Practical Latvian B2 3020-1B2PLO
The aims of the course are:
a) developing the ability of understanding spoken and written relatively complicated and longer but non-specialist texts in the standard language (press articles, texts on topics of culture);
b) expanding and enriching the (active and passive) vocabulary of the participants in various domains of life;
c) consolidating the practical mastery of grammatical forms, developing skills in the use of more difficult grammatical forms (participial forms and clauses, numerals and pronouns, compound verbs, complex sentences).
d) developing skills in constructing sentences;
e) improving pronounciation and accentuation;
f) developing skills in fluent speech and writing on previously agreed topics.
An important form of classroom work is informal talks allowing the students develop their skills in formulating and expressing their own opinions on different topics of contemporary life (discussions of topical questions of social, cultural and i political life in Latvia, Poland and the world).
Estimated number of hours necessary to achieve the learning outcome as defined for this course:
a) contact hours: 90;
b) current preparation for classes: 45 hours;
c) preparation of class papers and oral presentation: 30 hours;
d) preparation for term-final test and final examination: 15 hours.
In all: ca. 180 hours.
Type of course
Mode
Requirements
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student:
(KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS)
– understands relatively long utterances, if the topic is sufficiently familiar;
- understands most of the information in television newscasts; understands film dialogs based on the standard language,
- is able to write a text concerning familiar topics in the form of a brief essay or note, as well as to argue various points of view;
- is able to communicate relatively fluently with native speakers of Latvian;
- when speaking Latvian, is able in general to use the intonations and stress patterns characteristic of that language;
(ATTITUDES)
– pays attention to careful and cultivated speech (with emphasis on the clarity and logical structure of the utterance);
– actively participates in the classes, works systematically and shows independence in looking for topics and problems of particular interest to him/her;
- assumes the habit of constantly enriching his/her knowledge about events in the country whose language he/she is learning.
Assessment criteria
The student is expected to regularly attend the classes (2 absences per term and per teacher are tolerated) and to obtain term-final credits from every teacher (for the winter term – before the close of the winter term reexamination session at the latest, for the summer term – before the day of the final examination).
Aspects of assessment:
a) current preparation for classes and activity during classes;
b) written paper (essay on an imposed topic) and oral presentation (commenting on events);
c) written grammar test (at the close of the winter term);
d) examination (oral and in writing at the end of the summer tyerm).
The written part of the examination is meant to test the ability of correctly using grammatical forms, selected aspects of orthography, the ability of behaving adequately in given communicative situations and of creating an argumentative text on an imposed subject. The oral part of the examination is to test the understanding of a relatively long publicistic text and the ability of commenting on it (including the ability of singling out the most essential content elements, to present phenomena analogous to those described in the text, and to present one’s own experiences in the given domain).
Bibliography
Recommended reading:
Texts and issues in language communication
1. Nītiņa Daina, Palīgā. Mācību grāmata pieaugušajiem. 2 līmenis. LVAVP, Rīgā, 2002.
2. Cirule Līga, Palīgā. Darba burtnīca. LVAVP, Rīgā, 2002.
3. Nau Nicola, Palīgā. Komunikatīva gramatika. LVAVP, Rīgā, 2002.
4. Nau Nicola, Palīgā. Komunikatīva gramatika. Darba burtnīca. Rīgā. LVAVP, 2002.
5. Skujiņa Valentīna. Latviešu valoda lietišķajos rakstos. Rīgā, 1999.
Manuals:
1. Rubīna Aina, Latviešu valodas rokasgrāmata. Rīga.
2. Ceplīte Brigita, Ceplīte Laimdots, Latviešu valodas praktiskā grāmatika. Rīga, 1991.
3. Press texts, publicistic texts and popular science texts (medium degree of difficulty) in Latvian selected by the teachers. Audio and video recordings, materials compiled by the teacher.
4. Internet
Information portals www.delfi.lv, www.lrt.lt, www.apollo.lv, www.vmc.lv , www.valoda.lv,
Dictionaries:
Latviešu valodas skaidrojošā vārdnīca
"Tildes" datorvārdnīca internetā
Latviešu konversācijas vārdnīcas šķirkļi
Mīlenbaha - Endzelīna latviešu valodas vārdnīca
Datorterminu vārdnīca
Daudznozaru terminoloģijas portāls
Ekonomikas terminu vārdnīca:
http://www.ailab.lv/