Spanish (beginner¿s level) 2nd part (A1 - A2)

Teacher(s)

Tirado Fernandez Alicia Maria (coordinator);

Language

Spanish

Prerequisites

Having met the requirements of the LESPA1101 (A1 level) course or being able to demonstrate that the student already has the prerequisite level through a certificate or an oral level test with the teacher.

Main themes

As far as the level is concerned, the students should reach the A2+ level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in terms of Listening and Reading skills, and the A2- level as far as Speaking and Writing skills are concerned.
The objective of the course is the development of the communication skills of the student in General Spanish and building awareness about the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.
The communication contexts as well as the subjects are linked to everyday life : hobbies, travel, living conditions, invitations, family and friends, future projects, etc.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Understand key information from short listening-comprehension passages about everyday life and grasp enough to be able to react to straightforward oral messages, on condition that the input be clear and the pace not too fast. Talk about themselves and their immediate surroundings ; communicate during simple and common tasks that only require brief and direct interaction. Pronounce Spanish sounds and master basic vocabulary and the key concepts of basic Spanish grammar.
2	read short texts about everyday life (personal letters, etc.), find specific information in commonly-used documents (advertisements, etc.) and understand the gist of discursive texts or simple narrative. Write short and commonly-used documents (e-mail, postcards, etc.).

Content

The course is based on communication and the methodology is a blend between the communicative and the notional-functional approaches. Notions of code are not acquired through the learning of vocabulary lists or an exclusively structural approach to grammar.
These are integrated into meaningful contexts and grouped according to functional content (asking for and providing personal details, talking about everyday activities, spare time and tastes, describing a city, suggesting activities, etc.). They are subsequently practised in the form of excercises requiring the development of a global communicative competence.
The didactic materials include very detailed grammatical referencing and drilling exercises common to the structural approach, but the typology of the exercises and the basic materials are very heterogenous : songs, games, role-playing, authentic or abridged texts, advertisements, etc.

Teaching methods

The course follows the communicative notional-functional method.

The course is taught on site with the possibility of some distance learning sessions, as well as with e-learning content via UCLouvain platforms (Teams, Moodle) and external tools (Google). An A2-level book is used. 

Evaluation methods

Session 1 (December or June): 

• Final exam Grammar and Vocabulary:  45%.
• Oral exam:  35%.
• Continuous assessment (tests Moodle et other assignments) 20%. 

Important: A minimum mark of 10/20 in each of the two exams is required to add the Continuous assessment results to the final mark.
Session 2 (September):

• Final exam 60%.
• Oral exam 40%.    

Important: A minimum mark of 10/20 in each of the two exams is required to pass the course.
Warning: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) may not be used in this course. Their use will be considered as cheating.
*Depending on the health situation, the exams could be held remotely.

Other information

This course may be chosen as an elective by students from all faculties of UCL, as well as by members of the academic, scientific and administrative staff.

Online resources

http://moodle.uclouvain.be

Bibliography

• Aula Internacional Plus 2. Editorial: Difusión/Talenland
• Conseillé (pas obligatoire): Gramática básica del estudiante de español. Editorial Difusión

Support
Page Moodle du cours.

Teaching materials

• Aula Internacional Plus 2. Editorial: Difusión/Talenland

Faculty or entity

> ILV