Courses ofInstruction
Spanish, latin american, and bilingual studies
Core Faculty
May Farnsworth, Professor, Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies, Chair
Fernando Rodriguez-Mansilla, Professor, Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies
Caroline Travalia, Professor, Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies
Colby Ristow, Professor, History
Audrey Roberson, Associate Professor, Education
Richard Salter, Professor, Religious Studies
Angelique Syzmanek, Associate Professor, Art and Architecture
Alejandra Molina, Instructor, Spanish, Latin American, and Bilingual Studies
The Spanish, Latin American, and Bilingual Studies Department (SLA) offers courses in language, interdisciplinary area studies, and bilingual education. The Spanish curriculum supports students on their path toward successful language mastery, cultural literacy, and global citizenship. Our Spanish and bilingual courses focus on communication through immersive learning contexts, cultural understanding and creative expression. Latin American Studies emphasizes myriad regional, sub-regional, and national identities, while also examining the common bonds that make Latin America unique as a whole. Latin American Studies seeks to expose students to the many facets of Latin America: its art, literature and history, culture, economics, and politics. The program encourages majors and minors to develop a theoretical framework for interpreting these facets and to build the skills in language and research methods that will enable them to work effectively in the area.
Mission Statement
Spanish, Latin American, and Bilingual Studies at Hobart and William Smith prepares students to think critically and communicate meaningfully in diverse Hispanic/Latinx/Latin American contexts locally, nationally, and internationally. We focus on critical thinking, cultural analysis, communication skills, intercultural awareness, and community engagement.
Offerings
Students may declare a major in either Spanish or Latin American Studies. The department also offers three options for minors: Latin American Studies, Spanish for Bilingual Education, and Spanish. Only courses completed with a grade of C- or better may count toward the majors or minors. No more than two CR courses may count towards a major or minor.
Study Abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad for one semester. The department sponsors two off-campus immersion programs: one in Spain and one in Chile. In these programs students live with Spanish-speaking host families and take courses in the target language. Up to four courses taken in the Spain and Chile programs will count for the major, or up to three for the minor. Courses from other off-campus programs must be pre-approved by the department. For Spain and Chile, the language requirement is five semesters of Spanish or the equivalent (the completion of at least one course at level II).
Curriculum. Spanish language courses are organized into four sequential levels: I, II, III, and IV. Courses at level I focus on fundamental language skills and must be taken in sequence. Courses at level II focus on communication and culture. Courses at level III establish foundations of literature, culture and linguistics, and courses at level IV are advanced seminars on literature, culture, and linguistics. Two courses at level II are required to move to level III, and two at level III are required to move up to level IV.
A Note for Heritage Speakers. Our faculty takes care to place students who have extensive familiarity with the Spanish language at home or in their community in appropriate language courses. These include, but are not limited to, SLA 204 Bilingual Realities, SLA 225 Hispanic Media, SLA 231 Spanish for the Professions, and SLA 260 Spanish Writing Workshop. These classes support students in refining their use of Spanish for professional and academic purposes, given their focus on writing, grammar review, cross-cultural dialogue, and career development.
The department offers courses taught in English in the areas of Bilingual Education and Latin American/Latinx studies (SLAE). Advanced Spanish courses also cross-list with Latin American Studies. Additional cross-listed courses include courses taken abroad (in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, among others) and elsewhere may count for the majors and minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies.
Spanish and Hispanic Studies Major (B.A.)
disciplinary, 10 courses
Learning Objectives:
- Present ideas and arguments, read, and write in Spanish at the advanced proficiency level, with enough accuracy that Spanish speakers, including those unfamiliar with language teaching, will be able to understand.
- Exhibit comprehension of essential meaning when listening to native speakers from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries in authentic contexts.
- Describe cultural products and practices, analyze literary materials and explain fundamental features of the language.
- Demonstrate cultural competency related to the Spanish-speaking world.
- Apply language and cross-cultural skills to graduate study and/or other professional settings.
Requirements:
Ten SLA courses: Three courses from level II, three from level III, two from level IV, and two more courses. These may be SLA courses at level II or above, SLAE courses, or approved courses outside the department. Students may apply up to four courses in department-sponsored programs in Spain and Chile towards this major. Courses in non-departmental programs must be pre-approved by SLA. With the department's approval, a course at a higher level can replace a course at a lower level. In addition to completing courses, students must produce a senior portfolio before graduating. Students must consult with their major advisor or the chair of the department for more information about the senior portfolio requirement.
