Module overview
The aim of every language course at the University is to enable you to communicate in your target language (TL) at that particular level and in your particular area of interest. We use the word ‘communicate’ in its widest sense, meaning that you will not only be able to talk to people in the language but also to develop your proficiency in listening, reading, and writing. This means that the module aims for you to understand all the things which affect communication in that language, including knowledge of how the language is used, how it works and how to analyse it, and the cultural contexts in which it is spoken.
This particular module is aimed at complete beginners.
Successful completion of the full Stage 1, over 2 semesters, is approximately equivalent to having reached Level A1 of the Common European Framework or a good GCSE.
Taking this single semester module at Stage 1 will take you part of the way to the outcomes of the full Stage. You are encouraged to take a full language Stage if you want to make significant progress in the language you are learning.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- start evidencing intercultural competence and evidence interpersonal skills
- apply learning, research and organisational skills, including mnemonic skills
- engage in a range of communication skills: written, oral, and IT
- manage your tasks effectively
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- passive skills in written and spoken target language: start evidencing your ability to recognise, select and manipulate key information from written and spoken sources relating to a number of general and familiar topics of personal interest
- productive skills (speaking and writing in the target language): start using and presenting material relating to a number of general and familiar topics of personal interest in a clear and effective manner
- some metalanguage (terminology), where necessary in English, to understand and construct accurate descriptions of grammar and of how language is used
- grammatical and language-specific structures of the TL, and command some of them as well as command of some vocabulary on familiar topics, including collocational patterns and some fixed expressions
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- begin to engage in analytical and evaluative thinking appropriate to language learning skills
- begin to develop problem-solving skills to develop your use and understanding of language learning skills
- begin to extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources.
Syllabus
This module will integrate topics and, where appropriate, specialist cultural, grammatical, linguistic areas with the study of the language appropriate to the language stage. Course books, reference material and topic-based material will be used as appropriate. Much of the material will be derived from authentic print and audio-visual media. Independent learning material will be available in the relevant self-access spaces, the Library and on Blackboard.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The combination of direct teaching, opportunities for participation, and support for resource-based independent study are specifically designed to ensure that you can achieve communicative competence as outlined in the learning outcomes above.
Classes
Although part of any class session is likely to involve direct teaching, the emphasis is on student participation and you will be expected to take part actively in discussion and in tasks like small group and pair work, role play, and individual or group presentations. As much of the class as possible will be taught in the target language.
Independent Learning
You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class, and we provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. As you progress through the Stages you will learn to understand, monitor and improve your own learning style; you will also acquire some expertise as a researcher and develop the kind of key skills which are valued by employers.
You are encouraged to use the self-access spaces at Avenue Campus and the Hartley Library on the main campus in the University where relevant. These facilities include on-line and computer-based resources, films on DVD, current newspapers and magazines (soft and hard copies), books (fiction and non fiction), grammatical resources, dictionaries and other self- access materials. Some of the resources are available on short loan.
For this Stage, you will be asked to consolidate your class work, to read, watch or listen to material in the target language, to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write assignments, undertake projects and continue to develop your repertoire of effective language learning strategies.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Follow-up work | 20 |
| Completion of assessment task | 15 |
| Wider reading or practice | 25 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 20 |
| Revision | 22 |
| Tutorial | 48 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Language Resource Centre (LRC).
Textbooks
George X Zhang (2011). Chinese in steps Vol 1. SinoLingua London.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
At the beginning of the module, you will receive information about your assessment. This will include:
- what tasks you will be expected to carry out.
- clear criteria against which your work will be assessed.
- what the provisional date and deadline of each assessment task is.
Note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you have read and understood this documentation, to plan your work schedule in advance, and to keep to the deadlines. If you are in any doubt, talk to the module coordinator in good time.
Assessment will cover what you have studied in class and what you are expected to have acquired as an independent learner. The design of the tasks and the criteria by which they are assessed ensure that you will be able to demonstrate all aspects of your learning: language skills, strategies and knowledge related to language learning, and key skills. Coursework will give you formative feedback on your progress, that is, feedback which will help you learn. The assessment at the end of the module will test what you have achieved and also what you are able to do in real life conditions of language use where you need to think on your feet and use your own linguistic resources.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Exam | 40% |
| Coursework | 20% |
| Oral Assessment | 10% |
| Listening | 10% |
| Coursework | 20% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Resubmit assessments | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework | 40% |
| Exam | 60% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External