What will I learn on this module?
You will extend your knowledge of more complex lexical, morphological, semantic and syntactical structures of Spanish language whilst applying this knowledge in increasingly complex situations and with a broad contextual and cultural awareness. You will evaluate, synthesise and organise information from a variety of academic sources; you will develop your ability to recognise and compose in different styles and registers in Spanish. You will also refine your command of spoken Spanish in new environments; you will understand Spanish and English sources relevant to business settings, your personal development, your year abroad and your future career. You will apply the linguistic and methodological skills needed to tackle fieldwork and library research relevant to your studies at level 5.
You will apply your linguistic competences in a working environment; you will consolidate and expand your ability to use e-learning; you will develop your employability and ability to present yourself in global educational and professional environments. You will focus on debating, commenting and writing about Hispanic business and professional environments, analysing and translating relevant texts, and making use of academic sources as you develop your employability and profile. You will enhance your proficiency in written and spoken Spanish and boost your confidence prior to the placement. You will expand your grasp of applied terminology and vocabulary relevant to Area Studies, Hispanic cultures and business environments in the Spanish-speaking world as well as the applied language relevant to economic, business, political and socio-cultural issues.
How will I learn on this module?
You will engage in interactive and engaging seminars and workshops, guest lectures, presentations from employers, recent graduates, career services professionals, and academic tutorials. In addition to written, oral and aural sources, other media will be used in order to consolidate and refine your knowledge of the Hispanic world and your Spanish language skills in parallel. In MFL Employability week you will attend a combination of lectures delivered by guest speakers, seminars, language laboratory work, directed and independent study, including the use of electronic sources and ICTs.
As a result, you will gain a critical understanding of the employment environments and industries discussed. You will also be required to undertake directed and independent study, and you will be given weekly preparation guidelines to actively engage in informed discussions in seminar groups. Materials used in the module will be available to you on the eLearning Portal. You will also have access to feedback and a very wide range of translation and reading materials, as well as grammatical consolidation exercises and employability tools for your own guided and independent study.
Your module is founded upon prior descriptive knowledge and evaluative abilities. At level 5, emphasis will be placed upon the development of your employment potential, the consolidation of your professional profile, and the nurturing of your critical approach to sources relevant to the Hispanic world.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Your directed learning will take the form of preparation for seminars (including both written and oral work) either individually or in small groups. Your independent learning will take the form of further reading and investigation of set texts and critical approaches to Hispanic Studies topics, the consolidation of lecture and seminar materials, and revision/ preparation for the assessment included in the module. You will also receive individual attention from the tutors, and you will be able to substantially shape the contents of and the approach to your oral presentation. You will attend tutorials to share your ideas with your tutor and discuss and agree on a viable, original, research-informed academic project that will showcase your independent thinking and encourage your academic creativity. You will be supported in finding your own critical voice in the midst of a range of sources, and in engaging in a structured manner with the texts and ideas. You will be encouraged to gain a solid understanding of the working environments discussed and the texts analysed. Your tutors will be happy to discuss your ideas in the light of your professional interests and their own teaching and research profiles.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• You will consolidate your ability to recognise and compose in different styles and registers, including business related vocabularies and registers, extending your knowledge of applied terminology relevant to economic, business, political and socio-cultural issues in the Hispanic world and for the Modern Languages graduate (ML01).
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• You will develop your awareness of the language skills required in a working environment, demonstrating your knowledge of more complex lexical and syntactic structures in the target language.(ML02)
• You will be able to initiate and maintain written and verbal communication in response to familiar and unfamiliar demands in professional and business environments (ML03).
• You will be able to use the linguistic and methodological skills needed to tackle fieldwork and academic research commensurate with level 5 (ML04).
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• You will develop an expert understanding of global ethical issues in business and employment environments (ML05).
How will I be assessed?
Summative assessment consists of:
• Coursework: an essay in Spanish of 1000 words on a topic related to the working environment, including appendices. The weighting is 40% (MLOs 1, 2, 4, 5).
• Examination:
A one- hour translation into English. The weighting is 30% (MLOs 1, 2, 5).
A 15-minute group oral and a week- on-week performance mark. The weighting is 30% (MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4).
Your assessment is designed to match course aims and learning outcomes, encouraging you to build on seminar materials with the support of your tutor.
The assessment and examinations test different transferrable skills, knowledge, and critical outlooks, including your ability to present complex ideas in working environments in Spanish, and your familiarity with the workplace conventions of the Spanish-speaking world and the many target industries for Modern Languages graduates.
Formative assessment will be an ongoing feature of the module. You will be encouraged to deliver informal presentations during seminar hours. You will present your preliminary ideas to the class in a friendly and constructive environment, in order to receive feedback from both your fellow students and your lecturers.
Pre-requisite(s)
ML4004, ML4005
Co-requisite(s)
ML5025
Module abstract
Please find details of this module in the other sections provided.
Course info
UCAS Code N175
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 4 years Full Time with a Placement (Sandwich)/Study Abroad
Department Newcastle Business School
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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