This course will focus on acquiring the following areas from SUU Essential Learning Outcomes:
1. Communication: Gain intellectual and practical skills, particularly in written and oral communication.
2. Intercultural Knowledge and Competence: Demonstrate that they possess a set of cognitive and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
Upon completion of Spanish 1020, students will also:
- Speak and understand Spanish with sufficient fluency to participate effectively in formal and informal conversations at a basic level and to present and explain information in Spanish.
- Expand vocabulary and solidify proficiency in the present tense.
- Have been introduced to and begin to use appropriately the two major past tenses in Spanish-the preterit and the imperfect- and have learned to narrate simple past experiences.
- Have learned command forms that will allow them to give simple instructions to others.
- Use cultural texts to gain exposure to grammatical structures and relevant vocabulary.
- Gain exposure to a variety of cultural texts from Hispanic cultures and demonstrate awareness of customs, geography, and the differences and similarities between cultural traditions.
General Education Designation: Humanities
This course fulfills the General Education Humanities requirement. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
2.2.1. Examine
Examine how humanities artifacts (such as oral narratives, literature, philosophy, media, and artworks) express the human condition.
Students examine authentic cultural and linguistic artifacts from the Spanish-speaking world, including literary texts, infographics, cultural readings, and media presented throughout the course. Readings such as La familia de Teresa, La LASO juega, Un servicio de comida a domicilio, health infographics, and Conectando talentos allow students to explore themes such as family, health, food, work, and community while recognizing how language and culture reflect the human experience.
2.2.2. Explain
Explain how humanities artifacts take on meaning within networks or systems (such as languages, cultures, values, and worldviews) that account for the complexities and uncertainties of the human condition.
Students explain how language, customs, and cultural practices are shaped by the historical and social contexts of Hispanic communities. Cultural Exploration activities examine topics such as marriage and family, sports, traditional foods, health and well-being, and professions throughout the Spanish-speaking world, helping students understand how values and worldviews influence everyday life and communication.
2.2.3. Analyze
Analyze humanities artifacts according to humanities methodologies, such as close analysis, questioning, reasoning, interpretation, and critical thinking.
Students analyze authentic cultural texts through close reading, class discussions, oral practice, projects, and reflective writing. Course activities require students to interpret meaning, identify cultural perspectives, and communicate informed interpretations in Spanish while developing critical thinking and intercultural communication skills. The Cultural Reflection assignment serves as a culminating opportunity to synthesize and analyze the cultural themes explored throughout the semester.
2.2.4. Compare and Contrast
Compare and contrast diverse humanistic perspectives across cultures, communities, and/or time periods to explain how people make meaning of their lives.
Throughout the course, students compare cultural traditions, social practices, and daily life across diverse Spanish-speaking communities while reflecting on similarities and differences with their own experiences. Topics including family structures, health, sports, food, professional life, and cultural traditions encourage students to appreciate the diversity of Hispanic cultures and recognize multiple perspectives on identity, community, and well-being.
2.2.5. Apply
Using humanities perspectives, reflect on big questions related to aesthetics, values, meaning, and ethics and how those apply to their own lives.
Students apply humanities perspectives through oral communication, engagement activities, projects, and the final Cultural Reflection. By engaging with authentic Hispanic cultural materials and participating in cultural events, students reflect on their own values, identities, and cultural assumptions while developing greater intercultural awareness and appreciation for the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world.