96663 - Spanish for Media Communication

Learning outcomes

The student knows the basic features (terms, concepts and methods) needed for the study of the structure, functions and textual organization of the Spanish language; s/he knows the basic techniques required for information mining, drafting, editing and revising texts; s/he is able to understand, analyze and coherently produce complex written texts (but also oral speeches) belonging to various specialized text types and genres, particularly multimedia ones

Course contents

The course is organized into two sides—one semester-long group project and weekly individual translation practice—to further professional writing and translating in media communication, both digital and in print (as in traditional media: e.g., newspapers).

The semester-long project focuses on multi-modal communication in Spanish, and its contrasts with English and Italian. The thread-line is to write, design and compose a (fake but plausible) issue of an airline magazine. This assignment is to be carried out in groups of 3 to 5 students.

As for the weekly practise in class, students will translate sets of brief news ca 350 words long in 60 minutes.

Readings/Bibliography

Camús, Juan Carlos. Tienes cinco segundos. Gestión de contenidos digitales. Disponible en http://tienes5segundos.cl/pdfs/libro-tienes5segundos-final.pdf

El País. 2014. Libro de estilo de El País. Nueva edición actualizada. Madrid: PRISA.

Franco, Guillermo. Cómo escribir para la web. Austin, TX: Centro Knight para Periodismo en las Américas.

Unidad de Comunicación. [s.d.] Manual y guías para la administración y uso del sitio web. Montevideo: Universidad de la República.

Further references will be provided during the course.

 

Recommended manuals and dictionaries

Martínez de Sousa, José. 1987. Diccionario de ortografía técnica. Madrid: Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez.

Martínez de Sousa, José. 2004. Ortografía y ortotipografia del español actual. Gijón: Trea.

Martínez de Sousa, José. 2008. Diccionario de usos y dudas del español actual. Gijón: Trea.

RAE. 2015. Diccionario panhispánico de dudas. Madrid: RAE.

RAE. 2018. Libro de estilo de la lengua española: según la norma panhispánica. Madrid: RAE.

Senplades. 2015. Manual de estilo y redacción. Quito: Secretaría Nacional de Planificación y Desarrollo.

Fundeu BBVA. https://www.fundeu.es/

Unos tipos duros. https://www.unostiposduros.com/

Teaching methods

Due to the didactic methods and activities in this course, attending it requires that students complete before, in e-learning mode, Modules 1 and 2 of the program on safety training in the workplace. More information, here.

 

The course requires all students to attend at least 70% of the course. The lessons are designed as a workshop. The active participation of all students in the proposed exercises is required. 

News translation practise will be carried out once a week in class. Translation problems and strategies will be addressed on the spot.

Students will work on the airline magazine project once a week through the semester, both in and out of class, and will turn it in by the end of the last class session.

Assessment methods

Course grade

Students may opt for formative (class grades) or summative assessment (exam only, 100%). Students who choose a summative assessment will sit for the exam in the official date and place determined by the DIT.

Students opting for formative assessment need tol qualify for it. To do so, they need to:

- choose that option from the beginning of the semester
- attend at least 70% of the course sessions

-In particular, you need to have carried out and turned in nearly all class exercises in due time
- participate in the creation of an airline magazine issue (ca. 3,000 words per person)
- contribute at least once to the individual reflection exercises in Virtuale

Students who meet the above specifications for formative assessment will not need to take the official exam on the first call but will instead sit for an in-class translation task for grade by the end of the semester. The course grade will be the average of two components: Group grade for the airline magazine issue, 50 percent. Individual performance in the news translation task, 50 percent.

Students who upload a minimum of four contributions to the wiki may request and obtain an overall grade for them. Their grade will then be calculated as follows: Group grade for the airline magazine issue, 40 percent. Individual performance in the news translation task, 40 percent. Contributions to the individual reflection exercises (average, 20%).

Each contributionto the individual reflection exercises should be at least 200 words long, and cut-and-paste will not be accepted.

Note: The course grade from the airline magazine (and, if applicable, of the individual reflection exercises) will only apply for formative assessment. All class and homework assignments are voluntary. Deadlines cannot be moved or negotiated. Turning in work on time is part of the work's quality. One of the course goals is learning how to plan a long project and keeping the plan under control.

Learning assessment scale

30-30L Excellent. The candidate possesses excellent translation skills, and also very high source- and target language command.

27-29 Above average. The candidate makes only minor errors, and shows a solid command of the required skills.

24– 26 Generally sound. The candidate displays a number of shortcomings, indicating a reasonable command of the required skills.

21-23 Adequate. The candidate displays significant shortcomings and only an adequate command of the required skills.

18– 20 Minimum. The candidate only meets the minimum level required and shows a minimal command of the required skills.

< 18 Fail. The candidate’s does not meet the required standard and shows a wholly inadequate command of the required skills.

Teaching tools

Lessons will take place in a classroom equipped with computer support and Internet connection.

Office hours

See the website of Ricardo Munoz Martin