SPAN202 - Intermediate Spanish B

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

SPAN201 Intermediate Spanish A or equivalent

Unit rationale, description and aim

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

This unit is designed for intermediate level users of Spanish progressing from concrete to more abstract language use. It is linked to B1+ on the expanded Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It aims to provide students with the ability to express ideas and respond to suggestions, opinions, or advice and to discuss matters related to their academic or professional field. Students at this level should be able to deal with most situations that arise whilst travelling in areas where Spanish is spoken.

Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to converse in a professional setting, participate in a prepared interview and respond to impromptu questions. They should be able to produce simple connected texts which are familiar or of personal interest.

While the focus is on language, the unit will include relevant 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 - Demonstrate knowledge and use of Spanish (its sound system, vocabulary and grammar) in formal social and professional interactions such as interviews or meetings, with the ability to adapt to unexpected situations (GA5, GA6)

LO2 - Identify and apply knowledge of different cultural perspectives which influence intercultural interactions in Spanish (GA4)

LO3 - Demonstrate the ability to communicate in Spanish using discipline-related and persuasive language in academic and professional settings (GA5)

LO4 - Communicate in Spanish with members of Spanish-speaking communities at the level of proficiency linked to the ‘can do’ statements at B1+ level of the expanded EAQUALS/Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (GA5, GA6)

LO5 - Identify learning skills and strategies to continue developing language proficiency and intercultural awareness, including individual and collaborative learning activities (GA7)

Graduate attributes

GA4 - Think critically and reflectively 

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

GA6 - Solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - Work both autonomously and collaboratively 

Content

Topics may include:

• Studying or working at a university
• Studying or working at a university
• Professions and employment
• Volunteering opportunities
• Curriculum Vitae
• Formal letters
• Emotions, health and wellbeing
• Social and professional etiquette

Language Functions and Competencies:

• Discussing cause and effect
• Describing and explaining goals
• Expressing wishes and appropriate social responses
• Writing a culturally appropriate CV and a cover letter
• Preparing for a job interview
• Describing hypothetical situations
• Expressing and responding to suggestions and advice

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 and readings. Students are expected to be active participants in all class activities including individual, pair and group work. Students will develop their independent learning strategies and skills through beginning to develop a Spanish Portfolio to record their learning strategies and achievements in learning Spanish.

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.