Extra grammar practice, exercises and recommended resources for independent learning will be available on Blackboard.