Spanish and Hispanic Studies Minor – Disciplinary
6 courses
Requirements:
Six Spanish and Hispanic Studies courses, including three courses from level II, and three courses from level III or IV, only one of which may be replaced with an SLAE course. Students may apply up to three courses in department-sponsored programs in Spain and Chile towards this minor. Courses in non-departmental programs must be pre-approved by the SLA Department. With the department's approval a course at a higher level may replace a course at a lower level.
Latin American Studies Major (B.A.)
interdisciplinary, 10 courses
Learning Objectives:
- Develop a basic understanding about society in Latin America that accounts for differences in geography, politics, economics, and culture, and examines the historical origins of social inequality.
- Build the ability to think critically about culture, history, politics, and language in Latin America.
- Develop language proficiency.
Requirements:
SLAE 110 Latin American Perspectives; at least one Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese language course at the fourth semester level or higher; at least three courses in a primary concentration of a) humanities, b) social sciences and history, or c) environmental studies, and at least three courses outside the primary concentration; a senior year capstone project; and a methods course (e.g., a social science research methods course, a translation course, etc.). At least two of the 10 courses in the major must be advanced Latin American studies courses (Levels III or IV).
Latin American Studies Minor
Interdisciplinary, 5 courses
Requirements:
At least two courses in a primary concentration of a) humanities, language and arts, b) social sciences and history, or c) environmental studies; at least two courses outside the primary concentration; and at least one Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese language course at the second semester level or above.
Spanish for Bilingual Education Minor
interdisciplinary, 6 courses
Requirements:
SLAE 210 Topics in Bilingual Education, two advanced courses in Spanish, two courses in Education, and one interdisciplinary elective. Coursework for the minor prepares students for careers and/or graduate study in Spanish/English bilingual education and related fields that serve the Spanish/English bilingual community in the US. Students seeking teaching careers in public schools will require separate state teacher certification and additional coursework
Course Levels
Level I: Fundamental Language Skills
SLA 101 Beginning Spanish I
SLA 102 Beginning Spanish II
SLA 110 Elementary Spanish in Review
Level II: Communication and Culture
SLA 201 Intermediate Spanish in Review
SLA 202 Culture and Commerce
SLA 203 Spanish for Conversation and Debate
SLA 204 Bilingual Realities
SLA 225 Hispanic Media: Contemporary Issues
SLA 231 Spanish for the Professions
SLA 260 Spanish Writing Workshop
Level III: Foundations: Literature, Culture and Linguistics
SLA 304 Latinx-Latin American Literature
SLA 306 Spanish Linguistics
SLA 316 Voces de Mujeres
SLA 318 Golden Age
SLA 319 Animals in the Hispanic World
SLA 332 Literatura infantil
SLA 340 Spanish Cinema
SLA 344 Rutas literarias de España
Level IV: Seminars: Literature, Culture and Linguistics
SLA 400 Teatro: Innovations in Hispanic Drama
SLA 401 Dramaturgas
SLA 402 Sounds of Spanish
SLA 420 Contemporary Latin American Novel
SLA 421 Special Topics: Hispanic Studies
SLA 450 Independent Study
SLA 490 Cervantes: Don Quixote
SLA 495/496 Honors
Courses in Latin American and Bilingual Studies
BIDS 286 Gender, Nation, Literature
CMST 200: Indigenous Arts of the Americas in the Museum
GSIJ 250 Chicana feminism and visual culture
HIST 205 Modern Mexican History
HIST 210 The Latin American Terror State
HIST 226 Colonial Latin America
HIST 230 Race in Rio
HIST 231 Modern Latin America
HIST 327 Central America and the US
HIST 330 The Mexican Revolution
HIST 362 The Mexican Drug Trade
INRL 248 Politics of Development
REL 205 Tongues of Fire
REL 240 What is Christianity
REL 241 Rastaman and Christ
REL 250 Race and Religion
SLAE 110 Latin American Perspectives
SLAE 210 Topics in Bilingual Education
SLAE 230 Latina Writing in the United States
SLAE 232 The Latina Experience
SLAE 325 Special Topics: Hispanic Studies
SLAE 450 Independent Study
Methods (for the Latin American Studies Major only)
ANTH 273 Ethnographic Research and Methods
ECON 202 Statistics
EDUC 230 Teaching English Language Learners
INRL 371 Research Design and Ethics
PSY 210 Statistics & Design
SOC 211 Research Methods
SOC 212 Data Analysis
SLA 306 Spanish Linguistics
Course Descriptions
SLA 101 Beginning Spanish I Designed for students who have not taken Spanish before, this course develops the basic skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the language, and introduces the student to a variety of cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. Beginning Spanish I, as well as the other courses in the beginning and intermediate levels, use a combination of three weekly master classes with the regular instructor and an additional hour of laboratory practice or the equivalent, using the multimedia materials accompanying the text. This course is the first part of the beginning sequence; students who take SLA 101 in the Fall are highly advised to take SPLA 102 in the Spring of the same academic year. (Formerly SPN 101) (Offered Fall semesters)
SLA 102 Beginning Spanish II The second part of the beginning sequence, this course increases the level of proficiency in the areas of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, and it provides students with more ample knowledge of the multiple cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. Beginning Spanish II, as well as the other courses in the beginning and intermediate levels, use a combination of three weekly master classes with the regular instructor and an additional hour of laboratory practice or the equivalent, using the multimedia materials accompanying the text. Completion of the beginning sequence or its equivalent is necessary for students who wish to advance to the intermediate level. (Formerly SPN 102) (Offered Spring semesters) [Prerequisite: SLA 101 or equivalent.]
