Hispanic Studies BA (Hons)

This module is mapped against B1+ level in Spanish according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The aim of the module is to work towards the expansion of the student’s already existent knowledge of Spanish language. Furthermore, the module places special emphasis on conversational fluency, grammatical accuracy and vocabulary acquisition. Students will receive three contact hours a week divided into two hours of integrated skills language seminars plus a one hour lab session of practical skills (listening and conversation) per week. In addition, students are expected to undertake regular independent language learning for which they will provided with materials and guidance via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment: Canvas.​

The Introduction to Iberian and Latin American Studies I module (HISP120) provides students with a basic introduction to Luso-Hispanic history, culture and society. It focuses on key topics such as colonialism and decolonisation, race and ethnicity, and sub-state and national identities. Along with Introduction to Iberian and Latin American Studies II (HISP121) in Semester 2, this module will serve as the foundation upon which you build your knowledge and understanding of Luso-Hispanic history and culture throughout your degree.

The module is an introduction to linguistics, focusing on issues in theoretical and applied linguistics which are relevant for language learners. It aims to equip students with a better awareness of and explicit knowledge about language and language learning. The meta-awareness thus gained will assist in hypothesis testing and rule formation essential to the learning of language.

This module is mapped against B2- level in Spanish according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This is a first year advanced language course taught in the second semester where students attend seminars and practical sessions in small groups and focus on spoken and written Spanish. The aim is to work towards the expansion of the student’s already existent knowledge of Spanish language. Furthermore, the module places special emphasis on conversational fluency, grammatical accuracy and vocabulary acquisition. Students will receive three contact hours a week divided into two hours of integrated skills language seminars plus a one hour lab session of practical skills (listening and conversation) per week. In addition, students are expected to undertake regular independent language learning for which they will provided with materials and guidance via Canvas.

This module provides students with a basic introduction to Luso-Hispanic history, culture and society. It also covers core skills necessary for undergraduate studies, familiarising you with a range of information sources. This module is thus also aimed at developing confidence and ability in research and academic writing. Along with Introduction to Iberian and Latin American Studies I (HISP120), this module will serve as the foundation upon which you will build your knowledge and understanding of Luso-Hispanic history and culture throughout your degree.

This module will introduce students to a range of literary and cultural forms which give prominence to women’s roles in cultural and social change. Students will engage with a number of key texts and gender related concepts and will consider the ways in which representations of women, whether produced by women or, indeed, by men, have both influenced and been influenced by important social and cultural movements in Spain, Portugal and Latin America from the early modern to the modern eras.  

An intensive course for those who have not studied Spanish before. Through a variety of methods, students will be provided with basic competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking Spanish. Students are expected to reach a level equivalent to that of level A1.

The aim of the course is to give you grounding in analytical skills, an appreciation of the significance of film as a medium, and an ability to write about film in an accessible and well informed way for different audiences and different purposes.

Furthermore, the course will introduce you to the basic components of the audiovisual ‘language’ which film uses to communicate with its audience, and to the methods that you should use when analysing how any one film uses this language. We will look at a wide variety of films selected for their particularly innovative or influential treatment of different aspects of this ‘language’.

SPAN134 is an elementary, intensive Spanish language and culture module. It aims at building language and intercultural skills, providing students with a solid understanding of the grammar, syntax, vocabulary and use of the Spanish language in context at an elementary level.

The aim of this course is to introduce you to key theoretical and conceptual debates within Film Studies. It will develop your ability to apply these concepts to close readings of film texts and, in doing so, enhance your skills of critical analysis and independent thinking.

This introductory Portuguese language module offers absolute beginners a comprehensive overview of basic grammatical functions and linguistic skills that will provide students with basic competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking Portuguese at A1+/A2 level according the Common European Framework of Reference.

The principal aim of this module is to achieve greater proficiency in written and speaking Catalan and to provide a solid grammatical foundation.

The student will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool.

Beginners’ Basque 1+2 equips the students with the skills needed to start communicating in Basque. It covers basic grammar structures and vocabulary and lays a solid foundation for further study. The course includes as well an introduction to a variety of aspects of Basque culture.

This module will be compulsory for any student taking the BA in English with World Literature. It will be optional for students on English and English Literature, and for students taking Single Honours French (R120), German (R220), Italian (R300) and Hispanic Studies (RR45).

