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Unit outline_

SPAN1621: Spanish Level 1

Intensive November - December, 2024 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study is for absolute beginners or for students who have no substantial prior knowledge of Spanish. It focuses on the basic vocabulary and grammar necessary to introduce and talk about yourself and other people, and communicate successfully in simple everyday situations, both by speaking and in writing. It also introduces elements of the history, society and culture of the Spanish-speaking countries.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Spanish and Latin American Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
SPAN1601 or SPAN1611
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Fernanda Penaloza, fernanda.penaloza@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 29 November 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small test Written reflective project
Written & audiovisual reflections due Week 1, 2 and 3
15% Multiple weeks 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4
Participation Participation
Awarded weekly based on 1) homework completion and 2) class participation
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Small test Early Feedback Task
Mock writing reflection. #earlyfeedbacktask
0% Week 01
Due date: 25 Nov 2024 at 17:00
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Culture test 1
Online quiz
7.5% Week 02 400 words, 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Online task Online language test 1
Online quiz
5% Week 02 275 words, 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2
Creative assessment / demonstration group assignment Oral task (YouTube Project)
Group video project
15% Week 03 800 words / 5-6 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
Small test Final in-class test
In-class grammar and cultural test covering all topics
25% Week 03 800wd-equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Online task Final online test
Online grammar quiz
10% Week 03 550 words, 60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Online task Culture test 2
Online quiz
7.5% Week 03 400 words, 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Attendance Online language test 2
Online quiz
5% Week 03 275 words, 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 WEEK 1 DAY 1 IDENTITIES MODULE CONCEPTS Expectations Latino identity - Introductions to the course LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT - Tips for learning Spanish - Learning how to use a dictionary - Reading and writing in Spanish - Discussion of “¿Quién es Latino?” by Carlos Lozada PRACTICE LANGUAGE Introductions in Spanish - Useful expressions - Infinitives Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
WEEK 1 DAY 2 IDENTITIES MODULE CONCEPTS Indigenous identity and racism in Latin America LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT - Discussion of mini-documentary Message for my daughter - Mapuche identity PRACTICE LANGUAGE Numbers - The verb SER - Recognizing verbs and their subjects - Conjugations Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
WEEK 1 DAY 3 LANGUAGES MODULE CONCEPTS Spanish in Latin America LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT - Getting used to getting all instructions in Spanish - Discussion of “¿Por qué en América Latina no pronunciamos la Z y la C como en España?” by Gerardo Lissardy - Writing practice: Passage analysis PRACTICE LANGUAGE - Brief grammar review - Recognizing nouns - Gender - Articles Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 WEEK 2 DAY 4 BODIES MODULE CONCEPTS The origins of Salsa LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT - Discussion of “¿Qué es la Salsa?” by Gisela Tucuch - Discussion of Marc Anthony’s “Vivir mi vida” and Celia Cruz’s “La vida es un carnaval” LANGUAGE PRACTICE Opiniones, conjeturas - POR, PARA, PORQUE - QUIERO + infinitive Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
WEEK 2 DAY 5 BODIES MODULE CONCEPTS Dancing Salsa LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT Audiovisual workshop 1 LANGUAGE IN PRACTICE Expressing intentions - Demonstratives - Interests - GUSTAR - Asking questions: using the interrogative pronouns Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
WEEK 2 DAY 6 EMOTIONS MODULE CONCEPTS Feeling the Movies LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT - Discussion of “George. A. Romero: zombis y crítica social” by Alberto Plumed - Consumerism and zombies’ films LANGUAGE IN PRACTICE - GUSTAR - Asking questions: using the interrogative pronouns - Preferencias - Introduction to possessives Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 WEEK 3 DAY 7 BORDERS MODULE CONCEPTS Media and immigration LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT - Discussion of “Periodismo vs. inmigración” by Rosina Iglesias - Media representation of immigrants in Latin America LANGUAGE PRACTICE - Reflexive verbs - Regular vs. irregular verbs -Superlatives Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
WEEK 3 DAY 8 MEMORIES MODULE CONCEPTS The colonial present: Bolivia’s Indigenous people Audiovisual Workshop Mock Final Exam LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT Discussion of “Realidades Bolivia” LANGUAGE PRACTICE Verb Conjugation Review Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
WEEK 3 DAY 9 General Review YouTube Workshop Tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Lecture Recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately two hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Before the commencement of classes you must have purchased the following :

  • Beginning Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide to 100 Essential Skills. Luis Aragones, Ramon Palencia. ISBN 9780071840644. McGraw Hill.
  • Spanish-English bilingual dictionary
  • SPAN1621 course reader to be purchased at USYD Copy Centre

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. know how the Spanish language works grammatically at the sentence level
  • LO2. acquire an introductory solid practice of basic language skills such as reading and writing in order to progressively transition to practicing more advanced ones such as listening and speaking.
  • LO3. discover how essential concepts in the Spanish speaking world intersect with your own perceptions of the world
  • LO4. start doing cultural analysis in a second language.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.