L194 Portales: beginners Spanish

L194 Guide

This publication forms part of Open University module L194 Portales: beginners Spanish. Details of this and other Open University modules can be obtained from the Student Registration and Enquiry Service, The Open University, PO Box 197, Milton Keynes MK7 6BJ, United Kingdom (tel. +44 (0)845 300 60 90; email general-enquiries@open.ac.uk). Alternatively, you may visit the Open University website at www.open.ac.uk where you can learn more about the wide range of modules and packs offered at all levels by The Open University. To purchase a selection of Open University materials visit www.ouw.co.uk, or contact Open University Worldwide, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom for a catalogue (tel. +44 (0)1908 858785; fax +44 (0)1908 858787; email ouw-customer-services@open.ac.uk).

The Open University Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA First published 2012 Copyright 2012 The Open University All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher or a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. Details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS (website www.cla.co.uk). Open University materials may also be made available in electronic formats for use by students of the University. All rights, including copyright and related rights and database rights, in electronic module materials and their contents are owned by or licensed to The Open University, or otherwise used by The Open University as permitted by applicable law. In using electronic module materials and their contents, you agree that your use will be solely for the purposes of following an Open University module of study or otherwise as licensed by The Open University or its assigns. Except as permitted above you undertake not to copy, store in any medium (including electronic storage or use in a website), distribute, transmit or retransmit, broadcast, modify or show in public such electronic materials in whole or in part without the prior written consent of The Open University or in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Edited and designed by The Open University. Printed in the United Kingdom by The Charlesworth Group, Wakefield. SUP 028908 1.1

Contents
1 Introduction 1.1 Aims of the module 1.2 World Spanish Whats in the module Module website 3.1 Study planner 3.2 Revision weeks 3.3 Assessment materials 3.4 Resources 3.5 Link to online tutorials 3.6 News and forums Module books 4.1 Activities 4.2 Language 4.3 Study skills 4.4 Culture 4.5 Reection 4.6 Transcripts 4.7 Answer keys 4.8 Espanol de bolsillo Module audio-visual materials Module assessment 6.1 Elements of assessment 6.2 Working with feedback Studying the module 7.1 Getting started 7.2 Studying the materials 7.3 Making the most of your tutor and tutor group 7.4 Staying motivated 7.5 Future language studies Additional resources 8.1 Recommended books 8.2 External audio-visual and online resources 8.3 Reading for pleasure Learning outcomes 9.1 Knowledge and understanding 9.2 Cognitive skills 9.3 Key skills 9.4 Practical and/or professional skills 7 7 8 11 13 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 18 19 19 19 21 21 22 23 24 24 25 25 25 26 27 27 27 27 28 29

2 3

5 6

Acknowledgements

L194 team

L194 team
Module team
Llusa Astruc (academic) Sue Burrows (secretary) Anna Comas-Quinn (team chair) Mara Fernndez-Toro (academic) Concha Furnborough (team chair; co-author, L194 Guide) Sarah Heiser (academic) Tim Jilg (academic; co-author, L194 Guide) Fernando Rosell-Aguilar (academic) Caroline Schwartz (secretary) Shirley Woods (curriculum manager)

Consultant authors
Beatriz de los Arcos Ximena Arias-McLaughlin Mara del Mar Freire Hermida Leire Payo Pea Laura Puente Martn

Production team
Mandy Anton (graphics media developer) Carole Brown (sound and vision production coordinator) Dorothy Calderwood (editorial media developer) Howard Davies (interactive media developer) Jane Docwra (faculty production manager) Kim Dulson (licensing and acquisitions assistant) Fiona Gould (editorial media developer) Lizzie Gray (sound and vision producer) Cayra Jones (licensing and acquisitions assistant) Susan Lowe (media project manager) Neil Mitchell (graphics media developer)

L194 Guide

Sne Padhya (media assistant) Sean Scrivener (editorial media developer) Howie Twiner (graphics media developer) Video material produced by UNED, Universidad Nacional de Educacin a Distancia

Critical readers
Uwe Baumann Angela Bhattacharya Beatriz Bond

External assessor
Alicia Pea Calvo (Anglia Ruskin University)

Special thanks
The module team acknowledges the authors of and contributors to the rst edition of this module. The Open University would like to thank all those who feature in the audio and video material.

