ML2YS1-Semester 1 Study or Work Placement Abroad

Module Provider: Languages and Cultures
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: ML2YL5 Year Abroad Language
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: J.Waters@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module consists of:

• one academic semester at a university in a French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking country OR


• one academic semester  in a work placement in a French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking country OR


• one academic semester as a British Council  English-language teaching assistant in a school in a French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking country.

N.B. This module aims to assess the semester 1 learning outcomes BOTH of students who are on a study or work placement for semester 1 only; AND of students who are on full-year placements.

Aims:

This module aims:

• To develop students' ability to work responsibly and effectively in a university, school or business environment in a French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking country.


• To develop further their linguistic and intercultural skills in the language(s) of study.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module:  

• Students spending time at a university are expected to:
  
  
  
  • demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary and idiom in language courses;
  
  
  • demonstrate knowledge of a range of topics in courses taken at their exchange university;
  
  
  • demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of oral presentations and/or essay-writing in the relevant foreign university system. 
  
  
  
  


• Students on a work placement that falls entirely within semester 1 are expected to understand and reflect upon:
  
  
  
  • the structure, functioning and operating procedures of the company;
  
  
  • their role within the company, with particular focus on the contributions they have made and specific achievements attained;
  
  
  • the results of the work they have undertaken and estimate its usefulness to the company;
  
  
  • t he main lessons that have been learnt as a result of the work placement, in terms both of the knowledge that has been acquired and the skills and competencies that have been developed. 
  
  
  
  


• Students on an assistantship that falls entirely within semester 1 are expected to understand and reflect upon:
  
  
  
  • the structure, functioning and operating procedures of their educational establishment;
  
  
  • their role within the educ ational establishment, with particular focus on the contributions they have made and specific achievements attained;
  
  
  • the results of the teaching they have undertaken and the relationship between them and methodologies adopted; 
  
  
  • the personal skills and competencies that have been developed.
  
  
  
  


• Students on a full-year work placement expected to understand and reflect upon their experiences to date (in semester 1):
  
  
  
  • the structure, functioning and operating procedures of the company;
  
  
  • their role within the company, with particular focus on the contributions they have made and specific achievements attained so far;
  
  
  • the main lessons that have been learnt as a result of the work placement so far.  
  
  
  
  


• Students on an assistantship that falls entirely within semester 1 are expected to understand and reflect upon th eir experiences to date (in semester 1):
  
  
  
  • the structure, functioning and operating procedures of their educational establishment;
  
  
  • their role within the educational establishment, with particular focus on the contributions they have made and specific achievements attained so far;
  
  
  • the main lessons that have been learnt as a result of the assistantship so far. 
  
  
  
  

Additional outcomes:

The module also aims to encourage the development of oral communication skills in the core language(s) of the students’ degree programme, the encouragement of positive critical evaluation of the cultural and socio-political context of core language-speaking environment in which they are working, the fostering of a systematic approach to self-awareness and personal skills development; and, for students on work placements or assistantships, career management skills, including effective job search and applications. 

Outline content:

After agreement by the relevant co-ordinator in the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies, students will either:

• choose 20 ECTS credits of modules at their host university on aspects of French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking language and culture OR


• be employed by a company to undertake a range of responsible activities, which will vary according to the company OR


• be employed to teach English, as a British Counci l language assistant in a school or schools in a French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking country.

The type(s) of school and the teaching undertaken will vary according to the requirements of the country concerned. Whether studying or working, the semester 1 (part of a) placement will develop the students’ linguistic skills and cultural knowledge in the relevant language of study

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

This is a PASS/FAIL module.

• Students on a study abroad placement in semester 1 (whether the full year or in semester 1 only): students will be required to take modules totalling 20 ECTS (40 UoR credits) per semester – and to pass 12 ECTS (24 UoR credits) of these with an average of at least 40% – in order to pass this module. Students must submit university transcript for semester 1 as evidence that they satisfy these requirements. 


• Students on work placements or British Council assistantships (semester 1 only): students will be required to produce an end-of-placement report from their employer (the template for which will be provided by DLC) as evidence that they have successfully completed their placement and fulfilled the requirements of their contract with the employer. Students will also be required to complete an end-of-placement, reflective report in the language of study, the template for which will be provided by DLC.


• Students on work placements or British Council assistantships (full year): students will be required to complete an end-of-semester, reflective report in the language of study (the template for which will be provided by DLC), reflecting on the work completed and the lessons learnt to date, and setting aims and objectives for the remainder of the placement.

Formative assessment methods:

University of Reading-based formative assessments will not be employed. Students on study placements are, however, expected to complete any formative assessments set by their host university. Students on work placements and British Council language assistantships are expected to conform to organisation-specific requirements for any formative assessments, such as performance reviews or oral presentation. 

Penalties for late submission:

n/a

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Please see "Summative assessment - Coursework and in-class tests" section above.

Reassessment arrangements:

Students studying in French-/German-/Italian-/Spanish-speaking universities who do not gain an average mark of 40% in 12 ECTS in semester 1 at first attempt are normally expected to use the re-assessment arrangements made available by these universities.

Students who, through no fault of their own, are obliged to withdraw from their study or work placement part-way through semester 1 would be required to submit an ECF, in order to request an alternative form of assessment.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

n/a

Last updated: 14 July 2020