Portales: beginners' Spanish
On this page
This key introductory Level 1 course – Portales: beginners’ Spanish – is designed to develop the skills you need to speak and understand simple Spanish in everyday contexts. Using the theme of a journey, the course takes you through a wide range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out in Spain, Chile and other Spanish-speaking countries. Study resources include printed books and audio CDs – which support independent learning – and there's a dedicated website with online activities. Together, they’ll give you not just language skills but a real feel for Hispanic cultures as well.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Languages.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | L194 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 6 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
The course is based around three books and has at its core the following elements:
- user-friendly, ‘bite-sized’ information dealing with language and cultural aspects
- gradual development of study and language skills
- development of basic vocabulary and set phrases
- audio material, featuring recordings by native Spanish speakers, songs, radio documentaries and a wide variety of speaking activities
- regular revision activities and self-assessment tests to monitor your progress
- online video clips to support your revision activities.
The study materials are carefully structured and graded, and provide ample opportunities to practise the language in realistic contexts, with an emphasis on listening and speaking skills. By the end of the course you will be able to speak and understand simple language. You will also have developed an understanding of aspects of Spanish and Latin American society and culture.
Portales: beginners’ Spanish is an ideal preparation for En rumbo: intermediate Spanish (L140).
This course is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level A2 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You will have developed your knowledge and understanding of the language as well as an awareness of cultural diversity in Spanish speaking countries which form a key part of the learning outcomes for studying at this Level. By the end of the module you will have developed key Level 1 undergraduate study skills such as learning to work independently and using strategies which enable you to solve problems and analyse data.
Entry
This is a key introductory Level 1 course. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning.
No prior knowledge of Spanish is required to study this course.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Please note that this course makes substantial use of audio and visual materials. Full transcripts of the audio materials are provided except for those used for assessment purposes. The written and spoken elements you will be asked to complete as part of your assessment use audio and possibly visual stimuli. The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Comb-bound versions of the written study materials can also be provided on request. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
You will need to make extensive use of a personal computer and the internet.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Books, a dedicated website with additional online resources and activities and audio recordings (delivered via the website and on audio CDs). As a registered language student you have automatic access to an online forum, where you can communicate with fellow students over the internet, and to online audio-conferencing software.
You will need
A headset with a microphone and earphones to talk to your tutor and other students online during some of the course activities and the facility to play audio recordings.
Please also check the Computer requirements and Assessment sections.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written and spoken tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. This course usually includes a mix of face-to-face and online tutorials. Please note that depending on where you live, the mix will vary and in some places face-to-face tuition may be replaced by telephone conferencing. Regions and nations may also be able to offer day schools. All of these will provide plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to Spanish. Where face-to-face tutorials or day schools are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above – please note that these may be subject to change.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and your end-of-module assessment (EMA).
TMAs test your written and spoken skills. Your listening and reading skills will be tested by computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) presented on your course website. The end-of-module assessment (EMA) has a written element. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Professional recognition
The Chartered Institute of Marketing now recognises this course under their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Languages.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | L194 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 6 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
This might sound like a contradiction but I have mixed views about this course alongside generally enjoying it. I thought ...
Read more
I had never studied Spanish before beginning this course, but I found the course was very well structured. As with ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
Browse the prospectus
Get a prospectus
Download or
order
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.