Spanish Language and Culture
The Spanish Language and Culture Program prepares you to study abroad in Spain and Latin America by building necessary skills such as reading and writing, understanding basic to advanced grammar and vocabulary, and exploring social customs and traditions in Spanish-speaking countries.
Promoting Cooperation in the Classroom
I always try to create a stimulating and cooperative environment in which the students feel comfortable to practice Spanish from day one.
Course Offerings
These courses are taught in Spanish.
Introduction to the basic structure and function of the modern Spanish language, covering the basic sound system, grammatical constructions, writing system, and basic vocabulary and expressions. Important cultural aspects of the language are discussed as well.
Prerequisite: SPA 101 or instructor consent.
Continuing development of the fundamental aspects of the modern Spanish language as in SPA 101, with additional vocabulary/expressions and analysis of grammatical constructions.
Prerequisite: SPA 102 or instructor consent.
Aims at further developing students’ Spanish language proficiency in the six aspects of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding.
Prerequisite: SPA 201 or instructor consent.
Continuation of SPA 201 while further enhancing students’ proficiency level in listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and cultural understanding. Necessary linguistic, cultural, and sociolinguistic orientation for study abroad studies is included.
Prerequisite: SPA 202 and pre-study abroad status, or instructor consent.
This course is primarily geared for students who have completed SPA 202 and are preparing to study abroad in the following semester. Designed to develop the student’s oral fluency, pronunciation and oral comprehension in Spanish. Focuses on conversations in practical situations where the appropriate use of grammatical constructions and knowledge of language functions/sociolinguistics are required. Includes the study of the Spanish sound system and practice of Spanish pronunciation and intonation.
Prerequisite: Any 300-level Spanish courses, completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Designed to develop a high level of proficiency in spoken Spanish. Aims at further developing listening and speaking skills while learning more advanced language functions and lexicon. Discussions are based on current issues affecting our world. A wide variety of media resources will be used, such as newspapers, television, radio, and video.
Prerequisite: Any 300-level Spanish courses, instructor consent, or completion of a study abroad program in Spanish.
Designed to develop reading and writing skills while strengthening the mastery of vocabulary, language usage, and grammar. Main reading materials consist of short essays, literary and expository writings. Writing activities include letter, journal, and expository writing.
Prerequisite: Any 300-level Spanish courses, completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
A systematic study of the more complex structures and forms of Spanish grammar with emphasis on mood, tense, and voice. Grammatical analysis, vocabulary building, discussion, and written practice are integrated to provide a solid foundation for students wishing to do more advanced work in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Designed to acquaint students with general trends of Spanish civilization and culture. Includes historical, economic, political, ideological, and artistic developments of Spain from prehistoric times to the present. Significant aspects of each period are discussed while shedding light on Spain’s everyday life culture and its values, aesthetics, political and economic circumstances.
Prerequisite: Completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Designed to examine the historical and cultural development of Latin American countries. Includes historical, economic, political, ideological, and artistic developments of Latin America from prehistoric times to the present. Significant aspects of each period are discussed while shedding light on Latin America’s everyday life culture and its values, aesthetics, and political and economic circumstances.
Prerequisite: Completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Survey of the major Spanish Peninsular literary works, studied in literary terms and in their relation to cultural trends. Literary analysis, discussion, and reading of some of the most relevant writings will be organized by genres (prose, poetry, theater).
Prerequisite: Completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Survey of the main literary masterpieces of Spanish American literature and analysis of the work of its most representative authors. Literary analysis, discussion, and reading of some of the most relevant writings will be organized by genres (prose, poetry, theater).
Prerequisite: Completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Designed to explore differences/similarities between literary works and films from Latin America and Spain. This course will explore and contrast the treatment of societal and cultural topics on both sides of the Atlantic.
Prerequisite: Completion of a study abroad program in Spanish, or instructor consent.
Survey of contemporary issues portrayed in Latin American and/or Latino literary production and popular culture. This course will include regional topics and/or written and audio-visual materials on popular culture and mass media.
Spanish Language and Culture Faculty