1 Introduction

1 Introduction
Welcome to L194 Portales, the Open Universitys beginners module in Spanish. The name of the module, Portales, means doorways, gateways or portals. This L194 Guide aims to support your study of Portales and to help you make the most of the module. In this guide, you will nd information about the various elements that make up the module, the main features of the materials and how you will be assessed during the module. You will also nd advice about the most efcient ways to use the materials, how to organise your time and how to take advantage of the support offered by your tutor and your tutor group. We recommend that you read this guide before you start your studies.

1.1 Aims of the module

L194 Portales assumes no previous knowledge of Spanish. Support for your studies will therefore be provided in English, as necessary. The module materials give you the opportunity to develop your ability to understand Spanish in a range of day-to-day situations and then to speak and write it in order to communicate effectively when visiting, working or living in a Spanish-speaking environment. Learning to use another language involves acquiring the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. Portales allows you to practise those skills and offers a variety of activities and topics to cater for different learning needs and interests. The module aims to develop:
. . .

. . . . . .

your ability to speak sufcient Spanish to handle a variety of day-to-day situations your ability to understand the gist and extract the information you need when listening to spoken Spanish in these situations your ability to understand the gist and extract the information you need when reading a variety of short texts in Spanish, e.g. letters, adverts, brochures your ability to write simple notes, messages and descriptions in Spanish your knowledge and understanding of the basic structure of the Spanish language your awareness of the culture and diversity in Spanish-speaking countries the study skills you will need to enhance your language learning your ability to monitor and evaluate your progress through revision and feedback your ability to reect on your learning and become an independent language learner.

On completing the module, you will have achieved a level of language prociency in Spanish equivalent to A2 in the Council of Europes Common
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European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which constitutes a sound basis for higher study. You will nd full details of the expected learning outcomes for Portales in Section 9 of this L194 Guide.

1.2

World Spanish

One of the important principles of Portales, and of all the Spanish courses at The Open University, is that Spanish is presented as a world language, that is, as a language spoken by people in many different countries. Spanish is the most widely spoken of the Romance languages, with an estimated 400 million native speakers. It is spoken in mainland Spain, the Canary and Balearic Islands, and the two Spanish possessions in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla. It is also spoken in nineteen countries in the Americas and is the ofcial language of Equatorial Guinea, a Spanish colony until 1968. There is a large and growing Spanish-speaking population in the USA, plus signicant minorities in Morocco, Western Sahara and the Philippines. So by learning Spanish you are gaining entrance into a whole range of countries and cultures. Modern Spanish not only reects the diversity of the people who speak it today, but also the many civilisations that have inuenced it. These include the Celts, the Greeks, the Romans, the Jews, the Visigoths and the Arabs who occupied most of Spain for over seven centuries as well as the indigenous peoples of Spanish America. The inuence of these cultures is still alive in many of the words used in daily life. Indeed, words that at one time were probably considered foreign now form part of an enormously rich language which continues to evolve and incorporate new vocabulary. Most of todays new acquisitions come from contact with other languages or from technical/scientic terminology, which is mainly derived from English. Although in Spain there are three other ofcial languages in the autonomous regions (Catalan, Galician and Basque), Spanish is the national language. There are a number of regional varieties, both in Spain and Spanish America: Castilian, Andalusian, Canarian, Argentinian, Peruvian, Colombian, Cuban and Mexican, to mention just a few. However, for practical purposes the usual division is between Castilian and non-Castilian Spanish although the terms are broad generalisations and do not necessarily follow geographical or political lines. The most important differences between Castilian and nonCastilian Spanish are in pronunciation and vocabulary. Dissimilarities in grammar are less signicant, although one striking difference is that ustedes is used instead of vosotros in Spanish America. When Spanish arrived in the Americas, it came into contact with indigenous languages such as Nahuatl (Mexico), Maya-quiche (southern Mexico and Central America), Quechua and Aymara (Peru and Bolivia) and Guarani (Paraguay), among others. This contact resulted in the incorporation into Spanish of several hundred words, such as alpaca, canoa, chocolate, cndor, huracn, iguana, llama, maz, puma, tabaco and tomate, many of which were then borrowed from Spanish by other languages. Others, such as choclo (corn
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1 Introduction

