Language elective courses, 2014-2015

Memorandum

To: All Heads of Departments

From: Dr Pablo La Porte, Language Electives Co-ordinator, School of

Management and Languages (P.La_Porte@hw.ac.uk)

Date: 14 August 2014

Re: Documentation regarding language electives

You will find enclosed a document that summarises the language electives available in the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies. It is designed with students in mind, and I trust it will be user-friendly and help avoid some of the confusion that occurs in Freshers’ Week at the time of registration.

I would be grateful if you could have the enclosed document photocopied and distributed to your students prior to or at the time of registration. I also welcome any comments you may have about this document (please note that there are some changes for 2014-2015).

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding language electives.

Language Elective Courses, 2014-2015

Heriot-Watt University

School of Management and Languages

Dear Heriot-Watt student,

This document is designed to act as your introductory guide to the various language elective courses on offer at Heriot Watt University. The Department of Languages and Intercultural

Studies (LINCS) has long been committed to the provision of a wide range of elective courses. It currently offers a total of 13 chains of courses covering six languages, Arabic, British Sign

Language, Chinese, French, German, Gaelic and Spanish. You will find in this document a summary of all the courses on offer. More detailed information is available at: http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk/undergraduate/2014-2015/course/index.html

Organisation of courses

All language electives consist of two synoptically-linked courses. This means that it is NOT possible for you to register for a language course in semester 2 if you are not registered for semester 1. In other words, you cannot join a German elective course (for example) in January.

You may, on the other hand, opt not to complete a chain of courses, e.g. you may decide to give up your language elective at the end of semester one. If you decide to opt out of your language elective you must, in accordance with university regulations, inform your language course tutor.

Please note that it is your responsibility to de-register from your language courses and to register for an alternative elective. Your academic mentor in your home department will have details of this procedure.

Entrance levels

There are various entrance levels for language electives (see summaries below). PLEASE note that you will not be allowed to register for an elective for which you are overqualified. For instance, if you have done two years of German, you will not be allowed to join the German for

Beginners course. The beginners electives are designed for absolute beginners in that language.

Please note that, if you have not previously studied any other languages, you will be expected to familiarise yourself with basic grammar terms and concepts. If you have not studied previously studied any other languages, you should note that Arabic and Chinese are generally considered

"more difficult" for English speakers to learn, compared with learning the European languages.

Assessment of language elective courses

For all language elective courses, assessment is synoptic, which means that, although you will be assigned a mark at the end of every semester, the synoptic mark awarded at the end of a chain of courses, in June, applies to the two courses of the chain. This means that your University credits

(1 course passed = 30 credits) will be assigned on the basis of your synoptic mark. However, if


you are only registered for the first course of a chain (semester 1), your mark will be the mark obtained in December. The School of Languages is fully compliant with the CAPS scheme in operation throughout the University.

Assessment in all language electives courses consists of a final exam at the end of each semester and continuous assessment (CA). Each tutor will inform you of what the CA for your particular language elective course consists of. Typically, CA can include homework assignments, participation, class tests, presentations, speaking, or other activities, as appropriate for each particular language elective.

Final exams and CA each account for 50% of the semester mark. If you follow the synoptic chain, the semester 1 mark will account for 40% of the synoptic mark and the semester 2 mark will account for 60% of the synoptic mark. This weighting reflects the cumulative nature of language learning (also see below about how attendance affects your marks).

LINCs Department attendance policy for language elective courses.

Language learning is a cumulative process. Therefore, you must attend all classes. You must not register for a language elective if that creates any timetable clash with other courses you are enrolled for in your degree programme. Please note that if your attendance falls below 50% to language elective classes, your CA mark will be voided (0%).

Size of language elective classes

Given the interactive nature of language teaching and learning, all language electives are subject to an upper limit of 36 students. This means that in the case of an over-subscribed language elective, the member of staff of the School of Languages responsible for that course will have to draw up a class list on a ‘first come, first served’ basis (see below). This overcrowding of classes may unfortunately result in your not being allowed to join a particular elective.

Registering for a language elective and provisional timetable.

In view of the above comment regarding class size, registration for language electives is done in week ONE. IT IS THEREFORE CRUCIAL that you report to the first timetabled class for the elective of your choice. Indeed, it is very likely that, if you only report to the second or third class, it will be too late for you to join the language elective you are interested in.

