Language and Cultural Studies

• Faculty
• Description
• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Program Policies
• Course Descriptions

Faculty

Consuelo Navarro, Assistant Professor of Spanish

Description

The Language and Cultural Studies Program offers language courses in Spanish and Arabic to all undergraduate students at Trinity. The Program also supports a major and minor within the College of Arts and Sciences. The mission of the Languages and Cultural Studies Program is to provide students with the ability to communicate in a new language, while at the same time exploring the individual and collective values of the communities that speak it. It encourages an appreciation and experience of the artistic expressions of the cultures addressed and requires students to contemplate the interdependent nature of the world, considering the complexity and richness of diverse cultures while developing their language skills. The Program concentrates on the contemporary as well as on the historical contributions made by the different Hispanic cultures, with special interest placed on Hispanic communities living in the United States.

Fluency in another language, and experiencing the culture of its speakers, are skills that help to cement a liberal education that is truly global in breadth and hands-on in practice.

The major in Language and Cultural Studies integrates curricular and co-curricular experiences presented in an interdisciplinary manner, zeroing in on the core linguistic and socio-cultural matters pertinent to the language. In addition to course work, students in both the major and minor programs are encouraged to participate in full immersion language experiences through study abroad programs. The language and cultural studies major may lead to a career in scholarly research and teaching by providing the undergraduate with a well-rounded linguistic and socio-cultural background in the field.

Major Requirements

Required Courses (39 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

SPAN 205 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America SPAN 205 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America

Provides the student with continued practice in language skills, while addressing a synoptic though comprehensive study of the history and culture of Spanish America. This course is designed for the non-native speaker of Spanish and satisfies the language requirement for the international studies majors. Formerly SPA 301 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America.

SPAN 211 Spanish and Spanish American Voices SPAN 211 Spanish and Spanish American Voices

Introduces the student to selected major works within the Spanish and Spanish American literary tradition. Besides learning to identify basic characteristics of different genre, students will be challenged to recognize and respond to the profoundly human concerns that inhere in all great literature of every time and place. Class discussions will suggest ways to interpret literature and students will receive direction in expressing their insights in speech and writing. Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to do written assignments in Spanish. Formerly SPA 206 Spanish & Spanish-American Voices.

SPAN 212*
SPAN 301 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers SPAN 301 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers

Designed for Spanish speakers whose dominant language is English, this course draws from the students’ linguistic background in both languages in order to teach them to write effectively in Spanish. Activities include news reporting, book reviews, essays, and business and formal letters. Students may suggest their own topics of interest to be used in three out of the six papers required. Grammar explanations including accentuation, orthography, verb tenses and uses of the subjunctive mood will be used in relation with vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to enhance language development. Readings based on the cultural life and experience of Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. Formerly SPA 401 Advanced Composition.

3 credits

Prereq: Native or near-native proficiency in Spanish

ONE survey course in Hispanic literature chosen from between:

SPAN 221 Introduction to Hispanic Literature I SPAN 221 Introduction to Hispanic Literature I

Provides students with a foundation in liberal arts through further developing their Spanish language proficiency and improving their reading and writing skills. This course uses both a socio-cultural and a critical literary approach to a variety of texts from Spain (12th - 19th centuries) and Spanish America (19th century). Native or near-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class. Formerly SPA 315 Critical Approaches to Hispanic Literature I.

SPAN 222 Introduction to Hispanic Literature II SPAN 222 Introduction to Hispanic Literature II

Follows same approach as Spanish 221 but in relationship to 20th century literature. Uses a variety of texts from both Spain and Spanish America through the four basic modern genres: poetry, theater, narrative, and essay. Native or near-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class. Formerly SPA 316 Critical Approaches to Hispanic Literature II.