on the cob), cholo (mestizo), escuincle (child) and many more, entered the language locally but never spread widely. Linguistic contact and the expansion of Spanish in such a wide area have produced a richness and variety of local vocabulary. As a result, the Peninsular Spanish peque is chino in Colombia, enano in Peru, escuincle in Mexico and pibe in Argentina, but speakers in all these countries know and use the word nio. Despite all these differences, Spanish speakers around the world do not nd it difcult to understand each other. Spanish, whether spoken in Spain or Spanish America, is rich, varied and colourful, and the differences between regional varieties are insignicant when compared to the languages uniformity. In Portales, you will come across written and audio-visual materials that include a number of different regional varieties and accents. We feel very strongly that getting used to the variety from an early stage will equip you with the skills necessary to understand different Spanish-speaking peoples, no matter where they come from. In this rapidly changing world, you are likely to come across people from a variety of geographical backgrounds wherever you are in the Spanish-speaking world.

C H I L E

TIN

O C A N O P A C F I C O

The Spanish-speaking world

AR

GE N

10
CALIFORNIA TEXAS LA FLORIDA MXICO PUERTO RICO HONDURAS VENEZUELA COLOMBIA ECUADOR P E R BOLIVIA PARAGUAY GUINEA ECUATORIAL GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA COSTA RICA PANAM CUBA SAHARA OCCIDENTAL REPBLICA DOMINICANA MARRUECOS NUEVA YORK ES PA A O C A N O A T L N T I C O URUGUAY

L194 Guide

FILIPINAS

2 Whats in the module

2 Whats in the module

Portales makes use of a variety of media, including a website, books and audio recordings. Other important features of the module include online tools and activities to help you revise each unit, as well as tutorial support and regular assessment. The various elements that make up the module are illustrated in the diagram below. It is important that you familiarise yourself with all the elements of the module.

L194 Guide Books Your tutor and tutor group

Audio resources

Online revision activities

L194 website

Assessment

The OU and the OU learning community

Portales is comprised of:

. . . . .

a module website three books audio-visual materials assessment materials tutor and peer support.

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Portales is divided into eleven units. Each unit constitutes four weeks of study, the rst three weeks using the module books and audio materials and the fourth week focusing on the online revision materials. Portales is spread over forty-four weeks of study and, while every student is different and will be able to devote varying amounts of time to their studies, the suggested average is about seven hours of study per week. This includes study of the materials provided, revision, independent study and time to complete assessment tasks, including preparation for your end-of-module assessment (see Section 6). Portales involves three different types of study, all of which are important for your development:
. . .

individual study (using the books, audio recordings, online materials and other resources that interest you) study with your tutor (either face-to-face or online) study with other students (taking part in tutorials and self-help groups).

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3 Module website

3 Module website
In studying this module, you will use a number of online tools, activities and resources to help you work with your tutor and other students and to consolidate and complement what you learn from the books and audio recordings. All the tools and resources that you will use, and advice about how to use them, can be accessed through the module website, including electronic versions of the module books, audio and video les and assessment materials.

3.1 Study planner

At the heart of the module website is the Study planner. Here you will nd a week-by-week schedule for each unit. Four weeks are allocated to each unit: three weeks of study, using the print and audio materials, followed by one week of online revision activities. The Study planner allows you to mark activities as completed by ticking a tick box. A printable version of the Study planner is also available. Assessment tasks are also scheduled into the weekly Study planner. The Study planner provides information about the cut-off dates by which you must complete and submit your assignments, whether these are iCMAs (interactive computer-marked assignments, used to test reading and listening skills), TMAs (tutor-marked assignments, for spoken and written language) or the EMA (end-of-module assessment). We recommend that you consult the Study planner at least once a week to check your progress.

3.2 Revision weeks

Each unit has a revision week, including a revision checklist and a series of online activities designed to revise key points that you have learned in the unit and to further develop listening, reading and speaking skills. The revision checklist summarises the key points covered in the unit and directs you to elements in the books that can help you go over any points that you are unsure about. The online activities are divided into: language practice, focusing on grammar, functions, vocabulary and structures covered in the unit; reading practice and listening practice (based on audio and video materials), helping to develop and evaluate how much you can understand of the written and spoken language; and speaking practice, consisting of a variety of activities such as pronunciation exercises and prompted dialogues in which you are provided with short audio prompts to which you record replies using built-in audio recording software. A playback button enables you to listen to your answers, which you can compare with the model answers provided. Even if you feel condent on all the points that you have covered in the unit, we highly recommend that you regularly complete all of the revision activities, as this will help you to consolidate your learning.

