3.00 Credits
This course is for students who were raised speaking Spanish, but who have not studied Spanish formally and are unsure of grammar and spelling, but would like to perfect their command of the language. The course will prepare the students to be able to continue successfully their Spanish studies at the 300-level and so more easily get a minor or major in Spanish, or simply to be ready to use Spanish on the job or in any formal context. It is different from courses like SPAN 101-202 where much of the focus is on building basic vocabulary for non-Spanish speakers and on encouraging students to speak, as well as teaching correct pronunciation. Students in SPAN 203 already know how to speak and pronounce Spanish; this course concentrates on grammar, writing, stylistics, and reading, as well as advanced vocabulary building. This will be done through reading, writing, and discussing such topics as customs peculiar to Spanish-speaking countries, the experiences of Hispanic immigrants to the United States, traditional and modern art and architecture in Spain and Latin American countries, global warming and conservation, and coming-of-age experiences. Focus is on being able to describe places, people and events, narrating a past event, stating an opinion and defending it. In larger terms, the class will: 1. examine, analyze, and critically evaluate the Spanish spoken by each member of the class and the heritage that that Spanish reflects and 2. compare and contrast it with what is considered standard Spanish; 3. express orally and in writing the differences and similarities between formal and informal speech and among Latin American, Latino, Spanish, and Anglo-American speech and customs; 4. increase critical thinking, oral and written communication skills; 5. describe orally and in writing the content of Spanish newspaper articles, short stories, films and a novel; 6. express orally and in writing opinions about the content of Spanish newspaper articles, short stories, films and a novel.