- In general reading comprehension: the learner is able to understand short simple texts on common concrete topics with a high frequency of everyday or work-related language. The learner is also able to understand short, simple texts containing highly frequent vocabulary, including internationally shared vocabulary. - In general listening comprehension: the learner can understand enough to meet concrete needs provided that diction is clear and the rate of speech is slow. The learner can also understand expressions and meaningful words related to areas of immediate priority (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). - In general oral production: the learner is able to describe or present people, living conditions, daily activities, likes and dislikes in a simple way, using short series of expressions or non-articulated sentences. - In general oral interaction: the learner can interact with reasonable ease in well-structured situations and in short conversations, provided the other person gives help where necessary. The learner can deal with simple everyday exchanges without undue effort; can ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in familiar, predictable everyday situations. - In written production: the learner is able to write a series of simple expressions and sentences linked by simple connectors such as "and", "but" and "because", about everyday aspects of his/her environment, e.g. people, places, work or study, with connected sentences; make a brief and elementary description of an event, past activities and personal experiences.
At the end of the academic year, all students will aim to achieve A2 in all skills, regardless of whether they were placed in the elementary or intermediate group at the beginning of the year.
The course runs throughout the academic year with one hour of class per week. Before each lesson, the student will have consulted Webcampus and completed the task(s) required by the teacher. The course material will be based on the "Mundo profesional" textbook and exercise book as well as other ressources posted on WebCampus.
The course is taught face-to-face and in small groups of up to 30 students. It is given in the form of interactive seminars in Spanish and is structured around the units in the course book, which focuses on the world of work. Attendance is compulsory. Opportunities to work on oral or written production are provided in each course. The objectives and activities are designed in accordance with the philosophy of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Language communication is worked on taking into account linguistic (lexicon, syntax, phonology), sociolinguistic (markers of social relations, rules of politeness, etc.) and pragmatic (organisation, adaptation, structure of discourse) skills necessary for the target tasks. The course is not limited to considerations of linguistic knowledge. It also focusses on cultural matters.
The assessment is the same for students enrolled in either the beginner or intermediate course unit.
Students must complete all components of the assessment in order to pass the course. If a student fails to attend any part of the examination (January/June), the grade awarded for that component will be recorded as an unjustified absence (0A).
The course will be assessed according to the following weighting:
During Weeks 1 and 2, all students are required to take a diagnostic test via the online platform WebCampus. The test assesses a number of skills, including reading comprehension, listening comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar, in order to determine each student's CEFR level.
Although the diagnostic test does not contribute to the final grade, it is mandatory. It enables the teaching team to place students in appropriate level groups and, where relevant, advise certain students to enrol in the intermediate/advanced Spanish course.
Each semester, a grammar, vocabulary, and culture test will be administered on the material covered in class.
Continuous assessment also takes into account students’ active participation and preparation work. An unjustified absence or failure to complete preparatory work may result in a penalty. Continuous assessment accounts for 10% of the final grade and will be included in the calculation of the final mark in June.
A first mid-term examination will be held in December. This examination will account for 30% of the final grade and will cover the following:
Listening and reading comprehension exercises based on topics covered during the first semester;
Vocabulary and grammar questions on the material studied in class and through independent work during the first semester;
A short written production task on topics covered in class;
General culture questions related to the Spanish-speaking world.
Students who obtain a mark below 10/20 on this examination will have the opportunity to resit it in May. The mark obtained in May will automatically replace the previous mark, whether it is higher or lower.
The second part of the written examination will take place in June. This examination will account for 30% of the final grade and will cover:
Listening and reading comprehension exercises based on both seen and unseen material related to topics covered during the second semester;
Vocabulary and grammar questions on the material studied in class and through independent work during the second semester;
A written production task related to one of the topics covered in class.
The mark obtained for this component in June will automatically replace the corresponding mark obtained in January, whether it is higher or lower.
The oral examination (30%) consists of two parts:
A paired conversation on topics addressed in the various units of the textbook Mundo Profesional 1;
A discussion with the lecturer based on the portfolio completed as part of the course.
Students who do not submit a portfolio will not be permitted to take the oral examination.
If a student's overall average is below 10/20 in June, they will be required to resit the course in the August/September session and will only retake the components that they have failed. This may involve:
Failure in the combined written examinations; and/or
Failure in the oral examination.
Please note: the principle of a compensatory fail (where the lowest mark prevails) may be applied in the following cases:
The student obtains an overall average of 10/20 or higher, but receives a significant fail (below 9/20) in either the combined written examinations or the oral examination.
The student obtains an overall average of 10/20 or higher, but fails (below 10/20) both the combined written examinations and the oral examination.
It is therefore essential to complete all assessment components seriously in order to pass the course.
With regard to continuous assessment, grades obtained during the academic year are not carried forward to the August/September session. In the resit session, assessment will be weighted approximately as follows:
Written examination: 60%
Oral examination: 40%
For students resitting the course, if an assessment component with a mark below 10/20 from June is not retaken in August/September, that mark will not be retained and a grade of 0 will be awarded for that component.
All August/September assessments cover the material from the entire academic year.
Important: Please note that passing this course unit does not result in language certification.
The books are available at the sales room (reprography).
Compulsory books:
Díaz Gutiérrez, E. et al. (2025). Mundo profesional 1 (A1-A2). Ed. híbrida para estudiantes. Livre de l'élève. Barcelona: Difusión.
Jimeno Patrón, J. et al. (2025). Mundo profesional 1. Cuaderno de ejercicios. Barcelona: Difusión.
Recommended but not required:
Alonso Raya, R. et al (2005). Gramática básica del estudiante de español. Barcelona: Difusión.
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Political Sciences : General | Standard | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Bachelor in Information and Communication | Standard | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Bachelor in Business Engineering | Standard | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Bachelor in Economics and Management | Standard | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Bachelor in Law | Standard | 2 | 3 | No |
| Bachelor in Computer Science | Standard | 2 | 3 | No |
| Bachelor in Law | Erasmus Belgica UHasselt | 2 | 3 | No |
| Bachelor in Law | Standard | 3 | 3 | No |