Spanish Language and Literature

This course is the second part of an introductory course in Spanish as a foreign language. At the end of the semester, students are able to talk about their current activities, their likes and dislikes, as well as to express their feelings and opinions and make comparisons. Their knowledge of the verbal system is also enlarged with the introduction of more irregular verbs and the preterit, which enables them to speak about their past experiences. Core grammar points such as the use of direct and indirect object pronouns and the difference between ser and estar are also covered. Prerequisite: SPAN E-1a, or the equivalent. (2 credits)

This course emphasizes oral and written communication using additional language structures, including the future and conditional tenses and the subjunctive mood. Students communicate using role-play and other interpersonal activities. They also read short pieces on modern Spanish culture and write compositions on topics of personal interest. Prerequisite: SPAN E-1b, SPAN E-1, or the equivalent. (4 credits)

This course is designed to review and expand students' oral and written command of the basic structures of the Spanish language. It seeks to build vocabulary through the reading of authentic documents and literature from Spanish-speaking countries. Prerequisite: SPAN E-2a, or the equivalent. (2 credits)

In this course, students improve their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through grammar review and class discussions that span a wide variety of interests: currents events, ethical issues, and literary selections. Prerequisite: SPAN E-2b, SPAN E-2, or the equivalent. (4 credits)

Taught entirely in Spanish, this course is for students needing competency in Spanish at the intermediate level through practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Working in small groups to develop conversational facility, students read and discuss fiction and nonfiction articles in topics including immigration, social class, human rights; increase comprehension and vocabulary by viewing current news; and appreciate different cultures through listening to music. Grammar is reviewed as needed. Prerequisite: SPAN E-3, or the equivalent. (4 credits)

This course is aimed at students who wish to further develop their active language skills, as well as deepen their knowledge of contemporary Latin American cultures. Grammar review, focused primarily on the differing ways that English and Spanish convey similar meanings, enhances understanding of the most difficult features of Spanish for English speakers (for example, imperfect versus preterit, adjective position, indicative versus subjunctive, equivalents for English phrasal verbs). Course materials are drawn from the Spanish-language print and electronic media, as well as contemporary literature, music and the visual arts, and permit students to explore such topics as regional integration, youth culture, rural versus urban life, cultural penetration and perceptions of the "first world," indigenous rights, and Hispanics in the United States. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisites: SPAN E-6, SPAN E-7, or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. (4 credits)