Why study Spanish at MC?
In today’s rapidly changing world, there is intense demand for women and men who understand other cultures and can communicate in more languages than their own. They know that a new language is an open door into very different ways of living and understanding the world. Spanish majors develop written and oral skills in the target language that will enable them to survive and thrive in a variety of situations, including the professional world. A Spanish major provides students with a greatly enriched view of the world around them as well as Spanish language skills that will prove useful in many professional occupations.
The means through which students develop these skills includes:
- Oral presentations on a variety of topics
- Conversation groups
- Writing
- Creative and analytical thought
- The study of a variety of written texts and films
- A semester abroad
- A senior study research project
- A significant, practical experience in the community.
The latter involves working as a student volunteer in a service learning situation with a local organization dedicated to serving the Hispanic community. Frequently, these volunteer experiences lead to full-time employment after graduation.
The major in Spanish provides a holistic academic, cultural, and linguistic preparation that enables the student to compete in a professional market increasingly needful of bilingual employees. The study abroad experience is integrated into the major as an essential complement to the curriculum, enabling students to reach an advanced level of linguistic proficiency and to access an in depth understanding of another culture.
As a modern language spoken by more than 329 million people on nearly every continent, Spanish ranks number 2 worldwide in terms of native speakers. Nevertheless, the study of Spanish does not simply involve language acquisition vis-a-vis classroom instruction; the acquisition of a language required intellectual engagement through the study of the various cultures and histories of the peoples who claim Spanish as their native tongue. The Spanish faculty are dedicated to facilitating the acquisition and understanding of this modern language in a practical fashion and in a variety of settings such as service in a practicum in the general community and via a semester-long study abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country. In addition, students of Spanish are expected to increase second language proficiency – oral, aural, and written – via exposure to and academic engagement with a variety of media be it literary, film, historical, or professional (journalism, business, etc.). These media challenge students to question their perception of the various Hispanic cultures and to engage in critical inquiry that leads to a wider understanding of the world.
Given the international and domestic influence of Spanish and Hispanic cultures in all aspects of daily life, the Major in Spanish provides a holistic academic, cultural, and linguistic preparation that enables the student to compete in a professional market increasingly needful of bilingual employees. The Major is an ideal – and arguably necessary – complement to any professional pursuit that requires contact with native speakers of Spanish.