ASPIRE students will study in classes with other foreign students at the University of Salamanca.  The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain.  Students will earn 2-5 U.S. semester credits worth of Spanish language college credit that can be transferred to the students’ college of choice.  The classes are taught by local instructors and will be conducted entirely in Spanish, regardless of level of Spanish.  A placement exam will be administered upon arrival to determine Spanish level.

Students will choose from the following courses.

BEGINNING LEVEL 

REQUIRED COURSES

Beginning level students are required to take Spanish Grammar and Spanish Vocabulary.

SPANISH GRAMMAR

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Spanish grammar. Particular attention is given to the difficult parts of speech that foreign students encounter.

SPANISH VOCABULARY

Students learn vocabulary words grouped by semantic meanings. Practice of vocabulary in this arrangement allows students to learn not only the words, but also to be able to recognize and understand them in context. '

ELECTIVE COURSE OFFERINGS

Students may choose to take either or both of the following classes.

LANGUAGE LAB

In this course, students practice basic useful Spanish sentences, as well as the sounds or sequences of sounds which are especially difficult for foreign speakers. The goal of the lab is to improve students’ pronunciation.

ACTIVITIES FOR COMMUNICATION

This course provides students with practical situations in order to use their knowledge of the Spanish language. Focus is on sentence structure and correct usage of grammar.

INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED AND SUPERIOR LEVEL:

REQUIRED COURSES

Intermediate, Advanced and Superior level students are required to take Spanish Grammar.

SPANISH GRAMMAR (200 LEVEL)

This course gives a general view of the most important grammar points in Spanish, reviewing the basic verb tenses and adding the subjunctive and conditional forms. Vocabulary expansion is stressed as an important aid to fluency.

SPANISH GRAMMAR (300/400 LEVEL)

These courses offer a systematic review of all verb tenses and moods and help students to further develop and improve their writing skills. Vocabulary acquisition is a key component. Courses will be taught at the appropriate level (advanced or superior), and will be similar in structure.

ELECTIVE COURSE OFFERINGS

Students then choose 2-3 additional classes from the list below. Students at each level have the same course topic selection; each course, however, will be taught at the three different language levels. All courses are taught in Spanish at the appropriate level.

CONVERSATION AND COMPOSITION

Students will learn how to make clear and detailed descriptions, narrations and oral presentations. Students will be taught how to understand and summarize oral texts (radio, television, films) as well as how to read and understand written texts (press, advertisements, magazines, books), and will also give oral presentations in class. Students will receive guidelines on how to develop their ability to write clear texts, using a coherent organization, proper distribution of ideas, and distribution of the ideas and an appropriate use of the connectives and the vocabulary.

HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY SPAIN

This class focuses on the history of Spain in the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include the Spanish Civil War, Franco, the transition to democracy, and the present political situation. It is helpful to have a general idea of concepts such as fascism, republics, monarchies, and modern world events.

SPANISH CULTURE

This course presents a wide variety of information about Spain and its people. Topics include an introduction to the most important aspects of Spanish geography, history, politics, art history, and popular culture (bullfighting, flamenco, and music). This is an excellent option for the student wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the country and culture.

SPANISH FOR BUSINESS

This course focuses on the business world in Spain. The class also includes helpful vocabulary related to business, “how to” information, and common business practices and formalities that are useful to know, such as how to write a formal business letter in Spanish. It is helpful to have some knowledge of the business world, economics, or general concepts related to these topics.

ANALYSIS OF LITERARY TEXTS

This course is a combination of literature and writing. Coursework will include reading and studying texts, commenting on them, and producing a written review.

TRANSLATION COURSE

This course is a study of the main similarities between English and Spanish according to sentence structures. An analysis will be done of the errors commonly made, and means to recognize and avoid them will be identified.

SPANISH ART HISTORY

This course is dedicated to the history of art in Spain. It includes the study of architectural styles (Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque), painting by important Spanish artists, and the study of major artworks and monuments in Spain. It is helpful to have some background in art history terminology.

SPOKEN SPANISH EXPRESSION

This class is designed to work on the ability of students to express themselves in Spanish. This is a very good option for advanced level students who want to work on their speaking skills.

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN PRESENT-DAY SPAIN

This course will challenge the common assumptions about Spain and its place in the modern world. Topics addressed include rapidly developing industries in Spain and a look at the continuously improving economy. Also to be addressed is the role of society within the framework of a modernizing and improving Spain.

CONTEMPORARY SPANISH LITERATURE

This course is a literature class focused on the turn of the century and 20th century authors. Possible authors include: Miguel de Unamuno, Lorca, the Generations of '98 and '27, and many others. This course requires good reading and writing skills.

WRITTEN SKILLS PRACTICE

This is a seminar on written Spanish expression. It is designed to improve writing skills. Exercises include writing papers, essays, and other genre of the written word in Spanish. This course is helpful for students who already have a strong verbal ability in Spanish and want to increase their written ability.