Students

SPN 404 – Advanced Spanish IV

2018 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor (weeks 8-13)
Dr Consuelo Martínez Reyes
Contact via Email
AHH L2 North Wing
Unit Convenor (weeks 1-7)
Dr Cintia Agosti
Contact via iLearn unit communications
AHH L2 North Wing
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
SPN302
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit offers an overview of contemporary Hispanoamerican literature through the study of a selection of key texts. Students will analyse works from the most distinguished Latin American writers to develop further their knowledge of key developments in Latin American social and historical issues in the last centuries. Students need to have a solid knowledge of Spanish and be able to understand, discuss and present a topic using fluent written and oral 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:

  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Read, listen to, comprehend and discuss a variety of Latino American texts.
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

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
Participation 20% No As specified on weekly outline
Written Homework 15% No Weeks 2 and 6
Oral Homework 15% No Weeks 4 and 8
Research-based Essay 35% No Week 13
Oral Presentation 15% No Negotiated with Tutor

Participation

Due: As specified on weekly outline
Weighting: 20%

Regular participation in class/online discussions about the weekly topics and questions about other student´s oral presentations.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

Written Homework

Due: Weeks 2 and 6
Weighting: 15%

Students will be required to answer questions related to the different texts analysed in class. Written tareas will be due on weeks 2 and 6. Detailed instructions of these tasks are provided in the weekly outline.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.

Oral Homework

Due: Weeks 4 and 8
Weighting: 15%

Students will be required to answer questions related to the different texts analysed in class. Recordings should be between 3 to 5 minutes long. They should consist in spontaneous spoken language. Students must not read written scripts. Detailed instructions of these tasks are provided in the weekly outline.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

Research-based Essay

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%

Students will be required to formulate the research topic that they will address in their essay. They will be required to write the essay in Spanish. The word count for this task is 2,000 words. They can use the sources discussed in class but they will need to include information from at least 5 sources that have not been provided to them by the tutor.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Read, listen to, comprehend and discuss a variety of Latino American texts.
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.

Oral Presentation

Due: Negotiated with Tutor
Weighting: 15%

Each student will be required to deliver an oral presentation. The presentation should be between 5 and 7 minutes long. Each student will choose an author from those whose works are discussed in the course. Students may choose to discuss a text discussed in class and present a new perspective on its themes. Another alternative is for students to choose a text that has not been discussed in class and link the analysis of its themes to those discussed in class.

The presentations must be supported with visual aids produced with PowerPoint, Prezi or other format chosen by the student. A maximum of 5 slides is recommended. The script must be submitted to Turnitin.

The due date for the presentations will be negotiated with the tutor and will depend on the author chosen.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.

Delivery and Resources

This unit will use: iLearn, Echo recordings, Wiki

Recommended textbook: Chang-Rodríguez, R. y Filer, M.E. (2017). Voces de Hispanoamérica: Antología Literaria. Quinta Edición, Thomson-Heinle.

Times and Locations for Lectures and Tutorials: Please consult the MQ Timetable Website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online Unit

Login is 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. If applicable, students are required to download the relevant language package prior to Week 2.

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 shown in iLearn, 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.

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

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

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

  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Read, listen to, comprehend and discuss a variety of Latino American texts.
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Written Homework
  • Oral Homework
  • Research-based Essay
  • Oral Presentation

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

  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Read, listen to, comprehend and discuss a variety of Latino American texts.
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Written Homework
  • Oral Homework
  • Research-based Essay
  • Oral Presentation

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

  • Read, listen to, comprehend and discuss a variety of Latino American texts.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Oral Homework
  • Research-based Essay
  • Oral Presentation

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

  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Read, listen to, comprehend and discuss a variety of Latino American texts.
  • Attain a high level of spoken and written Spanish proficiency through practice in class and completion of exercises and assignments.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Written Homework
  • Research-based Essay
  • Oral Presentation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Written Homework
  • Oral Homework
  • Research-based Essay
  • Oral Presentation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Listen, speak, read and write modern Spanish language in a variety of registers.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of Latino American culture through textual (including literature) and audio-visual material, research and class discussions.
  • Develop a critical awareness of issues pertinent to Latino American identity.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Written Homework
  • Oral Homework
  • Research-based Essay
  • Oral Presentation

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Students performing with outstanding performance will attain language skills as described for Level C2 of the Common European Framework: understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.