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3.3 Assessment materials

The website also contains an Assessment resources section where you can nd the Assessment Guide, the links to the iCMAs, the TMAs, the EMA and other les related to assessment. You will also nd advice on how to prepare and submit your assignments electronically in this section.

3.4 Resources
A variety of resources are available on the module website to help you with your studying of Portales.

3.4.1 Help with using your computer during your studies

On the module website, you will nd help on using your computer during your studies, including documents on how to produce special or accented characters.

3.4.2 Pronunciation Guide

In the Pronunciation Guide you will nd recordings of the sounds of the language and examples of how they are pronounced in words to help with your pronunciation of Spanish.

3.4.3 Online study skills

On the module website, you will nd a set of activities to develop your online study skills for learning a language, such as using online dictionaries or doing web searches.

3.4.4 Library
The Library resources area contains a number of useful links, including a link to the Open University Library which has a range of books, ebooks and other electronic resources, such as the online Oxford Dictionary, to help you with your studies. Further links to external resources, including newspapers and online cultural and language pages, can also be found there. Have a browse around.

3.4.5 Flashcard Maker

Flashcards are study tools that enable you to memorise phrases, words or facts. You can create your own ashcards through the link to the Flashcard Maker and share the sets that you make with other students. You will nd further advice about how to create and use ashcards on the module website.

3.4.6 Index
An index will be provided which will enable you to locate information easily in the module books and on the website. The index includes all the language points, cultural information and study skills covered in Portales.

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3 Module website

3.5 Link to online tutorials

Some of the tutorials for this module will take place online, using a conferencing tool which enables you to talk to and work with other students in your tutorial group in real time. You can access this tool and instructions about how to use it through the module website. Between your tutorial sessions you will be able to use the tool in your own time to work online with other students to practise particular points or to prepare an activity for the next tutorial. The link to your online tutorial area is available from the website.

3.6 News and forums

There is a News section on the module website, where the module team post general news and announcements. There is also a forum open to every student and tutor on the module. You are also provided with a tutor group forum for communicating with your tutor and the rest of your tutor group. You are encouraged to use the forums to post questions, exchange views and share experiences about your study of Portales.

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4 Module books
Each book is divided into units (Unidades). Each Unidad is divided into sections (Puntos); each Punto contains activities (Actividades) covering the four language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), as well as language, culture and study skills boxes.

4.1 Activities
The Actividades are based on both written and audio materials. The written texts cover a variety of text styles, including emails and letters, as well as information from brochures and websites. The audio materials are recorded by native speakers from different Spanish-speaking countries. The Actividades enable you to understand and work with authentic materials and practise the language points and the vocabulary you learn in each Unidad. There are activities to practise new language structures and grammar, reading, listening, writing and speaking. Others revise language you have been learning; often you will nd yourself learning a few new things, while reinforcing language you have already learned. Many activities involve listening to audio material. This is clearly signposted in the margin. Model answers to speaking tasks are by an audio icon provided on audio recordings where appropriate; there are also written transcripts. Vocabulary and phrases related to the topic are introduced mainly through the activities. Extra vocabulary to help you understand a particular activity is included in the margin with a translation.

4.2 Language
The main language teaching points (grammar, functions or pronunciation) are presented in boxes shaded in green. They include all the grammatical and linguistic information that you will need to complete this module. The language boxes include explanations and examples, with translations into English. They constitute a focal point for learning and revision.

4.3 Study skills

The study skills boxes (shaded in purple) offer tips on ways of learning the language, e.g. ways of learning vocabulary, strategies to cope with listening to longer extracts or dealing with unfamiliar texts. These tips are offered in the context of the activities you are doing.

4.4 Culture
Culture is presented through the context and the content of most activities. However, there are also culture boxes (shaded in blue) closely linked to the topics covered. Some are designed to raise awareness of different practices in

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4 Module books

other cultures while others introduce social, historical or linguistic background.

4.5 Reection
The reection boxes (also shaded in purple) are identied by a question icon . They present comments on a range of language or cultural issues and encourage you to reect on the points raised.

