New: Summer Study in Merida, Mexico! http://www.stpt.usf.edu/International/merida.htm

New: Minor in Spanish and Latino Studies

The Spanish and Latino Studies program offers a range of Spanish-language courses from introductory to advanced levels, courses about Latin America and Spanish cultures, as well as courses that motivate students’ knowledge and perspectives about Hispanic Cultures. All classes are conducted in Spanish (see below for a list of courses). The program a offers a Minor in Spanish and Latino Studies.

The program offers activities and promotes cultural events in the university and in the Bay Area that help students to understand different aspects of the Spanish language and culture.

The program also offers a summer study-abroad program in Mérida, Mexico. This year it will run from May 11 to June 7 2008. This program gives students the opportunity to study the language in total immersion while living with local families.The program is an excellent opportunity for everyone who would like to improve her/his linguistic abilities and be capable to understand, write and speak Spanish. Applicants (students or non-students) should have completed Spanish 1121 (SPN II) or/and Spanish 2200 (SPN III) or be able to demonstrate proficiency at these levels to enroll in this program.

For more information, contact Dr. Narciso Hidalgo at: (727) 873-4060 or narcisoh@stpt.usf.edu

Spanish Courses

SPN 1120 Beginning Spanish I (4 credits)
Course requirement: SPN 1120L. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish.
This course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of Spanish. The course emphasizes the development of four basic communicative skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will learn the basics in Spanish vocabulary, common greetings and phrases for everyday living or activities, grammar (parts of speech), and how to read and understand sentences. Verb conjugation primarily in the present tense and past tense will be introduced. The course will also provide cultural awareness. Oral participation will be required along with student-to-student interaction.Textbook: ¿Cómo se dice?                             

SPN 1120L Beginning Spanish I Laboratory  (1 credit)
Course requirement: SPN 1120. Concurrent enrollment with a lecture session is required, and if dropped, then dropped simultaneously. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. S/U only. A laboratory designed to offer additional practice using various instructional technologies and media.

SPN 1121   Beginning Spanish II (4 CREDITS)
Prerequisite: SPN 1120 or equivalent. Course requirement: SPN 1121L. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. This course is an augmentation to Spanish I designed to further expand a student’s contemporary Spanish vocabulary and increase reading comprehension as well as develop proficiency to use the language in a meaningful way. In this course, students will review basic skills learned in Spanish I and continue to enlarge their knowledge in verb conjugation relating to the past tense, imperfect tense, future tense, conditional tense and subjunctive mood. Students will make oral presentations, read short texts, and write brief compositions in Spanish. This course will also stimulate an understanding of the cross-cultural differences between Spanish and North American cultures. Textbook: ¿Cómo se dice?
     
SPN 1121L   Beginning Spanish II Laboratory (1 credit)
Course requirement: SPN 1121. Concurrent enrollment with a lecture session is required, and if dropped, then dropped simultaneously. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. S/U only. A laboratory designed to offer additional practice using various instructional technologies and media.

SPN 2200     Spanish III - INTERMEDIATE I (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SPN 1121 or equivalent. May NOT be taken concurrently with SPN 2201. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. The course will be taught entirely in Spanish. SPN 2200 is the first level of the Intermediate Spanish course. This course is tailored to acquaint college students with a more sophisticated approach in learning the Spanish language spoken daily and in acquiring a better understanding of the cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. A more advanced learning will be emphasized in all communicative areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Daily language practice at home and in school or work will influence the success of a student in gaining mastery of the Spanish vocabulary and in using appropriate grammar, thus enabling a student to rapidly build better communication skills. Textbook: ¿Cómo se dice?

SPN 2201   Spanish IV - INTERMEDIATE II (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SPN 2200 or equivalent. May NOT be taken concurrently with SPN 2240. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. The course will be taught entirely in Spanish. SPN 2201 is the second level of the Intermediate Spanish course. This course is prepared to further enhance the development of the linguistic skills of college students through additional Spanish vocabulary and more complex grammatical rules. Previously learned basic skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing will be reviewed in conjunction with the new learning. Regular reading dealing with the Spanish and Latin American cultures will be encouraged so as to promote a broader knowledge of the Spanish language and cultivate a deeper understanding of the Spanish cultures as well as allow for the building of improved communication skills. Textbook: ¡A que sí!    

SPN 2240    Spanish Conversation  I (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SPN 2201. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. The course will be taught entirely in Spanish.This course is designed to provide advanced students the ability to master Spanish in conversational situations through gaining increased vocabulary of commonly used words and expressions found in everyday contexts, such as school, work, or home environments. Students will be helped to improve in their intonation, pronunciation, and fluency of the Spanish language via oral presentations, interview preparation, class interaction, and film viewing. This course will also introduce students to the various facets of the Spanish language and enable them to comprehend the different modes of speech. The goal is to arm students well enough to allow them the self-confidence needed in order to communicate accurately, effectively, and appropriately in various situations that might arise.Textbook: Conversaciones creadoras 

SPN 3300    Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SPN 2201 or equivalent. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. The course will be taught entirely in Spanish. This course is a study of syntax, grammar, and writing in the Spanish language. It offers students an opportunity to enlarge their vocabulary and acquire advanced knowledge of grammatical structures as well as master paragraph-length discourse or dialogue. In order to achieve these goals, students will be required to write short essays and several dialogues through which they will exercise the following communicative skills: describe, narrate in the past, talk about the future, compare and contrast, and/or make hypothesis. Class time will require much participation and performance as opposed to passive observation. Students will do well by reading their assignments carefully and preparing related comments and appropriate questions.Textbook: Gramática y composición

SPN 3440 Spanish for Business and International Trade I (3) AS WLE
PR: SPN 2201 or equivalent. A study of vocabulary and business practices of the Spanish speaking world. Overview of cultural differences within the Spanish speaking world, with emphasis on their impact on business and international trade.

SPN 3500 Spanish Civilization (3) AS WLE
PR: SPN 2201 or equivalent. The culture and civilization of Spain. For majors and non-majors.

SPN 3520 Spanish American Civilization (3) AS WLE
PR: SPN 2201 or equivalent. Readings and discussions on the culture and civilization of Spanish America. For majors and non-majors.

SPW 3030 Introduction to Hispanic Literary Studies (3) AS WLE
PR: SPN 3300 or SPN 3340. Prose fiction, drama, poetry, and essay; techniques of literary analysis.

SPN 4410 Advanced Conversation (3) AS WLE
PR: SPN 2241 or equivalent. Not open to native or near-native speakers of Spanish. Intensive practice in the formulation and expression of ideas in standard Spanish.

SPN 4470 Advanced Overseas Study (1-6) AS WLE
Departmental approval required. Intensive language study in Mexico.

SPW 4130 Survey of Spanish American Literature I AF (3) AS WLE
PR: SPW 3030 or equivalent. Introduction to the study of Spanish American literature from the Discovery to the Romantic period. Emphasis will be on foundational writers of history, descriptive and lyric poetry, theater, fiction and essay.