Courses

SPAN-100/1, First-Level Spanish
Five class periods. This course is designed for those students who have had no previous world language experience. The course emphasizes listening comprehension and the use of basic conversational patterns of Spanish speech. Elementary grammatical and idiomatic structures are introduced, as well as appropriate reading material. All classwork is conducted in Spanish. (Text: Descubre I)

SPAN-110/1, First-Level Spanish
Five class periods. This course is designed for those students who have had previous experience in Spanish or in another world language. The course emphasizes listening comprehension and the use of basic conversational patterns of Spanish speech. Elementary grammatical and idiomatic structures are introduced, as well as appropriate reading material. All classwork is conducted in Spanish. (Text: Descubre I)

SPAN-110/5, First-Level Spanish
A two-term commitment. Five class periods. This course is a continuation of the first-level Spanish course for those students not enrolled in SPAN-120 (Accelerated First Level Spanish). (Text:Descubre I)

SPAN-120/5, Accelerated First-Level Spanish
Five class periods. Especially competent students will be recommended for this accelerated course at the conclusion of SPAN-100/1 or SPAN-110/1. Superior work in SPAN-120 enables recommended students to enter SPAN-220. Descubre 2 serves as the primary text and is supplemented with reading selections and proficiency-oriented exercises.

SPAN-200/0, Second-Level Spanish
A yearlong commitment. Five class periods. Using the Descubre 2 text, this course completes the introduction of grammar begun in the first year. Topics covered are imperfect, imperfect/preterite contrast, subjunctive, perfect tenses, future, and conditional. Extensive thematic vocabulary is integrated into each lesson. There are integrated video and audio programs by which the grammar and vocabulary are reinforced. Significant emphasis is placed on oral praactice. Writing and reading skills are further developed. Various Latin American countries are studied.

SPAN-220/0, Accelerated Second-Level Spanish
A yearlong commitment. Five class periods. This is an accelerated second-year course that develops communicative competence, and provides intensive reading and writing practice. At least eight Latin American and Spanish short stories are read in the first trimester, followed by the theatrical play La Muerte y la doncella in the second trimester, and Relato de un naufrago in the third trimester. Advanced concepts of grammar and idiomatic expressions are studied and put into practice in three-page essays. In order to work on pronunciation and speaking proficiency, PowerPoint and oral presentations are required, as is acting out specific scenes from the theatrical play. Students normally must maintain an honors grade to remain in the course. There are at least three tests per trimester, not including final exams. This course enables students, upon departmental recommendation, to enroll in a 400/420-level course. Open to students who have completed SPAN-120 with distinction and other qualified students with departmental permission.

SPAN-300/0, Third-Level Spanish
A yearlong commitment. Four class periods. During the fall term, students read short stories, testimonies, and poems of diverse Hispanic traditions that explore notions of family, individual and collective identities, and personal and social relationships. These texts also serve as structural and thematic models to various written exercises and other class activities. The primary objective of the winter term is to expose students to a challenging and sophisticated literary text, Cronica de una Muerte Anunciada (Chronicle of a Death Foretold), while enforcing their structural skills and communicative competence through a series of grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension exercises based on the novel. In the spring, students read Las Bicicletas Son Para el Verano (Bicycles Are for Summer) and a play about the Spanish Civil War by a contemporary Spanish playwright, and then perform selected scenes from this work.

SPAN-400/1, Current Events and Multimedia: Approaches to the Hispanic World
Four class periods. Fall Term (Hispanic America) - Students will refine speaking, writing, and listening skills in Spanish and the ability to express current issues through a cultural context. This course will use canonical Latin American literary texts, film, and journalism in order to provide a basis to discuss current and historical issues of four Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Furthermore, the course will begin a comprehensive review of basic to advanced grammar structures for students thinking about taking the various national Spanish exams. Class requirements include three essays with subsequent corrections, three tests (not including the final exam), and a class presentation made in PowerPoint. Daily class participation is essential.

SPAN-400/2, Current Events and Multimedia: Approaches to the Hispanic World
Four class periods. Winter Term (Spanish and Latin American Film)- Through the study and analysis of various films from Spanish-speaking countries, students further develop oral and written proficiency in the language. Representative cinematic works of Cuba, Spain, Argentina, and Mexico serve as an artistic medium for discussion of historical, cultural, and political issues. These films serve to enhance students? knowledge of the complexity and richness of Hispanic cultures. In addition to weekly tests on vocabulary and general comprehension of the films, students will produce an original script and a short video at the end of the term. Students also will enhance their writing by creating four essays based on issues presented on the films. The study of grammar will concentrate on the more challenging structures for English speakers, continuing the grammar review with systematic exercises that were started in the previous SPAN-400/1. Daily class participation is essential.