SLA 110 Elementary Spanish in Review This course reviews the basics of beginning Spanish. It is designed as a language refresher, increasing student proficiency in the areas of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. SLA 110 also considers multiple cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world and helps prepare students for community service and study abroad. (Formerly SPN 110) (offered occasionally)
SLA 201 Intermediate Spanish in Review This course is designed for students who have been placed in SLA 201, or students who have completed either SLA 102 or SLA 110. The course further develops the basic language skills acquired in the beginning sequence including grammar review, conversation, writing, and reading. Cultural awareness is emphasized through an exposure to authentic materials from the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Students who complete the intermediate course will meet the language criteria to apply for the department's off-campus programs in Spain and Chile. (Formerly SPN 201) (offered annually) [Prerequisite: SLA 102, SLA 110 or placement in SLA 201.]
SLA 202 Culture and Commerce SLA 202 engages students in conversations about popular culture and commerce in the Spanish Speaking world. The course strengthens students’ command of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural literacy through authentic materials, situational dialogues, role play, conversation prompts and writing assignments. Students will engage in wide ranging discussions of popular culture, economics, entrepreneurship, consumerism, and lifestyles in the Spanish-speaking world. (Formerly SPN 202) (offered annually) [Prerequisite: SLA 201 or higher, or placement in SLA 202.]
SLA 203 Spanish for Conversation and Debate This course focuses on the Spanish grammar acquisition process with particular emphasis on speaking and listening comprehension. Short films are used each week to introduce a grammatical topic, cultural aspects, and vocabulary. Examples of classroom activities include debates, skits, and other creative and interactive uses of the language. Idiomatic usage, fluency, correct grammar, and appropriate vocabulary in everyday situations will be emphasized. (Formerly SPN 203) (Travalia, offered annually) [Prerequisite: Completion of SLA 201, or higher.]
SLA 204 Bilingual Realities This course will appeal to students who use Spanish in every-day life and bilingual contexts. We will study dynamic bilingual communication practices in academics, popular culture, creative writing, and public speaking. Through memoirs, manifestos, novels, music, film, and podcasts, we will explore diverse bilingual/bi-cultural life experiences and forms of expression. Topics of discussion include, but are not limited to, migration, education, social media, art, and activism. We will practice conversational fluency, grammatical precision, persuasive writing, and vocabulary building. (Formerly PSN 204) (Farnsworth, offered annually) [Prerequisite: Completion of SLA 201, or higher.]
SLA 225 Hispanic Media: Contemporary Issues This course will develop students' cultural awareness through a series of written assignments organized around major journalistic and academic genres. We will investigate contemporary issues as presented in the media of Spain, Latin America and U.S. Latino communities. More specifically the course will explore such topics as immigration and multiculturalism, gender and sexuality, linguistic variety of the Spanish language, and issues of cultural identity among others. The internet, printed, audio and visual media material will provide the foundation for class discussions, oral presentations, cultural projects and other activities. Critical readings will complement the material and provide a broader understanding of contemporary cultural realities on both sides of the Atlantic. (Formerly SPN 225) (Rodriguez-Mansilla, offered annually) [Prerequisite: Completion of SLA 201 or higher.]