4.6 Transcripts
Transcripts of the audio recordings are provided in the Transcripciones section at the end of the module books. There are no set rules about how to use the transcripts, but reading the transcript before or during a listening task unless directed to do so may spoil the effect of the planned teaching. By all means use the transcripts as extra support for answers given in the Clave (answer key) or to check a word, phrase or sentence but you should persist in listening to the complete recording and you shouldnt rely only on the transcript.

4.7 Answer keys

The Clave contains the answer key to all the activities. The Clave may also contain some explanation for the answer given or a reminder of the main learning point. In activities where you are engaged in free writing and there is no single correct answer, a sample or model answer is included.

4.8 Espanol de bolsillo

Espaol de bolsillo (pocket Spanish) contains key phrases from the Puntos you have been working on and their English translations. They are also recorded and included in the Transcripciones section. They are a useful resource for revision purposes both in writing and in speaking.

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5 Module audio-visual materials

Audio recordings are used to practise listening and speaking skills in the book activities. They include dialogues and short monologues as well as tasks with prompts for speaking practice. These usually contain a model to follow. Some audio recordings are specically aimed at enabling you to practise your pronunciation. You can also use the Pronunciation Guide available on the module website. Material is recorded at a reasonable speed by native speakers from a range of Spanish-speaking countries. In the listening activities you will need to listen a few times. We advise you to begin by listening to those tracks in one go, without pausing or looking at the transcript. As you work through the activity you may nd it helpful to pause or listen repeatedly to some parts. You will also nd longer recordings intended to provide you with extended listening practice. Each Unidad contains a documentary, un documental, which is part of a series called En Portada. The documentaries are audio features which include authentic interviews on topics relevant to the unit you are studying. The aim of the documentaries is not to understand everything but to get the gist. Both audio and video recordings are used in the online activities of the revision week. Portales video material was recorded in Madrid with Spanish and Latin American speakers. Audio recordings are used in the speaking practice and both audio extracts and video clips are used in the listening practice in the online revision activities for each Unidad. The recordings are intended to be used in the same way as those in the book. You can look at the transcripts at the end of the activity to check your answers. Transcripts for these online activities are embedded within the activity.

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6 Module assessment

6 Module assessment
Regular assessment is important in language learning to help you to evaluate your progress.

6.1 Elements of assessment

The Portales module includes three elements of assessment: tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) and an end-of-module assessment (EMA). For further information on these, please refer to the Assessment Guide which is available online.

6.1.1 TMAs
At intervals during the year, you will need to complete and submit four TMAs. The TMAs are designed to help you pace your study throughout the year. The TMAs count towards your nal module result and test your speaking and writing skills. Along with the results of your TMA, your tutor will provide feedback on your work (see Section 6.2 for information on how to work with your feedback).

6.1.2 iCMAs
You will need to complete four iCMAs. The iCMAs test the skills of listening and reading. They are compulsory: you must submit these assessments electronically to be able to pass the module, but the marks from these iCMAs will not count towards your nal module result. You will receive instantaneous feedback after completion.

6.1.3 EMA
The EMA is a written test to evaluate your command of written Spanish across all units of the module. It is compulsory and counts towards your nal module result.

6.2 Working with feedback

Providing feedback on your assignments is a vital part of your tutors role. As well as indicating your strengths and weaknesses, your tutor will suggest priority areas for you to work on and ways to improve your performance. This may include specic advice on language or study skills, such as how to use your dictionary, check your work or take notes more effectively. In addition to providing written comments, your tutor will record spoken feedback on your speaking assignments to help you with pronunciation and uency. You can make the most of this feedback in the following ways:
.

When you submit your assignment, you could let your tutor know which particular aspects of the task you have been concentrating on (your pronunciation, for example), what you feel has gone well and where you

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. .

have encountered difculties. Your tutor will then be able to respond to these points specically. When you receive your tutors feedback, make time to go over it carefully. Make a note of his or her suggestions for future reference. Try to correct or improve your work and decide what your priorities should be as you work towards your next assignment. Contact your tutor if you have any questions about his or her feedback, or if you are unsure about any aspect of your studies. When you are preparing for a new assignment, look at the feedback you received for previous assignments and see if it can help you with your current task. Feedback on your iCMAs will be generated instantaneously and you will be given advice on how to improve your performance.

