Module: Spanish Language & Culture 1 (A1.1)

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Spanish Language & Culture 1 (A1.1)
Module Code	SPA1021 (ITS: SP3001)
Faculty	SALIS	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module is designed for total beginners of Spanish and it will introduce learners to some of the essential aspects of the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. The module will enable students to carry out simple interactions in Spanish in order to satisfy concrete needs that relate to themselves and others.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand familiar words and phrases to identify the main topic in familiar texts. Develop student's awareness on how to apply the necessary strategies to achieve this goal.
2. Ask simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of personal presentation such as introducing yourself and others.
3. Produce simple texts in writing on matters of personal relevance as well as personal online postings as a series of very short sentences about e.g. personal information, hobbies, likes/dislikes, etc.
4. Understand the basic principles of some simple grammar structures. Yet, the student still systematically makes basic mistakes which throughout the module shall develop awareness of them.
5. Begin building an awareness of social and cultural similarities and differences between Ireland (or your own country) and Spanish-speaking countries.
6. Reflect on your own learning to identify future progression in Spanish. Lifelong learning

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Seminars	22	Class contact hours (online and face to face)
Independent Study	33	Autonomously learning outside the classroom that will foster student´s language competence. For example, participation in activities with Language Cultural Space.
Assignment Completion	25	Completion of prescribed homework and assigments required to monitor the progress of the student
Portfolio Preparation	45	Preparation, creation and final submission of the E-portfolio on Loop for assessment to show evidence of individual and directed learning.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	12182	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Juan Pablo Aunon	Module Teacher	Elena Lopez

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Participation	Attendance to at least 50% of the seminars.	10%	n/a
Performance evaluation	Language skills, intercultural and communicative competence evaluation.	40%	n/a
Portfolio	Progress based on the completion of weekly learning entries in the E-Portfolio, that show evidence of independent learning and completion of activities during the semester.	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative content
The module is gradually delivered in Spanish becoming the language of instruction during the semester. Face to face sessions are interactive and learner-centred. Throughout the semester, students will perform individual and pair/group work to complete comprehension, production and interactions tasks to develop their language competence in matters of personal relevance (e.g. basic description of people, countries, likes and dislikes, travelling and activities). In doing so, students will begin to develop some intercultural awareness of cultural differences in relation to these topics and a range of transferable and life-long learning skills.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None