Spanish at Swansea

• MLS130/131: Spanish for Beginners - these modules are specifically designed for students who have no previous knowledge of the Spanish language. Student will acquire basic vocabulary as well as a grasp of fundamental grammatical structures and will be able to communicate in both written and spoken Spanish. 

• MLS160A/B: Advanced Spanish Language - This module is the foundation of advanced level study of Spanish which will equip students with the skills needed to use Spanish in general and professional environments. The module aims to consolidate and extend the language skills developed by students at A level and to facilitate their progress in linguistic competence. It concentrates on developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish, establishing a firm grammatical understanding of the language, and extending students’ vocabulary to read, write, interpret and speak about issues related to contemporary Hispanic society and culture.

• MLS210: Translation Workshop II - the aim of this module is to develop and refine students' translation skills by working through a dossier of textual materials illustrating distinct text types, and distinct aspects of source language culture and society from both Spain and Spanish America. You will deal with different types of text, considering the different perspectives on a project (commissioning client, translation brief, intended audience, 'skopos', translator strategy), and the linguistic and cultural resources and tools needed. 

• MLS260A/B: Spanish Language 2A/B - this module builds on the skills and knowledge acquired in the first year of study, and will equip students with the skills needed to use Spanish in more complex concrete and abstract social and professional environments. 

• MLS300: Spanish General Language - this module is the culmination of advanced level study of Spanish. It aims to consolidate and extend students' language skills by a) further developing clarity, fluency, organisation, structure and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish, b) establishing a firm understanding of the finer points of the language relating to grammar and discourse, and c) extending students’ vocabulary to read, write, and speak about issues related to contemporary Hispanic society and culture.

• MLS304: Spanish for Professional Purposes -this module will extend your language skills in Business Spanish, enabling you to attain a high level of written and oral proficiency in this specific specialist domain plus acquire knowledge of current economic trends in Spain and Hispanic America. The module includes a group business project that focuses on the commerce and economy of Spain and Hispanic America, supplemented by lectures on the European Union and Latin American economic blocs. 

• MLS310: Translation Workshop III - classes will discuss a series of simulated translation projects dealing with different domains and text types, from the point of view of the requirements of the participants (e.g., commissioning agency, client, target-language readership) and comparative analysis of relevant areas of English and Spanish language and culture

• ML-100A/B: Introduction to Culture - these first year modules serve as gateway modules to cultural studies with thematic areas such as migration, war and conflict, borders, and gender studied via language-specific cultural artefacts.

• ML-102: Modern European Film  - through films by Lars von Trier, Boulmetis, Sciamma and others, this module introduces students to some of the most important directors of the 20th Century, and a selection of films which respond to the age-old question of what it is to be human.

• ML-206: Cinema in a World Context - Building on its European sister module, this module extends the exploration of human identity and its representation through a selection of films from South Korea, Mali, Australia, and more. 

• MLS208: Barcelona/Buenos Aires - Barcelona is considered to be one of the most cultural and dynamic cities in Spain. We will examine how the city became such a motor of change at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century by considering how Barcelona became a new enterprising European city through the World Fairs, Art and architecture in Modernism, Gaudi and a novel urban environment. We will also consider the rise of Buenos Aires in the 19th century (including architectural features) and look at key moments in the city's history: mass immigration from Europe, the birth of tango, the emergence of lunfardo (an Italian-based dialect peculiar to the city) and, in the political sphere, the rise of Personism and the role of Evita.

• MLS307: Hispanic Identities - this module offers students an insight into the key issues relating to identity in the Hispanic World. The first part of the module deal with critically examining the notions of ‘hispanic-ness’, ‘identity’ and ‘culture’ with a particular focus on the development of national identity in modern Spain. 

• MLS311: Narrating Crises - as our current globalised world appears to be one of seemingly pervasive crises – especially since the turn of the 21st Century – this module will examine how these crises are represented in and through culture. Covering the 2008 financial crisis, the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the crises of climate and migration,  the main aim of the module is to explore and understand how different forms of mediation influence our understanding of these life-changing events.

• ML-150: Introduction to Language Teaching - by focusing on various aspects of the learning and teaching of modern foreign languages, this module provides an overview of contemporary principles and methods of language teaching.

