Portuguese Beginner (LAS1115)

Overview

• University credits: 20
• FHEQ level: 4
• Availability: Students, members of staff, members of the public
• Frequency of class: Twice a week
• Group size: Maximum of 23 students per seminar group and 10-15 students per tutorial group
• Module Leader: Diva Fleming

Description

This unit aims to consolidate and expand the general foundation in the language and culture acquired at a beginner's level, providing a solid basis for the next level and enabling learners to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at an elementary level with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad.

Learning outcomes

• Perform at Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• Understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (eg very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment), and catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.
• Read and extract key information from short, simple texts and written documents (messages, notices, instructions, brochures, etc.)
• Interact in a simple way with a sympathetic native speaker in routine, predictable situations, requesting or providing fairly detailed factual information, and coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected responses by asking for repetition or clarification.
• Write simple notes, messages and short personal letters or emails providing or requesting essential information.
• Demonstrate an insight into very basic aspects of the culture and everyday life in areas where the language is spoken so as to respond appropriately when interacting with native speakers in simple situations.
• Demonstrate a practical understanding of essential grammar terminology and a basic ability to study the language by themselves, using essential tools such as the World Wide Web or a dictionary and developing techniques for the acquisition and retention of new language.
• Demonstrate awareness in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, presenting information, handling unexpected communicative situations, taking intercultural differences and language barriers into account, learning independently, etc.

Assessment

Credited students

• Speaking assessment: 30%
• Formal written examination: 40%
• Autumn project: 15%
• Spring project: 15%

Not-for-credit fee-waiver students

Mandatory assessment to be completed in order to qualify for fee-waiver.

Not-for-credit self-funded students

Assessment is not mandatory.