Spanish Learning Outcomes

Program goals

Students in the Spanish program develop in-depth content knowledge about Hispanic cultures, literatures, and linguistics, as well as advanced skills in the areas of intercultural competence, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, ethical reasoning and communication (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). The Spanish curriculum provides ample opportunity for students to develop into confident and cross-culturally savvy users of Spanish, through our wide variety of courses in the areas of language, conversation, film, cultural and literary studies, linguistics, teaching, and Spanish for specific purposes (i.e., business, technology, and health professions), and also through exciting experiential learning opportunities – both in the United States and across the globe.

Learning outcomes

1. Critical thinking, problem-solving, ethical reasoning and collaboration

Students will: 

  • demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, ethical reasoning and collaboration abilities through advanced task-based activities and projects, guided in-class discussions and experiential learning activities (i.e., creative skits, interactive discussions, debates, case studies, oral presentations, experiential learning experiences, internships, clinical experiences, podcasts, videos, websites, curriculum vitae, professional writing, creative writing, reports, research papers, student-led classes, etc.).


2. Cultural literacy and intercultural competencies 

Students will: 

  • understand and engage appropriately, effectively and empathetically with people who are different from you,
  • expand your own repertoire of cultural practices and behaviors, 
  • demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic cultures, literatures and linguistics,
  • demonstrate knowledge of the cultural diversity of the Hispanic world,
  • compare the cultural diversity of the Hispanic world to that of your own culture(s),
  • compare and contrast cultural practices and perspectives as they relate to diverse Hispanic cultures and your own culture(s), and
  • identify and discuss the importance of understanding, appreciating and respecting cultural differences.

3. Communication in Spanish

Speaking 

Students will:

  • communicate with native speakers, 
  • satisfy the requirements of everyday situations, and school and work requirements,
  • handle –at times with confidence and in some cases with facility– complicated tasks and social situations (e. g., elaborating, complaining and apologizing),
  • narrate and describe in past, present and future time, linking sentences smoothly,
  • talk casually about topics of current public and personal interest,
  • use communication strategies, e. g., circumlocution, paraphrasing, pauses and fillers, to smooth over linguistic shortcomings,
  • express and support opinions, and 
  • explain in detail.

Listening comprehension

Students will: 

  • communicate with native speakers, 
  • understand speech on familiar and unfamiliar topics, and
  • understand the main idea and some details of very complex discourse.

Reading

Students will be able to: 

  • read and understand written texts in areas of special interest,
  • understand the main idea and detailed aspects of complex or unfamiliar texts,
  • identify and analyze some of the aesthetic functions of language and of literary styles,
  • recognize the significance of cultural knowledge in comprehending a written text.

Writing

Students will be able to:

  • write about a variety of topics with accuracy and in some detail,
  • state your opinions and provide support for your points of view in written discourse,
  • narrate and communicate personal experiences with a reasonable degree of clarity and sophistication, and
  • analyze and research a literary, cultural or linguistic topic and present your findings in a research paper or report.