The module will introduce students to key concepts, theories, critics, and texts in the study of world literature through the lens of national literature(s) and translation, in order to provide a foundation for further study.

Students will gain awareness of basic concepts of world literature from different national literary traditions and will learn how to apply them to a range of short literary works from a range of genres both within and beyond the module.

This module is mapped against A2 level in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This module is a continuation of PORT112 and improves upon the linguistic skills acquired in that module. It offers beginners of Portuguese a comprehensive overview of basic grammatical functions and linguistic skills that will provide students with a sound competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking Portuguese.

This module is mapped against A2 level in Catalan according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This is an introductory intensive module which aims to provide students with a working knowledge of modern Catalan, written and spoken, roughly at A-level standard. The student will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool.

Elementary Basque 3+4 takes the students up to the A2 Breakthrough level of the CEFRL by widening the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing their receptive and productive skills. The course materials keep introducing the students to a wide variety of aspects of Basque culture.

This second-year advanced Spanish language course consists of small group tuition (on-campus and/or online) in spoken and written Spanish. The module aims to consolidate and extend students’ existing language skills, providing them with an enhanced understanding of Spanish grammar, and significantly improved oral and writtencommunication skills. SPAN207 and SPAN208 are mapped against the B2.2 level (CEFR). Specific language objectives include: Writing objectives: Writing clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects related to the students’ interests; writing essays or reports, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view; writing letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences.

Reading objectives: Reading articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints; understanding contemporary literary prose.

Speaking objectives: Presenting clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to the student’s field(s) of interest; explaining a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options; interacting with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible; taking an active part in discussions in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining the students’ views. Listening objectives: Understanding extended speech and lectures and following even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understanding most TV news and current affairs programs; understanding films in standard dialect.

This second-year advanced Spanish language course consists of small group tuition (on-campus and/or online) in spoken and written Spanish. The module aims to consolidate and extend students’ existing language skills, providing them with an enhanced understanding of Spanish grammar, and significantly improved oral and written communication skills.

SPAN207 and SPAN208 are mapped against the B2.2 level (CEFR). Specific language objectives include:

Writing objectives:
Writing clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects related to the students’ interests; writing essays or reports, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view; writing letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences.

Reading objectives:
Reading articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints; understanding contemporary literary prose.

Speaking objectives:
Presenting clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to the students’ field(s)of interest; explaining a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options; interacting with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible; taking active part in discussions in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining the students’ views.

Listening objectives:
Understanding extended speech and lectures and following even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar; understanding most TV news and current affairs programmes; understanding the majority of films in standard dialect.

Students will build on the SPAN256 syllabus, developing and consolidating their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

This Module is mapped against the B2 level in Spanish according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This module is mapped against B1 level in Spanish according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Students will build on the ab initio modules (SPAN112 / SPAN134), developing and consolidating their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, especially through the coverage given to important elements of Spanish Grammar. Vocabulary acquisition will be consolidated.

PORT256 is a continuation of PORT112 and PORT134, and improves upon the linguistic skills, grammatical functions and vocabulary acquired on these courses. This module is mapped against B1 level descriptors in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It aims to achieve the level of fluency required for those students intending to spend their year abroad in a Portuguese-speaking country.

This module is mapped against B1 level in Catalan according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This module builds upon the year one beginners’ modules CATL112 and CATL134, with greater emphasis placed on written, as opposed to spoken, Catalan. While continuing to use audiovisual methods with a view to further increasing oral fluency, the principal aim will be to achieve greater proficiency in written Catalan and to impart a solid grammatical foundation.

Intermediate Basque 5+6 introduces students to the B1 level of the CEFRL by widening the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing the students’ receptive and productive skills. The course keeps introducing students to a wide variety of aspects of Basque culture.

This introductory Portuguese language module offers absolute beginners a comprehensive overview of basic grammatical functions and linguistic skills that will provide students with basic competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking Portuguese at A1+/A2 level according the Common European Framework of Reference.

The principal aim of this module is to achieve greater proficiency in written and speaking Catalan and to provide a solid grammatical foundation.

The student will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool.

Beginners’ Basque 1+2 equips the students with the skills needed to start communicating in Basque. It covers basic grammar structures and vocabulary and lays a solid foundation for further study. The course includes as well an introduction to a variety of aspects of Basque culture.

