Cultural Courses

Note: Cultural courses are offered when demand exists--normally for college credit. Students interested in these courses who do not want to receive college credit, can opt for a mini-course which can be arranged for stays under four weeks. On occassions class hours may be held in the afternoon or evening. The majority of these classes are taught by local university professors. Courses include: Mayan Civilization I & II, Spanish for Business, Spanish for Teachers, Yucatan History I & II, Spanish American Literature I & II, and Contrastive Analysis.

Mayan Civilization I & II (Spanish 170 and Spanish 175, 45 hours of instruction each)
Survey of Mayan culture including architecture, folklore, language, ideology, customs. Part one of this course focuses on pre-Colombian and the conquest while part two moves into modern Mayan culture.

Objectives for Institute of Modern Spanish Courses 170 and 175:

• To familiarize students with the Mayan Culture.
• To increase students' understanding of present day México.
• To improve communication macro-skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

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Spanish for Business (Spanish 270, 45 hours of instruction)
This course focuses on the business aspects of both language and culture. Activities in this course are designed to foster and enhance the skills, creativity, leadership, and cooperative spirit necessary for working with the Latin American business world.

Objectives of Institute of Modern Spanish Course 270:

• To increase students' understanding of the Latin American business culture.
• To improve communication macro-skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in a business context.
• To increase vocabulary needed to interact successfully in the business community.

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Mexican Economic and Social Development (Spanish 275, 45 hours of instruction)
The students will gain an understanding of the historical foundation of Mexican politics, economy and social aspects as well as the implications of these foundations in today's Mexican society. This will be accomplished through analysis of the historical stages of Mexico.

Objectives for Institute of Modern Spanish Courses 275:

• To learn the developmental stages in Mexican history.
• To improve communication macro-skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
• To learn and apply analytical techniques.
• To develop an awareness of current events in México.

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Spanish for Teachers (Spanish 330, 45 hours of instruction)
The students will learn the specialized vocabulary needed to communicate in school situations--both with students and parents--and practice this through role play and/or hands-on classroom interaction in local schools. More advanced students will be encouraged to design and present lesson plans for their specific area of interest. (See also Contrastive Analysis of Spanish/English Syntax, Spanish 455.)

Objectives for Institute of Modern Spanish Course 330:

• To learn new content area (culture) and new teaching methods.
• To improve ones ability to communicate in the classroom.
• To share and learn with other present and future teachers.

Special Institute of Modern Spanish 10% discount
for teachers during summer vacation period.

Yucatán History I & II (Spanish 340 and Spanish 345, 45 hours of instruction)
A study of Yucatán history which surveys various aspects of the state's founding and development. Part one of this course focuses on the colonial times while part two covers the Independence period (19th century).

Objectives for Institute of Modern Spanish Courses 340 and 345:

• To familiarize students with the history of Yucatán.
• To increase students' understanding of present day Yucatán.
• To improve communication macro-skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking.

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Spanish American Literature I (Spanish 320, 45 hours of instruction)
Critical and analytical study of the of the most important and representative works of the main literary schools from pre-Colombian times to Independence. Students will be required to read and discuss the texts and to write a midterm report and final exam paper.

Spanish American Literature II (Spanish 325 45 hours of instruction)
Critical and analytical study of the most important and representative works of the main literary schools from Independence to present day. Students will be required to read and discuss the texts and to write a midterm report and final exam paper.

Objectives for Institute of Modern Spanish Courses 320 & 325:

• To familiarize Students with major authors and works of Spanish American Literature.
• To improve communication macro-skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
• To learn and apply techniques of literary criticism.

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Contrastive Analysis of Spanish/English Syntax (Spanish 435, 45 hours of instruction)
This course is an intermediate-advanced course designed for students with an interest in the syntactical systems (word order and sentence structure) of Spanish and English. The course is particularly useful for students planning to teach Spanish to English speakers or English to Spanish speakers as it compares and contrasts the structures of the two languages and allows the students to analyze inter-lingual patterns through a series of exercises designed to highlight contrasts and similarities between the two languages.

Objectives of Institute of Modern Spanish Course 435:

• To increase students understanding of inter-lingual patterns for the Spanish and English languages.
• To improve students ability to explain these patterns through practical applications.
• To discuss with others problems and solutions related to teaching Spanish to English speakers and English to Spanish speakers.

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