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.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Learning, research and organisational skills
- Perseverance
- Communication skills: written, oral, and IT
- Intercultural and interpersonal skills
- Development of memory
- Being proficient in and knowing how to learn a foreign language is a key skill in its own right
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- develop problem-solving skills.
- extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources.
- engage in analytical and evaluative thinking.
Syllabus
This Stage presents and practices key language structures, integrating them with strategies for communication and with key cultural topics. Published materials will be supplemented by handouts and other media which the course tutor will provide or recommend. Some of the material will be derived from authentic print and audio-visual media. Independent learning material will be available in the Languages Resources Centre 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. While all this may seem daunting, the tutor will give you plenty of support to build your confidence and, particularly in the case of assessed work, will provide feedback which will help you to improve.
Independent Learning
You will also 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 language 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 Language Resource Centre at the Avenue Campus and at other sites in the University where relevant, such as the Hartley Library. These facilities include on-line and computer-based resources, films on DVD, current newspapers and magazines, language laboratories, satellite TV, and self- access materials. Some of the resources are available on short loan.
For this Stage, you will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in the target language. You will also be expected to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write short assignments and generally acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 24 |
| Revision | 20 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 24 |
| Completion of assessment task | 22 |
| Follow-up work | 24 |
| Tutorial | 36 |
| Total study time | 150 |
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 the responsibility of students to ensure that they have read and understood this documentation, to plan their work schedule in advance, and to keep to the deadlines. If you are in any doubt, talk to the module coordinator in good time.
Formal assessment
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 and the in-class exam will give you formative feedback on your progress, that is, feedback which will help you learn. The exam 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 |
|---|---|
| Portfolio assignments | 20% |
| Examination | 60% |
| Portfolio assignments | 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 Information
Repeat type: Internal