The modern city and the cinema developed together, and as they developed they referred to each other: cities have always been a prime space for film, while many urban theorists have found it useful to think of cities as cinematic spaces. The module introduces you to cinematic ways of representing the city, through the study of a number of representative films that deal with some major global metropolis.You will have the opportunity to produce your own short smartphone film of the city of Liverpool as part of a small-scale group project. This will allow you to put your ideas into practice and to reflect on the filmmaking process. No prior knowledge of practical filmmaking is required to enrol in this module but you are expected to be willing to familiarise yourself with the process of shooting and editing of a smartphone film.

In this module, we will get you to think critically about the city in which you live and study, and consider how multilingual Liverpool actually is.

We will think about how people who manage the space in Liverpool make it more or less multilingual, and why they might do that. We think about issues of identity, authenticity, and translation. We also go out into Liverpool to undertake fieldtrips to learn about multilingualism on the streets!

The Basque language is the axis of a long-standing culture that came to feel at risk around the late 19th century. The Basque nation has since embarked on a fight for survival that has largely contributed to transform the Basque Country into an open, modern, and dynamic society. But contemporary Basque society is characterised by its conflicting identities, Basque and Spanish being the most noted of them. This module will analyse the most relevant areas of that conflict from a cultural, historical, and anthropological perspective. It will also offer a taste of contemporary Basque arts and the identity play between the local and the global in which they are inscribed. This is not a theoretical module. It is practical through and through. But by means of studying contemporary Basque society and culture students are invited to reflect about the concept of identity, both its importance to all of us and its striking fragility, and the way all that is linked to their own experience of nationality.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the cinematic dimension of Spanish and Latin American cultures. You will gain an insight into the context in which contemporary cinemas have developed in Spain and Latin America, as well as gaining an awareness of the economic forces which frame the film industry in Spain and Latin America in specific areas of contemporary political and cultural life. The module will enable you to understand cinema practices and institutions in Spanish and Latin American societies. The focus of this module will be Film Festivals as an insight into how films are funded, distributed, and consumed, and what types of films are circulated for international audiences.

This module aims to introduce students to Latin American fiction through the study of a selection of novels and short story collections by major Latin American writers.

PORT278 is a continuation of PORT256 and improves upon the linguistic skills acquired on that module. This module is mapped against B2 level descriptors in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) which is the level of fluency required for those students intending to spend their year abroad in Portugal or Brazil.

This module builds upon Intermediate Catalan 5+6.

The principal aim will be to achieve greater proficiency in written Catalan and to impart a solid grammatical foundation.

This module takes the students to the B1+ level of Basque (CEFRL) by widening considerably the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing the students’ receptive and productive skills. The course keeps introducing the students to a variety of aspects of Basque society and culture.

This module is mapped against A2 level in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This module is a continuation of PORT112 and improves upon the linguistic skills acquired in that module. It offers beginners of Portuguese a comprehensive overview of basic grammatical functions and linguistic skills that will provide students with a sound competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking Portuguese.

This module is mapped against A2 level in Catalan according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This is an introductory intensive module which aims to provide students with a working knowledge of modern Catalan, written and spoken, roughly at A-level standard. The student will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool.

Elementary Basque 3+4 takes the students up to the A2 Breakthrough level of the CEFRL by widening the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing their receptive and productive skills. The course materials keep introducing the students to a wide variety of aspects of Basque culture.

This module will introduce students to a range of literary and cultural forms which give prominence to women’s roles in cultural and social change. Students will engage with a number of key texts and gender related concepts and will consider the ways in which representations of women, whether produced by women or, indeed, by men, have both influenced and been influenced by important social and cultural movements in Spain, Portugal and Latin America from the early modern to the modern eras.

This second-year optional module will introduce students to the theory and practice of language teaching. Subject specific lectures will provide an overview of the evolution of teaching methodologies and approaches throughout history and up until the latest developments in the field, such as gamification or the flipped classroom approach. They will also guide students on applying these theories to different teaching contexts, taking into account variables such as language level, students’ profile, motivation, or the cognitive implications of second language learning. School placements and/or supervisions will provide the opportunity to apply the theory to an actual teaching context and to develop a teaching project.

