Class Schedule for Fall 2024

As the title suggests, course content focuses on students’ expression of personal identity as members of a Spanish-language heritage community in the U.S. Course work is designed to develop a range of bilingual abilities, with a focus on oral production in informal contexts (similar to the SPAN 101-102-102-201 sequence for second language students of Spanish), through building vocabulary, teaching basic grammatical terminology, and basic literacy (reading and writing).

The courses in the Latino Heritage series (SPAN 218, 228) have an obvious focus on the development of Spanish-language proficiency. However, they use the approach known as “content-based instruction” in language teaching: language ability is developed through the study, in Spanish, of content that is typically included in humanities courses across campus. These new classes will cover the basics of human and cultural geography and ethnography, necessary for an understanding of the origins and demographics of Latino heritage communities in the U.S. and their relationship to the communities of origin. Coursework leads students through an examination of cultural production (music, literature, and plastic arts) and also include issues of linguistic and cultural prejudice by examining the connections between language, power, and social inclusion. This multi-faceted study of the make-up and dynamics of Latino communities in the U.S. therefore satisfies the Arts and Letters area requirement.