What would my first year be like?

Beginners’ units (SPN1010/1020) in Spanish concentrate on intensive language teaching four hours a week, but with introductory cultural and/or historical study so that you are not learning the language in a vacuum.

The intermediate (SPN1030/1040) and advanced (SPN1050/1060) Spanish units offer intensive written and oral/aural language work for three hours a week. In addition, all first-year students, irrespective of linguistic ability, undertake an introduction to Spanish and Latin American cultural studies.

All language classes are conducted principally in Spanish, while the cultural component is conducted in English.

Are staff native speakers? Are classes taught in Spanish or mostly in English?

The teaching staff include a mixture of native and non-native speakers of Spanish. Native staff come from a variety of countries, including Spain, Chile, Uruguay and Mexico. This allows students to appreciate the diversity of accents and vocabulary of the Spanish language. Non-native speakers of Spanish have all spent a considerable amount of time living in Spanish-speaking countries and are fluent in the language.

Spanish is the language of instruction for all language classes, as this allows you to have as much contact as possible with the language from the very beginning. Nevertheless, staff may at times switch into English to clarify a particular point.

The first-year introduction to Spanish and Latin American cultural studies is conducted entirely in English, although some additional readings in Spanish are available for intermediate and advanced students.

In second- and third-year optional units lectures, classes and seminars are conducted mostly in Spanish, although at times discussion may switch into English. All assessment in language classes is conducted in Spanish.

The first-year cultural studies component is in English. In second- and third-year cultural components and options, some assessment may be in English.

Is it important that staff are researchers as well as teachers? Is this important to me as an undergraduate student?

All staff in the Program are active researchers and this is important because it will enhance substantially your experience as an undergraduate. The purpose of a university is to advance learning and your teachers see their subjects as dynamic and developing through research. If they didn’t, they would hardly be creative or stimulating teachers.

Staff in the Spanish and Latin American Studies Program conduct research in linguistics, cinema studies, literature and cultural studies. This varied expertise enables us to offer wide-ranging courses in which you can be sure of being taught by people who are known nationally and internationally for their research.

In third year, depending on your interests, you may follow specialised options which reflect closely the research interests of your teachers, so that you can feel yourself to be at the cutting-edge of new approaches. During your studies, you will also meet our postgraduate students, who often assist with teaching. These students are developing varied and innovative research projects into Spanish and Latin American Studies.