Admission requirements
Enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree programme at Leiden University or any other Dutch university.
Prerequisite: Spaans 4 (B2.1) or proof of B2.1 level (CEFR) recommended
If having B2.1 level cannot be proven, a placement test in early September (first semester intake) or late January (second semester intake) is recommended before taking this course.
Description
This is the fifth of the seven language proficiency courses in Spanish under the Bachelor’s degree programme in Latin American Studies.
Communicative language proficiency course in Spanish in which all skills (reading, writing, listening, spoken production and spoken interaction), including grammar and vocabulary, are integrated. Following the levels and can-do-statements of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), seminars are designed according to the action-based approach and the students´ proficiency is aimed at B2.2 level (high B2). During seminars, all topics will be discussed through written and oral texts, video or audio fragments and role-plays. Students work individually, in pairs or small groups. The students´ active attitude towards preparation for and participation during seminars is crucial in order to be able to meet the learning outcomes of the course.
Course objectives
This course covers key skills of listening comprehension, speaking (oral expression and interaction), reading comprehension and writing. By the end of the course, students will have achieved the B2.2 level in the mentioned skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Course Load
Total workload 5 ECTS x 28 hours = 140 hours.
Attending lectures: 6 hours per week, 7 weeks: 42 hours
Assessment: 5 hours
Self-study outside class schedule: (Studying literature, preparation of (vocabulary, reading and writing) tasks for the portfolio and preparation for written and oral exams): 93 hours (This means the student should dedicate, on an average, around 13 hours weekly to developing his/her skills in Spanish outside class hours during the block.)
Assessment method
Assessment
The assessment method is divided into two: graded and not graded (continuous assessment).
Continuous assessment: some tasks for the portfolio and homework
Graded assessment: oral exam, oral presentation in class, final written exam and portfolio
Continuous assessment:
The progress that the student makes during the block will be taken into account through continuous assessment. This means that the lecturer will regularly check whether the student duly carries out the assignments and tasks as proposed in Blackboard.
The continuous assessment is made up of several assignments including grammar and vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and oral tasks.
At least 80% of the continuous assessment assignments should be submitted before deadline is a prerequisite to have access to the graded exams at the end of the course. A task is considered submitted if it is complete and instructions have been followed.
Graded assessment:
Oral exam consists of two parts: question-and-answer/interview type and interaction about particular daily or specific situations with another student or the teacher/s.
Written exams consist of three parts:
Reading Comprehension
Grammar and Vocabulary
Writing
The portfolio is a physical file including grammar and vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and self-assessment exercises. For participation in exams, handing in the complete portfolio (with all the assignments self-corrected and written tasks modified/rewritten) before deadline is compulsory.
Writing tasks submitted late will not be commented upon by the lecturer and the student should ask another person (classmate, friend, etc.) who can correct it so that two versions (original and modified) can be included in the portfolio.
The presentation is the exposition of a text given by the lecturer that the student must elaborate and explain in class for at least 10 minutes. It should be interactive and must incite participation through discussion with the rest of the class.
Weighing
Oral part (40% of final grade): Oral presentation in class: 15% Oral exam**: 25%
Written part (60% of final grade): Final exam**: 40% Portfolio: 20%
**If one or both components are failing, the students must take and pass the corresponding resit exam/s. Otherwise, the final grade for the course will be 5 or lower.
Resit
Resit for relevant component: written exam/oral exam.
To pass the course, the weighted grade should be 6 or higher. Additionally, the student has to pass both the oral exam and the final written exam, regardless of the weighted final mark.
If the student fails the oral exam, he/she must pass the oral resit exam and its result will be the 40% of the final grade. In this case, the grade for oral presentation in class will lapse and not be taken into consideration in the final grade.
If the student fails the final written exam, he/she must pass the written resit exam and its result will be the 60% of the final grade. In this case, the grade for the portfolio will lapse and not be taken into consideration in the final grade.
Exam review
The date of exam review will be announced in Blackboard.
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
providing study materials
announcements
Reading list
Gente hoy 3. Libro del alumno. Editorial Difusión. 2015. ISBN 9789460305740
Gente hoy 3. Libro de trabajo. Editorial Difusión. 2015. ISBN 9789460305757
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in [English])http://hum.leiden.edu/students/study-administration/usis-english.html) and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Contractonderwijs
Contact
For questions about the content of the course, you can contact the teacher:
R. Valencia Libo-on MA
Coordinator of Studies: A.C. Wapenaar MA
Administrations Office: van Wijkplaats
Remarks
A complete portfolio should be submitted on time to have access to the final exam. The content and deadline of each submission will be set by the lecturer.
80% compulsory attendance. Absence must be reported in advance to the lecturer giving a valid reason. Students who do not meet the 80% attendance requirement will not be allowed to take the exams. Both excused and unexcused absences are included in the 20% margin. Exceptions to this should be approved (previous to the absence if possible) by both the lecturer and the LAS study coordinator.
Students are expected to participate actively in discussions during seminars and to duly carry out all assignments during and outside seminar hours. During the semester, you are expected to complete all assignments and to check all the topics and activities regardless of them being discussed or not in class.
You will be excluded from the exams if you fail to participate or prepare sufficiently (see “Continuous Assessment”).