Accent, Madrid

In this course, students examine key artworks in the Madrid museums, galleries, and public art interventions to question what these pieces can convey about the contemporary history and cultures of Spain. The course includes visits to the world-leading collections at the Museo del Prado and Museo Reina Sofía contemporary art museum, among other sites, to learn firsthand about the historical context of Picasso’s Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, study Dalí’s references to psychoanalysis and sexuality in relation to other surrealists, and approximate Miró’s multiple interpretations in abstractionism over the twentieth century. Students learn to interpret the cultural codes of classical Golden Age and Modern iconography (El Greco, Velázquez, Goya), as well as more contemporary interpretations of these tropes for the ways in which they have been resignified over time with new meanings that resonate with publics from contemporary history (Mallo, Equipo Crónica, Chillida, Oteiza, Saura, etc.). In addition to studying the visual material and artists in question, the course includes historically grounded ways of seeing, looking, and the gaze at issue in each artwork and its circumstance, as well as their transformations over time. 

This course explores the psychological and mental health impacts of Spanish culture, focusing on traditional lifestyle behaviors, diet, work-life balance, and community. Students examine how recent shifts—such as changes in food habits, increased sedentarism, technological use, and growing cultural diversity—affect health, relationships, and society, while analyzing responses through collective and individual initiatives. This course discusses how different generations marked by distinct historical periods—postwar and Francoist dictatorship, transition to democracy until 1990s, and the 21st century global digital era—view and shape well-being and mental health models through the lens of cultural change, resilience, and identity. 

This course offers an in-depth exploration of Spanish identities through the lens of its culinary culture. Students examine how centuries of tradition and local practices define the Spanish culture, from the historical roots of the Mediterranean Diet to regional diversity, and the crucial role of innovation and sustainability in overcoming global environmental challenges. Topics include sustainable agriculture, biodynamic wines, mindful eating practices, and the role of local markets and circular economy in supporting food security and community. Through a series of engaging activities—including expert discussions, guided tastings, and site visits to key locations like local markets and innovative food hubs—students gain firsthand knowledge of Madrid’s dynamic food landscape and explore the extent to which a new generation of entrepreneurial initiatives are driving a more sustainable and conscious approach to eating and producing. 

This course examines Spain’s most successful industries—banking, fashion, telecommunications, soccer, gastronomy, and tourism—through the lens of marketing and branding, highlighting major players like Banco Santander, Zara, Telefonica, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona. Students engage with industry professionals and visit key sites, including retail hubs, sports venues, marketing agencies, and producers of iconic Spanish goods: wine, olive oil, and pork.

This course develops a basic understanding of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, enhancing the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and brings students' communicative competence to the CEFR A1 Level. Students explore the culture of Spain and Spanish America and engage in interactions in real communicative situations. The focus is on communication, and topics include the ability to ask and answer questions relating to personal characteristics, needs, and items; to recognize expressions of formal and informal social interaction; to request information in various settings (e.g. shopping, restaurants, weather, etc.); to describe objects, places, and events in the past or present; and to indicate preferences and personal taste, among others. This course facilitates the language acquisition process within an intensive immersion context and is instructed in Spanish through a hybrid grammar-intensive and communicative approach. 

This beginner level course puts students in direct contact with Spain, increasing their awareness of different cultural perspectives and introducing linguistic habits that form part of everyday communication. Topics include: basic vocabulary, conversational phrases, and grammatical structures, as well as hands-on interactive activities such as walking neighborhood tours, museum visits, and meetings with local representatives.