LA069-6-FY-CO:
Modern Languages Capstone Project

The details
2024/25
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
30
02 September 2024

 

Requisites for this module
LA041 and LA042 and LA051
The Department of Language and Linguistics can offer guidance on prior knowledge or qualification exemptions.
(none)
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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 R106 Language Studies with Latin American Studies,
BA R107 Language Studies with Latin American Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA Q911 Modern Languages Translation, Interpreting and Cultural Mediation,
BA Q912 Modern Languages Translation, Interpreting and Cultural Mediation (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

Building on the knowledge and skills gained in their language modules and the Year Abroad (if applicable), students will conduct an independent study, under supervision, on a topic related to their chosen language (areas studied at levels 4, 5 and 6). The topic must be approved by their supervisor. The study culminates in a project written in the target language. The project can take the form of:



  • A 6,000-word capstone project: for example, a research project on an aspect of culture or society, a literature/film review and analysis (with a focus on a specific author/text or director/film);

  • A 5,000-word website with additional information given in web design (pages, links, structure, etc.) and content (pictures, videos, graphs, etc.);

  • A 6,000-word translation project consisting of a 2,000 word translation into English and a 4,000-word commentary written in the target language. This is only available to students who are enrolled into LA067 (Translation, Subtitling and Interpreting) or have taken an equivalent translation module during their Year Abroad.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To develop students' ability to conduct independent research.

  • To work with varied and complex sources of information in the target language, thus having the opportunity to develop analytical thinking and problem solving abilities.

  • To expand linguistic proficiency and communication skills in the target language.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Have a sound understanding of how to conduct independent research, gather information and report the results of research.

  2. Have advanced lexical and grammatical knowledge of the target language, and an in-depth understanding of the topic they have investigated.

  3. Have acquired useful transferable skills such as independent learning, planning and organization and editing and digital skills.

Module information

Materials placed on Moodle are essential to the module and should be treated like a textbook. They must be downloaded, printed and brought to classes. Materials will be added to Moodle when needed, and you are expected to check updates regularly.

Learning and teaching methods

A combination of seminar work, individual supervision in person and by email, and independent study:

  • Generic (all languages) weekly support sessions (2 hours each) on research methods and academic skills in the autumn term. The first hour (compulsory) is a seminar in which the teacher provides information on the different aspects of the research project and related activities, the second (optional) is a practical session in which students work on their project in the company of their peers, with help available from the teacher.
  • 3 individual supervision sessions in both autumn term and spring term.

Term 0: – Summer Term prior to final year of study:

  • Select a topic for study (+ scope and range) and email a suggestion to the language teacher. A supervisor will be assigned.
  • With the help of the supervisor, identify research questions, sources of information and data gathering methods and start independent research.
  • For translation project only: select a 2,000 word text to translate and email a suggestion to the language supervisor. With the help of the supervisor, identify main translation challenges, sources of information and start independent  
  • Send a draft proposal to the supervisor in week 38.
  • Complete a written Project Proposal* of 400 words and submit it to the supervisor by week 40. This will count for 10% of the overall mark for the capstone project.

* Any subsequent changes to the proposal will have to be agreed by the supervisor and the module director.

Term 1:

  • Attend the generic sessions and the individual sessions with the supervisor.
  • Submit a capstone project plan and a bibliography.
  • For website only: design a layout and a
  • For translation project only: analyse the source text that was chosen at the proposal stage and start translating it. Identify the main translation challenges that will be the focus of the
  • Submit short drafts of sections/sub-sections. For the translation project: this should be a mixture of translated passages and translation

Term 2:

  • Submit the draft of a section or sections (1,500 words) by week 16. This is a formative piece of assessment, for which students will receive feedback but which will not count towards the final mark.
  • Attend the individual sessions with the supervisor.
  • Re-write the 1,500 draft in the light of the supervisor’s feedback.
  • Write up the project, considering comments from the supervisor and peer review (where applicable).
  • For website only: finish the design and incorporate content into

Easter break
Finalise and submit the 6,000 word capstone project (including content page, annotations/bibliography, appendices, etc.) or 5,000 word website (including references to sources) by Tuesday of week 28. This will count for 70% of the overall mark.

Term 3:

Prepare a viva to defend the work: this will consist in a 10 min. oral presentation in week 32, with written support (slides, bibliography), followed by 10 min. questions. This will count for 20% of the overall mark.

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   Written proposal (in English)    10% 
Coursework   Final dissertation  08/04/2025  70% 
Practical   Oral presentation (viva) in the target language, with written support (slides, bibliography)    20% 

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
Ms Dounia Bissar, email: dbissar@essex.ac.uk.
Dounia Bissar (French), Claudia Alsdorf (German), Antonio Da Silva (Portuguese), Teresa Torres (Spanish), Daniela Carboni (Italian)
Dounia Bissar, Room 4.215, tel. 2213, email dbissar@essex.ac.uk. Contact teachers: Dounia Bissar (French), Claudia Alsdorf (German), Antonio Da Silva (Portuguese), Teresa Torres (Spanish), Daniela Carboni (Italian)

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Mrs Enza Siciliano Verruccio
University of Reading
Associate Professor
Mrs Laura Hedwig Anneliese Lewis
Durham University
Assistant Professor
Prof Maria Teresa Conde
University of Cambridge
University Professor
Ms Maria Isabel Moros
University of Exeter
Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies
Ms Cathy Molinaro
Cardiff University
Senior Lecturer
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 18 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Language and Linguistics

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