LA041-4-FY-CO:
Language Expert 1

The details
2020/21
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 02 July 2021
30
23 May 2020

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

LA069

Key module for

BA Q140 Language Studies,
BA Q143 Language Studies (4 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA R900 Modern Languages,
BA R999 Modern Languages (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA R8T7 Modern Languages with Latin American Studies,
BA R8T9 Modern Languages with Latin American Studies (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA RR49 Spanish Studies and Modern Languages,
BA RT97 Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian Studies,
BA RT99 Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian Studies (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
MLANR990 Modern Languages (Translation),
BA R106 Language Studies with Latin American Studies,
BA R107 Language Studies with Latin American Studies (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

This introductory module is a foundation module designed to introduce key concepts relating to languages, language learning and intercultural communication, academic writing and independent research. It will help you develop intercultural skills and language awareness to support and complement the language skills that are covered in language-specific modules. Study resources include printed materials and online activities which support independent learning. Together, they will introduce you to some of the elements that define studying modern foreign languages.

Module aims

The aims of this module are
• to support students’ transition into HE by helping them develop the independent learning and research skills
• to give students a strong foundation in basic linguistic concepts that will support their language learning throughout their degree
• to give students the opportunity to develop their language and intercultural skills in order for them to become active members of their future language community.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will:


A. be equipped with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to gain maximum benefit from their language studies;
B. acquire a professional approach to their studies;
C. have the tools to understand linguistic concepts and to apply these concepts to the languages they study in order to become better learners.
D. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of some of the major concepts related to language, culture and society such as identity formation or cultural production;
E. analyse and differentiate between a variety of cultural artefacts;
F. have further improved their language competence and intercultural awareness through reading and viewing a range of cultural artefacts;
G. competently evaluate their own progress in language study.

Module information

Week 2: introduction to the module and your degree. Learning at university.
Week 3: note taking and writing at university.
Week 4: writing, referencing and plagiarism at university.
Week 5: reading skills at university.
Week 6: presentation skills workshop.
Week 7: language and professional communication in the digital age.
Week 8: lab workshop. Identify and communicate your skills in a digital profile.
Week 9: history of the language and word formation.
Week 10: vocabulary building.
Week 11: lab workshop. Digital mind maps for language learning.
Week 16: Genres and text types (1)
Week 17: Genres and text types (2)
Week 18: Constructing reality: ideology and vocabulary; ideology & grammar.
Week 19: Creating a podcast.
Week 20: Interpersonal relations: regulating behaviour; assertiveness; formality of vocabulary
Week 21: Advertising: historical context, figures of speech, language and culture.
Week 22: The news industry: who and what shape the news? How are the news shaped? (1)
Week 23: The news industry: who and what shape the news? How are the news shaped? (2)
Week 24: Fiction and comedy: humour and ideology
Week 25: Language and communication: language, speech and communication; non-verbal communication.
Week 30: The Year Abroad: preparation workshop.
Week 31: Module feedback workshop.

Learning and teaching methods

There is a two-hour workshop in English and a one-hour tutorial in the language the student has chosen as their major language (in tutorials with eight students or fewer, the tutorial is one-hour long) in the first term. In the second term, there is a one-hour workshop in English and a two-hour tutorial in the language the student has chosen as their major language. Workshops are dedicated to the introduction of new concepts whilst tutorials focus on creating opportunities to anchor them in language and culture-specific contexts.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non-essential items, please refer to the module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Quiz 1    10% 
Coursework   Quiz 2    15% 
Coursework   Quiz 3    15% 
Coursework   Portfolio    60% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Laetitia Vedrenne, email: laetitia.vedrenne@essex.ac.uk.
lmvedr@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Prof Sonia Cunico
University of Exeter
Director of Language Teaching
Prof Paul Bishop
University of Glasgow
Dr Maria Da Conceicao Pereira
Newcastle University
Lecturer
Ms Marga Navarrete
UCL
Spanish Coordinator
Ms Laurence Richard
University of Southampton
Director Centre for Language Study
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 5917 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
5917 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Language and Linguistics

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