ML2YL5-Year Abroad Language

Module Provider: Modern Languages
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Dr Marine Orain

Email: m.orain@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module assesses the oral and textual competence in French/German/Italian/Spanish language achieved by the student as a result of one year of full immersion abroad.

Aims:
The module aims to promote students' ability to provide a critical analysis and discussion of a variety of topics in written and spoken French/German/Italian/Spanish as well as facilitate the acquisition and understanding of complex linguistic structures.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:

- express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in written and spoken French/German/Italian/Spanish;
- display extensive knowledge of the vocabulary appropriate to a variety of topics and registers;
- express clearly constructed arguments, both orally and in writing;
- show a good understanding of both written and spoken French/German/Italian/Spanish and an ability to synthesise and discuss what they have read or heard;
- show an ability to analyse written and oral texts;
- demonstrate good pronunciation and intonation when speaking French/German/Italian/Spanish;
- reconstruct complex written texts according to the requirements of French/German/Italian/Spanish syntax and morphology

Additional outcomes:

The module also enables students to:



- further expand their awareness of current issues in the countries of the languages studied through personal experience and the use of reading material available while abroad;

- produce video reports in French/German/Italian/Spanish;

- contribute to the creation of web pages or web sites.

Outline content:

There will be no formal teaching for this module. Students will be briefed before going abroad about what will be expected of them. The module consists of two components:

Textual Skills

Students will complete a series of online exercises and activities to reinforce and further expand their grammatical competences and their ability to accurately reconstruct texts in French/German/Italian/Spanish.

Project: From Our Correspondents Abroad

Students will produce a video reports in French/German/Italian/Spanish which will be considered for publication in the YA departmental blog.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

After a series of intensive preparatory meetings at the end of Part 2, students will be responsible for preparing for the assignments for this module themselves, using the resources available to them during the period which they spend abroad.



Textual Skills 

Students will access online resources and practise activities made available to them on Blackboard. Feedback to such activities will be embedded in the online material.



Project: From Our Correspondents Abroad 

Students will receive guidance and feedback for the production of the video report(s) before and while on the Year Abroad. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Practicals classes and workshops			4
Guided independent study:	132	132	132
Total hours by term	132	132	136
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Project output other than dissertation	50
Practical skills assessment	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

ONE FULL YEAR Project: From Our Correspondents Abroad



Students will submit:



- one 10-minute video report in one language (French/German/Italian/Spanish) (50%)



TWO HALF YEARS Project: From Our Correspondents Abroad



Students will submit:



- two 5-minute video reports in two languages (French/German/Italian/Spanish) (50%)

AND all students will take:

- one Textual Skills test for each language studied (French/German/Italian/Spanish) (50%)

Formative assessment methods:

Textual Skills

- Students will complete a set number of textual skills exercises online 

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:
Reassessment by a 2-hour written exam in August, in the event of failure in this module and of failure in the Year Abroad as a whole

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 8 April 2019