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7 Studying the module

7 Studying the module

As you have seen, Portales offers a comprehensive range of materials and activities which are designed to enable everyone to achieve the modules intended learning outcomes. How you achieve these outcomes is largely up to you. People come to the module with different experiences of learning languages, different commitments and differing personal goals or reasons for studying the module. Therefore, no two people will tackle the module in the same way. Studying a language at a distance is both challenging and rewarding. Well be there to support you, of course, but most of the time, youll be working on your own, so youll need to stay motivated, focused and determined to complete your course of study. As well as learning a language, youll gain a whole range of vital skills in using online environments, nding and analysing information and managing yourself. As an Open University student, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will support your study of the module materials. The name and contact details of your personal tutor will be visible to you on your StudentHome page, and he or she will normally get in touch with you at the start of the module. Your allocated tutor will mark and give feedback on your assignments and run regular tutorials for you and the other students in your tutor group. A timetable for the tutorials will be available to you at the start of the module. There will normally be around twenty students in your tutor group. Advice about making the most of your tutor and tutor group is given in Section 7.3. In addition, the University offers support in a range of areas, including subject-related, computer and careers advice. You can nd more details about everything the University has to offer from your Open University centre or through the Open University website.

7.1 Getting started

As soon as you receive the materials and have access to the module website, we strongly encourage you to spend time familiarising yourself with the module materials, including this guide and the module website. Familiarising yourself with the module materials will help you to know where to go to nd specic information and to navigate your way through the module. You should check that you have the correct electronic equipment as explained in the module description and on the module website, and you will also need to install any necessary software on your computer and familiarise yourself with the Open Universitys online conferencing tool. Guidance on IT-related matters is given on the module website (see Section 3.4.1). In case of any problems or queries, the Open University computing helpdesk should be able to provide further assistance. We recommend that you follow the Study planner on the module website (see Section 3.1). This tells you which Unidad you should be working on and when your assignments are due. Each Unidad is made up of three weeks of
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study and one week of revision. The number of Puntos varies from one Unidad to another. At the start of each new Unidad, we recommend that you work out how much you will need to study each week in order to study everything you need that month. The Study planner also shows you that there are points in the module when we expect you will take a break from studying. You do not have to take a break during the weeks specied in the calendar; you may prefer to work through them and take a break at a different time. Before you start studying Portales, you should think about:
.

. .

Your time: consider how you are going to manage your study time in relation to all your other commitments. Work out the best study slots for you and how you will work around family and friends demands. Think about when your low and high concentration periods are and how you will establish priorities and make choices in your studies when you have to. Your study environment: decide where you are going to study and how you are going to organise the various materials and documents that you will need for your studies. Your strengths and weaknesses: consider what you usually do well and what you often nd difcult and plan your timing of activities accordingly. Your goals: many people set themselves goals as they study. You may nd it useful to work out what you are trying to achieve and what you hope to get out of your language learning. Portales is just the rst step you can take in learning Spanish. How far you want to take your language learning depends entirely on you and your personal circumstances, particularly relating to the time you have available, but also the degree of access you have to resources and facilities. Set yourself some realistic and achievable goals. Your preferred methods of learning: discover how you best remember things. You may prefer to see everything written down or you may prefer to hear the language. Perhaps you like to analyse the different elements of the language or maybe you like to hear and use the language in context. It is useful to know which works best for you, as this will help you dene your approach to learning and study more efciently.

More opportunities for reecting on your ways of study are provided in the module books.

7.2 Studying the materials

.

Study a little and often. Learning a language is cumulative, so studying for short periods of time at regular intervals will benet you more than cramming to try to learn a lot at one time. Revising what you have already studied also helps to consolidate your knowledge of the language and saves you time when preparing the assignments. As often as possible, try to attend tutorials, both online and face-to-face. Your tutor is there to help you and practising the language in the relatively safe environment of the tutorial will prepare you to interact with uent speakers of Spanish.