Please note that all language electives start on Monday 15 th of September 2014 at 12.15 or

13.15

. The course summaries provided below will give you an indication of times and rooms.

HOWEVER, since the room allocation might change between now and Monday 15th

September, it is ESSENTIAL that you double-check the updated elective timetable, which will be posted in the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at 9.00 am on

Monday 15 th September 2014.


Enquiries regarding language electives

I shall be available to answer all your queries about language electives on Monday 15 th

September 2014 between 9.30 and 11.30. You will find me in room 2.20 on the second floor of the School of Languages. Alternatively, you can contact me by e-mail (P.La_Porte@hw.ac.uk).

Dr Pablo La Porte

Language Electives Co-ordinator

School of Management and Languages

Heriot-Watt University


Language elective courses, 2014-2015

Arabic, British Sign Language, Chinese, French,

Gaelic, German, Spanish

Please note that room allocation and timetables may change . It is essential that students doublecheck the updated elective timetable which will be posted in the Department of Languages and

Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at 9.00 am on Monday 15 th

September 2014.

ARABIC Beginners

Arabic Beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: beginners

C47AX1/C47AY2

Pre-requisite: none.

Timetable: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12.15.

FIRST CLASS : Monday 15 th September 2014, 12.15, SR 112 (Careers and Technology and

Research Services) .

ARABIC Post-Beginners

Arabic Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: post-beginners

C47AP1/C47AQ2

Pre-requisite: C47AX1/AY2 or equivalent


FIRST CLASS : Monday 15 th

September 2014, 13.15, MBG33 (Management)

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE Beginners

BSL Beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: beginners

C47BX1/C47BY2



FIRST CLASS : Monday 15 th September 2014, 12.15, MBG14 (Management)

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE Post-Beginners

BSL Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2


Course code: C47BP1/C47BQ2

Pre-requisite: C47BX1/BY2 or equivalent



September 2014, HPLLC (Languages)


CHINESE Beginners

Chinese Beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: beginners

C47CE1/C47CF2




September 2014, 12.15, HP LLA (Languages)

CHINESE Post-Beginners (to be confirmed)

Chinese Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2


Course code: C47CP1/C47CQ2

Pre-requisite: C47Ce1/CF2 or equivalent.



September 2014, 13.15, PG102 (Post-graduate Centre).

FRENCH Post-Beginners

(Please, note: French Beginners is not offered as an elective)

French Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2


C47FX1/C47FY2

Pre-requisite: pass at Standard Grade/GCSE or equivalent


FIRST CLASS : Monday 15 th September 2014, 12.15, WP110 (Chemistry)

FRENCH Intermediate

French Intermediate Elective 1

Level: intermediate

C47FI1/C47FJ2

Pre-requisite: C47FX1/C47FY2 or equivalent (pass at Higher Grade)



September 2014, 12.15, HPLLC

GAELIC Beginners

Gaelic Beginners Elective 1 and 2 C47GE1/C47GF2

Level: beginners Pre-requisite: none

Timetable: tbc


September 2014, HPILC


GERMAN Beginners

German Beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: beginners

C47GX1/C47GY2

Pre-requisite: none

Timetable: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12.15


September 2014, 12.15, ECG02 (Built Environment)

GERMAN Post-Beginners

German Post-beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: post beginners

C47GP1/C47GQ2

Pre-requisite: C47GX1/C47GY2 or

equivalent (pass at Standard Grade/GCSE)

Timetable: Monday (2 hours), 12.15-14.15, Wednesday, 13.15-14.15


September 2014, 12.15, WA303E (Built Environment)

SPANISH Beginners

Spanish Beginners Elective 1 and 2

Level: beginners

C47SX1/C47SY2




September 2014, 12.15, HPILA and HPLLB

SPANISH Post-Beginners

Spanish Post-Beginners Elective 1 and 2


C47SP1/C47SQ2

Pre-requisite: C47SX1/C47SY2 or

equivalent (pass at Standard Grade/GCSE).



September 2014, 13.15, WP 110 (Chemistry)


Language elective courses, 2014-2015 - Heriot

Memorandum

Arabic, British Sign Language, Chinese, French,

Gaelic, German, Spanish

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Language elective courses, 2014-2015 - Heriot

Memorandum