Spanish Immersion Programs
Spanish for beginners:
Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. The program for beginners focuses primarily
on verbal expression, vocabulary expansion and listening skills.
This approach is supplemented by work on reading texts for information,
writing and basic grammar. We recommend that students follow between
four to six hours of this course on a daily basis. Beginners can
also enroll in supplementary courses Conversation I and Mexican
Culture, the latter being the only content course taught in English.
Intermediate Spanish:
Levels 5, 6, 7 and 8. The focus in these programs is on developing
the grammatical competence needed to maintain both informal conversation
and more formal communication, as well as developing sufficient
vocabulary for reading and writing purposes. Students who on placement
testing demonstrate sufficient competence to study at Level 7
and beyond may also enroll in a variety of supplementary content
courses.
Electives
These courses are available for those who demonstrate
ability to understand spoken Spanish to an advanced level (levels
7 and up). The courses vary according to the time of year students
are attending classes. A group can be started according to demand
if there is a minimum of five students. Some of the courses available
are the following:
Advanced Spanish:
Levels 9 and 10. Advanced classes concentrate on total mastery
of the language, including reading excerpts from literature, the
writing of essays and enhancement of oral expression. Advanced
students can enroll in any supplementary or content courses, according
to their needs.
Contemporary Mexican
literature: This course first consider modern works such
as asYañez' "Al filo del agua" and "Pedro
Paramo" by Rulfo, and then looks at outstanding authors of
the present day such as Laura Esquivel and her novel "Like
water for chocolate". general history of Mexico I (up to
1872) This course will give a general history of pre-hispanic
and colonial Mexico, as well as Mexico after independence, seen
from the point of view of history, society, economics and politics
*A general history
of Mexico II (contemporary) This course will look at Mexico
from the age of Porfirio Diaz (1872-1911), focusing on the principal
changes in the country's economic, political and social structure
during the twentieth century.
*The history of
relations between Mexico and the United States This course
traces the history of Mexico and the United States, observing
over time not only the changing relationship, but also the need
of both nations to maintain mutual respect, despite the considerable
commercial, political, territorial and social problems that have
arisen since 1825
*Latin American
literature The course covers the most representative writers,
such as Benedetti, Guimaraes, Jorge de Lima, Cardenal, Lezanma
and writers who have made outstanding contributions to literature.
*Hispanic American
literature This covers the most distinguished modern writers,
such as Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa, Borges, Guillen and many
other classic writers.
*Economic and political
history of Mexico (1880-1994) This course aims to give
the student a global view of Mexico's recent economic and political
history.
*Economic and political
history of Latin America The evolution of Latin American
states is traced from the period of independence to the present
day. Focus is given to the development of an inter-American system
and the most significant events, political, economic, social and
cultural, that have determined international relations.
*The Mexican political
system The historic development of the political system
is analyzed against the changing background of the country's social
and economic structure, with emphasis on the current transition
towards democracy, as well as the role played by forces that influence
this change of political regime.
*Mexico and international
trade This course gives students insights into the risks
and opportunities afforded to Mexico by the opening up of international
markets. It reviews the history of commerce in Mexico and looks
at the implications for the current commercial scene.
*International
trade The content of this course is the significance of
foreign trade, basic exports and imports, and models for international
negotiation. It affords the student a glimpse of trans-cultural
cooperation and mutual understanding Mexican culture The student
is given a historical tour from pre-hispanic times to the present
day, with focus on significant examples of Mexican culture, including
its traditions, art, architecture, music and folklore.
*History of Mexican
art A historical tour of Mexican art from pre-hispanic
times, through the colonial period, the nineteenth century, muralism
and the principle artistic trends of the twentieth century.
*Mexican civilization
and culture The development of the modern nation Students
following this course will receive a panoramic view of the various
stages through which Mexican civilization has passed from indigenous
cultures to the modern state.
*Pre-hispanic cultures
culture, society and myth The course describes a number
of pre-hispanic cultures and attempts to present the indigenous
world-view, through an analysis of their myths.
*Mass media in
Mexico An examination of current models of mass media in
Mexico, especially radio, television and the press.
*Mexican cinema
This course analyses the history of Mexican films against the
social and political background of the country.
*Mexican culture
This is the only course taught entirely in English. It is intended
to help students gain insight into their experience of living
in Mexico by focusing attention on the most relevant cultural
aspects.
|