SLA 231 Spanish for the Professions This course focuses on the use of Spanish in a variety of professional careers. Students explore the vocabulary and cultural implications of using Spanish in fields such as business, health care, the legal system, social services, and education. Class activities include role-playing, skits, translations, a video newscast project and a mock trial. Emphasis is placed on acquiring vocabulary, increasing cultural competence, and improving oral fluency. This course is recommended for students who intend to use Spanish in a professional field, students who intend to teach Spanish to English-speakers or English to Spanish-speakers, as well as bilingual students. (Formerly SPN 231) (Travalia, offered annually) [Prerequisite: Completion of SLA 201 or higher.]
SLA 260 Spanish Writing Workshop This course focuses on grammar review through diverse activities, such as writing, reading and speaking about films, campus events, and authentic cultural materials from the Spanish speaking world. Class activities will examine challenging aspects of Spanish, while emphasizing the importance of context and grammar structures. Students will refine their language skills by composing different types of texts. (Formerly SPN 260) (Rodriguez-Mansilla, offered annually) [Prerequisite: Completion of SLA 201 or higher.]
SLA 304 Latinx-Latin American Literature This course studies representations of identity in Latin-American and Latinx arts and literature. We will consider the ways in which writers/artists in different parts of the Hispanic world (and on different sides of the US national border) confirm, question, and/or transgress social norms. Through plays, documentaries, narrative fiction, podcasts, and essays, we will study the role that literature, language, and culture play in reflecting and reshaping social identities and attitudes in Latin American and Latinx communities. (Formerly SPN 304) (Farnsworth, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses at level II or higher.]
SLA 306 Spanish Linguistics This course is an introduction to Spanish linguistics as applied to current, colloquial language. Students will be introduced to basic concepts of phonetics, syntax, morphology and pragmatics in Spanish. They will analyze examples of these concepts from the Spanish children's book series, Manolito Gafotas. This popular series is written in modern, idiomatic, Castilian Spanish. It also presents invaluable cultural information about Spain, therefore serving as an authentic, yet accessible corpus of study. One important objective of this course is to enable students to improve their own speaking and writing by enhancing their knowledge of linguistics, as well as its practical applications and cultural implications in everyday Spanish. (Formerly SPN 306) (Travalia, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses at level II or higher.]
SLA 316 Voces de Mujeres Voces de mujeres explores the strategies used by modern female writers and artists to express themselves, comment on the condition of women, and foster feminist social change in Spain and Latin America. Class discussions will include issues of race, class, gender, and nation building. Additionally, the course will consider the ways in which female authors challenge traditional literary criticism and re-define terms like "woman," "gender," and "feminist." (Formerly SPN 316) (Farnsworth, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses from level II or higher.]
SLA 319 Animals in the Hispanic World This course studies representations of animals in Hispanic literature and other cultural productions. We study how writers and artists in different places and cultural periods of the Hispanic world explore the relationship between humans and animals in a myriad of ways: animals can be depicted as symbols, literary characters (as friends, enemies, leaders, etc.), human behavior metaphors, etc. Through fables, short stories, poems, and literary essays, we will reflect on animal ethics as well as how diverse animal representations unfold relevant Hispanic cultural issues (such as race, class, and gender) (Formerly SPN 319) (Rodríguez-Mansilla, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses at level II or higher.]
SLA 332 Literatura infantil This course is an introduction to the rich tradition of children's literature in Spanish. Students will examine literary works from various Spanish-speaking countries - including Latino writers from the US - and time periods, paying particular attention to the colloquial language and cultural elements of each text. Consideration will be given to the young characters' view of the world and how issues like class, gender, and identity influence that view. In addition to analyzing literary works, students will teach Spanish through literature to local elementary school children on a weekly basis. They will also write their own children's story in Spanish as a final project. This course is highly recommended for students interested in education, community outreach, and/or creative writing. (Formerly SPN 332) (Travalia, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses at level II or higher.]
SLA 344 Rutas literarias de Espana This course focuses on key moments in the development of Spanish Peninsular Literature from the Middle Ages to the (post) modern period. Through the analysis of poems, short stories, essays and other historical and experimental genres, this class seeks to explain and exemplify essential themes of the Spanish literary tradition: race and ethnicity; nation, Empire, and foreign influence; cultural customs and the appraisal of modernity; gender issues and the reflection on literature, individuality and artistic language. (Formerly SPN 344) (Rodriguez-Mansilla, offered alternate years) [Prerequisite: two courses at level II or higher.]
