Undergraduate Teaching 2019-20

Engineering Tripos Part IIA Project, SL5: Spanish, 2019-20

Engineering Tripos Part IIA Project, SL5: Spanish, 2019-20

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Leader

Mr S Bianchi

Timing and Structure

Wednesdays am plus timeslots to be determined (compatible with the other project timetable) for a weekly supervision with a PhD student (native speaker).

Prerequisites

Previous or current study of Spanish at intermediate or advanced level

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • To use Spanish in the context of ムlanguages for work and lifeメ by including specific scientific and engineering tasks which require specific technical input and knowledge.
  • To encourage students to adopt the mode of ムlearning languages for lifeメ by stimulating independent study and research.
  • To increase language performance by means of practice and reinforcement of all four linguistic skills (listening, reading, writing and particularly speaking) so as to be able to operate to a satisfactory level in Hispanic countries or regions.
  • To extend technological knowledge and understanding of Hispanic industry in its historic and socio-political environment.
  • To encourage the handling of authentic materials in Spanish in any particular format.

Content

NB: First introductory session of 2 hours on Wednesday 6th May 2020.

TOPICS (suggested, please discuss other topics with the Module Leader)

  • High-speed train technology in Spain
  • Airbus Spain
  • Telecommunications in the Hispanic World
  • Energy and its exploitation in the Hispanic world
  • Dams and canals in Spanish America.

Students will be encouraged to research, dissect and find solutions to existing or potential problems/issues using technology and its application to the Hispanic world. This should be done by using all four linguistic skills and a specific knowledge of the correct terminology and structure of Spanish.

All students will have to submit a report (up to 8 pages) and do a 10 minute oral presentation

FORMAT

In order to achieve results applicable to the Spanish-speaking context, tasks will be underpinned by the following principles:
  • task-based approach - to reflect the realities of current language use.
  • skill integration - to operate efficiently in real life.
  • language integration - to achieve the greatest degree of realism and authenticity.
  • cultural awareness - to operate successfully in a linguistic and social sense.

Weekly: 4 hours contact teaching + 1 hour supervision + 12 hours untimetabled / research.

Group teaching, group work, pair work and individual work will be employed.

The projects will be run from CLIC (Centre for Languages and Inter-Communication) to enable full use of the resources therein.

Assessment will be based on current and technical language (60%) and engineering (40%) content.

ACTIVITIES

  • listening: understanding spoken discourse of a technical nature, without prior preparation, and summarising effectively in spoken or written form.
  • speaking: initiating technical discussions or responding to them fluently and accurately.
  • reading: reading, understanding, interpreting, extracting data from technical sources.
  • writing:writing text using the appropriate structure, vocabulary and registers.

FURTHER INFORMATION

A talk on Foreign Language Projects will be given on Wednesday 30th October 2019 from 1-2pm in CLIC Room 1.

Coursework

Coursework Due date Marks

Interim reports

4 pm Friday 22 May 2020

20

Final report

4pm Friday 5 June 2020

60

 

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

 
Last modified: 04/10/2019 14:03