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7 Studying the module

Make use of the online forums. This, along with participating in tutorials, will allow you to get to know others who are studying the module and to share any problems you might encounter. You will more than likely nd that others are struggling with the same issues as you. The forum allows you to solve any problems together and lets you know you are not alone. Keep a positive attitude and be patient. Learning a language takes time and you will not always get it right rst time; making mistakes is a natural part of the language learning process. You might reach a point where you feel that you are not making any progress. If this happens, look back at what you have learned since the beginning of the module and take heart that you will progress further. Make notes regularly, as they can help you reect on your learning and your progress. Reection is an important part of becoming an independent learner. You should pause from time to time and take stock of what you have learned. This is particularly important during preparation for your assessment. Monitor your progress. Use a learning diary or log to keep a record of your achievements. Make a note of your tutors feedback and things you need to do for your next assessment. Use the revision activities and the checklists of key learning points to monitor your progress.

While these tips are not comprehensive, they should help you to start to develop your study skills.

7.3 Making the most of your tutor and tutor group

As well as marking and giving feedback on assignments and running tutorials for your group, your tutor will be available to help between tutorials. If you have queries on a particular learning point or questions about the module material, the assignments or ways of studying the language, you should contact your tutor. Your tutor will usually tell you at the start of the module when he or she is available to take phone calls from Open University students and how often he or she will read and respond to email queries. Tutorial arrangements may differ depending on local circumstances, but most tutor groups will have online tutorials and a number of face-to-face or telephone-conference tutorials. Although tutorials are not compulsory, they offer an excellent opportunity for you to practise speaking with other students and your tutor, and to practise and gain advice on certain study and learning skills. They are also invaluable for sharing learning experiences and information with other learners. If it is impossible for you to attend tutorials for any reason, do let your tutor know. Your assignments are marked by your allocated group tutor, but you may attend tutorials conducted by any tutor on the module, for example, if these are at a more convenient time for you. If you decide to attend another tutorial, you should contact the tutor in advance to let them know.

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Between tutorials, you should try to keep in touch with other students, both to practise your Spanish and to give and receive support and encouragement. You might arrange to meet online between tutorials to practise speaking.

7.4 Staying motivated

Motivation is one of the keys to successful language learning and you will need to think about what keeps you personally on track. Although it is perhaps hard to imagine now, you may nd that there are times during the module when you feel discouraged, especially if progress seems to be slow. This can happen from time to time when you are learning a new language. If it does happen, it is a good idea to look back on your goals and objectives and remind yourself of just how much progress you have made. Breaking down your goals into smaller steps can help motivation. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. You can get help from your tutor if you get stuck or have any questions about the module material or assignments. Do contact your tutor, or The Open University, if you fall behind in your studies or if you are struggling. Dont let yourself be discouraged by practical problems, IT-related issues, or workload. The other students on the module are another potential source of support. Your friends, family, work colleagues or neighbours may also be able to help you in a variety of ways. Always remember that help and support are available if you let us know that you are having difculties.

7.5 Future language studies

L194 Portales is a Level 1 module. Level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and language skills, as well as the study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning. After you complete L194 Portales, you might want to continue your studies with the Open Universitys intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced Spanish modules. The Open University offers a range of qualications from certicates and diplomas to degrees, such as the BA (Hons) Language Studies. For further information about modules and qualications, please visit the Study at the OU web page.

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8 Additional resources

8 Additional resources
Although the module materials contain everything you need to complete Portales successfully, you may at some stage wish to broaden your knowledge or explore in more detail aspects of the module that particularly interest you. If so, you may nd some of the resources below useful. Further resources are available on the module website. Note that the module team keeps the set and recommended book list under review. Recommendations may change as new books come on to the market and existing publications are revised.

8.1 Recommended books

Collins Easy Learning Spanish Grammar, HarperCollins, ISBN 9780007367795 Collins Easy Learning Spanish Dictionary, HarperCollins, ISBN 9780007434763 As an alternative you may also like to use an online bilingual dictionary. You have access through the Library to The Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary published by Oxford University Press.

8.2 External audio-visual and online resources

Language learning can be greatly enhanced by what you do beyond your study of the materials. You can also take advantage of the real-life resources that are available to you. The more you engage with real-life practice, the quicker your responses will become uent and automatic. There is a vast number of ways you can gain exposure to the Spanish language without having to travel to a Spanishspeaking country. Listening to the radio and watching TV are excellent ways of attuning your ear to the pronunciation and sounds of Spanish, even if initially you understand very little of what is said. Here are some of the resources that are easily accessible:
. . .

