Spanish

Spanish 3 (A.2.1 level), is an elementary level at the CLS. This course offers a combination of listening and speaking practice and introduces past tenses (pretérito perfecto compuesto, pretérito perfecto simple and pretérito imperfecto) via targeted reading and writing activities. The course continues to incorporate Spanish cultural elements through representative texts and audio-visual materials.

This intermediate level Spanish course focuses on the particularities of the Spanish language. By the end of the course, participants are expected to participate in communicative interactions with Spanish speakers in social and academic settings. It requires prior knowledge of the enunciation system in Spanish: the syntax of simple and compound sentences; the form and function of the parts of speech; simple and compound tenses of the indicative; simple tenses of the subjunctive; the aspectual and modal verb periphrases, and the imperative. The student will be able to interact appropriately in everyday, academic, and work situations in Spanish, being aware of the cultural and social realities of the Hispanic world (CEFR A2). 

The course covers the following topics:

• Interact efficiently in conventional communicative contexts by introducing himself, finding lodging, using transportation, making narrations and getting involved in simple transactions;
• Ask and give information about oneself and other people, personal interests, everyday activities, likes and hobbies;
• Describe and characterize people, things, places, etc.;
• Make hypotheses and predictions about the future;
• Understand simple reading passages;
• Write simple texts, both formal and personal;
• Become aware of the linguistic and cultural diversity in the world and be able to interact in intercultural contexts, and
• Have conscious control over the psychological and affective factors that influence the learning process and use learning processes strategically.

This course offers a study of European exploration and colonization, specifically that of Spain, Portugal, France, England, and the Netherlands. It focuses on the social, cultural, political, economic, and scientific impacts that these expansions had on the peoples and nations of Europe.

This course requires previous knowledge of the enunciation system in Spanish syntax in simple, compound, and complex sentences; form and function of the parts of a sentence; simple and compound tenses of indicative and subjunctive; formal and informal imperative; aspectual and modal verbal periphrases; nonpersonal forms of the verb, and regulating elements and practical and stylistic resources of language. 

Learning outcomes:

• Interact in a variety of situations of social, school, and professional life
• Express opinions and agreement or opposition to ideas expressed by other people
• Make structured presentations, narrations, and descriptions
• Understand the main idea and details in structured speeches on various topics in different contexts
• Fully understand all types of texts
• Write descriptive, narrative, and argumentative texts on topics familiar to the student as biographies, work-related, and academic.

This course offers an in-depth study of the social structure of Spain, recognizing it as a specific case within the context of a broader model. That is, an analysis of the characteristics of the modern social structure system, its transformations, and the evolution of contemporary societies, with particular attention to the phenomena of wealth distribution, power, and social classes. It focuses particular attention on changes to social structure and social wealth distribution as a result of the economic crisis.

This course requires previous knowledge of the enunciation system in Spanish syntax in simple, compound, and complex sentences; form and function of the parts of the sentence; the simple and compound tenses of the indicative and the subjunctive; modal aspectual and verbal periphrases, and the imperative. The goal of the course is for students to interact efficiently and fluently with Spanish speakers in everyday academic and work contexts (CEFR B1.1 level). 

This course studies the dynamic and complex condition of Latin American societies and culture through an examination of various literary works. It explores then different characteristics, developmental phases, and trends of Iberoamerican works and authors. Topics include: discovery, encounter, or invention: Europe's vision of America; conquest, colonization, and cultural mestizaje; Baroque art: imitation, resistance, and rupture in 17th century colonial thought; Enlightenment in the colonies: the debate between faith and reason; colonial independence.