ONE course in special topics chosen from between:

SPAN 321 Literature and Art in the Mexican Revolution SPAN 321 Literature and Art in the Mexican Revolution

In addition to further developing the student's skills in reading, speaking, understanding and writing in Spanish, this course will help her to perceive the study of literature as vehicle of human expression within a larger cultural and social context of the 1910 Mexican Revolution and its continuous influence in the development of Mexican culture. Native or near-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class. Formerly SPA 404 A Special Topics in Hispanic Literature: The Novel of the Mexican Revolution.

SPAN 322 Storytelling for Women and by Women SPAN 322 Storytelling for Women and by Women

Through a varied range of stories told by some of Latin American best writers, students would enrich their understanding of their own culture, in addition to further developing their reading, speaking, understanding and writing skills in the Spanish language. The texts to be read are rooted in passions and politics, from the earthy sensuality and magical realism of the Latin American world to the dramatic and violent Spanish sense of honor. Students will be encouraged to work on the cultural background of their own family roots, or else to choose an area with which they can identify the best. Formerly SPA 404 B Special Topics in Hispanic Lit.langu

ALL of the following interdisciplinary courses:

INT 333 Culture & Society in Mexico INT 333 Culture & Society in Mexico

This seminar invites students to a rewarding journey through the past into the present of that extraordinary place we now call Mexico, aiming to understand tha historical and cultural forces that have shaped- and still shape -the Mexican nation. Starting with the Olmec civilization (1200-300BC) we'll travel together to the magic of the Mayas and the power of the Aztecs until the fall of their empire (1521), learning abou tthe three centuries of the richest viceroyalty that ever existed. Attention will be paid to the philosophy behind the conquest and the re-birth of the human rights in the Americas. After completing our way to the foundations of modern Mexico, we'll be able to better understand the struggles and glories of this vibrant culture. Oral presentations and class discussions will further develop students' communication skills in addition to contributing to a shared learning experience. Written papers would be another learning opportunity for students to identify, analyze, reflect, and express the knowledge acquired on the different topics presented and assigned. Prerequisite: ENGL 107 or equivalent/ FLC area: Seminar II.

*
INT 373A Culture and Society in Latin America INT 373A Culture and Society in Latin America

Fosters a more precise understanding of those with whom we share this hemisphere, reconsiders accepted assumptions, and challenges the images that have shaped them. This course will orient students to gain insight into the future of the nations of the Americas, and the impact they will have on the rest of the world in the coming years. May be repeated as topic changes.

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

*
INT 373B Culture and Society in the Caribbean INT 373B Culture and Society in the Caribbean

Emphasizes cultural commonalities without neglecting political chronology but with the history traced from a defined Caribbean and Latin American perspective. Text from contemporary authors may include literary works by Jamaica Kincaid, Julia Alvarez, and Edwige Danticat among others. Class presentations, films, and discussions will also deal with the review of the political factors that infiltrate on the social and economic structures.

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

*
INT 407 Human Rights in the Americas INT 407 Human Rights in the Americas

Focuses on domestic violence and its relationship to social violence, seeking to raise awareness and calling for leadership within families and communities as they constitute the cradle of respect for the rights of children and women and where the protection of those rights are born. Offers a basic multidisciplinary perspective from educators, economists, international organizations, legislators and policy-makers, as well as from popular writers of fiction. A program of guest speakers will be an integral part of the course.

3 credits

General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar

*

ONE internship:

SPAN 491 Internship SPAN 491 Internship

Provides students with the opportunity to perform an internship to apply the academic knowledge they have learned in the classroom. Formerly SPA 488 Internship.

ONE Senior Seminar

SPAN 499 Senior Seminar SPAN 499 Senior Seminar

Provides majors with a capstone to synthesize their course of study. Formerly SPA 499 Senior Seminar.

* Taught in English.

Minor Requirements

The program supports a minor with a concentration in Hispanic Studies, which requires completion of 18 credit hours, with a minimum of nine credits taken at Trinity.

Program Policies

Advanced Placement:
Credit is granted for a score of 4 or 5 on the AP examination. These credits may replace the General Education Curriculum language requirement, but do not count toward the major.

CLEP Policy:
The standard score or above on the CLEP examination satisfies the language requirement of the General Education Curriculum.

Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.

Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling the requirement for a major may not be taken pass/no pass (except for 491 Internship).

Progression:

Students who are taking courses in language must take those courses in sequence starting with the introductory course to be followed by the second course (e.g., SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I

Introduces language skills that enable students to speak and write about certain, specific learned contexts, such as weather, food, names of family members, individual preferences, etc. and to express them in present and future tense. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I.

followed by SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II

Serves as a continuation of Elementary Spanish I. Students learn to speak and write about past events, and further develop their capacity to interact in spontaneous situations. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II.

). For Spanish courses, those students who wish to continue their instruction in Spanish should take SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish for Communication SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish for Communication

Develops and builds increasing confidence and competency in using Spanish. Special materials will be used to develop speaking and listening comprehension abilities without neglecting the writing and reading skills necessary to achieve higher levels of proficiency. Formerly SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I.

following SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II

Serves as a continuation of Elementary Spanish I. Students learn to speak and write about past events, and further develop their capacity to interact in spontaneous situations. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II.

. No student will be allowed enroll simaneously in two courses at two different levels.

Senior Assessment:
Majors are required either to take written and oral comprehensive examinations, or to write a final comprehensive work (thesis) on a given topic approved by the program.

Study Abroad:
Students are encouraged to spend one or two semesters or a summer in approved programs abroad.

TELL Policy:
Students applying for experiential learning credit should consult with the program faculty.

Transfer Credits:
Students may apply transfer credits toward the major in Languages and Cultural Studies, provided that the accepted courses parallel those required for the major at Trinity. In all, transfer students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in Language and Cultural studies courses at Trinity, to be distributed as follows:

• A minimum of six credit hours must be in seminars.
• A minimum of nine credit hours must be in upper-level courses in Spanish.

Course Descriptions

ARBC 101
ARBC 102 Introductory Arabic II ARBC 102 Introductory Arabic II

Introductory Arabic II serves as a continuation of Introductory Arabic I. Extends skills in spoken and written standard modern Arabic. Emphasis will be placed on building vocabulary, pronunciation, conversation, grammar, reading, and composition abilities within the context of real-life situations and contemporary Arab culture and civilization. 4 credits.

ARBC 201 Intermediate Arabic I ARBC 201 Intermediate Arabic I

Enables students to further develop their skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in Modern Standard Arabic. The course will focus on improving oral comprehension, expanding vocabulary, and strengthening composition and reading skills through discussions, writing exercises, and extensive readings. Emphasis will be placed on the cultural contexts of language.

4 credits

ARBC 202 Intermediate Arabic II ARBC 202 Intermediate Arabic II

A continuation of ARBC 201, this course enhances students' proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic through the further development of speaking, reading, writing and listening skills. Emphasis will be placed on correct use of syntax and grammar, and students will engage in increasingly complex oral and written communication. Students will also work with more varied, challenging readings on a variety of cultural topics.

4 credits

SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I

Introduces language skills that enable students to speak and write about certain, specific learned contexts, such as weather, food, names of family members, individual preferences, etc. and to express them in present and future tense. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I.

SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II

Serves as a continuation of Elementary Spanish I. Students learn to speak and write about past events, and further develop their capacity to interact in spontaneous situations. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II.

SPAN 103 Spanish for the Workplace SPAN 103 Spanish for the Workplace

Offers applied Spanish for the workplace. Its goal is to facilitate basic communication in workplace settings with speakers of Spanish. Emphasis is placed on oral communication and career-specific vocabulary and grammar that targets health, business and/or public service professions. Upon completion, students should be able to communicate at a functional level with Spanish speakers and demonstrate cultural sensitivity.

SPAN 109 Intensive Elementary Spanish SPAN 109 Intensive Elementary Spanish

Introduces language skills to students who desire an intensive presentation to the Spanish language. Equivalent to SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 but taught in a single semester. Formerly SPA 103 Intensive Elementary Spanish.

SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish for Communication SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish for Communication

Develops and builds increasing confidence and competency in using Spanish. Special materials will be used to develop speaking and listening comprehension abilities without neglecting the writing and reading skills necessary to achieve higher levels of proficiency. Formerly SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I.

SPAN 202 Spanish for Professional Communication SPAN 202 Spanish for Professional Communication

Develops basic effective communication with Spanish-speaking co-workers, clients, students, their parents and others who don’t master the English language. Specific professional focuses of the course will vary according to students’ needs. Class materials centers on simulated communication situations to build listening and oral comprehension through simple and clear linguistic structures. Generates a useful communication style generated from cross cultural understanding to be acquired from readings and class discussions. Formerly SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II.

SPAN 204 Conversation and Composition SPAN 204 Conversation and Composition

Develops effective oral and written communication to communicate with Spanish speakers both here and abroad through an activity-based approach focusing on useful vocabulary and cross-cultural analysis, while working to expand and refine students’ functional grammar using a wide variety of communicative exercises and activities. Formerly SPA 204 Beginning Conversation and SPA 275 Conversation & Composition.

SPAN 205 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America SPAN 205 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America

Provides the student with continued practice in language skills, while addressing a synoptic though comprehensive study of the history and culture of Spanish America. This course is designed for the non-native speaker of Spanish and satisfies the language requirement for the international studies majors. Formerly SPA 301 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America.

SPAN 211 Spanish and Spanish American Voices SPAN 211 Spanish and Spanish American Voices

Introduces the student to selected major works within the Spanish and Spanish American literary tradition. Besides learning to identify basic characteristics of different genre, students will be challenged to recognize and respond to the profoundly human concerns that inhere in all great literature of every time and place. Class discussions will suggest ways to interpret literature and students will receive direction in expressing their insights in speech and writing. Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to do written assignments in Spanish. Formerly SPA 206 Spanish & Spanish-American Voices.

SPAN 212
SPAN 213 Latina Voices SPAN 213 Latina Voices

Fosters awareness and understanding among women of the Americas, their different cultures and traditions as told through their own stories. Students will also reach a better understanding of the ethnic and racial diversity that characterizes the whole American continent including the United States, thus becoming more able to participate in a multicultural environment, both in the labor force and in their personal lives. Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to do written assignments in Spanish. Formerly SPA 210 Latina Voices.

3 credits

FLC II

General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry

SPAN 221 Introduction to Hispanic Literature I SPAN 221 Introduction to Hispanic Literature I

Provides students with a foundation in liberal arts through further developing their Spanish language proficiency and improving their reading and writing skills. This course uses both a socio-cultural and a critical literary approach to a variety of texts from Spain (12th - 19th centuries) and Spanish America (19th century). Native or near-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class. Formerly SPA 315 Critical Approaches to Hispanic Literature I.

SPAN 222 Introduction to Hispanic Literature II SPAN 222 Introduction to Hispanic Literature II

Follows same approach as Spanish 221 but in relationship to 20th century literature. Uses a variety of texts from both Spain and Spanish America through the four basic modern genres: poetry, theater, narrative, and essay. Native or near-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class. Formerly SPA 316 Critical Approaches to Hispanic Literature II.

SPAN 301 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers SPAN 301 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers

Designed for Spanish speakers whose dominant language is English, this course draws from the students’ linguistic background in both languages in order to teach them to write effectively in Spanish. Activities include news reporting, book reviews, essays, and business and formal letters. Students may suggest their own topics of interest to be used in three out of the six papers required. Grammar explanations including accentuation, orthography, verb tenses and uses of the subjunctive mood will be used in relation with vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to enhance language development. Readings based on the cultural life and experience of Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. Formerly SPA 401 Advanced Composition.

3 credits

Prereq: Native or near-native proficiency in Spanish

SPAN 302 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers II SPAN 302 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers II

Serves as a continuation of SPAN 301, expanding and refining many of the grammar explanations and raising the writing activities to a higher level of proficiency and sophistication. Students may suggest their own topics of interest to be used in three out of the six papers required Formerly SPA 401 Advanced Composition.