The BBC Languages Spanish page has a wealth of resources and information: www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/. Many Spanish TV channels broadcast via satellite. Some that broadcast from Spain include TVE Internacional and Canal Sur (Andaluca). Many TV channels and radio stations are accessible on the internet. On the Radio Televisin Espaola website (www.rtve.es/) you can watch programmes live and access a number of radio stations. A huge archive of different types of radio and TV programmes is available at www.rtve.es/ alacarta/.

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L194 Guide

You can access newspapers online from any Spanish-speaking country. The following page has links to news in Spanish: www.enewsreference.com/ espan.htm.

You may also wish to explore other useful sites to support your learning or to use the internet for communicating, for example, by looking for an online conversation partner.

8.3 Reading for pleasure

Reading for pleasure can help to build your vocabulary and develop your awareness of Spanish and Spanish-speaking cultures. At an early stage in your studies, you might benet from reading bilingual books or magazines, for example. You may prefer to try reading something that has been written with language learners in mind or simplied without losing its character, for example easy readers, which are available from some publishers. Here are some suggestions: Beaven, T. (ed.) (2012) Un buen par y otros relatos, www.lulu.com (a collection of stories specically written for Spanish language learners) Atxaga, B. (2000) Lista de locos y otros alfabetos, European School Books, ISBN 9780850483512 (Easy Readers series) Flores, A. (ed.) (1989) First Spanish Reader: A Beginners Dual-Language Book, New York, Dover Publications, ISBN 0 486 25810 6 Martn Gaite, C. (1994) Las ataduras, European School Books, ISBN 9780850485165 (Easy Readers series) Matute, A.M. (1994) Historias de la Artmila, European School Books, ISBN 9780850486162 (Easy Readers series) Gmez Soto, J. (2012) Respirando cerca de m, European School Books, ISBN 9788723907080 (Easy Readers series). Although it is always a good idea to start reading in Spanish as soon as you can, you should have realistic expectations of what you want to get out of a text. Initially you may just want to browse through the publications to pick out the odd word or to familiarise yourself with Spanish names, places, job titles, etc. Later on, you will nd that you can be more ambitious in what you want to understand. You may also nd it interesting to read English translations of Spanish novels and/or books written in English about various aspects of Spanish history and culture.

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9 Learning outcomes

9 Learning outcomes
The following is a list of what you should be able to do by the time you have completed your study of Portales.

9.1 Knowledge and understanding

. .

. .

Communicate with speakers of Spanish in a limited range of predictable and simple contexts relating to everyday situations. Understand and use simple Spanish grammatical structures (for example, questions and statements, and ways of expressing the past, present and future) and high-frequency vocabulary (for example, terms for everyday objects and events). Recognise and use Spanish phrases in formal and informal styles of communication and use polite forms of address and greetings, including basic ways of expressing gratitude, regret and apology. Recognise and reproduce the pronunciation of Spanish sufciently well that you avoid being misunderstood. Show intercultural communicative competence, including an awareness and understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures and societies and the ability to describe, analyse and evaluate the similarities and dissimilarities between those cultures and societies and your own.

9.2 Cognitive skills

.

. .

Identify information from texts such as simple newspaper articles, instruction manuals and brochures using skills such as skimming, scanning and predicting. Demonstrate that you can structure short written texts in Spanish on a range of everyday issues and apply different conventions (for example, for writing letters and emails). Use strategies to gain a better understanding of spoken Spanish such as learning to ask for clarications and drawing meaning from context. Use knowledge of Spanish sentence structures and reading skills and strategies to cope with texts which include some language structures and vocabulary beyond your level.

9.3 Key skills

.

. .

Use basic standard oral and written forms of communication in everyday or familiar situations, showing that you are aware of the purpose of your message and of your intended audience. Participate in team work and develop your problem-solving abilities (through language activities that require this mode of working). Use self-assessment strategies to check your own progress and performance.

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L194 Guide

9.4 Practical and/or professional skills

. . . .

Show that you can edit and correct your own work. Show that you can work independently towards your aims and objectives. Show that you can use learning aids successfully (for example, bilingual dictionaries, grammar books, etc.) Show that you can make use of information and communication tools (such as recordings, online conferencing and online forums) successfully.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following source:

Illustrations
Cover photo: Camelia TWU/ickr, cleared under Creative Commons License Deed Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NCND 2.0).

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