UCL - Spanish - Intermediate level

[ESPA1300]

[90h] 9 credits

Teacher(s): Isabel Baeza Varela

Language: S

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

This course is intended to students who have acquired the elementary level (A2). At the end of the course they are expected to have reached the B2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

This course is intended to students who have acquired the elementary level (A2). At the end of the course they are expected to have reached the B2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Reading Comprehension

° Can understand relatively long texts written primarily in a current language

° can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints.

° can understand the description of eventes, feelings and wishes in personal letters.

° can understand contemporary literary prose adapted to B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Listening Comprehension

° Can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument the topic are reasonably familiar.

° Can understand most TV news and explicitly current affairs programmes

° Can understand the majority of films in standard dialect.

° Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.

Speaking

° can connect phrases in a simple way in order to describe experiences and events, my dreams, hopes and ambitions.

° can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to his/her field of interest

° can narrate a story or relate the plot of a book orfilm and describe my reactions.

° can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest.

° can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Writing production

° can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions.

° can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.

° can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints

Main themes

Code:

° To pronounce the different standard Spanish sounds correctly and to be able to put them in relation to its writing with ease and correction
° To consolidate the basic vocabulary of standard Spanish (approximately 2000 words) and to extend it
° To control the principal grammatical contents and the linguistic exhibitors of basic Spanish and to extend them

Culture:
On level of all the above mentioned aptitudes, but particularly of speaking and of reading comprehension, the course proposes a process of sensitizing to the Spanish-speaking countries culture in four stages: to know, compare, relativize and understand.

Content and teaching methods

The course is centered on the communication and uses a method halfway between the communicative and the notion-functional one. Therefore, the elements of the code are not acquired by the study of lists of vocabulary or the structural approach of grammar exclusively. These elements are built-in in significant contexts, grouped according to functional contents (to compare; to describe cities and countries; telling stories; expressing own opinions; make hypotheses), and later they are practiced with exercises requiring the development of an integral communicative competence. The course provides the student with didactic materials made by the professor according to the described method and crated from current bibliography including more than 50 works not only to be used at class but also to practice the controlled autonomous practice. The materials include very elaborate grammatical tables and exercises of systematization, but the typology of exercises is very heterogeneous: songs, plays, role plays, real or adapted texts or created in a teaching goal, films, etc.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

[90h] 9 credits
Teacher: Isabel Baeza Varela
Language: Spanish, French
Level: course of 1st cycle

Prerequisites
° To have reached ESPA 1100 goals.
° To be student of a faculty of the UCL and to have registered the course in the program of studies.
° To fulfill the requirements established by the faculty to which the student belongs

Workload
Course hours: 90 H
Autonomous work: 130 H

Pedagogical accompaniment
° the ideal number of students by group is of 25 maximum
° the teacher is available in his/her hours of reception
° the course gives the student a guide of electronic addresses and materials to support the autonomous training and other didactic materials for the controlled autonomous practice.
Supports
Course materials

° Español 2: communicative method used during the course. It includes very elaborate grammatical tables and exercises of acquisition of the vocabulary, communicative exercises based on songs, plays, publicities, texts, role plays, etc.

° Español 1300: reading book divided in two sections: a novel and some articles; each article contains notes.

° Español G. Bases de gramática: grammar for the autonomous practice. It presents 27 subjects suitable for the elementary and intermediate level.

° Español G. Cuaderno de ejercicios: exercise book of grammar for the autonomous practice. It presents a broad range of exercises for 27 subjects suitable for the elementary and intermediate level. This book is accompanied by the key of the exercises and an audio cassette available to the CAA of the ILV.

Assessment

Various marks make the final Assessment:
° Several written tests and an oral test throughout the year.
° Continuous Assessment (work to be returned, presence and participation).