Students

SPN 301 – Advanced Spanish I

2018 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Jane Hanley
Australian Hearing Hub lvl 2 North
Friday 12pm
Tutor
Dr Cintia Agosti
Contact via iLearn unit communications
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
6cp at 200 level including SPN202
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit follows a communicative approach and is designed to extend skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking by studying contemporary Spanish and Latin American issues through the analysis of a variety of representative films.

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:

  • Listening skills: Students will be able to understand extended speech and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understand general spoken language at normal speech rate; extract specific information and follow the significant points in an oral utterance; understand most TV news and short radio interviews; understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
  • Reading skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.
  • Speaking skills: Students will be able to express themselves spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language flexibly and effectively for social purposes; engage verbally with increasingly complex subjects; produce an oral presentation in order to demonstrate their knowledge about a set topic; use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary, set expressions and idioms and structure their speech logically.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

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
Oral presentation 10% No Various
Quizzes 20% No As specified in weekly guide
Participation 10% No Ongoing
Final Oral test 10% No Week 13
Final Written Test 10% No Week 13
Writing journal 40% No Cumulative/final in week 12

Oral presentation

Due: Various
Weighting: 10%

Oral presentation introducing sociohistorical context of one weekly topic.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.
  • Speaking skills: Students will be able to express themselves spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language flexibly and effectively for social purposes; engage verbally with increasingly complex subjects; produce an oral presentation in order to demonstrate their knowledge about a set topic; use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary, set expressions and idioms and structure their speech logically.

Quizzes

Due: As specified in weekly guide
Weighting: 20%

Weekly mini-tests on assigned viewing. Week 1 ungraded practice test, then 2% each.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listening skills: Students will be able to understand extended speech and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understand general spoken language at normal speech rate; extract specific information and follow the significant points in an oral utterance; understand most TV news and short radio interviews; understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

This unit has a strong emphasis on participation through discussions in Spanish in class and online, which is evaluated according to criteria presented in iLearn, including target language use, collaborative and engaged group work, structured revision and self-directed study outside of class, and creation of a positive learning environment.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listening skills: Students will be able to understand extended speech and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understand general spoken language at normal speech rate; extract specific information and follow the significant points in an oral utterance; understand most TV news and short radio interviews; understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
  • Reading skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.
  • Speaking skills: Students will be able to express themselves spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language flexibly and effectively for social purposes; engage verbally with increasingly complex subjects; produce an oral presentation in order to demonstrate their knowledge about a set topic; use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary, set expressions and idioms and structure their speech logically.

Final Oral test

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%

Conducted in class/live via Zoom in Week 13 and based on the topics covered during the semester.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listening skills: Students will be able to understand extended speech and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understand general spoken language at normal speech rate; extract specific information and follow the significant points in an oral utterance; understand most TV news and short radio interviews; understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
  • Speaking skills: Students will be able to express themselves spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language flexibly and effectively for social purposes; engage verbally with increasingly complex subjects; produce an oral presentation in order to demonstrate their knowledge about a set topic; use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary, set expressions and idioms and structure their speech logically.

Final Written Test

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%

Short answer in-class timed written test.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Writing journal

Due: Cumulative/final in week 12
Weighting: 40%

This is a three part assessment:

1. Writing journal (10%), entries completed weekly weeks 1-10. Pass/Fail.

2. Peer review of writing journal (10%), weekly weeks 1-10. Pass/Fail.

3. Resubmission of selected revised writing tasks (20%), week 12. Rubrics/exemplars in iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Delivery and Resources

This unit will use: iLearn and Echo recordings

Required texts: This unit incorporates many audiovisual resources, the majority of which are available streaming through the library collection. Please ensure you have an adequate connection for viewing these. Access DVD/alternative streaming options in order to view with subtitles disabled whenever possible. Reserve sufficient time to view these each week before coming to your first class, to ensure you are adequately prepared to participate in class activities.

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

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 outcome

  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Assessment tasks

  • Oral presentation
  • Final Oral test
  • Writing journal

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Writing journal

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 outcome

  • Reading skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.

Assessment tasks

  • Quizzes
  • Participation
  • Final Written Test
  • Writing journal

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

  • Listening skills: Students will be able to understand extended speech and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understand general spoken language at normal speech rate; extract specific information and follow the significant points in an oral utterance; understand most TV news and short radio interviews; understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Assessment tasks

  • Oral presentation
  • Quizzes
  • Participation
  • Final Oral test
  • Final Written Test
  • Writing journal

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 skills: Students will be able to read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems; identify and extract information from various sources. Students will have developed strategies to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and understand frequently used set expressions.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Assessment tasks

  • Oral presentation
  • Participation
  • Final Written Test
  • Writing journal

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

  • 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

  • Listening skills: Students will be able to understand extended speech and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understand general spoken language at normal speech rate; extract specific information and follow the significant points in an oral utterance; understand most TV news and short radio interviews; understand the majority of films in standard dialect.
  • Writing skills: Students will be able to write a clear, well-structured text, interpreting or expressing points of view at some length; write about increasingly complex subjects; write in a style appropriate to the reader in mind; express and justify opinions and give arguments supporting their point of view; explain and compare ideas presented to them in a text; use appropriate devices to ensure the smooth flow of a piece of writing most of the time; produce a text with few grammatical mistakes that would substantially interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Assessment tasks

  • Oral presentation
  • Participation
  • Final Oral test
  • Final Written Test
  • Writing journal

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 outcome

  • Speaking skills: Students will be able to express themselves spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language flexibly and effectively for social purposes; engage verbally with increasingly complex subjects; produce an oral presentation in order to demonstrate their knowledge about a set topic; use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary, set expressions and idioms and structure their speech logically.

Assessment tasks

  • Oral presentation
  • Quizzes
  • Final Oral test
  • Final Written Test

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 outcome

  • Speaking skills: Students will be able to express themselves spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language flexibly and effectively for social purposes; engage verbally with increasingly complex subjects; produce an oral presentation in order to demonstrate their knowledge about a set topic; use an increasingly wide range of vocabulary, set expressions and idioms and structure their speech logically.

Assessment task

  • Final Oral test

Changes from Previous Offering

This unit has been substantially redeveloped in 2018, with many new required resources, a new assessment model, new teaching staff and a new approach to in class learning.