Spanish, German or French Studies 3 (7.5 ECTS)

The course is built up around two dimensions: content and language.

Content

Spanish Studies:
Spanish/Spanish American Studies focuses on contemporary economic development in Spain and Spanish America, and explores how these two regions are performing in terms of international and regional competitiveness, as well as the changing role of the private sector. Module One addresses Spain’s contemporary economic development and international competitiveness. Key topics include: SMEs, e-business, I+D and technological development, and key sectors such as tourism. Module Two addresses Latin America’s contemporary economic development and international competitiveness, with specific topics including: the role of multinationals, industrial clusters, SMEs and family businesses, and the role of business as an increasingly important political force in the region. We will also look at the implications of human development for economic development in both regions.Emphasis in the language classes will be on improving students’ grammar, communicative competence and fluency in Spanish in preparation for their semester abroad.

German Studies:
The overall aim of these courses is to deepen the students’ knowledge of the economic, political and socio-cultural context in German-speaking parts of the world, and to strengthen their communicative skills in their chosen language. The specific aim of the course is to develop students’ understanding of globalisation, internationalisation and europeanisation processes and their manifestations in and impact upon national and regional contexts. The course focuses on the role of German-speaking countries in Europe.

The overall aim is to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of economic institutions, organisations, actors in selected German parts of the world and to strengthen their communicative skills. The specific aim of the course is to develop students’ understanding of the relationship between economic institutions and actors, and their implications for competitiveness.

French Studies:
The overall aim of these courses is to deepen the students’ knowledge of the economic, political and socio-cultural context in French-speaking parts of the world, and to strengthen their communicative skills in their chosen language. The specific aim of the course is to develop students’ understanding of globalisation and internationalisation processes and their manifestations in and impact upon national and regional contexts.

The overall aim is to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of economic institutions, organisations, actors in selected Francophone parts of the world and to strengthen their communicative skills. The specific aim of the course is to develop students’ understanding of the relationship between economic institutions and actors, and their implications for competitiveness.

Topics include key sectors, public-private division, business cultures, management educations and fashions and CSR in selected French speaking countries. What links these cases is that they illustrate different conceptions of how to do business and of the role of business in society.

Language

The language dimension is aimed at improving students’ grammar skills, pronunciation and fluency; and their reading and oral comprehension. Emphasis will also be placed on how to write short papers of the type that the two oral exams will be based on. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the course the students should be able:

Content:
* To identify a relevant topic based on the themes and concepts in the curriculum, and to construct links between their chosen topic and the other concepts and themes learned.
* To show a clear understanding of economic institutions and actors in the regions studied, and their implications for competitiveness based on the concepts and themes in the curriculum.

Language:
* To present the exam topic in Spanish, German or French using an appropriate vocabulary;
* To explain and discuss viewpoints on the chosen topic giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options;
* To comprehend the questions posed during the examination and communicate in coherent Spanish, German or French so that their responses flow and are intelligible;
* To interact with a degree and fluency and spontaneity;
* To speak grammatically correct and well-pronounced Spanish, German or French that is, avoiding major grammatical, lexical, idiomatic or pronunciation errors that inhibit communication. At this stage, students should be able to show their linguistic awareness by correcting errors in the exam situation.

ECTS
7,5