SPAN 321 Literature and Art in the Mexican Revolution SPAN 321 Literature and Art in the Mexican Revolution

In addition to further developing the student's skills in reading, speaking, understanding and writing in Spanish, this course will help her to perceive the study of literature as vehicle of human expression within a larger cultural and social context of the 1910 Mexican Revolution and its continuous influence in the development of Mexican culture. Native or near-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class. Formerly SPA 404 A Special Topics in Hispanic Literature: The Novel of the Mexican Revolution.

SPAN 322 Storytelling for Women and by Women SPAN 322 Storytelling for Women and by Women

Through a varied range of stories told by some of Latin American best writers, students would enrich their understanding of their own culture, in addition to further developing their reading, speaking, understanding and writing skills in the Spanish language. The texts to be read are rooted in passions and politics, from the earthy sensuality and magical realism of the Latin American world to the dramatic and violent Spanish sense of honor. Students will be encouraged to work on the cultural background of their own family roots, or else to choose an area with which they can identify the best. Formerly SPA 404 B Special Topics in Hispanic Lit.langu

SPAN 491 Internship SPAN 491 Internship

Provides students with the opportunity to perform an internship to apply the academic knowledge they have learned in the classroom. Formerly SPA 488 Internship.

SPAN 499 Senior Seminar SPAN 499 Senior Seminar

Provides majors with a capstone to synthesize their course of study. Formerly SPA 499 Senior Seminar.

Seminars

The Language & Cultural Studies Program offers the following interdisciplinary seminars in English:

INT 333 Culture & Society in Mexico INT 333 Culture & Society in Mexico

This seminar invites students to a rewarding journey through the past into the present of that extraordinary place we now call Mexico, aiming to understand tha historical and cultural forces that have shaped- and still shape -the Mexican nation. Starting with the Olmec civilization (1200-300BC) we'll travel together to the magic of the Mayas and the power of the Aztecs until the fall of their empire (1521), learning abou tthe three centuries of the richest viceroyalty that ever existed. Attention will be paid to the philosophy behind the conquest and the re-birth of the human rights in the Americas. After completing our way to the foundations of modern Mexico, we'll be able to better understand the struggles and glories of this vibrant culture. Oral presentations and class discussions will further develop students' communication skills in addition to contributing to a shared learning experience. Written papers would be another learning opportunity for students to identify, analyze, reflect, and express the knowledge acquired on the different topics presented and assigned. Prerequisite: ENGL 107 or equivalent/ FLC area: Seminar II.

INT 373A Culture and Society in Latin America INT 373A Culture and Society in Latin America

Fosters a more precise understanding of those with whom we share this hemisphere, reconsiders accepted assumptions, and challenges the images that have shaped them. This course will orient students to gain insight into the future of the nations of the Americas, and the impact they will have on the rest of the world in the coming years. May be repeated as topic changes.

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

INT 373B Culture and Society in the Caribbean INT 373B Culture and Society in the Caribbean

Emphasizes cultural commonalities without neglecting political chronology but with the history traced from a defined Caribbean and Latin American perspective. Text from contemporary authors may include literary works by Jamaica Kincaid, Julia Alvarez, and Edwige Danticat among others. Class presentations, films, and discussions will also deal with the review of the political factors that infiltrate on the social and economic structures.

3 credits

FLC Seminar II

INT 407 Human Rights in the Americas INT 407 Human Rights in the Americas

Focuses on domestic violence and its relationship to social violence, seeking to raise awareness and calling for leadership within families and communities as they constitute the cradle of respect for the rights of children and women and where the protection of those rights are born. Offers a basic multidisciplinary perspective from educators, economists, international organizations, legislators and policy-makers, as well as from popular writers of fiction. A program of guest speakers will be an integral part of the course.

3 credits

General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar

Descriptions for these courses appear in the Interdisciplinary Courses section of this catalog.