I.          CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COURSE

The course, which consists of 90 hours of contact time, is subdivided into two consecutive modules. The first of these modules is intensive, and lasts for 25 hours over a two-week period. The second module is extensive and has 65 hours of classes delivered over a period of approximately 12 weeks.

II.        PREREQUISITES

Completion of Level Test.

III.       METHODOLOGY

The program is communicative in nature, both in its learning outcomes and the teaching methodology employed. As a result, all of the course’s learning objectives are set in terms of the student’s ability to use the language. The course content is directly linked to the learning objectives; and the teaching methodology is based on communicative activities accompanied by the necessary reflection on the language to facilitate its assimilation and a good command of its structures.

IV.        EVALUATION SYSTEM

The intermediate level evaluation system is outlined below. At the end of the course (intensive module + extensive module) the student will receive a classification or final grade.

·          HISPANIC STUDIES PROGRAM ATTENDANCE POLICY.

In order to reflect the extreme importance this program places on regular attendance at class, the following attendance policy will be applied when calculating the final grade for the course. During the course (90 hours), 4 non-justified absences will be allowed without affecting the student’s final grade. 5 non-justified absences will result in the student’s final grade being lowered by one mark. Six non-justified absences will result in the student’s final grade being lowered by two marks. Seven or more non-justified absences will result in the student receiving a grade of “Incomplete”.

V.         GRADING AND CLASSIFICATION SCHEME

In assessed pieces of work, progress tests and the final exam, the following grading and classification scheme will be used:

VI.        COURSE OBJECTIVES

Communication Skills

By the end of the course the student will:

·          be able to understand the main points of a text written in clear and standard language, that deals with familiar subjects such as those related to work, study or leisure time.

·          feel at ease using appropriate language and register in most situations that could occur during a visit to a Spanish-speaking area.

·          be able to write simple and coherent texts on familiar topics of personal interest.

·          be able to describe experiences, events, hopes and aspirations, give opinions and explain future plans.

·          be aware of the most important norms of politeness and be able to act accordingly.

·          be aware of the principal differences in customs, attitudes, values and beliefs between Spanish society and their own society and be able to respond to these differences accordingly.

Language Competencies

By the end of the course the student will:

·          have a range of language structures available to describe unpredictable situations, to explain the main points of an idea or problem with reasonable accuracy and to express ideas related to abstract or cultural themes such as music or cinema.

·          be able to demonstrate a good command of basic vocabulary, allowing for possible mistakes when expressing more complex ideas or dealing with less common topics and situations.

·          be able to communicate with reasonable accuracy in day-to-day situations, generally demonstrating a good command of grammatical structures. Despite the presence of mother-tongue interference and possible mistakes, these should not hinder the communication process.

·          have a clear and understandable pronunciation, even though a foreign accent is still audible and occasional errors may be made.

VII.      COURSE CONTENT

·          NOTIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL CONTENTS

o         Talking about habits and routines in the present

o         Narrating in the past.

o         Asking for and giving information in a variety of academic and professional situations

o         Reminding someone to do something

o         Expressing (and asking about) likes and dislikes

o         Expressing (and asking about) feelings and physical and emotional states

o         Suggesting activities and responding to suggestions

o         Expressing doubt and uncertainty

o         Expressing wants and needs

o         Reacting to new information

o         Expressing different degrees of probability

o         Formulating hypotheses in the future and past

o         Asking for and giving permission

o         Expressing astonishment and surprise, sympathy and fear

o         Objecting and complaining

o         Encouraging and calming down

o         Recommending something

o         Allowing someone else to choose

·          GRAMMATICAL CONTENTS

Morphology

Consolidation of knowledge of the system of pronouns and determiners; command of alternative structures and special cases:

·           Personal pronouns: emphatic, weak direct and indirect object pronouns, uses of se (substitute for le, in impersonal expressions, to show lack of intent)

·          Demonstrative pronouns: to consolidate knowledge of forms and contrast between degrees of proximity; exophoric and endophoric usages.

·          Possessive pronouns: form and usage of the possessive pronoun preceded by the definite article.

·          Relative and interrogative pronouns with and without prepositions.

·          Consolidation of knowledge of definite and indefinite quantifiers and structures to express  degree (poco / un poco / cualquier(a), todo (singular/plural)…)

·          The adjective:

o         Options for expressing degree

o         Position in the sentence

·          The verb:

·          Tense system in the indicative (present, present perfect, imperfect and past perfect). General contrasts.

·          Tense system in the subjunctive (present, present perfect, imperfect and past perfect) and introduction to usage.

·          Usage of the future tense to express probability.

·          Verbal periphrases: Extension

Syntax

Consolidation of knowledge of syntactic structures.

·          The simple sentence

o         Impersonal constructions (hacer / haber / estar / ser).

o         Total and partial, direct and indirect interrogative structures

o         Comparative structures

o         Impersonal usage of se / uno / tú and the third person plural.

·          The complex sentence: basic conjunctions and common contrasts in mood.

o         Nouns with infinitive and with que (ya sé que…, quiero que…, me apetece que…, me doy cuenta de que…, la idea de que..)

o         Relative clauses (que) with and without prepositions

o         Concessive clauses (aunque)

o         Causal clauses (porque)

o         Conditional clauses (si)

o         Time clauses (cuando)

·          Introduction to reported speech

·          Different usages of verbal periphrases (empezar a + infinitive; quedarse + gerund; quedarse + participle; acabar de + infinitive; etc.).

·          Prepositions: Rules with verbs and adjectives

·          LEXICAL CONTENT

The basic vocabulary and  most frequent complex expressions required to deal with the following themes:

o         Personal information

o         Job and studies

o         Character and personality

o         Hobbies and interests

o         Family and personal relations

o         Health and the body

o         Feelings and moods

o         Activity and physical exercise

o         Clothing and personal belongings

o         Services (hairdresser’s, doctor’s surgery)

o         The home and its surroundings

o         Types of housing, distributions and parts of a house

o         Services and household expenditure

o         Furniture, fixtures and fittings

o         Objects, appliances and day-to-day utensils and tools

o         The city

o         Facilities and public services

o         Monuments and museums

o         Leisure activities, events and shows

o         Food and drink

o         Restaurants

o         Cooking and the market: types of food, herbs and spices

o         Free time

o         Sports and games

o         Festivities and celebrations

o         Nature and the environment

o         Plants and animals

o         Education and training

o         School, university and studies

o         Examinations and qualifications

o         Society and State

o         History

o         Territorial and administrative organization

o         Habits and customs

VIII.     TEXTBOOK:

In addition to the material given out by the teacher in class, which should be carefully filed by the students on a daily basis, the following textbook will be used during the course:

ž J. Corpas, A. Garmendia, C. Soriano (2005) AULA 3. Curso de español (+ CD Audio) / AULA 4. Curso de español (+ CD Audio). Barcelona: Editorial DIFUSIÓN