Prospectus

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Spanish: Language in culture

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Taalvaardigheid Spaans niveau 1 is required for this course.

Description

Spaans: Taal in cultuur is an engaging course that will develop your knowledge and understanding of the Spanish language through the exploration of cultural texts such as literature and film. These are carefully chosen to be representative of the most pressing social issues and traumatic colonial legacies in Spanish-speaking Latin America. Small debates are organized on contemporary themes in which students will develop intercultural awareness and practice their Spanish skills (by listening, writing, speaking and reading about a specific topic). Homework will prepare students for their written exams.

Course objectives

The main aim of the course is building knowledge about some of the cultural and social contexts in Spanish America while practicing Spanish.
Apart from the practice of their linguistic skills in Spanish, at the end of the course students will have improved the following skills:

  • Solving problems (recognizing-analysing problems, solution-oriented thinking)

  • Analytical thinking (analytic skills, abstraction, evidence)

  • Responsibility (ownership, self-discipline, responsible attitude to one's own project, acknowledge mistakes)

  • Commitment (dedication, motivation, proactive attitude, own initiative)

  • Self-regulation (independence, insight into own goals, motives, and abilities)

  • Oral communication (presenting, speaking, listening)

  • Written communication in Spanish (writing skills, reporting, structuring, summarizing)

  • Collaboration (teamwork, support, loyalty, fulfil agreements, presence)

  • Flexibility (dealing with change, eagerness to learn, adaptability)

  • Critical thinking (asking questions, checking assumptions)

  • Creative thinking (curiosity, ‘out of the box’ thinking)

  • Integrity

  • Cultural knowledge: (acquiring knowledge of other cultures and using this knowledge in an appropriate way while respecting the uniqueness of each individual).

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture
    Every week, the lecturer, a Spanish native speaker, will provide a short lecture in Spanish on one specific topic. During the second half of the session, students will practice their Spanish language skills appropriate to their level based on the contents of each unit. Small debates are organised for each of the five units that compose the course.
    **Information about the specific contents for each session will be available on Brightspace.

Assessment method

Assessment

Weighing

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.

  • Preparation of a debate session 15%

  • Written (midterm) exam in Spanish 35%

  • Written final exam in Spanish 50%

Resit

If the final grade is below 6, the student will be allowed to make up for the fail grade with another in-person exam. The total weight for the resit will make the 100% of the final grade of the course.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

A reading list fort the course will be provided in the first session.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.

Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal Reuvensplaats Huizinga De Vrieshof

Student Affairs Office for BA International Studies

Remarks

Class participation
Your active participation is vital to the success of the course and discussions will be handled in a way that is relevant to the contents of the course and respectful of your peers’ opinions. In the sessions, you will have the chance to practice your speaking skills in Spanish.