SLA 401 Contemporary Theater: Innovations in Hispanic Drama This class will examine theater from Latin America, Spain, and the Latino population in the US. We will study the diverse methods that playwrights in these regions have developed to reflect and to critique the political and social climates in which they live; we will also discuss the role that theater plays in community-building, identity politics, and political activism. Dramatic practices such as metatheater, theater of cruelty, Brechtian techniques, and feminist drama will be discussed throughout the semester. (Formerly SPN 355) (Farnsworth, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses from level III or higher.]
SLA 402 Dramaturgas This course examines plays written by women in Latin America and Spain. Feminist theory, cultural studies, and critical histories will inform our analyses. Class themes and discussions will cover feminist theatre practices, women's performative voices/bodies, and gender in dramatic space. Readings may include works by Alfonsina Storni, Griselda Gambaro, Paloma Pedrero, and Sabina Berman. (Formerly SPN 392) (Farnsworth, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses from level III or higher.]
SLA 403 Sounds of Spanish This course takes students one step further in their mastery of the Spanish language with an introduction to the mechanics of native sound production. Students will study the basic concepts of Spanish phonology and phonetics. Likewise, they will learn how to represent and interpret speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Non-native speakers will work with native speakers toward achieving a native-like pronunciation. Both groups of students will develop an awareness of the phonetic variation that exists in the Spanish-speaking world today. Emphasis will be placed on historical factors involved in the development of different phonetic variants, as well as the social advantages and disadvantages that characterize them. Other differences between varieties of Spanish will also be examined, such as morphosyntactic, semantic and pragmatic aspects. (Formerly SPN 385) (Travalia, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: two courses from level III or higher.]
SLA 450 Independent Study
SLA 456 1/2 Credit Independent Study
SLA 489 Capstone Experience Each student pursuing a major in Spanish must present a portfolio project prior to graduation. The portfolio includes a self-evaluation, writing samples, a reflection paper, and a formal presentation (in Spanish). This is not a course for credit, but rather an experience that is required of all majors in their final year; the creation and presentation of the portfolio project take place outside of class time. Students should ask their SLA advisors for specific details, including a timeline for submitting materials and an up-to-date project description. (Formerly SPN 489)
SLA 490 Cervantes: Don Quijote This course offers careful analysis of the style, characterization, theme, and structure of Spain's greatest literary masterpiece, and study of the work's relationship to major social and intellectual currents of the 16th and 17th centuries. (Formerly SPN 490) (Rodríguez-Mansilla, offered occasionally)
SLA 495 Honors
Courses Taught in English
SLAE 110 Latin American Perspectives An introduction to Latin America through histories and novels, commentaries, analyses and movies, from the perspective of those within Latin America and those outside of it. The organization of the course is chronological, starting with accomplishments of the indigenous Americans before major European settlement and ending with the crises and issues of the early 21st century. (Formerly LTAM 210) (Ristow, Spring)
SLAE 210 Topics in Bilingual Education Bilingual education is a rapidly growing field in this country. Successful bilingual programs are intellectually stimulating, empowering, and culturally enriching and draw from diverse methodologies and practices. This course explores the philosophies, approaches, and practical applications of foreign language pedagogy in general and Spanish-English bilingual education in particular. Through study, service, and community engagement, students will consider what constitutes success in Spanish-English bilingual education, how bilingualism and biculturalism contribute to our national culture and local community, and how practices and policies in bilingual education are continually evolving. (Formerly SPN 210) (Farnsworth, offered occasionally) [Prerequisite: SLA 201 or the equivalent.]
SLAE 230 Latina Writing in the United States This course examines works by women writers of Hispanic descent in the United States. It explores the dynamics of gender, race, and sexuality as it affects the writers¿ identities as Latinas. The works analyzed are placed in critical dialogue with the changing U.S. cultural and political attitudes towards an ever-growing Latino population. (Formerly SPNE 230)
SLAE 232 The Latina Experience Through the use of life stories (testimonies) and documentaries, students in this course will examine the experience Latinas in the context of the United States and the Geneva community. We will be exploring issues such as migration and immigration; biculturalism and bilingualism; labor and education, cultural production and social activism through the collection and analysis of testimonial texts, as well as the analysis and production of documentaries. (Formerly LTAM 232)
SLAE 450 Independent Study
SLAE 456 1/2 Credit Independent Study
SLAE 495 Honors