Course description
This is a basic course for beginners in the written and spoken language; students are not assumed to have any previous knowledge of the language or its script. The course covers all the major tenses and constructions of the language, enabling successful students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. Literacy in the script is taught early on, and much emphasis is placed on good pronunciation and on the social and linguistic conventions of everyday conversation.
Classes are highly ‘interactive’, with much participation from students through drilling, question-and-answer exercises, and other such class activities. As in all language courses, full attendance and regular submission of coursework is essential, and the four hours of class time have to be matched with at least as much again in private study.
Qualification for entry
None
This course is available to students in any year, but final-year undergraduate students will need the permission of the Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching.
Workload
Total of 22 weeks teaching with 4 hours classroom contact per week.
Method of assessment
One three-hour written exam (60%) and an oral exam (20%) taken in May/June. Two one-hour written tests in week 2 of Term 2 and the week after Reading Week in Term 2, counting for 10% each. These tests will be on vocabulary acquisition, comprehension or specific language structures and will be agreed in class beforehand. 20% of total mark (10 + 10).