This module offers an introduction to economic and social development in Latin America over the past fifty years and more recently the effects of globalisation in Latin America. We discuss key themes in the study of globalisation and development, including the nature of globalisation and the state, and the concept of development. After the introductory sessions, different weeks will look at changes in development policies in Latin America, from the post-war period to the most recent introduction of neoliberal reforms and the turn to left-wing politics. Subsequently, we will discuss key actors in the Latin American development process (the state, civil society, social movements, and international institutions). The module finishes with an overview of the international context of Latin American development, including US-Latin American relations.

This team-taught module invites students to an expansive, yet focused investigation of public spaces – real and digital – across Belgium, Germany, Colombia, China, United States, and Italy: we start with an introduction that familiarises the students with key concepts and questions of public space and its embodiments through, for instance, monuments, statues, and museums, drawing from theories of ‘the everyday’ (i.e. Michel de Certeau, David Harvey Edward Soja, Henri Lefebvre, etc.) and Memory Studies (i.e.Michael Rothberg’s multidirectional memory). The Introduction invites students to understand political change and protest movements in public spaces within a global context. Each week then focuses on a different case study, a statue, a museum, their digital representations, a neighbourhood, etc., such as the Berlin Wall Memorial and Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. To ensure coherence across these vastly different geographical and historical contexts, the sessions will be structured around a set of recurring key themes and questions (heritage, memory, justice, everyday use and creative transformation) to draw students’ attention to global connections and local specificities.

This is the first of two core Spanish language modules in Final Year. During the first semester, students will work on achieving a C1 level (proficiency) as specified in the CEFR. They will be able to use the target language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes, using an appropriate range of registers. More specifically, students will be able to read and analyse appropriate examples of academic, professional, and literary texts in the target language and recognise implicit meaning. They will be able to produce clear, well structured, detailed texts on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.
In oral interactions, students will be able to express themselves fluently and spontaneously. Overall, their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills will be improved, and their ability to translate texts and interpret short interviews/talks will be developed.

This is the second of two core Spanish language modules in Final Year. On successful completion of this module, students will have achieved at least a C1 level (proficiency) or a C2 level (mastery) as specified in the CEFR. They will be able to use the target language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes, using an appropriate range of registers. More specifically, students will be able to read and analyse appropriate examples of academic, professional, and literary texts in the target language and recognise implicit meaning. They will be able to produce clear, wellstructured, detailed texts on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.
In oral interactions, students will be able to express themselves fluently and spontaneously. Overall, their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills will be improved, and their ability to translate texts and interpret short interviews/talks will be developed.

This module builds on the linguistic skills acquired in previous Portuguese modules and aims to consolidate students’ knowledge of Portuguese at an advanced level. The module will focus on perfecting accurate and appropriate use of Portuguese in speech, listening, reading, and writing at C1 level according the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The course aims at further improving the students’ fluency in spoken Catalan and their mastery of written Catalan in all the areas of comprehension, writing and grammar.

BASQ309 is a final year Basque language module for students who have taken BASQ256 and BASQ278. It focuses on the study of the Basque language by using the four main language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and relying on cultural aspects of the Basque Country.

PORT256 is a continuation of PORT112 and PORT134, and improves upon the linguistic skills, grammatical functions and vocabulary acquired on these courses. This module is mapped against B1 level descriptors in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It aims to achieve the level of fluency required for those students intending to spend their year abroad in a Portuguese-speaking country.

This module is mapped against B1 level in Catalan according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This module builds upon the year one beginners’ modules CATL112 and CATL134, with greater emphasis placed on written, as opposed to spoken, Catalan. While continuing to use audiovisual methods with a view to further increasing oral fluency, the principal aim will be to achieve greater proficiency in written Catalan and to impart a solid grammatical foundation.

Intermediate Basque 5+6 introduces students to the B1 level of the CEFRL by widening the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing the students’ receptive and productive skills. The course keeps introducing students to a wide variety of aspects of Basque culture.

This module develops research and critical skills when examining digital cultures with a particular focus on the Americas. It takes examples that encompass North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean. Building confidence in handling theoretical tools in the analysis of digital cultures it examines a range of professional and amateur content creators from social, institutional and personal perspectives and considers issues of curatorship, archival approaches, the ethics of (re)appropriation and remediation, and the relationship between the self and the public and private spheres.