SPAN-400/3, Current Events and Multimedia: Approachs to the Hispanic World
Four class periods. Spring Term (Hispanic Caribbean)- Students will refine speaking and writing through the analysis of poetry and short stories of select Caribbean authors. This course will use canonical Caribbean poetry, short stories, film, music, and journalism in order to provide a basis to discuss and analyze current and historical issues of Puerto Rico and Cuba. In addition, the course will complete the review started in the fall and winter trimesters of basic to advanced grammar structures. Class requirements will include two essays with subsequent corrections, a class presentation made in PowerPoint, a midterm exam, and a final exam. Daily class participation is essential.

SPAN-401/1, Introduction to Hispanic Literature
Four class periods. Each trimester the class aims to develop language skills through reading, discussion, oral presentations, and regular writing assignments centered around major writers and texts of the contemporary Hispanic world. This course also emphasizes some of the finer Spanish grammar points and idiomatic expressions. Fall Term - Students will be exposed to short stories by contemporary Latin American and Spanish authors as varied as Carlos Fuentes, J.L. Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, among others. Allende, and others.

SPAN-401/2, Introduction to Hispanic Literature
Four class periods. Each trimester the class aims to develop language skills through reading, discussion, oral presentations, and regular writing assignments centered around major writers and texts of the contemporary Hispanic world. This course also emphasizes some of the finer Spanish grammar points and idiomatic expressions. Winter Term - In the winter, the focus is on Spanish and Spanish-American drama and contemporary Hispanic poetry.

SPAN-401/3, Introduction to Hispanic Literature
Four class periods. Each trimester the class aims to develop language skills through reading, discussion, oral presentations, and regular writing assignments centered around major writers and texts of the contemporary Hispanic world. This course also emphasizes some of the finer Spanish grammar points and idiomatic expressions. Spring Term - Students will read selected literary short novels from the Hispanic world.

SPAN-500/1, Current Issues in the Spanish-Speaking World
Three class periods. Current articles from periodicals of the Hispanic world - similar in content and format to Time magazine- provide the context for the review and practice of the more complex structures of the language and for vocabulary expansion. In addition to writing assignments based on the articles, students are evaluated on their aural comprehension and oral proficiency once a week in the Language Learning Center. In the last two weeks of the term, the focus shifts to a contemporary film from Spain or Latin America as a basis for (a) the mastery of colloquial speech patterns and current idiomatic expressions, and (b) the analysis of social and/or political issues in the Spanish-speaking world.

SPAN-500/2, Film and Narrative
Three class periods. Through a series of short stories, films, videotaped scenes, and a novel, this course focuses on childhood perceptions of the adult world in different areas of the Hispanic world. The universal aspects of childhood - those that transcend cultural or geographical boundaries - and those experiences that stem from specific child-raising practices or societal attitudes toward the child are explored through a series of analytical and creative writing assignments. Role playing and oral/aural exercises in the Language Learning Center complement these assignments. Prerequisite: enrollment in the fall trimester of SPAN-500, or permission of the chair of the Spanish department.

SPAN-500/3, Advanced Spanish Language in the Lawrence Community
In partnership with the schools of neighboring Lawrence, this course focuses on the reading and writing skills of younger students living in a bilingual, bicultural world. Phillips Academy students meet three times per week - once in Lawrence for one-hour mentoring sessions, and twice on campus to prepare their lesson plans and review the progress of their mentees. A research paper is required. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a fifth-level Spanish course in the previous two trimesters, or permission of the department chair. See also Latin American Studies (HIST-SS535), which is offered every other year.

SPAN-520/0, Advanced Topics in Spanish
A yearlong commitment. Four class periods. This course seeks to provide knowledge of the Hispanic contemporary world by looking at its major transformative historical, cultural, literary, socioeconomic and political milestones of the last century. In analyszing these major Hispanic events, students will apply critical thinking and analytical reasoning while developing and perfecting Spanish written and oral communication. By employing a wide range of tools such as historical documents, new articles, literary texts, art works and general economic principles, the course aims to foster integrative learning as students develop the ability to use applied knowledge in addressing real Hispanic-world settings. The major events to be studied are: the Spanish American War, the Mexican Revolution, Hispanic Dictatorship in context of the Cold War and Latin Ameircan revolutions, as well as emerging Hispanic-world markets and recent economic and political treaties and alliances, such as NAFTA and Mercosur.