Admission requirements
Spanish – Beginners (Common European Framework of Reference A2)
Description
This course aims to bring beginners up to a standard where they can communicate and understand information and ideas in Spanish. The course is organised around interactive and communicative activities that will allow students to build all skills in the most effective way. Class proceedings will focus on submerging students in real-world Spanish language.
The course aims to develop language skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Grammatical structures and vocabulary will also be integrated into the learning process in meaningful contexts. Furthermore an important aspect of the course will be the cultural knowledge about Spain and Latin America, with a strong emphasis on intercultural communication.
The content of the course is based on coursebooks together with supplementary material prepared by the instructor and significant material on the Internet.
Course objectives
This course aims to develop competency in spoken and written Spanish to a standard that enables the student to communicate effectively and confidently with Spanish native speakers and sustain, to some extent, a work or study placement in a Spanish-speaking country.
In terms of the CEFR of the Council of Europe, the student will have “enough language to get by, with sufficient vocabulary to express him/herself with some hesitation and circumlocutions on topics such as family, interests, work, travel, and current events”.
The student will communicate “with reasonable accuracy in familiar contexts, using a repertoire of frequently used routines and patterns”.
The student will be able to “perform and respond to a wide range of language functions, using their most common exponents in a neutral register” and will also be “aware of the salient politeness conventions and acts appropriately”.
Timetable
Please see the LUC website: www.lucthehague.nl
Mode of instruction
Communication in Spanish will be encouraged from the outset and classes will be conducted primarily in Spanish, enabling students to learn and practice the new grammatical structures and vocabulary covered in each session. In order to develop and consolidate skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing, classes will be highly interactive.
Students will often work in pairs or groups to practice their language skills.
During the course, students will give oral presentations about different topics, according to their increasing level of knowledge.
A substantial amount of independent study will be expected: several hours a week should be devoted to Spanish outside the classroom to complete work set by the instructor and practice reading, listening and writing skills.
Assessment method
- Interactive engagement with course material: assessed through In-class participation(20% of final grade): daily
- Grammar & vocabulary & Reading comprehension CEFR A2-B1:assessed in written exam (40% of final grade): Weeks 7 – 15 (TBC)
- Understanding – listening CEFR A2-B1:assessed in listening comprehension exam (20% of final grade):Weeks 5 -11 (TBC)
- Speaking – spoken interaction CEFR A2-B1: assessed in oral presentations + discussions (20% of final grade):ongoing
Blackboard
This course is supported by a BlackBoard site.
Reading list
Ainciburu, M.C., VÍA RÁPIDA, Curso intensivo de español, Libro del alumno, Difusión, Barcelona, 2011. Libro de Alumno + 2 CD Audio. ISBN:9789460301964
Ainciburu, M.C., VÍA RÁPIDA, Cuaderno de Ejercicios, Difusión, Barcelona, 2011.
The Oxford, Collins, or Larousse bilingual dictionary (2008 edition or later)
Registration
This course is only open for LUC The Hague students.
Contact information
M.J.Perez-Rodriguez@hum.leidenuniv.nl