Spanish

Course Descriptions

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SP130G-HU ELEMENTARY SPANISH I (4). A study of the essentials of Spanish grammar; written and conversational exercises. Designed to help students understand, speak, read, and write Spanish. Emphasis is on speaking the language. [Skill: T]

SP131G-HU ELEMENTARY SPANISH II (4). A continuation of SPN111, designed to give the student intensive practice in oral-aural skills and further study of the structure of the Spanish language. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP130G-HU.

SP230G-HU LEONES Y TIGRES Y OSOS…OH MY! (2). The Wizard of Oz, Hansel and Gretel, The Emperor’s New Clothes as well as legends and folklore from around the Hispanic world will be the focus of this course. These stories have been edited and shortened making it easier for non Spanish speaking students to understand. Classroom discussion (in Spanish) is key to this course so students may develop conversational skills and strategies. The grammar that will be stressed includes: present tense, preterite and imperfect, object pronouns, the use of se, verbs like gustar and the present subjunctive. Conducted in Spanish. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP131G-HU or placement. 

SP232G-HU THE CARTOON NETWORK (2). Comic strips are a great way to learn a foreign language. In this class students will translate, primarily from Spanish to English, popular comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes, Dilbert, Zits and the popular Argentinean comic strip Mafalda, among others. Students will also create their own comic strips with the help of simple web sites. The course will introduce students to many idiomatic expressions and everyday vocabulary as well as develop their conversational skills. The grammar that will be stressed includes: present tense, preterite and imperfect, object pronouns, the use of se, verbs like gustar and the present subjunctive. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP131G-HU or placement.

SP235G-HU WHO AM I THIS TIME? ROLE-PLAYS IN SPANISH (2). I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. This is the idea behind role-play in a classroom setting. Role-play means putting yourself into somebody else’s shoes, or when you stay in your own shoes but put yourself into an imaginary situation. So, in one class you might be an atheist who encounters an evangelist. In another you might be a rock star back stage deciding what groupies get invited back to your hotel room to party with you. Whatever the situation, this course is all about using your imagination to develop conversational skills and strategies. Grammar that will be covered in this class includes: the present and past subjunctive, all uses of se, the passive voice, future and conditional tenses, all perfect tenses. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP131G-HU or placement.

SP237G-HU SEXO, DROGAS Y ROCK Y ROLL: EL MUNDO CONTEMPORANEO (2). In this class students will have the opportunity to discuss current events in the Hispanic world. Topics may include, but are not limited to, politics, religion, show business, music, Hispanics in the United States, the drug trade, basically anything you find in any Spanish language newspaper or magazine. Developing conversational skills and strategies is a vital component to this class. The grammar that will be covered includes: the present and past subjunctive, all uses of se, the passive voice, future and conditional tenses, all perfect tenses. Conducted in Spanish. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP131G-HU or placement. 

SP 250 I Want To Live In America: For this special topics class you will imagine that you are an Hispanic immigrant, preparing yourself for the test of citizenship when class ends in Oct. All activities during this class should revolve around this concept. To prepare for the test, which will be in the form of an oral exam, we will be using questions taken from the reference book Ciudadanía Americana (American Citizenship) used by Spanish speaking immigrants to prepare for the test to become American citizens. During this class you will become familiar with basic civic lessons every American citizen should know:  How many senators are there? What is the Bill of Rights? When was the Civil War fought? What are the 3 branches of government? etc. While you become familiar with basic American civics, students will learn grammatical concepts such as present tense, preterite-imperfect, passive voice, commands. Emphasis will be on spoken Spanish and writing. 

SP285 CULTURES AND LANGUAGES ACROSS THE CURRICULUM MODULE (CLAC) (1-2). CLAC courses allow Spanish students to “piggyback” courses they are already registered for in other disciplines by doing research in Spanish to complete an end-of-the-year project in the other discipline. Students will work with Spanish faculty to design and complete a project for any course that supports the CLAC option. Students must register both for a course offering the CLAC option and for the CLAC module. Students assessed at the intermediate level of language competency may register for a SP285 module; students with advanced skills may register for a SP385 module. May be taken four times for credit. Prerequisite: SP230G-HU, SP232G-HU, SP235G-HU or SP237G-HU.

SP330G-HU SPANISH CONVERSATION AND COMPOSITION I (4). Engenders and integrates all of the language strategies to produce conversation and composition in Spanish. Daily group conversations, pair work and oral presentations are conducted in Spanish on a variety of topics, controversies and current issues gernmane to the Spanish speaking world. Frequent writing on the same subjects reinforces language skills. Problematic grammar (ser/estar, preterite/imperfect, the subjunctive, among others) will be reviewed throughout the semester. May be taken three times for credit. [Skill: T] Prerequisites: any two 200-level Spanish classes.

SP335G-HU INTRODUCTION TO HISPANIC ARTS (4). An introduction to reading and/or interpreting complex works of art from the Hispanic world, including film, art, prose, poetry, drama, and the essay. Attention is given to helping students analyze these works from an aesthetic, cultural, social, and political perspective while intending to develop a more sophisticated level of oral and written expression in Spanish. Complex areas of Spanish grammar will be reviewed as needed. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP330G-HU.

SP340G-HU THE CULTURE OF LATIN AMERICA (4). An advanced course that provides an introduction to the culture of Latin America while continuing to enhance students’ Spanish skills. The course willncompass Latin American society from pre-Colombian civilization to the contemporary era. Along the way, the diverse voices that make up Latin American culture will be explored. Particular attention will be given to the dynamic between change and tradition in society. Themes for this course include, but are not limited to: social class, ethnicity, family, religion, machismo, and the military. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP330G-HU.

SP385 CULTURES AND LANGUAGES ACROSS THE CURRICULUM MODULE (CLAC) (1-2). see SP285. Prerequisite: Any 300- or 400-level Spanish class.

SP430G-HU MASTERPIECES OF SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE (4). Study of major writers and selected masterpieces of Spanish-American literature. Emphasis on the cultural content and the influence of significant writers on literary concepts and trends.Includes written analysis of selected passages and oral presentations. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP330G-HU.

SP433G-HU MASTERPIECES OF SPANISH LITERATURE (4). Study of major writers and selected masterpieces of Spanish literature. Emphasis on the cultural content and the influence of significant writers on literary concepts and trends.Includes written analysis of selected passages and oral presentations. [Skill: T] Prerequisite: SP330G-HU.