Spanish (SPA)Academic Catalog: 2019–2020

  • Ana Adams
  • Angelique Dwyer
  • María Isabel Kalbermatten (On leave, 2019-2020)
  • Carlos Mario Mejia Suárez (On leave, 2019-2020)
  • Jeremy Robinson
  • Darío Sánchez-González
  • Mayra Taylor (Visiting, 2019–2020)

Spanish Major:

Spanish Major: Courses must be graded C or better to fulfill the requirement for the major. SPA-250, SPA-280, SPA-330, SPA-320, SPA-321, SPA-370, and either a) SPA-322 or SPA-323 and two courses approved by the advisor and selected from SPA-344, SPA-375, SPA-390 or b) SPA-322, SPA-323, and one selected from SPA-344, SPA-375, SPA-390. The last semester before their graduation, all Spanish majors must be registered in SPA-099 and complete their Global Language Portfolio (GLP). In this electronic portfolio the student provides evidence of regular self-evaluation throughout his/her journey toward achieving mastery of the Spanish language and understanding of the cultures of the Hispanic World. The GLP consist of four parts: Passport, Language Biography, Dossier, and Final Cultural Reflection. More information is available from the faculty advisors.

Spanish Teaching Major:

Admission to the Spanish Teaching major is by application and interview in the Department of Education, normally during the sophomore year. Spanish Teaching majors must complete all Spanish major requirements, MLC-357, and all courses required for licensure, including student teaching (see Department of Education).

Minor:

 Courses must be graded C or better to fulfill the requirement for the minor. SPA-250, SPA-280, SPA-321 or SPA-323, SPA-320 or SPA-322, and one other course taught in Spanish above SPA-250.

Spanish Courses

099 Global Language Portfolio (0 course) This is the final requirement for the Spanish major. Although the portfolio does not carry numerical credit it must be successfully completed before a student can be approved to graduate with a Spanish major. Advisees are responsible for working and consulting with their advisors to develop their portfolio throughout their course of study and for working with their advisors to finalize the portfolio throughout their graduation semester. The portfolio must be revised and approved by the advisor prior to the evaluation by the whole Spanish faculty. The portfolio must be approved by the advisor, completed, and ready for review by the Spanish faculty by the last Friday in April at 4 p.m.

101, 102, 103 Exploring the Hispanic World I, II, III (1 course each) A sequential three-semester program that introduces you to the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. As you explore this new world, you will learn to communicate and interact with native speakers of Spanish and progressively gain an understanding of the Hispanic world, and, at the same time, new insights into your own culture. You will begin to develop cultural and linguistic competency through cultural readings and other media as well as through digital media creation, writing, oral, and other experiential practices. Prerequisites: Students who have had previous instruction in Spanish are required to take the placement exam. Refer to the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures website for more information about the language requirement and placement: http://gustavus.edu/academics/mlc/languagecoursereq.php . SPA-101 is intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Spanish. SPA-101 is the prerequisite for SPA-102; SPA-102 is the prerequisite for SPA-103; or an equivalent course; or placement by exam. Offered annually.

200 Crossing Borders (1 course) This course focuses on the complex reality of immigration between the U.S. and Mexico. We will discuss the challenges Mexican immigrants face before leaving their country of origin, during their journey, and upon their arrival to the U.S. You will review intermediate Spanish to strengthen your skills and become more proficient in the language of instruction. We will read the memoirs of a migrant family and analyze contemporary audiovisual materials related to the topic. Several pedagogical methods are applied in this course, including community-based learning, which engages students in real world learning. This course requires a considerable amount of effort on your part, in addition to 15 hours of CBL outside of class. Please plan accordingly. This course counts toward the LALACS major/minor. Prerequisite: SPA-103 or equivalent. Offered annually.

244 Special Topics in Hispanic Studies (1 course) Course content varies and explores a topic or problem in depth through reading, discussion, and writing. Course taught in English. More than one special topic may be taken. Offered occasionally.

250 Negotiating Difference in the Hispanic World (1 course) In this course you will read a novel written by a Hispanic author. You will learn about Hispanic culture while studying advanced grammar and writing. The novel will offer you the possibility to explore how cultural and ideological differences are negotiated in the Hispanic world. With the novels as the starting point, students will also learn many idioms and expressions that will be needed to be fluent in Spanish. You will also write a series of creative and original compositions. In class we will employ diverse learning techniques—grammar review, paired work, small-group work, all-class discussions, peer editing, process writing, oral presentations, and round-table discussions—to provide you with the appropriate opportunities to enhance your language skills as you learn cultural and linguistic content through the active use of the Spanish language. Intended for Spanish majors, minors, and those wishing to improve their writing skills in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPA-200 with a minimum grade of C, or an equivalent course or placement by exam. WRITI, Fall and Spring semesters.

