Reading Comprehension in Romance Languages

The course can be part of the following programme: 1) Master's Programme in Language and Intercultural Communication (H2SIK)

The requirement for admission to the course is completed 90 credits in a Romance language. Language skills equivalent to English 6/English level 2 and Swedish 3/Swedish level 3 are also required.

The course provides reading comprehension in at least two Romance languages in addition to the student's main language and aims to develop reading skills mainly with a focus on news texts and academic texts. The main language is the language with which the applicant has been admitted to the course.

Through both a typologic and a contrastive approach, the course focuses on differences and similarities in syntax, morphology, lexicon and phonology between the Romance languages, to give a basic understanding of the properties of the different languages.

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to read different types of texts in at least two Romance language in addition to the main language and be able to reflect on similarities, differences and difficulties that can arise when reading in these languages.

Knowledge and understanding

• give an account of the distinctive features of the Romance language family;
• compare at least two the distinctive features of Romance languages with the main language regarding syntax, morphology, dictionary and phonology;

Competence and skills

• explain difficulties that can arise when reading in different Romance languages;
• show reading comprehension in at least two Romance languages in addition to the main language;
• demonstrate awareness of similarities and differences that can constitute difficulties for reading comprehension;

Judgement and approach

• demonstrate the ability to reflect critically on the relationship between the studied languages and their development over time;
• discuss critically the distinctive features of the Romance languages in relation to text type.

The course is given as a combined campus and online course with compulsory synchronous seminars. The teaching is conducted as seminars.

The language of instruction may be English, a Romance language, and Swedish.
The language of instruction is chosen on the basis of the knowledge of the student group.

The course is assessed in the form of 1) a comparison of a grammatical or lexical phenomenon in the main language and in at least two other Romance languages, 2) a reading comprehension test. The examination is in written form.

Students who have failed any part of the course are given the possibility of a new test. In connection with written assignments, supplementary assignments may be offered in order for the student to achieve a Pass grade. Such a supplementary assignment should be done within the stipulated time (normally five working days after the result has been posted). Otherwise a Fail grade will be reported.

A student who has passed a subtest may not do a new test for a higher grade. Nor do students have the right to withdraw a submitted test and in such a way avoid being graded.

If a student who has failed the same examined component twice, wants to change examiner before the next examination, they should submit a written request to the department responsible for the course. The request shall be granted unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6, Section 22 of Higher Education Ordinance).

If the University of Gothenburg has decided that a student is eligible for special study support, the examiner may, provided it is compatible with the aim of the course and it can be done within the scope of available resources, decide to offer the student an adjusted examination or a different examination format.

If the course has been discontinued or substantially revised, a student should be guaranteed to sit the examination on at least three occasions (including the ordinary examination occasion) during a period of at least one year, but not later than two years after the course was discontinued or revised. As regards internships/placement the same as above applies, with the exception that examination is offered on only one occasion.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The students are given the opportunity to make a written evaluation of the course. The results of the evaluation are published digitally.

Equality aspects should be taken into consideration in content, literature, teaching and evaluation.

The course may be included in a second-cycle qualification in French or Spanish as the main field of study.