Students

SPN 101 – Introductory Spanish I

2019 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Tutor
Susana Catalina Prat
susana.catalina@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Pilar Alejandro
pilar.alejandro@mq.edu.au
Convenor
Consuelo Martinez Reyes
consuelo.martinezreyes@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Nidia Castrillon
nidia.castrillon@mq.edu.au
Rosa del Pilar Alejandro Asenjo
pilar.alejandro@mq.edu.au
Susana Catalina Prat
susana.catalina@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is for students who have never studied Spanish before. Students who have studied Spanish or had some informal exposure to the language through family, friends or travel should contact the unit convenor before enrolling in this unit. The course follows a communicative approach and is designed to develop skills in listening comprehension and speaking, but similarly promotes proficiency in reading and writing in order to cultivate the competencies and guidelines established by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The unit aims to prepare students to, among others: introduce themselves and others, ask and answer questions about personal details, understand and use everyday expressions, and interact in simple ways with native speakers of Spanish.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

General Assessment Information

Rubrics and indicative samples are provided in iLearn as additional guidance on standards of achievement for different assessment types.

Submission of most tasks is via iLearn. All assessment tasks are compulsory and must be submitted on time. Assignment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.

Late Assessment Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Language study orientation 5% No Week 2
Participation and Preparation 15% No Ongoing
Homework 15% No Weeks 4, 6, 9, and 12
Quizzes 25% No Weeks 5, 7, 10, and 13
Mini compositions 10% No Weeks 6 and 12
Audio responses 10% No Weeks 5 and 10
Oral tests 20% No Weeks 7 and 13

Language study orientation

Due: Week 2
Weighting: 5%

Prepares students for university language study and the Spanish online environment. Pass/Fail.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Participation and Preparation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

In-class/online participation includes completing preparation activities before class as described in the iLearn weekly blocks, and demonstrating so through class participation. Note that students who do not prepare for class by studying the specified content at home will not be able to keep up with the pace of the unit. At-home preparation (or lack thereof) will become evident in your ability to participate. This assessment component may involve an individual consultation with your tutor before the mid-semester break, to get advice on your progress and recommendations for your oral skills.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Homework

Due: Weeks 4, 6, 9, and 12
Weighting: 15%

Regularly complete assigned tasks on the Top Hat website (link also available on ILearn).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Quizzes

Due: Weeks 5, 7, 10, and 13
Weighting: 25%

Short answer quizzes on key grammar, vocabulary and comprehension.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Mini compositions

Due: Weeks 6 and 12
Weighting: 10%

Brief written assignments submitted online (via ILearn) that test your ability to use skills learnt.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Audio responses

Due: Weeks 5 and 10
Weighting: 10%

Record and submit your oral answers to questions provided by your instructor (via Ilearn/Voicethread).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.

Oral tests

Due: Weeks 7 and 13
Weighting: 20%

Oral tests assessing skills acquired through previous assessment.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery: Day, Evening, External (Fully online)

Required resources:

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: http://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/unitsonline/ Use this link to check when your online unit will become available.

Required resources:

E-book: Explorando, accessed through the Top Hat online platform. Price of the e-book varies depending on length of access purchased. A link and instructions to buy the e-book will be available on ILearn. Similarly, students who enrol early may receive an email invitation directly from Top Hat to buy Explorando. Explorando can be accessed for free while at the Macquarie University library. Note that the website will ask to access your location in order to verify it.

Times and Locations for Practicals and Seminars: Please consult the MQ Timetables Website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

Login via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: http://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/unitsonline/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required.

Please contact your course convenor before the end of Week 1 if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Assessment tasks

  • Mini compositions
  • Audio responses
  • Oral tests

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.

Assessment tasks

  • Language study orientation
  • Participation and Preparation
  • Homework

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Assessment tasks

  • Homework
  • Quizzes
  • Mini compositions
  • Audio responses
  • Oral tests

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Language study orientation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Spoken Production: produce simple mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
  • Listening: follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for the learner to assimilate meaning.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact in a simple way, allowing for a modulated rate of speech and rephrasing; ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
  • Reading: understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at the time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
  • Writing: ask for or pass on personal details in written form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation and Preparation
  • Quizzes
  • Mini compositions
  • Audio responses
  • Oral tests

Changes from Previous Offering

Improved, more detailed orientation task to help students assess their language learning skills and familiarise themselves with strategies to succeed in the study of languages at university.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
10/02/2019 Nidia Castrillon has been assigned a role, as suggested.
25/01/2019 New textbook (e-book) information has been updated on the Delivery and Resources section, which I forgot before. Previously approved version had info for the previous text.