OVERVIEW

Spanish Language III is a 9 CFU course that includes a Theoretical Module (semester), taught in Semester 1, and a Language learning course (Lettorato, annual).

The 6 CFU course, "Spanish 3rd language, third year" only includes the Lettorato.

Teachers: Prof. Ana Lourdes de Hériz (theoretical module) and a Language assistant (lettorato).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the necessary knowledge in order to develop skills in speech analysis in Spanish language (written and oral communication), also taking into account diatopic, diastratic and diaphasic variation and the different textual typologies.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

THEORETICAL MODULE

The theoretical module aims to lead students to know, recognise and be able to analyse the different communicative uses of language, conditioned by the contexts and purposes of social interaction. The course (theoretical but with practical analysis activities) aims to lead students to:

• Be able to identify and explain the phenomena of meaning and interpretation of communication by not only considering the linguistic code.
• Be able to apply to the analysis of oral communication the fundamental factors that intervene in the communicative situation and that determine its appropriateness and appropriate interpretation.
• Be able to apply to the production and interpretation of written texts the fundamental factors which intervene in the communicative situation and which determine its appropriateness and appropriate interpretation.
• Be able to recognise and describe units of conversation and be able to segment oral texts.

LETTORATO:

The 3rd-year Spanish Lectureship aims at a linguistic-cultural preparation which, with regard to communicative competence, enables learnes to develop the various skills required to carry out communicative tasks at B2.2 level of the European Framework of Reference for Languages, and enables students ti be able to

• read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. Has a broad active reading vocabulary, but may experience some difficulty with low-frequency idioms. 
• give clear, systematically developed descriptions and presentations, with appropriate highlighting of significant points, and relevant supporting detail. 
• produce clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to their field of interest, synthesising and evaluating information and arguments from a number of sources. 
• use the language fluently, accurately and effectively on a wide range of general, academic, vocational or leisure topics, marking clearly the relationships between ideas. Can communicate spontaneously with good grammatical control without much sign of having to restrict what they want to say, adopting a level of formality appropriate to the circumstances. 
• express news and views effectively in writing, and relate to those of others. 
• engage in online exchanges, linking their contributions to previous ones in the thread, understanding cultural implications and reacting appropriately. 
• establish a supportive environment for sharing ideas and facilitate discussion of delicate issues, showing appreciation of different perspectives, encouraging people to explore issues and adjusting sensitively the way they express things. 
• build on others’ ideas, making suggestions for ways forward; convey the main content of well-structured but long and propositionally complex texts on subjects within their fields of professional, academic and personal interest, clarifying the opinions and purposes of speakers/signers.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and practical exercises for the theory module and the lettorato.

Non-attending students are required to contact the two lecturers to inform them of their absence. There is no different exam for attending and non-attending students. A diary-register of lessons (lectures) and exercises with solutions (from the theoretical module) are published in the aulaweb area.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

THEORETICAL MODULE

In order to achieve the learning objectives, the following content will be presented:

• What is meant by discourse (in communication)
• Interlocutors, relations and voices of discourse
• Context and meaning of discourse
• Oral discourse: modes and types; characteristic elements of orality
• Written discourse: text and paratext
• Discourse analysis approaches

LETTORATO

• In-depth study of complex grammatical structures through contrastive analysis, exercises and periodic simulations, with particular focus on the following topics: contraste indicativo/subjuntivo, construcciones perifrásticas, concordancia verbal, estilo indirecto en pasado, verbos de régimen preposicional, valores del futuro y del condicional, formas impersonales del verbo, conectores discursivos, marcadores de la información, ortografía y acentuación.
• Expansion of vocabulary, including sectoral language related to the current topics examined, as well as colloquial language.
• Examination of the construction of a complex discourse, with particular attention to the argumentative structure, through the reading of opinion articles, the viewing of video material (reportage, interviews) and concrete application in the classroom (oral and written production). In-depth study of current issues through: the reading of texts or news reports, examination of the social function performed by progressive advertising, the viewing of reportages, films or short films and the planning of periodic classroom debates.
• Enhancement of synthesis and analysis skills through the examination of argumentative, narrative or descriptive texts, the identification of fundamental/secondary ideas, the reproduction of a new text revised from a formal point of view (paraphrase, synonyms) and the argumentative response to the same.
• Periodic oral and written simulations.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

THEORETICAL MODULE:

In addition to materials that will be proposed by the lecturer in the classroom, students should bring their own reading and study of:

ESCANDELL VIDAL, M. Victoria (2015). La comunicación. Lengua, cognición y sociedad. Madrid: AKAL 

LÓPEZ ALONSO, Covadonga (2014). Análisis del discurso. Madrid: Síntesis (chapters 3, 4, 5 & 6).

LETTORATO

We will provide details in September regarding the materials required to attend this part of the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes will begin at the start of the first term

Class schedule

SPANISH LANGUAGE III

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

THEORETICAL MODULE

Written exam of an analysis of written or oral texts and a short oral interview on the prescribed bibliography.

LETTORATO
The examination consists of a written and an oral test, for a total of 30 marks. The written exam consists of a summary, a short argumentative text and a quiz with grammar and vocabulary exercises. The oral exam consists of an interactive conversation on current topics examined during the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Theoretical module:

The assessment will check the ability to apply the acquired knowledge critically to the analysis of written and oral discourse in Spanish. 

 Lettorato: written tests will check reading comprehension and written expression, as well as lexical, morphosyntactic and grammatical skills to reach a B2.2. competence. The oral test will check expression and oral interaction skills on current topics addressed during the course in the classroom.

The following will be taken into account for the assessment and the final grade:

- the ability to identify relevant information in a text and paraphrase its structure;

- fluency and correction;

- cohesion and discursive coherence;

- lexical mastering;

- personal critical and argumentative contribution.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have duly submitted certification of disability, SLD or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the contact person Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it) and the teachers at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods which, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.