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An introductory language course for students with no previous knowledge of Spanish.
SPAN101 is a course designed to offer students the opportunity to acquire initial knowledge of the Spanish language as well as the appreciation of different Hispanic cultures. This paper is a half-year beginning language course that assumes no prior knowledge or experience with Spanish. The course is based on the communicative approach to language learning: All four of the basic communication skills will be developed and students will practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The overall emphasis is on realistic situations that could prove useful in a practical sense to students. Since reading and writing can be practiced outside of the classroom, class time will be devoted mainly to listening and speaking activities.Expectations1. Attendance: Students in this course are expected to attend all classes and participate actively. Languages are learned by doing, and the tutorial-style sessions in this course are designed to create an atmosphere in which students can put their language skills into use. Using Spanish to interact with your instructor and your classmates is an important aspect of learning the language. You should understand that frequent and extended absences will not allow you to develop the necessary language skills. If you do not attend regularly and do not keep up with the work, you will therefore not only be hindering your own progress, but you will also be holding back the other students with whom you are working.2. Participation: Since this course is largely grounded on the communicative approach toward acquiring a language (strong emphasis on conversational and listening skills), active class participation is considered an essential part of the course; hence, it’s expected that each and every student attend all lectures thoroughly prepared and ready to participate in class activities. 3. Homework: Homework, other than the compulsory assignments outlined on the description of assessment items section of this course outline, will be assigned on a regular basis strictly for your own benefit. You are expected to complete it and, although it may not be collected, your instructor will check it from time to time so as to ensure that you are on task.4. LEARN: Learn constitutes an important communication tool for the course; therefore, you are expected to check it on a daily basis.
The main objectives of SPAN101 are to enable students to… understand the main idea and most of the supporting details of spoken and written Spanish geared for university students of Spanish on current affairs and topics related to students’ daily life.speak in complete sentences about familiar topics with sufficient grammatical accuracy.read simple edited articles with an understanding of the main ideas and most of the supporting details.write brief and coherent paragraphs on a familiar topic with sufficient grammatical accuracy as to be understood by native speakers of Spanish. understand significant cultural traits such as lifestyles, attitudes, customs, and geography.SPAN101 addresses the UC Graduate Profile key attributes in the following manner:Students will demonstrate critical competency to sustain elementary oral and written exchanges of information and ideas in Spanish.SPAN 101 has been designed to introduce students to the Spanish language and the many facets of Hispanic culture. Active engagement with the content of this course will allow students to develop the skills to critically analyse linguistic and cultural patterns by transforming elementary knowledge of pronunciation, vocabulary, verb forms, syntax, and grammar into effective communication in Spanish.Students will develop specific skills, abilities and knowledge that are essential for a successful career. SPAN101 will combine practical-oriented tasks with grammar-focused interactive activities. Students will be able to communicate confidently in a wider range of social interactions including formal situations and simple professional contexts. This interactive learning environment will help students to develop their language proficiency, to successfully engage in social interaction and acquire conversational techniques at the elementary level.Students will identify patterns of interaction that are relevant in different cultural settings.By critically examining cultural beliefs, values and aspects of everyday life, students will demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives and products of the culture studied in in Spanish-speaking nations. This, in turn, will allow them to become increasingly aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand.Students will foster a sense of community engagement through the study of Spanish language and culture.Since students will develop their proficiency in order to be able to communicate and exchange points of view with Spanish speakers, they will also gain a broad understanding of the diversity of Hispanic cultures through a study of these societies’ literary and cultural contributions, traditions, and perspectives. This will enable them to reflect on their own cultural frame of reference in order to help integrate community interactions with Spanish speakers through a variety of academic and cultural assignments that will be mutually beneficial for the students and the communityStudents will develop an understanding of and appreciation for other cultures and/or subcultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Students will learn how to effectively utilise different critical lenses to examine the conditions, cultural heritage and values of other cultures in a global setting and to recognise distinctive viewpoints through the study of Spanish and texts produced in different cultural contexts.examine the conditions, cultural heritage and values of other cultures in a global setting and to recognise distinctive viewpoints through the study of Spanish and texts produced in different cultural contexts.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Engaged with the community
Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.
Globally aware
Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department
Complete the workbook for a bonus +5%
The book can be ordered online from the Language Fuel NZ Resource Room. A special discount package is offered to University of Canterbury students.Optional Texts:• "501 Spanish Verbs" by Christopher Kendris (any edition)• Any English/Spanish DictionaryUseful Websites:• wordreference.com – an excellent online dictionary• quizlet.com – useful for learning vocabulary• languageperfect.com – useful for learning vocabularyThere is a Learn (Moodle) component to this course. Other material, which may be helpful, can be found in the Library Subject Guides: http://canterbury.libguides.com/span
Library portalLEARN The full Course Outline is available on LEARN (only for students enrolled in this course).
Domestic fee $761.00
International fee $3,188.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .