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Spanish studies 1 (intermediate)

This module takes you to an intermediate level of linguistic competence in Spanish, which is equivalent to B1 level of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). You will develop your confidence in listening, reading, writing, speaking and interacting in Spanish, as well as your knowledge and understanding of Spanish-speaking societies and cultures. In addition, the module is designed to expand your academic, digital and employability skills in Spanish contexts. You will have the option to study most activities in a book or as interactive online activities on the module website. Some activities are only available online. The website uses authentic online resources in support of independent and collaborative learning.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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Module

Module code
L116
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
30
Study level
To enable you to make international comparisons, the information provided shows how OU levels correspond to the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ).
OU FHEQ
1 4
Study method
Distance Learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements
See Entry requirements

Student Reviews

Definitely a big step up from L194 (Portales: Beginners' Spanish), with a lot more content at a more complex level...
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Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

This module is based around six themes: Leisure and culture; Geography; Education and employment; History; Celebrations, customs and traditions; and Contemporary society. Through each theme, you will gradually develop your Spanish knowledge and skills by:

  • familiarising yourself with core vocabulary and grammar
  • learning about and reflecting on language, culture and intercultural communication skills
  • studying with audio recordings and videos featuring speakers of Spanish and their lives and environments 
  • engaging in a wide variety of speaking and interactive activities
  • practising direct translation to support your language learning 
  • working independently and in collaboration with others
  • reviewing and monitoring your progress using checklists, and reflective questions.

The study materials are carefully structured and graded, and provide ample opportunities to practise the language in realistic contexts.

Vocational relevance

Alongside language-specific skills and knowledge (e.g. grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing, listening, speaking, interacting, cultural knowledge), you will develop intercultural communication skills, and translation skills, as well as academic, digital and employability skills. You will also learn about working practices in Spanish-speaking countries and about using appropriate conventions for writing CVs and letters of application.

You will develop good communication skills and learn how to analyse, evaluate and present ideas and arguments effectively; and will become adept at relating to other people and being open to different points of view, all of which are highly valued skills in many professional settings.

Professional recognition

This module will develop your proficiency in Spanish to a level equivalent to B1 level of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you'll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They'll help you by:

  • Marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve.
  • Guiding you to additional learning resources.
  • Providing individual guidance, whether that's for general study skills or specific module content.
  • Facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module and will provide plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to Spanish. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part. If you want to participate, you’ll likely need a headset with a microphone.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

The iCMAs test your reading and listening skills. The TMAs test your writing and speaking skills. The final TMA is an interactive speaking assignment which will be carried out online by your tutor. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the module.

Future availability

Spanish studies 1 (intermediate) starts once a year – in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2021. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

    Course work includes:

    4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
    4 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)
    No examination
    No residential school


    Entry requirements

    This is an OU level 1 module. OU level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning.

    You require a working knowledge of Spanish to study this module, equivalent to A2 level of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages. It is ideal if you have successfully completed Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194) or who have reached a similar linguistic standard. You do not need a formal qualification in the language, but may have acquired your knowledge in adult education classes, time spent in Spanish-speaking countries, regular contact with Spanish-speaking people or other sources. You should be able to understand basic written and spoken materials and to hold a basic conversation in Spanish in everyday situations such as talking about yourself; your family and where you are from; booking a hotel; or asking for directions.

    To help decide if you have sufficient Spanish to take this module with confidence, use our self-assessment quiz. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

    Preparatory work

    Before the module begins, we suggest that you continue to use your Spanish in any way you can. You could do this by: redoing some of the activities, watching and listening to the audio materials in Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194); reading a Spanish newspaper; using online resources; or watching some films in Spanish. Anything you can do to keep practising your Spanish will be helpful.

    Register

    Start End Fee Register
    02 Oct 2021 Jun 2022 Not yet available

    Registration opens on 18/03/21
    This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2026.

    Additional Costs

    Study costs

    There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

    If your income is not more than £25,000 or you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

    Ways to pay for this module

    Open University Student Budget Account

    The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

    You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

    • Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.
    • Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

    Joint loan applications

    If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.

    As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.

    Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).  

    Employer sponsorship

    Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

    More than one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer, and over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. 

    • Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
    • You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.  

    Credit/debit card

    You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module. 

    We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron. 

    Mixed payments

    We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).


    Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and therefore the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fees and funding information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2021. Fees normally increase annually in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees. 

    This information was provided on 05/03/2021.

    What's included

    You'll have access to a module website, which includes:

    • a module guide
    • a week-by-week study planner
    • interactive reading, writing, listening and speaking activities, including audio and video content
    • assessment details and submission section
    • access to forums where you can interact with your tutor and fellow students
    • online tutorial access.

    You'll also be provided with three printed module books, each covering two blocks of study. The content of these books is also available online. The audio and video files needed can be downloaded from the website.

    You will need

    We recommend that you purchase a good bilingual dictionary. We will provide you with details of the latest editions of those that we consider will be most suitable, prior to you starting this module.

    You’ll be asked to watch one Spanish-language film that you’ll need to source yourself. The titles of the films will be provided when you begin the module.

    Computing requirements

    A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

    Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

    A desktop or laptop computer with either an up-to-date version of Windows or macOS.

    The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

    To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset (headphones or earphones with an integrated microphone).

    Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

    If you have a disability

    The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying L116 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

    To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.