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SPAN10150

Academic Year 2025/2026

Intensive ab initio Spanish Ib (SPAN10150)

Subject:
Spanish
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Pascale Baker
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a high-intensity language module aimed at learners who have already consolidated level A1 of the Common European Framework. It is primarily recommended for students wishing to take Spanish to degree level. It is also suitable as an elective for those students who are willing to continue an intensive study of the language. Students from the Languages Connect/ Languages For All strand are welcome to enrol.
This accelerated module aims at providing learners with the basic competence in the language to be able to undertake the study of literary works in Spanish. It seeks to develop independent learners who are prepared to devote a considerable amount of personal study time outside the classroom, while it also provides: a) an integrated approach to learning Spanish in which learners are required to actively use the four language skills in the context of the classroom and autonomously, and b) a solid foundation in the grammar of the language. An Oral Exam will take place in week 13. At the end of this module students should have covered the key elements of level A2 of the European Framework, and will have previewed elements of B1. Students who have achieved at least a B grade in this module are deemed to have successfully progressed towards level A2 of the Common European Frame of Reference and to be progressing towards B1.

PLEASE NOTE: since this module focuses on practising and improving linguistic competence, attendance at, and participation in, language classes is of crucial importance. In addition to the classes, students should devote 6 hours a week to autonomous study, in order to achieve the learning outcomes.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

- write descriptive and narrative written texts articulating, in present and past tenses, basic storylines related to everyday topics with a precise control of grammatical accuracy. (Production)

- engage with selected aural and written materials by showing an understanding of their overall meaning and specific details relevant to the contents of this module. (Reception)

- accurately employ an appropriate range of vocabulary in narrating simple events and circumstances and expressing opinions about everyday topics, in oral and written communication. (Production)

- display a precise command of verb morphology (present, past, imperative, subjunctive, future, conditional) and sentence structure in Spanish. (Production)

- demonstrate an ability to manage their own learning through the completion of specified learning activities. (Reception and Production)

Indicative Module Content:

By the end of the module we will have covered units 9-16 in 'Frecuencias Directo'

As a general guide, we cover most of one chapter (or 'unit') of the book each week. In week 7, there will be the 50-minute AV Test, but you will have a practice test first.

Below is a skeleton of the grammar you are expected to have absorbed by the end of the module.

Semana 1: Repaso del primer trimestre y Unidad 9 inicio de 'Frecuencias Directo'.

1) Pretérito perfecto de indicativo regular e irregular, marcadores temporales del pasado reciente, adjetivos y pronombres indefinidos

Semana 2:
2) Terminación de la unidad 9 y inicio de U 10 : comparativos, contraste ser / estar, me parece + que

Semana 3:
3) Terminación de la U 10 y inicio de U 11: pretérito indefinido regular e irregular, marcadores temporales del pretérito, empezar + a, desde hasta, contraste ir/ irse.

Semana 4: Continuación de pretérito indefinido y U 11

Semana 5: Inicio de Unidad 12: pretérito perfecto regular e irregular, contraste todavía no, aún no, contraste conocer/ saber, negación.

Semana 6: Continuación de U 12 y inicio de U 13: pretérito indefinido regular y irregular, contraste pretérito perfecto y indefinido. Práctica para el Class Test.

Semana 7: Continuación de U 13 y Class Test.

Study Break

Semana 8: U14: pretérito imperfecto, marcadores temporales del pret. imperfecto, verbos llover, nevar, hacer frío, pret. pluscuamperfecto.

Semana 9: Continuación de de 14 y inicio de U 15: futuro simple.

Semana 10: U15: futuro simple y otras estructuras para expresar futuro u inicio de U16.

Semana 11: U16: Continuación de imperativo afirmativo y negativo regular e irregular, usos del imperativo, deber + infinitivo, tener que + infinitivo, poder + infinitivo

Semana 12: Repaso del contenido del módulo.


Habrá un test escrito en la semana 7 antes del break. En la semana 13 habrá un examen oral de 5-7 minutos y el examen terminal se realizará en el periodo de los exámenes en mayo.


Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

15
Autonomous Student Learning

62
Small Group

33
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Small group teaching. The approach is fundamentally participative with students encouraged to practise grammar points/vocabulary in pairs or groups. The 3 hours a week class time will be focused on the text book, as indicated in the module content, but may also incorporate other relevant exercises: online tests for example, which are listed on Brightspace. There will be specified learning activities in class and, to prepare for the exam, written exercises, aural tests, grammar tests will be tackled. Some of these are graded, some not. Students will be encouraged to work on their speaking, writing and aural comprehension skills, both in and beyond the classroom. This module will place additional emphasis on spoken skills.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

An accurate knowledge of the basics of Spanish grammar such as is provided in the Autumn 'ab initio' module SPAN 10140.

Learning Exclusions:

Students with prior studies of Spanish, and attainment of Leaving Certificate Spanish, A-level Spanish or equivalent, are not eligible to take this module.

Learning Recommendations:

Students who have not followed the 'ab initio' module SPAN10140 in Autumn are advised that SPAN10150 is a continuation module, and assumes an accurate knowledge of the basics of Spanish grammar. Any student contemplating taking this module who is unsure of possessing the necessary linguistic preparation should consult with the module co-ordinator. Students who failed SPAN 10140 are not advised to take this module.



Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
LANG10230 - Spanish Gen Purp 1, LANG10240 - Spanish Gen Purp 4, LANG10260 - Spanish Gen Purp 2, LANG20030 - Spanish Gen Purp 3, LANG20100 - Spanish Gen Purp 6, LANG20470 - Spanish Gen Purp 5, LANG20490 - Spanish Gen Purp 7, SPAN10010 - Spanish Language I a, SPAN10050 - Spanish Language I b

Equivalents:
Span Language I b (Beginners) (SPAN10060)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Written Exam testing written and comprehension skills. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Exam (In-person): Oral Exam Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
25
 No
Exam (In-person): Class Test on grammar covered so far in the module. Week 7 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
25
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given on non-graded tests at the discretion of the tutor Individual feedback will be given on graded assignments Feedback may be given to the class, e.g. on a particular grammar point, where appropriate. Students will complete regular tasks throughout the semester in preparation for the in-class test in week 7 and Oral in week 13.

Frecuencias directo: A1-B1 digital e-book (teaching and learning) with hard copy if desired for student learning and work at home

In the second trimester we will cover units 9-16 having studied units 1-8 in term 1. En el semestre 2 cubrirémos las unidades 9-16 (ver índice en libro digital).


Week 7: In-class writing test (35%)


Week 13: Oral exam (15%)

Exam Period (week 13 onwards: terminal exam: (60%)

Name Role
Dr Pascale Baker Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Maria Rodríguez Villaumbrales Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mariama Alves Tutor
Juan Antonio Martinez Tutor
Monica Redondo Tutor
Mr Julio Sanz Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
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