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Teacher(s)

Lorente Fernandez Paula (coordinator);

Language

Spanish

Prerequisites

• Having met the BAC 1 course objectives set by the Faculty of Arts.
• Having enrolled for this course and included it in one's curriculum.
• Simultaneously follow the BAC 2 Spanish classes offered by the Faculty of Arts.     

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

The aim of this course is to develop the systematic mastering of the communication and language skills (socio-lignuistic and pragmatic) needed in various productive, receptive, interactive and mediating situations, corresponding to a B1.2-level (threshold) and a B2.1-level (vantage) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.
To reach that objective, the themes tackled in the course differ from those that are usually addressed when only basic communication skills are aimed at.
Conversations, critical reflection and writing activites will be organized about character descriptions, everyday life, holidays and leisure, hobbies and interests, trips, education, food and drink, work, abstract and cultural subjects such as music, cuisine, history, cinema or advertising.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

express themselves using a broad array of vocabulary on subjects linked to their field of studies as well as general subjects. The learner should be able to vary their discourse so as to avoid repetition, but lexical hiatuses can still provoke hestiation and paraphrasing (B2.1-level for vocabulary). communicate with quite a good command of grammar. The learner does not make any errors that can lead to misunderstanding (B2.1-level for grammar). use clear and natural pronunciation and intonation (B2.1-level for phonetics). write clearly and understandably, following the rules of lay-out and structure. Spelling and punctuation are quite accurate but can still be influenced by the learner's mother tongue (B2.1-level for spelling). have a conversation with native speakers without having to adapt their behaviour (B2.1-level for socio-linguistic skills). adapt to changes of subject matter, style and tone typical for natural conversation and be able to adapt and vary the way of expressing themselves (B2.1-level for pragmatic skills). use ready-made expressions, such as "that's a hard question", as hesitation devices and fillers (B2.1-level for turn-taking). engage in a description or a clear narrative while developing and arguing salient points with the help of details and relevant examples (B2.1-level for discursive and thematic development skills). make use of a lilmited number of connectors, while, from time to time, erros in consistency and coherence may occur in longish interventions (B2.1-level for discursive and coherence skills). communicate with ease and spontaneity, which should enable regular interaction with native speakers without either party having to make an effort (B2.1-level for functional competence and speaking ease). failthfully relay detailed information (B2.1-level for functional competence and accuracy).

Content

This learning module aims at developing all the language and communication skills entrenched in a communicative, lexical and grammatical approach. The methodology is very varied and includes carrying out various assignments throughout the course, linked to the themes tackled.
The learning module (using the action-oriented approach) starts from the premise that the language learner is essentially becoming a language user in various fields (personal, public, professional and educational) and situations (places, organizations, actors, objects, events, operations, texts), focussing mainly on spoken production.

Teaching methods

The course is given face-to-face, with some distance learning sessions  and with e-learning support on UCLouvain platforms (Teams, Moodle uclouvain) and other external platforms (Google, Zoom...).

The learning module follows a Spanish foreign-lanuage learning handbook as well as its workbook, both aiming at the B2.1-level of the course. It adopts a PBL-approach (problem-based learning) using the principles of reflexive learning: the student is at the heart of their learning and is cognitively involved, so that they can construct knowledge and know-how by themselves as well as with the help of their peers. Thus, various forms of self-assessment and/or peer-assessment can be proposed throughout the learning module.
Tandems (exchanges) with native speakers are proposed and organized in the framework of this course.
In addition, the student will have to complete the course sessions with group tutoring (6 sessions) which will be organized online.

Evaluation methods

Continuous assesment using various kinds of activities linked to communication or oral and written production skills, listening and reading comprehension, as well as mediating activities that have to be carried out throughout the semester, with a final exam on grammar and vocabulary.The final evlautaion is as follows
40% Tutorial work
10% Tandem project and exercises (moodle or other)
10% Vocabulary entries
40% Final grammar and vocabulary test and portfolio
Successful completion of the course is contingent upon successful completion of each of the assessment parts/activities.
In the January and June semester, the final grade will be made up of these 4 integrated parts (tutorials; vocabulary; final grammar and vocabulary test and portfolio; tandem project): the success of these parts is essential to demonstrate the skills and knowledge defined in the learning outcomes of the teaching unit. Successful completion of the course is contingent upon the successful completion of each of the assessment parts/activities. The final grade is the weighted average of the different parts. In order to pass the course, the student must obtain 50% of each part of the evaluation, i.e. a minimum of 20/40 and 5/10 (absorbing grade).
The activities of the parts "tutorial works" and "tandem projects and exercises (moodle or others)" are organized only once per academic year. In the event of a second registration for the examination, the parts of the evaluation remain the same, but the mark relating to these learning activities is then deemed to be attached to each of the examination sessions of the academic year (Article 78. - Exception to Article 77).
Attendance in this course is required. In accordance with Article 72 of the General Regulations for Studies and Examinations, the course directors may propose to the jury that it oppose the registration of a student who has not attended at least 70% of the course sessions.

Teaching materials

• Alonso, R., Castañeda, A., Martínez Gila, P., Miquel, L., Ortega, J., & Ruiz Campillo, J.P. (2005). Gramática básica del estudiante de español
• Sans, N., Martín Peris, E., Garmendia, A., & Conejo, E. (2018). Bitácora 4 NUEVA EDICIÓN (B2) - Libro del alumno. Difusión
• Campus Difusión (support en ligne)

Faculty or entity

ILV