SPAN 295 - Special Topics in Conversation

Credits: 3 in fall, winter; 4 in spring

Prerequisite: SPAN 162, 164, or equivalent. Further development of listening and speaking skills necessary for advanced discussion. Acquisition of both practical and topic-specific vocabulary. Appropriate writing and reading assignments, related to the topic, accompany the primary emphasis on conversational skills. Recent topics include: Hispanic Cinema and La Prensa. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

Winter 2020, SPAN 295A-01: Special Topics in Conversation: Vivir Nen Communidad (3). Prerequisite: SPAN 162, 164, or equivalent. ESOL community-based learning component. Counts towards the requirements for the RL major and the LACS minor (with Prof. Botta’s permission in advance). Experiential Learning. Further development of listening and speaking skills necessary for advanced discussion. Acquisition of both practical and topic-specific vocabulary. Appropriate writing and reading assignments, related to the topic, accompany the primary emphasis on conversational skills. Class time is devoted primarily to students meeting small groups or as a large group for extensive conversation in order to enhance aural and oral skills and to develop a deeper understanding of migration in the Spanish-speaking/Latinx world, including in Rockbridge County. Assignments require application of all language skills. In 2020, the course has a special emphasis on community-based learning, with each student working 1-2 hours each week using Spanish in different community sectors of Rockbridge County. In addition, class discussions will treat the themes of the students’ community-based experiences and of issues and current events of Latinas/os/xs in the U.S. Mayock.