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Modern Languages
José Alvarez-Fernández, Ph.D. Chair
The Department of Modern Languages offers a variety of language, culture and literature courses designed to enhance language acquisition, to foster an understanding of diverse peoples and cultures, and to promote critical- thinking skills. Through the analysis of texts (oral and writing narratives, movies, paintings, songs, and so on) produced in languages other than English, students are encouraged to see the intersections among language, literature and culture, and to develop analytical skills that will lead to a fuller appreciation of different forms of expression.
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The Department seeks to better prepare students to succeed in an interconnected world, where the ability to speak and write in a second language significantly enhances a student’s opportunity to obtain employment in any field.
The Department offers a major and a minor in Spanish as well as an individually designed interdisciplinary major with a concentration in Spanish. Students interested in pursuing this second option should meet with the department chair as early as possible in their academic programs to discuss their particular interests. The department also offers Arabic, French and Italian language courses, as well as courses in World Literature in Translation.
Students who choose not to fulfill the requirements of a modern language minor or major may instead pursue a Modern Language Certificate in Arabic, French, Italian or Spanish. This course of study gives students an official acknowledgment of completion of a structured program of basic language skills. Completion of a language certificate is dependent upon course availability. Many students complete coursework for the language certificate through outside opportunities including study abroad and Colleges of the Fenway cross registration. Successful completion of a language certificate will be noted on the student’s transcript.
Spanish courses comprise the study of language, as well as the incorporation of the students’ experience into the reading and analysis of representative texts of the Spanish-speaking world. Arabic, French and Italian courses cover two levels of language and also include the study of literature and cultures. World Literature in Translation courses, taught in English, introduce the student to major world authors.
The department strongly encourages study abroad at accredited academic institutions.
LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES
At the completion of the Spanish major, the student will: • Demonstrate Spanish language proficiency. • Demonstrate an understanding of Hispanic peoples and cultures. • Critically read and interpret texts in Spanish, conduct research in the discipline, and clearly express statements and support ideas in essays and research papers.
THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
The culminating experience for Spanish majors is the Senior Seminar course (LANG4999), which is typically completed in the spring semester of the student’s
final year of study. Before taking the Senior Seminar, students must have successfully completed at least two 3000-level Hispanic literature courses and have senior status. In the Senior Seminar, which is crosslisted with a spring semester 3000-level course, students research a chosen topic in-depth, make regular peer-reviewed oral presentations of progress, and give a final oral presentation of their research paper to peers and Modern Language faculty. Senior Seminar papers are also made available for review by department faculty.
B.A. IN SPANISH
Requirements for Major:
1-3. Three LANG courses at the 2000-level and above 4. LANG2420 Phonetic and Oral Spanish 5. LANG2422 Writing in Spanish 6. LANG2413 Spanish Conversation and Composition I 7. LANG3417 Spanish American Experience: An Overview 8. LANG3429 Great Figures of Spanish Literature 9. LANG3437 Special Topics 10. LANG4999 Senior Seminar Major courses are chosen with departmental advising.
MINOR IN SPANISH
Requirements for Minor:
1-2. Two LANG courses at the 2000-level and above 3. LANG2420 Phonetic and Oral Spanish 4. LANG2422 Writing in Spanish 5. One 3000-level courses 6. LANG3437 Special Topics Minor courses are chosen with departmental advising.
MODERN LANGUAGE CERTIFICATE
Requirements for Certificate:
Five LANG courses at the 1000-level and above, with a minimum grade of B– for each course. The Language Certificate will be noted on the student transcript.
As of the 2010 Census, Massachusetts Hispanic and Latino population account for 9.6% of the total population, 17.5% of these residents live in the city of Boston and are consider LEP students (Limited English Proficiency). Additionally, over the past few years the US has experienced an increase in the number of individuals with access to healthcare because of the Affordable Care Act. As more individuals who are LEP use private and public healthcare systems, the need for healthcare professionals to learn Spanish to effectively communicate with clients increases.
The Longwood Medical are of Boston with its prominent medical facilities as well as museums, liberal art colleges, and research centers constitute a great opportunity for students with a clear professional orientation in the field of healthcare. Recognizing this need, the Department of Modern Languages has created a new certificate in Spanish for healthcare professionals designed for individuals with little or no formal training in Spanish. The goal of the program is to equip the students to address the healthcare needs of the Spanish speaking population.
The certificate emphasizes the language and cultural skills need it for professional work in those settings. Students will learn both general Spanish and Spanish medical terminology to be able to understand their Spanish-speaking clients and increase their cultural competence which will help them connect and build rapport with clients and have more insight into client-interpreter conversations. Requirements for Certificate:
LANG1411 Spanish for Healthcare Professionals I (LC) LANG1412 Spanish for Healthcare Professionals II LANG2412 Spanish at Work in the Healthcare Community
