Intended audience and prerequisites
This module is intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Spanish.
Aims and objectives
Spanish One is part of the Languages for All programme. It aims to provide students with the basic language skills necessary to communicate in Spanish in simple, everyday tasks and situations related to living, studying or working in Spain an introduction to Spanish culture and to living in a Spanish-speaking country the basic structures and language study skills to ensure progression in language proficiency
The main goal of Spanish One is to help students acquire the basic language skills needed to cope with simple, everyday conversations in Spanish. Students also learn about aspects of life and culture in present-day Spain. Among the skills taught in Spanish One are the following: introduce yourself to other people, book a room in a hotel, ask for directions, make purchases in shops or order drinks/meals, arrange a meeting. Students also learn vocabulary and responses typically related to work or study issues. More specific details are provided in the work programme handed out at the start of each term.
Materials
The module is structured around a main textbook:
Holden, C. & Carmen Gil Ortega, M., Palgrave Foundations: Spanish 1. Palgrave Macmillan, London 2008. 2nd Edition (ISBN 978-0-230-21726-3)
This is essential requirement for the course, and copies are available for purchase from the university bookshop and online retailers.
Additional materials such as worksheets will be handed out in class, during the additional activities or posted on e-learning platforms such as Moodle/CMR.
In addition, the following are also strongly recommended:
A small bilingual dictionary (preferably from the Collins or Oxford range). For example:
Collins Easy Learning - Collins Easy Learning Spanish Dictionary Publisher: Collins; Sixth edition (5 Jan 2012) ISBN-13: 978-0007434763
OR
Collins Pocket - Collins Pocket Spanish Dictionary: Spanish - English / English – Spanish Publisher: Collins; Sixth edition (29 April 2010) ISBN-13: 978-0007324989
A basic grammar book, such as:
Collins Easy Learning Spanish Grammar & Practice Publisher: Collins; First edition (3 Mar 2011) ISBN-13: 978-0007391400
Schaum’s outline of Spanish Grammar, 5th edition – by Conrad J. Schmidtt
Publisher: Schaum's Outlines; 5 edition (1 Aug 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0071543958
An exercise/drill book, such as:
Spanish verb drills – Vivianne Bey
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Contemporary; 4th edition (1 Oct 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0071744720
STUDENT PARTICIPATION / COMMUNICATION
You are expected to produce home and coursework, to participate in classroom activities and to study on your own. You are also expected to keep yourself informed about any developments concerning the course by reading your Essex email / Moodle pages regularly.
Essential information such as deadlines, details of additional language activities, etc. will be communicated via Moodle, e-mails and the notice board outside of 4.303A.
Module structure and additional activities
The module will be taught in the evening over the Autumn and Spring terms (weeks 3-11, 16-25). There will be one revision class and a final assessment in the Summer Term (weeks 30-31).
You should expect to do around two hours of preparation for this class every week. This work involves reviewing previous work and vocabulary, and completing homework. There are additional language activities available to complement your self-study, such as Language Café (conversation classes) and Film Club. Attendance to the conversation classes is strongly encouraged to ensure progress in the language ability and success at class tests.
Language Cafe sessions
The conversation classes held in the Language Cafe sessions are aimed at practicing oral skills and review the topics covered in class. While this class isn’t mandatory, it is extremely