• ML-250: Teaching MFL to Young Learners - this module covers a variety of topics related to foreign language instruction in the young language classroom. It offers an introduction to the theoretical framework of child cognitive and linguistic development and it encourages students to identify ways in which theory can inform practice and vice versa. It also provides students with practical teaching experience through 5 to 10 hours of group teaching in local primary schools and/or in schools abroad via videoconference.

• ML-308: Teaching Tools and Materials, Design, Evaluation, Practice - you will study assessment and the role of corrective feedback, learn to adapt materials for in-person and/or remote teaching, and manage a class of 11-17 year old pupils. In addition you will learn behaviour management strategies, and give consideration to the other responsibilities (academic and pastoral) of the MFL secondary school teacher. Students will also gain practical teaching experience to help prepare them for their future career. 

• MLT100: Concepts in Translation and Interpreting - this module introduces concepts central to the academic study and the professional practice of translation and interpreting. Topics covered include: size, structure and composition of the worldwide language services market, types of translation and interpreting and their various contexts, relevant international legislation and standards, professional organisations, business interaction of suppliers with clients, fundamentals of linguistic analysis, domain research methods, and quality assurance.

• MLT101: Grammar and Meaning in Translation and Interpreting - this module introduces concepts of English grammar and meaning relevant to translation and interpreting. A significant part of this module consists of learning the language to deal with the scientific study of human languages - mastering this metalanguage is essential for any course with involves language and forms the basis for the formal study of English language and literature, modern foreign languages and linguistics.

• MLT201: Introduction to the Theory of Translation - the question of how to evaluate a translation has occupied linguists since antiquity. In this module, some of the main issues from the rich history of this discussion will be presented. Can equivalence in translation ever be achieved? What is the right unit of translation - why not word-for-word?, what type of larger units? We will also consider cultural and philosophical aspects of translation, the impact of technology on translation and the question the extent to which the translator is (and should be) visible or invisible.

• MLT202: Computer-Assisted Translation - this module is intended as a generic introduction to Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, the specialised software packages - covering both the terminological databases and translation memories - that have been developed for making professional translation more efficient. 

• MLT207: Dialogue Interpreting - this module will develop practical strategies and techniques for performing Dialogue Interpreting between parties who do not speak each other's language, as well as oral translation of relevant documents at sight.

• MLT301A/B: Translation Project - professional translation involves much more than replacing expressions in one language by an expression in another. In these modules, you will put into practice everything you have learned about the translation process in the course of your studies. Together with your supervisor you will agree on a text to be translated and you will be given a translation brief specifying the practical context of the translation.

• MLT317: Simulated Translation Bureau - this module will provide you with the skills to become a professional translator. You'll have lectures by industry professionals presenting translation project workflow, project management software, and job application procedures. You'll learn how to produce an application letter and a CV for a position as manager or translator/reviser in a translation agency in the UK market. Finally, you'll set up and run your own (simulated) translation agency. Students may have managerial responsibilities (e.g. CEO, Project Manager, IT Manager, Finance Manager) or work as freelance translators/revisers. This means that, apart from translation/revision work, you will also negotiate jobs with clients (deadlines and fictitious prices), organize the workflow to meet deadlines, and act as a mentor of a junior translator. 

• MLT318: Terminology Management - terminology management is one of the most time-consuming aspects of professional translation. Many dedicated tools have been developed to reduce the time translators have to spend on terminology. In this module, we will consider different types of terms and the proper treatment of each of them. We will also work with some of the state-of-the-art termbase software.

• MLT320 / 330: Interpreting for Business / Local Government - these modules will develop strategies and techniques to perform sight translation and dialogue (or bilateral consecutive) interpreting in the context of Local Government or Business. There will be lectures/workshops on voice confidence, note-taking, and ethics, and practical sessions (live sessions and language laboratory sessions using the latest technology) to enhance your learning. 

Students studying on our Modern Languages programme have a range of additional languages available to them, covering Italian, Portuguese and Catalan, and the possibility of studying all three languages during the course of their degree. Whilst these modules are only introductory modules, students should still expect to achieve A2 standard by the end of each module, thus boosting both career prospects and allowing you to stand out in the contemporary job market. 

Over the course of each module, you will gain basic speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, while engaging in meaning-focused communicative and task-based activities. You will familiarise yourself with and systematically review a range of simple morphosyntactic structures (grammar) and vocabulary (words). Via the use of authentic materials, videos and graded readings, you will learn about the people, culture, and way of life of each country and its language.