Spanish
Professor Steven M. Gardner
Professor Margaret A. Marek
Assistant Professor Munia Cabal Jiménez
Visiting Assistant Professor Emily Adams (French & Spanish)
The study of foreign languages is a vital part of a liberal arts education. As students learn to speak, read, and write in a language other than, they gain direct experience of foreign cultures that deepen their understanding of the world. In turn, this close engagement with different cultures encourages students to reexamine their own cultural experiences, applying the unique insights that each language offers across cultural boundaries. A major or minor in a foreign language helps students interact professionally with a greater diversity of people, as they incorporate themselves into an increasingly globalized society.
Majors & Programs
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Spanish, Major -
Spanish, Minor -
Spanish Teaching License, Licensure
Courses
SP 101: Spanish for Global Citizens I
Students learn basic sentence structure and vocabulary in Spanish and are introduced to the culture of the peoples who speak Spanish. They also acquire the language skills and cultural knowledge to travel on their own to the countries where Spanish is spoken.
SP 102: Spanish for Global Citizens II
The course is designed for students who have taken 101 or have had some language instruction in high school, building upon what they have already learned. Students learn basic sentence structures and vocabulary in Spanish and are introduced to the cultures of the people who speak Spanish. They also acquire the language skills and cultural knowledge to travel on their own to the countries where Spanish is spoken.
SP 105: Reading in Spanish
Selected reading for summer study.
SP 205: Reading in Spanish
Selected reading for summer study.
SP 206: Conversational Spanish
Conversational Spanish is an intermediate conversation course designed for students who want to improve their communicative abilities in Spanish. With this goal in mind, the course will also provide exposure to the other language skills (reading and listening-comprehension, writing, vocabulary acquisition, cultural knowledge) which are integral to developing speaking fluency. Certain grammar points will be reviewed with a focus on improving oral communication. This course helps to prepare students to travel to Spanish-speaking country, participate in a BreakAway, research, or study abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country, and work professionally with Spanish-speaking communities. Students with higher levels of proficiency can take class as SP 306.
SP 210: Spanish for Heritage Speakers
Heritage speakers of Spanish advance their proficiency for multiple contexts, including professional use. Students build vocabulary, acquire learning strategies, improve oral and written expression, with particular consideration to grammar, and orthography. Special emphasis on cultural topics about the Hispanic/Latino(a) community in the United States. (Not open to students who have taken SP 203.)
SP 217: Listening Comprehension through Film
Listening Comprehension through Film is an intermediate conversation course designed for students who want to improve their listening comprehension abilities in Spanish. With this goal in mind, the course will also provide exposure to other language skills (conversation, reading, writing, vocabulary acquisition, cultural knowledge) which are integral to developing proficiency. Specific grammatical topics will be reviewed based on the texts and on issues that arise in class. Students will listen to aural texts of various types, such as news broadcasts, podcasts, films, and more, enhancing their ability to understand spoken Spanish. Individual and group presentations provide students with practice in making formal presentations in Spanish, a skill that is necessary for many professional settings. Classroom, forums, and small group discussions will provide practice in a more informal style of speech. Students will have conversation sessions with the Spanish Cultural Assistants in person, and they will interact with students at partnering situations in Spanish or Latin American through Zoom, WhatsApp, or through other means. These activities are designed to improve the students’ listening comprehension skills and practical knowledge about culture and language both in formal and informal settings.
SP 218: Texts in Context
Texts in Context is an intermediate/high-intermediate conversation course designed for students who want to improve their communicate abilities in Spanish. With this goal in mind, the course will also provide exposure to other language skills (conversation, reading, writing, vocabulary acquisition, cultural knowledge) which are integral to developing proficiency. Specific grammatical topics will be reviewed based on the texts and on issues that arise in class. Students will read and write texts of various types, such as descriptions, narratives, advertisements, blogs, articles, literature and more, enhancing their ability to read and write in Spanish. Short writing assignments of various types provide students with practice in formal and informal written communication in Spanish, a skill that is necessary for many professional settings. Students will work on their writing assignments in person with their professor and with the Spanish Cultural Assistant, and they will interact with students from our partnering institutions in Spain or Latin America through email, Zoom, WhatsApp, or other platforms. These activities are designed to improve the students’ reading and writing skills and practical knowledge about culture and language both in formal and informal settings. Individual and group presentations provide students.
SP 302: Conversation and Composition
Students explore other cultures through readings video, and other media, and they practice Spanish through compositions and discussions
SP 305: Reading in Spanish
Selected reading for summer study.
SP 306: Conversational Spanish
Conversational Spanish is an intermediate conversation course designed for students who want to improve their communicative abilities in Spanish. With this goal in mind, the course will also provide exposure to the other language skills (reading and listening-comprehension, writing, vocabulary acquisition, cultural knowledge) which are integral to developing speaking fluency. Certain grammar points will be reviewed with a focus on improving oral communication. This course helps to prepare students to travel to Spanish-speaking country, participate in a BreakAway, research, or study abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country, and work professionally with Spanish-speaking communities. Students with higher levels of proficiency can take class as SP 306.
SP 307: Intermediate Spanish Grammar
Advanced study of Spanish grammar and syntax—verbs.
SP 310: Advanced Spanish for Professions
An introduction to Spanish business vocabulary, forms, economic matters and career possibilities. Comprehension and communication in many common business situations.
SP 317: Listening Comprehension through Film
Listening Comprehension through Film is an intermediate conversation course designed for students who want to improve their listening comprehension abilities in Spanish. With this goal in mind, the course will also provide exposure to other language skills (conversation, reading, writing, vocabulary acquisition, cultural knowledge) which are integral to developing proficiency. Specific grammatical topics will be reviewed based on the texts and on issues that arise in class. Students will listen to aural texts of various types, such as news broadcasts, podcasts, films, and more, enhancing their ability to understand spoken Spanish. Individual and group presentations provide students with practice in making formal presentations in Spanish, a skill that is necessary for many professional settings. Classroom, forums, and small group discussions will provide practice in a more informal style of speech. Students will have conversation sessions with the Spanish Cultural Assistants in person, and they will interact with students at partnering situations in Spanish or Latin American through Zoom, WhatsApp, or through other means. These activities are designed to improve the students’ listening comprehension skills and practical knowledge about culture and language both in formal and informal settings.
SP 318: Texts in Context
Texts in Context is an intermediate/high-intermediate conversation course designed for students who want to improve their communicate abilities in Spanish. With this goal in mind, the course will also provide exposure to other language skills (conversation, reading, writing, vocabulary acquisition, cultural knowledge) which are integral to developing proficiency. Specific grammatical topics will be reviewed based on the texts and on issues that arise in class. Students will read and write texts of various types, such as descriptions, narratives, advertisements, blogs, articles, literature and more, enhancing their ability to read and write in Spanish. Short writing assignments of various types provide students with practice in formal and informal written communication in Spanish, a skill that is necessary for many professional settings. Students will work on their writing assignments in person with their professor and with the Spanish Cultural Assistant, and they will interact with students from our partnering institutions in Spain or Latin America through email, Zoom, WhatsApp, or other platforms. These activities are designed to improve the students’ reading and writing skills and practical knowledge about culture and language both in formal and informal settings. Individual and group presentations provide students.