Have you ever thought of poetry as a form of rebellion? Or known what it’s like for your national poets to be seen as resistance fighters, fighting with their voices and guitars as powerful weapons? The module will change the way you think about the role of poetry as a means of social and cultural change and resistance! It will be divided into two main parts: one on Castilian Medieval, Early Modern and Golden Age poetry and another one on contemporary poetry and performance poetry of Spain. The module will begin with an examination of medieval and early modern Spanish folk ballads on topics ranging from Christian-Muslim encounter to forbidden sexuality. It will then trace the evolution of Spanish poetry in the Golden Age, exploring the ways in which the love lyric as well as religious verse were developed in the early modern period as means of expressing the poet’s intellectual prowess, spirituality and subversive view. The module will then explore the poetry written in Spain during the last 40 years. The Novísimos’ poetry, and that of the ‘poetas drogados’ of the 70s, will shed light on the Transition to democracy in Spain, to then move on to the boom of poetry written by women in the 80s and feminism in poetry. The module will move on the ‘poetry of experience’ in the 90s, which dominated and monopolized the poetic field in Spain for more than a decade, to finally examine the turn of the new millennium and the emergence of new forms of performance poetry, such as multimedia poetry recitals, poetry slams and poetry jam sessions in Madrid. The module will consider how the popularity of these events is shifting cultural paradigms and forcing a re-location of prestige, centred on the democratization of poetry.

This module will introduce students to debates about democracy in Latin American during and after the Cold War, including the breakdown of democratic regimes and democratisation. By examining the changing relationship between the state, civil society and citizens since the mid-twentieth century, we cover various aspects of the democratisation process in the region, including theoretical explanations. In the first half of the module, we examine the influence of the Cold War on Latin American politics, including the Cuban Revolution, US-Latin American relations, and the emergence of military regime. This is followed by an examination of the ‘transitions to democracy’, including topics such as transitional justice, human rights, and the memory and legacy of dictatorship. We finish by studying some of the challenges confronting Latin America societies today and the prospects for democracy.

This module will introduce students to approaches to memory and to a body of textual, visual, material representation of terror that has become a key focus for critical analysis in recent cultural studies. It will provide a context in which students can engage in systematic comparisons between European, Latin American and East Asian experiences and representations of social and political trauma. It will also encourage students to reflect systematically on the political and ethical implications of literary, material, digital and cinematic representations of traumatic histories. You will have the opportunity to study in depth and compare examples of representation through different media and across different national and linguistic boundaries. Lectures provide background both to the main theoretical approaches, and to specific representations. In weekly seminars, you will work on the case studies covered in class, and on related materials. Assessment is on the basis of a poster and an essay.

The module will typically provide an introduction to the history of slavery in the Francophone and Hispanic Worlds, situating the phenomenon of modern slavery within an understanding of historical slavery. Students will then study a range of representations of slavery that have arisen in response to historical slavery. These will typically range from first person slave accounts from the early modern period which provide an individual perspective on the history of slavery; literary and filmic representations of slavery and cultural responses to slavery, particularly in the heritage industries through the practice of Dark Tourism. The module will typically include a visit to the International Slavery Museum in the Albert Dock, Liverpool.

This module introduces students to the theory and practice of translation at an advanced level. Students will develop an understanding of theoretical issues surrounding translation, applying this knowledge both to their own translations and to existing texts; gain insight into the professional practice of translation; and enhance their advanced language skills in both their target language(s) and English across a range of different text styles.

This module is offered to students of Chinese, French, German and Spanish. Students studying two languages may, subject to the agreement of the relevant tutors, choose to follow seminars in both languages. Please contact the module convenor in advance to make arrangements if you would like to take up this option.

Students wishing to take this module should normally have achieved an average of 60% or above in their second year language modules. MODL311 is a prerequisite for MODL312: students will normally be required to achieve 60% or above in MODL311 in order to progress into MODL312. Students are not required to take both modules in the same language.

MODL321 gives students the option of completing a 15-credit independent Research Project module in either in Semester 1 or Semester 2.

This module gives students the opportunity to carry out independent research in an area of interest to them. The topic should be related to one of the research specialisms of members of staff in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Students are expected to take the initiative in planning, researching and completing the dissertation. Supervision and guidance will be provided from a member of staff in the Department.

