Suffolk University - Spanish Language & Literature

Study and practice of oral and written language skills. Class activities are organized around cultural themes that reflect the diversity of the Hispanic world.

Elementary Spanish II SPAN 102 - 4 credits

Study and practice of oral and written language skills. Class activities are organized around cultural themes that reflect the diversity of the Hispanic world.

Intermediate Spanish I SPAN 201 - 4 credits

Systematic review of Spanish grammar and study of Spanish through texts of cultural interest. Development of written and oral skills through compositions and audiovisual materials.

Intermediate Spanish II SPAN 202 - 4 credits

Systematic review of Spanish grammar and study of Spanish through texts of cultural interest. Development of written and oral skills through compositions and audiovisual materials.

Spanish in the Workplace SPAN 210 - 4 credits

This course introduces students to the business world in Spain and allows the to acquire vocabulary specific to that context. Basic business concepts are taught in Spanish and examples of how they apply to Spain are provided. Students also learn about daily commercial activities in Spain and in Madrid in particular, information which will facilitate adjusting to life in Madrid. Specific areas emphasized include banking, marketing, and tourism.

Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition - SPAN 290 4 credits

The course aims at vocabulary building, normalization of pronunciation, review of Spanish syntax, extensive writing practice and development of conversational skills through group discussions on subjects of interest to students enrolled. Normally required for Spanish majors and minors.

SpanishTranslation Workshop SPAN 299 - 4 credits

This course aims to introduce students to translation techniques through direct practice and to consider what makes a good translation. Material will be selected from a wide variety of sources and will increase in difficulty as the course goes on. The emphasis will be on translation from Spanish into English, but some work will be done on translation into Spanish. Much of the material will provide support for the Spanish Literature courses students may be taking (Cervantes and Golden Age II and 19th Century Spanish Novel). Students will be expected to complete regular homework assignments for which grades will be given.

Hispanic Culture Today: A Transatlantic Perspective SPAN 340 - 4 credits

This is an introductory-level study of key issues in Hispanic culture today through the study different cultural manifestations, mostly literature but also film, music, and TV. The purpose of the course is twofold: To introduce the students to major themes in recent Hispanic society and culture and, to develop the necessary skills to read and analyze literary texts and other cultural forms. Topics to be discussed include dictatorship and democracy, women and representation, political and domestic violence, national identity, immigration, and mass culture. The selected materials will include texts by authors like Manuel Rivas, Mario Vargas Llosa, Carlos Fuentes, Cristina Peri Rossi, Rosa Montero, Carlos Monsiváis, Roberto Bolaño y otros.

Spanish Cultural Studies SPAN 350 - 4 credits

This is an interdisciplinary course, focusing on fundamentally important themes in the development of Spanish culture. This course includes field trips, lectures, and visits to the theater and cinema. (Depending upon semester, taught in English and/or Spanish)

Madrid a Cosmopolitan City SPAN 360 - 4 credits

This course is designed to provide students with a basic knowledge of the city of Madrid in terms of its historical, cultural, and social development. Contemporary aspects of the city such as its rise to prominence amongst the capitals of Europe and the phenomenon of recent immigration patterns will also be discussed. All classes will be conducted in Spanish. Students who enroll in this course should have completed SPAN 201. Specific grammar points will be reviewed as needed.

Jewish, Islamic & Christian Spain SPAN 370 - 4 credits

This course seeks to explore diverse facets of Jewish-Muslim-Christian convivencia ("dwelling together", coexistence). Contacts between the three faith-communities occurred throughout, some characterized by cooperation and creativity and others by rivalry and misunderstanding.

The course focuses on religious, cultural, economic and psychological aspects of contemporary Spain which owe their very existence to the history of multiculturalism in Spain. The course deals with written sources but also focuses on art, architecture, cuisine, music and other important aspects of Spanish culture. Consequently, this course will include visits to significant cities such as Toledo, Granada and Córdoba, in order to offer the student the possibility of experiencing first-hand the rich and diverse cultural heritage of present-day Spain. The primary goal of this course is to offer examples of peaceful and fruitful cooperation among the three major religions of the World and to prove that such an ideal is not a utopia.

Changes in Social Values in Spain 1975-2005 SPAN 417 - 4 credits

In 1975, after Franco’s death, Spain underwent one of the most interesting processes of social change in Western Europe: the Transition from dictatorship to democracy. The political changes established in the Constitution of 1978 marked a new era of freedom and social reform which triggered an accelerated process of cultural change. Youth culture (sex, drugs and rock & roll), the feminist movement, nationalistic demands, and later the incorporation into the European Union deeply transformed Spanish social values and thus their cultural manifestations. In this course we will study this process from an interdisciplinary perspective based mostly on the analysis of literary works, film, visual arts and music besides relevant theoretical articles by major Spanish and international intellectuals. Students who enroll in this course should have completed SPAN 202.

The Literature of Democratic Spain 1975-2005 - 4 credits

This course presents some of the major trends and authors in the Literature of Democratic Spain, from the transitional period after Franco’s death to the beginning of the 21st century. Special emphasis will be given to analyze how the literary works reflect the main changes experienced by Spanish society after Franco’s death and to explore the changing perspectives on different social issues during the last thirty years: sexual discrimination, immigration, the idea of Europe and the rewriting of the past. Readings include works from different genres (narrative, poetry and drama). Juan Jose Millas, Rosa Montero, Manuel Rivas, Ana Rosetti, Luis Garcia Montero, and Jose Sanchis Sinisterra will be among some of the writers studied.