280 Literature, Film, and Society (1 course) This course introduces students to the study of literature in Spanish through the reading of short literary and cinematic texts. Students study literary terminology and methods of analysis, and practice the analysis and discussion of literature in Spanish. Texts by Spanish and Spanish American authors and films are selected from across literary periods. This course requires a minimum of fifteen hours of community engagement. This course counts toward the Film and Media Studies minor and the LALACS major/minor. Prerequisite: SPA-250 or equivalent. LARS, WRITD, Fall and Spring semesters.

320 Latin American Culture: From Latin America to Latinos in the US (1 course) In this course students will explore ideas of identity in Latin America starting with the Spanish Conquest of Latin America and pausing to analyze highlights in subsequent centuries through present day. Latinos in the U.S., and popular culture in Latin America and the U.S., will be used as the foreground for analysis. This course is taught entirely in Spanish. Discussions, student writing, and community engagement are a major component of the course. This course requires fifteen hours of community engagement. This course counts toward the LALACS major/minor. Prerequisite: SPA-280. HIPHI, Fall semester.

321 From Local to Global: The Faces of Spain (1 course) This course traces the development of a Spanish identity through the study of the Spanish people as a diverse, multi-cultural society. The course examines how the fusion of the indigenous, Roman, northern European, and African elements, and the conflict between Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religions, produces one of Europe’s richest and most unique cultures. Review of cultural materials, discussion, student presentation, and writing are a major component of the course. Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPA-280, GLOBL, Spring semester.

322 Masterworks of Spanish American Literature (1 course) In this course students will study great works of literature written in Spanish America from colonial times to the present are examined. This course counts toward the LALACs major/minor. Prerequisites: SPA-250 and SPA-280. GLOBL, Fall semester, odd years (Not offered, Fall 2019).

323 Love, Sex and Power in Spanish Literature (1 course) In this course students will examine representations of love, power, and sexuality in selected masterworks of Spanish literature. Students will practice the analysis and discussion of texts in Spanish to help improve their oral and written skills. Prerequisites: SPA-250 and SPA-280. Spring semester, even years.

330 Thinking in Spanish beyond Translations (1 course) In this course you will learn why Spanish native speakers say what they say so that you can use this logic in your learning of the language. You will study the important patterns of Spanish and why they occur through analysis of literary works, cultural readings, and famous cartoons as well as by interviewing native speakers of Spanish. You will also write a series of creative and original compositions. In class, diverse learning techniques will be employed (grammar review, paired work, small-group work, all-class discussions, peer-editing, process writing) to provide you with appropriate opportunities to learn how to analyze Spanish on your own. This course is required of all majors and teaching minors and is strongly recommended for students who wish to improve their grammar and writing skills at the advanced level. Prerequisites: SPA-250 and SPA-280, or equivalent. WRITD, Spring semester, even years.

344 Special Topics in Spanish (1 course, 1 course) Topic varies yearly. Course content will vary, and will explore a topic or problem in depth through reading, discussion, and writing. Prerequisites: SPA-320, SPA-321, SPA-322, and SPA-323. Spring semester, odd years.

370 Spanish through Linguistics (1 course) In this course you will explore linguistic answers to real questions that you confront when studying Spanish. You will read and discuss articles written by Hispanic linguists about important issues such as language acquisition, translation, dialectical variation, language contact, Spanish in the U.S., and the historical development of Spanish. You will also be introduced to specific levels of linguistic analysis such as phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Throughout this course you will interview native speakers of Spanish and collect original data as part of your own research study. In class, diverse learning techniques will be employed (lectures, discussions, pair or small group activities, and problem-solving exercises) that will give you opportunities to discuss many important issues from a linguistic point of view. Required of all majors and teaching minors. Prerequisite: SPA-280. Fall semester.

375 Gender and Sexual Identities in the Spanish-Speaking World (1 course) Cultural production in Spanish has long engaged with the many ways in which sex and gender are “done” (i.e. performed) and undone. This course profiles fiction and non-fiction writings as well as film on these topics authored by women and LGBTQQI persons from many parts of the Spanish speaking world, with an emphasis on the intersection of gender and sex with class, race, religion, and ethnicity. This course counts toward the Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies and the LALACS majors/minors. Prerequisites: SPA-250 and SPA-280. Fall semester, even years (Offered Fall 2019).

390 Through the Lens: Film in Spanish (1 course) This is an introductory course on the study of cinematography. You will view films from Spanish-speaking countries and analyze them from various perspectives. Following the weekly screening, you will engage in discussion using vocabulary specific to film analysis. You will also make your own film as a way to explore how to express ideas, tell a story, and engage audiences “through the lens.” All films, discussion, and written assignments are in Spanish. This course counts toward the Film and Media Studies minor and the LALACS major/minor. Prerequisites: SPA-250 and SPA-280. Spring semester, odd years.

291, 391 Independent Study (Course value to be determined) Independent study project and a scholarly paper. Prerequisite: A minimum of three courses in Spanish literature or permission of the instructor.