This module is mapped against A1 level in Basque according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

BASQ322 offers final-year students the opportunity to take an ab initio course in Basque language complemented with the study in depth of significant aspects of Basque society and culture that have not specifically been addressed in any other module throughout their degrees.

The language course is based on the use of BOGA, a multimedia system for learning Basque on the Internet and provided to the University of Liverpool by the Basque Institute Etxepare. Students work on their own on BOGA, and the aim of the lectures and seminars is to reinforce and enhance the last grammar and vocabulary elements learnt from BOGA and to practice them in listening, reading, writing and speaking activities.

A brief description of BOGA can be found here: http://www.ikasten.ikasbil.net/course/view.php?id=13371&lang=en

This is a module that combines the learning of Catalan language with key aspects of its culture, society and literature.

The module will employ contemporary Catalan literary texts to approach issues of culture, national identity and current social affairs. With regards to the language content, this is an introductory intensive module which aims to provide final students with a working knowledge of modern Catalan, written and spoken, at above A-level standard (together with its co-requisite module, CATL324).

The module will enable students to acquire a broad understanding of Catalonia and will also enable them to acquire skills in literary analysis and Catalan language in different registers.

Students will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool at the end of the academic year.

In this introductory Portuguese language module, absolute beginners will gain basic competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking and an understanding of elementary grammar through a variety of methods. This module is mapped against A1 level descriptors in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and at the end of the 12-week tuition period, students will be able to carry out simple tasks in the language. Students will be able to understand and use everyday expressions and basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of most needs in a day to day context. They will be able to interact and participate effectively in basic conversations. They will have an understanding of some aspects of life and culture in Lusophone countries and will be able to further develop their intercultural skills.

This module builds on the linguistic skills acquired in previous Portuguese modules (PORT256, PORT278 and PORT311), and aims to consolidate students’ knowledge of Portuguese at an advanced level. The module will focus on perfecting accurate and appropriate use of Portuguese in speech, listening, reading, and writing at C1 level according the Common European Framework of Reference .

The module builds upon Proficient Catalan 11.

The course aims at further improving the students’ fluency in spoken Catalan and their mastery of written Catalan in all the areas of comprehension, writing and grammar.

The student will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool.

This module takes the students to the B2+ level of Basque (CEFRL) by widening considerably the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing the students’ receptive and productive skills. The course keeps introducing the students to a variety of aspects of Basque society and culture.

PORT278 is a continuation of PORT256 and improves upon the linguistic skills acquired on that module. This module is mapped against B2 level descriptors in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) which is the level of fluency required for those students intending to spend their year abroad in Portugal or Brazil.

This module builds upon Intermediate Catalan 5+6.

The principal aim will be to achieve greater proficiency in written Catalan and to impart a solid grammatical foundation.

This module takes the students to the B1+ level of Basque (CEFRL) by widening considerably the range of grammar structures and vocabulary to be acquired and so enhancing the students’ receptive and productive skills. The course keeps introducing the students to a variety of aspects of Basque society and culture.

The concept of transnational cinema is an important and exciting framework through which the interconnections between film cultures and filmmakers can be explored. While the nation was the dominant model through which film was viewed for many decades, recent criticism has acknowledged that in a globalized world, looking at how film crosses geographical, linguistic, industrial and cultural borders is more important than ever. Transnational cinema also addresses a particular set of themes, centered around pressing global concerns: climate change, terrorism, migration and border crossing, diasporic identities, postcolonialism, memory and loss, and changing models of gender and sexuality in an interconnected world. This module invites students to consider these themes in films from multiple geographical locations, encompassing Mexico/Spain, US/Pakistan, UK/India, Korea/UK, and Iran/France, among other.
In class, we will always pay attention to how these films cross borders: in terms of cast and crew, themes, production, distribution and aesthetics.

This module explores the relationship between comics, memory and history. Some of the most engaging comics of our times represent marginalised histories of individuals and communities, and whole genres of comics today are committed to drawing attention and striving against historical and contemporary systems of oppression. Over the last decades, comics have started documenting forgotten histories, conveying testimonies and enabling forms of self representation and transcultural belonging. Yet this medium has a long and complex history of depicting race and ethnicity, reinforcing discrimination and marginalisation and popularising colonial stereotypes. This module engages with such history, and with authors who are redrawing it.
This module develops a language-sensitive approach to comics and graphic novels beyond the Anglosphere; the syllabus introduces the students to a series of linguistic and cultural contexts in which comics have been developed and translated since the 20th century.

