SPANISH LANGUAGE: PRONUNCIATION AND PHONETICS

This course offers the opportunity for students to learn and practice the correct pronunciation of Spanish with the aim of obtaining greater security and confidence in interacting on a daily basis with Spanish-speakers. More specifically, the course focuses on teaching students basic concepts of phonetics, spelling and intonation of Spanish with the aim for them to be able to identify and reproduce both oral and written versions of all the phonemes of the Spanish language.

SPANISH CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION - THE FORMATION OF SPAIN: FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE BÓRBON DYNASTY

The objective of this course is for the students to get a basic idea of Spanish culture and civilization by studying the main elements of our culture. In this way, students will travel from the Palaeolithic age to the 18^th century. They will witness the most important social and historical events that built the essence of Spain, the same cultural characteristics that they are going to experience during their course. 

The objectives for this course are to understand the origin of the Spanish culture and civilization, to understand the historical evolution of Spanish society from the beginning to the 18^th century, to tell the different political, social and cultural main characteristics of the Spanish society during the Middle Ages (VII-XV centuries) and during the Modern Age (XVI-XVIII centuries), to understand and describe historical concepts, and understand, analyze and discuss present social, cultural and political characteristics through the artistic/cultural expressions of the era.

SPANISH LITERATURE: ROMANTIC, REALIST, AND MODERNIST VISIONS OF SPAIN

This course is a study and investigation of the perceptions of Spain that Spanish authors have left us through their novels, articles, poems and plays. We will examine three very rich and powerful literary movements: romanticism, realism and modernism. We will also explore the personality and plays of Federico Garcia Lorca. 

The objectives of this course are to understand the three ways and styles of looking at the world: Romanticism, Realism and Modernism, to be able to analyze and critique literary works, understand the cultural context from which the works were born, and enjoy literature in Spanish.

ADVANCED CONVERSATION AND COMPOSITION IN SPANISH

This course has been designed for students who have already acquired a high level of Spanish and want to move up to mastery level. Specifically they will practice advanced grammar structures, the use of idiomatic words and phrases to improve both their written and oral skills, by means of grammar and vocabulary exercises, oral debates and weekly writing assignments. The students’ active participation on a daily basis is essential. 

INDEPENDENT INTERNSHIP (+ PLACEMENTS)

Internships integrate theory and practice through planned, supervised work experience. A key component of a student’s professional development is the ability to apply what has been learned as a university student, to the world of work. This course offers students individualized, applied learning opportunities to explore and clarify career goals, apply theory, acquire new skills, gain experience, network with professionals, and improve Spanish language proficiency. The GEO instructor supervisor will assist each student in developing individualized learning goals that serve as the specific learning objectives for his/her internship. In collaboration with their internship placement supervisor, students outline tasks and responsibilities that support their learning goals. As a result, students who achieve their learning goals acquire a set of transferable skills and real-world experience that prepares them for professional positions, fellowships, or further academic study. 

The objectives for this course include assessing achievement of individualized learning goals through task completion and supervisor feedback, and articulating the achievement of individual learning goals clearly and concisely in the form of a final internship report that will include a description of the organization, its mission statement and the clientele it serves, a description of the student’s specific duties, including what the student actually did on a day-to-day basis, an explanation of how the student’s academic major and study abroad experience prepared him/her for this work, and how any previous courses helped in preparation for this experience as well as personal reflections on the experience with regard to what was learned from this internship and how he/she anticipates this internship will contribute toward future goals and career aspirations.

SPAIN AND ITS ROLE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

This course gives a broad vision of the present situation of Spain and the countries that at this time make up the European Union. At the same time, the institutions and the government agencies of the European Union are studied to understand the reach and the future possibilities that this supranational organization offers as a united block immersed in the today´s world. Lastly, the unique coin, the EURO, and its consequences for the economic future of the “EURO ZONE” and the rest of the world economic powers are analyzed in detail. 

The objectives are to know the geographic, historical, social, political and economic situation of the European Union, to understand the present situation of the European Union countries, and to recognize and appreciate the repercussions of Spain belonging to the European Union.

SPANISH CONVERSATION AND GRAMMAR

This intermediate level course consolidates the student’s prior knowledge of the Spanish language acquired in their home-land, gain confidence in understanding the language, and in using the language properly.

Students have access to the language in a real context, and gain cultural knowledge (traditions and social etiquette) that helps them understand the Spanish speaking world. The interaction between the students and teacher is ongoing in class to increase the students’ communication fluency and precision that prepares them for real life situations as well as helps them achieve the necessary fluency that is expected for the next stage of the learning process.

COEXISTENCE OF THREE MEDITERRANEAN RELIGIONS, THEIR DIVERGENCE IN SPAIN AND THE WORLD TODAY

Between the 8th and 15th centuries, the Iberian Peninsula was converted into a crucible where the three great Mediterranean religions and their cultures were in close contact. This course is designed to provide knowledge of Judaism, Christianity and Islam throughout their development in the history of mankind, and more specifically the manner in which they developed in Spain. The students will acquire a theoretical basis that will be useful to understand the current intercultural and interreligious conflicts in the social, political and pedagogical order, and their relationship to minorities.

The objectives for this course include identifying the founding moments of the three great monotheistic religions from the experience of their founders, establishing the relationship between Judaism, Christianity and Islam at the time of their birth to highlight their differences and their common traditions, examining the effects that the three great religions have had throughout history in their mutual relationship in Spain and assessing the influence of the three religions on Spanish culture and history.

SERVICE LEARNING SEMINAR (+ FIELD EXPERIENCE)

In addition to the cultural immersion experience, this course provides the opportunity to put into practice lessons learned from their interaction and integration into the local culture. It provides a fuller integration and involvement through service in different organizations in Segovia that are dedicated to helping and integrating those most disadvantaged sectors of the population, and who need assistance in many different ways. This experience provides students a broader and different view than most visitors receive when they come to Spain. 

The objectives of this course include respecting the culture of Spain, learning how to work with, and in social service and non-profit organizations as well as other types of organizations that exist in Spain, specifically in Segovia, seeing, studying and discussing the concepts of civic responsibility and (community) service learning and the important roles they play in society, becoming familiar with several of these organizations and being able to explain how they work, and lastly, analyzing the organizations where they do their service learning work.

IMMIGRATION, NATIONALISM AND BORDER POLITICS

The purpose of this course is to study deeply the history of immigration in Spain, the policies of its borders and those of the European Union. It is designed to carry out an in-depth analysis of the Maghreb immigration in Spain and its impact on the culture, economy and resources of Spain. This course also examines the phenomenon of nationalism in Spain, its gestation, historical evolution and current situation in the environment of the European Union, and how this reality affects immigration policies in the countries of the Union. 

The objectives of this course include volunteering at a local organizations that deal with immigrants and refugees, understanding the reality of immigration in Spain and in the countries of the Union, its history and evolution to today, understanding specifically the relations, challenges and opportunities of Maghreb immigration in Spain, understanding the phenomenon of nationalism and how it affects the migration issue, social integration and citizenship, as well as becoming familiar with, analyzing and forming their own opinions on topical issues.