Practical Latvian A2

obligatory courses

Classroom

Course in Latvian for students of Baltic Philology starting from zero. On completion of the course the students have communicative skills in Latvian at A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment.

The aim of the course is:

a) to acquaint the student with the vocabulary connected with everyday life in a broad sense, which will allow him / her to get about in a Latvian language environment relatively freely in predictable situations of everyday life;

b) to introduce the student to the world of basic grammatical notions indispensible in formulating and understanding simple oral and written utterances;

c) to develop the student’s communicative competence and his / her ability to construct simple texts connected with familiar thematic domains;

d) to inculcate the principles of correct pronunciation and stress;

e) to develop sociocultural competence (polite phrases used in greeting and taking leave in official and unofficial situations; formal and informal phone calls; traditions and customs connected with the yearly cycle festivals in Latvia).

The estimated number of hourse the student should devote in order to achieve the learning outcomes as defined for this course is:

a) contact hours: 120 h.;

b) unassisted preparation for classes (ca. 2 h. per week): 90 h.;

c) preparation for during-term tests, term-final tests and final examination: 60 h.

Manual:

1. Auziņa, I., Berķe, M., Lazareva, A., Šalme, A. A1 Laipa. Mācību grāmata.

2. Auziņa, I., Berķe, M., Lazareva, A., Šalme, A. A1 Laipa. Darba burtnīca.

3. Klēvere-Velhli, I., Naua, N. Latviešu valoda studentiem: mācību līdzeklis latviešu valodas kā svešvalodas apguvei. Mācību grāmata un CD. Rīga: LVA, 2012.

Supplementary:

1. Palīgā!, 2003. Mācībgrāmata pieaugšajiem 1. līmenis. Rīga: Apgāds ZVAIGZNE ABC.

2. Palīgā!, 2003. Darba burtnīca 1. līmenis. Rīga: Apgāds ZVAIGZNE ABC.

3. Aina Rubīna. Latviešu valodas rokasgrāmata. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2010.

4. Dainuvīte Guļevska, Aina Miķelsone. Latviešu valodas pareizrakstības vārdnīca. Rīga: Jumava, 2004.

5. Poļu-latviešu vārdnīca. Rīga: Liesma, 1970.

6. Latviešu-poļu vārdnīca. Rīga: Jumava, 2011.

7. http://www.sazinastilts.lv/

8. Teaching materials and texts supplied by the teachers.

On completion of the course the student:

(KNOWLEDGE)

- recognizes and correctly explains expressions and lexical units presented during the course;

- describes the mechanisms of formation of simple grammatical structures;

(SKILLS)

- fluently formulates simple questions and short answers on topics connected with situations of everyday life, as well as personal and professional life;

- reacts fairly spontaneously in predictable communicative situations, using restricted linguistic means;

- formulates short written statements concerning familiar thematic domains (notes, private letter)

- grasps the main idea in succinct authentic written and spoken utternances of an informative character (advertisements, folders, brief relations of events from everyday life and cultural events);

(AWARENESS)

- actively participates in classes;

- realizes the need of independent work in addition to classes.

Final examination to which the student is admitted on condition of obtaining a credit for exercises.

A credit must be obtained from every teacher before the date of the final examination.

Conditions for obtaining the term-final graded credit:

a) checking of attendance (necessary precondition) – two absences per term are allowed; additional absences must be accounted for in agreement with the teacher; an attendance rate below 50% bars from obtaining the course credit.

b) satisfactory marks for during-term tests and term-final tests;

c) timely submission of all papers imposed by the teacher;

d) active participation in classes;

e) current preparation for classes.

The examination consists of an oral and a written part. Obtaining a credit for the written part is a condition for admission to the oral part.

The written test is intended to evaluate: a) knowledge about the formation of basic grammatical forms and constructions (gap filling test, transformations); b) mastery of vocabulary (word definitions, synonims and antonyms); c) ability to construct a written statament on an imposed subject.

The oral part is intended to evaluate: a) the ability to formulate an oral statement concerning one of the examination themes; b) communicative competence (communicativity, adequately reacting to various situations).