SPAN102 - Elementary Spanish a

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

SPAN101 Introductory Spanish or equivalent

Unit rationale, description and aim

Proficiency in an additional language enhances employment opportunities and cross-cultural awareness.

This unit is designed for basic users of Spanish and is linked to A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It aims to extend students’ ability to understand and use familiar expressions and communicate with simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. The unit will continue to develop students’ Spanish language skills across the listening-speaking-reading-writing spectrum of competencies.

Upon completion of this unit, students should have a deeper knowledge of the phonetic, lexical and structural elements of the Spanish language. They should be able to engage in extended basic conversations, exchange greetings using appropriate forms of address and respond to questions in everyday situations (for example, family, shopping, places of interest). They should be able to describe abilities, identify occupations and explain future plans as well a range of past activities.

While the focus is on language, the unit will include cultural and social elements, to increase students’ intercultural awareness and their ability to effectively interact in Spanish.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Recognise and produce sounds, words and common stress patterns in Spanish sentences (GA5)

LO2 - Demonstrate a knowledge and use of vocabulary and language structures in in familiar contexts such as describing daily activities, asking for and giving directions, shopping, taking public transport or making a simple phone call (GA5)

LO3 - Demonstrate an awareness of aspects of cross-cultural communication in these contexts (GA1)

LO4 - Communicate in Spanish at the level of proficiency linked to selected ‘Can do’ statements at A2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (GA5).

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

Content

Topics may include:

• Places in the city and neighbourhood
• Directions
• Transport
• Shopping and Prices
• Weather and seasons
• Daily routines
• Celebrations and special occasions
• Basic telephone etiquette

Language Functions and Competencies:

• Asking for and giving directions using ‘hay’ and ‘estan’
• Writing a shopping list
• Describing daily activities
• Talking about the weather
• Describing simple past events
• Making polite requests
• Expressing good wishes
• Making future plans
• Expressing needs and preferences
• Answering the phone and providing personal details
• Writing a simple message

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Mode: 4 hours per week (8 hours per week in intensive mode).The usual semester pattern is 2 hours by video conference/virtual classroom across campuses and 2 hours face-to-face laboratory sessions. Presentation of new materials will be available for review on LEO.

Duration: 12 week-semester or equivalent in intensive block mode.

Students should expect to undertake 150 hours of study for this unit, including class attendance, weekly online exercises in LEO, interactive language practice and assignment preparation.

The approach to language learning and teaching is communicative with new language material presented in context using video and audio dialogues. Students are expected to be active participants in all class activities including individual, pair and group work. Students will continue to develop their independent learning skills through completing a structured learning and development portfolio which provides a weekly record of completed learning task.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Students will be advised of textbook requirements in the first week of semester.