The purpose of this module is to develop the knowledge of the Spanish language in order for students to consolidate their threshold of competence and reach the level of C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The module is also designed to familiarise students with social, political, and cultural issues in contemporary Spain and Latin America through the study of a variety of media and literary texts (which in turn will promote the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in Spanish). Therefore, the module will help students to further develop their understanding and command of Spanish grammar, vocabulary and usage; to improve their ability to use Spanish fluently and accurately and to make presentations in the language; to have a greater awareness of issues in translation and to enhance their ability to translate from Spanish into English and vice versa.

This module is set at C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The programme is centred around a variety of topics of relevance to students of Spain and Latin America. The intention is to provide variety but a theme running through a substantial part of the module is that of the media and communication. Additionally, there will be attention given to issues in contemporary Hispanic societies, including politics and cultures, as well as issues of gender in contemporary society, particularly with reference to the media.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate appreciation of cohesion, coherence and the use of rhetorical devices in authentic contemporary media texts written in Spanish and write critical commentaries of such texts in Spanish, using the grammar of the language accurately, in particular the subjunctive mood. 2. Deliver oral presentations in Spanish, adopting a position on a given issue, and engage in spontaneous oral/aural interaction in the language on a variety of topics in response to prompts such as previously unseen photographs. 3. Demonstrate the ability to engage critically and analytically with contemporary Hispanic literature and other cultural artefacts, Latin American and/or Peninsular, through the target language and complete oral and written tasks related to the particular text(s) studied in order to demonstrate an increasing understanding of the particular socio-cultural context in question. 4. Translate short authentic texts from English into Spanish, giving particular attention to command of advanced aspects of the Spanish grammatical system. 5. Translate short, authentic texts from Spanish into English, displaying awareness of a range of fundamental issues, both micro and macro, in the practice of translation. 6. Demonstrate awareness of issues in liaison interpreting and an ability to interpret a variety of text types from Spanish to English and vice versa, particularly in the area of media language.

7. Demonstrate increasing intercultural understanding through engagement with issues of media and society in Latin America and Spain. 8. Demonstrate full autonomy as language learners.

Not applicable.

The four contact hours involve four different areas of linguistic theory and competence: literature, oral practice, translation/interpreting, and text analysis. The lectures will provide an overview of contemporary literary production in Spain and Latin America, paying attention to emerging trends in the field (such as women writers, popular genres, and graphic novels). The study and analysis of a variety of written texts that reflect the different realities of the region will help students to further develop their knowledge and understanding of contemporary Spain and Latin America. The oral tutorials will involve active participation to put in practice the skills of verbal expression (fostering the development of segmental and suprasegmental phonological competence). Specific texts and topics will be selected for discussion (films, news reports, media content) in class, and students will have to deliver a short individual presentation during the term. The translation and interpreting tutorials, delivered with two lecturers in the classroom at the same time, simulate a situation that requires the participation of a liaison interpreter. A written portfolio will be provided ahead of each session, with information on the specific areas of knowledge and vocabulary that the conversation will mobilise. The text analysis tutorial is focused on the examination of specific texts (news articles, commentary and opinion, essays). A portfolio of texts on themes related to Spain, Latin America, and Hispanic societies will be provided at the beginning of term via Brightspace, and students will be required to read them and answer specific questions before each tutorial. During class, the teacher will moderate a discussion of additional grammatical and semantic issues that will help students to better understand rhetorical devices such as irony, humour, polemic, and allusion, among others. Students will also practise writing commentaries and will be encouraged not only to analyse texts but to reflect on their content and give their own opinions.