A large proportion of films are based on written texts and this module will introduce you to a range of cinematic adaptations of literary works from across Modern Languages. Using adaptation theory to inform your analysis, you will have the opportunity to study excerpts from texts and consider the issues that arise from their adaptation as films. How does cinema convey a sense of the past or modify literary works from a different time period? How does it represent the gender roles which can be a central preoccupation of literature? How does film transcend language boundaries to bring modern-language texts to new audiences? On this module you will have the opportunity to explore these areas whilst also developing skills in film analysis, journalistic writing and academic writing.

This module explores themes in contemporary Spanish films and television, within their broader sociohistorical, political and industrial contexts. It examines the ways in which television and film respond to and to intervene in key moments, social crises and issues in contemporary Spain. As well as providing an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Spanish film and television, the module will develop an ability to apply close analysis of film and television texts, and relate this to broader theories in cultural and media studies to understand the context and significance of media texts in the shaping of public debates.

This module explores the links between language, society and identity in contemporary Spain. It draws on key topics in Sociolinguistics such as language and gender, language ideologies and language and education to ask questions such as:

– Why are some languages or accents thought of as “better” than others?
– What role does language play in identity formation?
– How does language intersect with systems of social categorisation such as gender and sexuality, race/ethnicity, and social class?

This module gives students the opportunity to produce an extended translation of a previously untranslated text. Students will also formulate a translation brief/pitch, which their translation will seek to fulfil. This is an independent project in which student take the initiative in planning, researching and writing. Expert supervision and guidance is provided by members of staff in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. As well as translating their text, students also produce a self-reflective commentary explaining and justifying the overall translation strategy. If you enjoy the challenge of translation and the creative possibilities offered by language, and if you are particularly suited to independent research, then this is the module for you.

MODL311 is a pre-requisite for MODL312: students will normally be required to achieve 60% or above in MODL311 in order to progress into MODL312. Students are not required to take both modules in the same language.

MODL322 gives students the option of completing a 15-credit independent Research Project module in either in Semester 1 or Semester 2.

This module gives students the opportunity to carry out independent research in an area of interest to them. The topic should be related to one of the research specialisms of members of staff in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Students are expected to take the initiative in planning, researching and completing the dissertation. Supervision and guidance will be provided from a member of staff in the Department.

Continuation of BASQ322, BASQ324 takes final-year students to complete an ab-initio course in Basque language complemented with the study in depth of significant aspects of Basque society and culture that have not specifically been addressed in any other module throughout their degrees.

The language course is based on the use of BOGA, a multimedia system for learning Basque on the Internet and provided to the University of Liverpool by the Etxepare Basque Institute.

Students work on their own on BOGA, and the aim of the lectures and seminars is to reinforce and enhance the last grammar and vocabulary elements learnt from BOGA and to practice them in listening, reading, writing and speaking activities.

This module is mapped against B1 level in Catalan according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This is a module that combines the learning of Catalan language with key aspects of its society, literature and translation. With regards to the language content, this is the second part of the introductory intensive modules in final year which aim to provide students with a working knowledge of modern Catalan, written and spoken, at a solid B1 level as specified in the Common European Framework of Reference.

As its co-requisite module (CATL322), this module will also approach issues of culture, national identity and current social affairs in Catalonia. The module will include in its core translation of key 20th-century literary texts, which will tackle grammar points such as nominalisations and verbalisations and will also enable students to acquire skills in Catalan language in different registers.

Students will also have the opportunity to achieve an extra qualification by taking the International Catalan Certificate issued by the Institut Ramon Llull and held at the University of Liverpool at the end of the academic year.

​This module is a continuation of PORT322 and improves upon the linguistic skills acquired on that course. It offers beginners of Portuguese a comprehensive overview of basic grammatical functions and linguistic skills that will provide students with a competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking. This module is mapped against A2 level descriptors in Portuguese according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This module gives students the opportunity to carry out independent research in an area of interest to them. The topic should be related to one of the research specialisms of members of staff in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Students are expected to take the initiative in planning, researching and writing the dissertation. Supervision and guidance will be provided from a member of staff in the Department.