mexico2

Contact. Mr. Carlo Tajonar. Registrar

Spanish Language Course Work

SPA 111: Beginning Spanish I
Prerequisites: None.
Course Description: This course is intended for students with little or no Spanish background. The purpose is to help students develop the four basic skills: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing of elementary Spanish. The instructors use the “Natural Approach and Communicative” methodology and emphasize oral competency. Throughout the course students will learn about various aspects of life and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. In addition to the formal classes, the experience of living with local host families also provides hours of language practice, and therefore topics related to the home stay will be addressed in class.

SPA 112: Beginning Spanish II
Prerequisite: SPA 111 or equivalent (one semester college Spanish) or adequate score on placement exam.
Course Description: This course is intended for students who have taken one semester of college-level Spanish or its equivalent. The purpose is to help students develop the four basic skills: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing of elementary Spanish. The instructors use the “Natural Approach and Communicative” methodology and emphasize oral competency. Throughout the course students will learn about various aspects of life and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. In addition to the formal classes, the experience of living with local host families also provides hours of language practice, and therefore topics related to the home stay will be addressed in class.

SPA 211: Intermediate Spanish I
Prerequisite: SPA 112 or equivalent (one year college Spanish or equivalent) or adequate score on placement exam.
Course Description: This course is intended for students who have a basic understanding of the Spanish language. The purpose of this course is to help students review and master all of the basic structures of Spanish and build their conversational skills through discussion of selected texts that stimulate intellectual growth and promote cultural understanding. Instructors use the “Natural Approach and Communicative” methodology and emphasize oral communication. Students will be expected to review the grammar at home and use it in class. Throughout the course students will learn about various aspects of life and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. In addition to the formal classes, the experience of living with local host families also provides hours of language practice, and therefore topics related to the home stay will be addressed in class.

SPA 212: Intermediate Spanish II
Prerequisite: SPA 211 (or equivalent), or adequate score on placement exam.
Course Description: This course is intended for students who have completed one and a half years of college-level Spanish and already demonstrate a basic understanding of the Spanish language. The purpose of this course is to help students review and master all of the basic structures of Spanish and build their conversational skills through discussion of selected texts that stimulate intellectual growth and promote cultural understanding. Instructors use the “Natural Approach and Communicative” methodology and emphasize oral communication. Students will be expected to review the grammar at home and use it in class. Throughout the course students will learn about various aspects of life and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. In addition to the formal classes, the experience of living with local host families also provides hours of language practice, and therefore topics related to the home stay will be addressed in class.

SPA 311: Advanced Spanish
Prerequisite: SPA 212 or equivalent.
Course Description: This class is designed to meet the needs of advanced Spanish students who have already completed at least two years of college level Spanish. The goal of the course is for students to improve their oral fluency through discussion, debates, and oral reports through discussion of contemporary issues in Latin America.
One of the special features of this course is the use of both classic and contemporary Mexican and other films to stimulate discussion of Latin American history, culture, and contemporary issues. Students may also participate in field trips to local theatre performances.
In addition to reading chapters of some texts students will read articles from local newspapers, magazines, and journals in order to expand their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of political, economic, and social issues in the host country and throughout Latin America. During class they will discuss and debate the issues that they read about. Students will engage in many listening exercises. They will also be expected to engage in conversations and conduct informal interviews with members of their Mexican host families and record new vocabulary.

SPA 356: Latin American Literature
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish 311 or its equivalent.
Course Rationale: Latin America is rich in literature and has produced many famous men and women writers who use literature as an important means of social, political and cultural expression, thus forming part of the movements about which they write. The students who take this course will find that it complements both the theoretical and experiential aspects of the semester program.
Course Description: This course provides a survey of Latin American literature from the sixteenth century to the present, with particular attention given to the 20th century and the relationship between literature and social change. Students will read poetry, short stories, plays, testimonial literature, and one short novel. They will learn about these different genres of literature and how to analyze each of them using literary terminology. They will also learn about Latin American history, politics, human rights, social activism, and gender roles through the lens of fictional and non-fictional characters, including the voices of women writers representing diverse class and ethnic backgrounds.

SPA 411: Advanced Conversation and Composition
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish 311 or its equivalent.
Course Description: This course is designed for advanced language students who have already completed one conversation and composition course. The goals is for students to increase the facility and correctness of their written and oral expression through conversation, discussions, reports, debates, occasional lectures about writing, written compositions, and grammar review, as necessary. Much class time will be spent on oral presentations and peer review of the written compositions.

The Intensive Spanish Program

Classes start every Monday of every week in groups of maximum 8 people (4 in average.) Suggested to people who have enough time to stay in Mexico and prefer a group atmosphere. Two week minimum length is suggested.

This program includes for 5 days:

Mornings

3 hours of Spanish classes in group. Intensive grammar class with emphasis on speaking and writing.
2 hours of practice/conversation/visits. Depending on his/her level, the class could be:

-Dialogues and situations for "survival" (for beginners.)

-Conversation and discussion in Round Tables (for intermediate and advanced.)

1 hour of activity-conference-discussion on different topics such as Mexican Traditions, History, News

In the afternoons/evenings you may join papier-machè and painting classes, exchange conversation (English-Spanish) take "salsa" and "cumbia" dancing lessons and enjoy sports and make lots of friends! Every weekend you may go out for dancing or practice Spanish in a relaxed way.

On weekends we offer cultural and recreational excursions.

Advantages in this program:

ü Small group class

ü Entertaining class atmosphere

ü Easy learning interacting with classmates

ü Semester intern program

ü Very economical program

Total of hours per week in this program: 30 hrs.

Homestays

We offer you homestay accommodations with Mexican families. Living with a Mexican family is a great experience to enhance your comprehension on our culture.

Extracurricular Activities

We offer excursions and visits on Saturdays and Sundays to the most interesting places in Cuernavaca and Mexico City surroundings. For example, the City of Taxco very well known for its prestigious artisans in silver jewelry. A very nice colonial city from the 18th Century with narrow streets and beautiful churches.

On afternoons/evenings ou may join exchange conversation (English-Spanish), papier-machè and painting lessons such as: pastel, aquarela, temple, oil and acrilic; photo and photo film develop; sports. and salsa dancing and make lots of friends! (Some of these activities are offered by a third part with extra cost.)

Every weekend on Thursdays and Fridays you may go out for dancing or to a bar to practice Spanish in a relaxed way.