This course focuses on Spanish in contact with other languages around the world. Students will examine the sociohistorical and geographic contexts that bring languages into contact, as well as the various products of this interaction, such as multilingualism, language shift, transfer of linguistic features between languages, and the creation of new languages. 

An opportunity to write prose in different styles and registers of Spanish with emphasis on articles, essays, and short stories. Students learn relevant research methods and presentation formats, and produce a final portfolio. Representative readings for analysis and discussion. 

This course explores the historical interactions and enduring influences between the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Students will study early contact between the two regions, focusing on the Islamic conquest of Iberia, the social structure of Al-Andalus, the Christian Reconquista, as well as the immediate and lasting impacts of these events. Students will study the mutual exchange of linguistic and cultural legacies, such as influences between Iberian and Maghrebi languages, as well as impacts on the arts, urban planning, and transmission of knowledge. This course also focuses on the legacy of Al-Andalus, and its evocation in Spain’s colonization of Morocco, and its place in Moroccan culture. Finally, students will also examine contemporary connections, such as migration, current political relations between the two regions, and modern linguistic contact. 

This course focuses on language and identity from a raciolinguistic perspective and explores the mutual co-construction of language and race. Focusing specifically on Latin America, the Caribbean, and diasporic contexts in the U.S. and Spain, students in this course will examine how ideas about language, race, and ethnicity have been historically co-naturalized in ways that create and uphold social inequities, particularly in how they are manifested in education, politics, and the construction of national identities. The topics in this course center around the intersection of language and diverse identities, including discussions on multi-ethnic/racial and migrant communities. Students will also look at how languages that come into contact with Spanish are positioned, such as creoles (mixed languages), indigenous languages, and sign languages that are used among deaf communities. 

This course focuses on the relationship between language, gender, and sexuality in the Spanish-speaking world. Students will first look at different theoretical and analytical perspectives that are grounded in scholarship from gender and sexuality studies, as well as sociolinguistics. Students will then explore how language shapes the expression and suppression of gender and (a)sexuality. Specific topics include: gender differences in interactions (e.g. politeness, turn-taking); sexist language and discourse about sexism and sexual violence; sexual orientation and linguistic expression; linguistic variation and change in Spanish that reflect feminist language reform (e.g. gender-neutral language); discursive representations of gender and gendered language use in the media and in institutional contexts (e.g. news media, professional settings). These discussions will also address the intersectionality of gender with other identities, such as race, heritage, class, religion, among others.

Designed for students who grew up using Spanish with their families and/or communities, but who received the majority of K-12 education in English. Emphasis on advanced reading and writing strategies and differentiation between written and oral registers of Spanish through discussion of key issues affecting the Latinx community and civic engagement. A focus on Spanish as a national language in the U.S. and the deconstruction of myths based on power and privilege associated with being Latino in the U.S. Topics vary by semester, but may include immigration, identity construction, bilingualism, literature, or popular culture. 

Advanced reading and writing strategies, including grammar review and composition, for entry into the advanced curriculum. Students read from a variety of representative texts of multiple registers from the Spanish-speaking world. Open to students from all language learning backgrounds. 

One of the central issues that students will explore in this course is the often conflicting interaction between freedom of movement and national sovereignty/border control. Students will thus examine different areas of concern relating to migration and borders, such as the issue of refugee resettlement, the exploitation of migrant workers, as well as acculturation processes such as integration, assimilation, exclusion, and marginalization. In the context of the Spanish-speaking world, this course includes an examination of a variety of global case studies that illustrate the sociocultural, racial, and linguistic diversity of communities that come into contact in border spaces. 

This course focuses on the sociopolitics of language in the Spanish-Speaking world. We will examine fundamental concepts in sociolinguistics, which is the study of the relationship between language and society. This will include an exploration of historical, political, and social contexts that have shaped the use of Spanish in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and the U.S., as well as languages that come into contact with Spanish. Students will engage with these topics through a variety of texts while simultaneously developing their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. 

This course focuses on culture in the Spanish-Speaking world, and examines significant historical moments that have shaped today’s culture in Latin America and Spain. This course also looks at linguistic diversity in the Spanish-speaking world, and explores the different ways in which Spanish is used globally, along with other languages that have come into contact with and influenced Spanish. Students will engage with these topics through a variety of readings and films, while simultaneously developing their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. 

Intensive study of the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts. This course is designed for those students who seek more immediate entry into higher levels. 

Continued introduction to the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts. 

This course is centered around the study of the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. An equally important component to this course is the study of Spanish-speaking cultures and practicing communication through authentic contexts. 

Koa Beck defines white feminism as a “type of feminism that takes up the politics of power without questioning them – by replicating patterns of white supremacy, capitalistic greed, corporate ascension, inhumane labor practices, and exploitation, and deeming it empowering for women to practice these tenets as men always have.” Yet this mainstream version of feminism in the West has been defined and dictated by the white women who benefit from it, when, in fact it does little to dismantle patriarchy. In this course, students will explore the history of feminism in the U.S., its “branding” and staunch support of capitalism, and how Indigenous, black, brown, transgender, disabled, and undocumented women have been marginalized and invisibilized by white feminism. Additionally, we will not only interrogate the individualistic notions of liberation that are centered in white feminism, but also discuss how we can work collectively to resist the systems that perpetuate oppression.

This course focuses on the relationship between language, gender, and sexuality. Students will first look at different theoretical and analytical perspectives that are grounded in scholarship from gender and sexuality studies, as well as sociolinguistics. Students will then explore how language shapes the expression and suppression of gender and (a)sexuality. Specific topics include: gender differences in interactions (e.g. politeness, turn-taking); sexist language and discourse about sexism and sexual violence; sexual orientation and linguistic expression; linguistic variation and change that reflect feminist language reform (e.g. gender-neutral language); discursive representations of gender and gendered language use in the media and in institutional contexts (e.g. news media, professional settings). These discussions will also address the intersectionality of gender with other identities, such as race, heritage, class, religion, among others.

This course offers a very brief introduction to the Arabic language and its diverse cultural contexts. While stepping away from traditional, proficiency-driven language pedagogy, this course fosters a foundational understanding of Arabic's structure, sounds, and script, including an exploration of Arabic calligraphy as an art form. Students will also delve into the rich diversity of Arab cultures and societies, examining social customs, artistic expressions, and intellectual traditions. Additionally, students will critically analyze Eurocentric and Americentric representations of the Arab world in media and popular culture, encouraging students to develop nuanced perspectives. Through interactive activities, discussions, and independent research, students will gain basic communicative skills and explore the role of Arabic in the multilingual communities of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and the diaspora. The course culminates in student-driven projects that showcase their understanding of these topics, promoting critical thinking and an informed appreciation for the complexities and nuances of Arab societies. While developing proficiency is a lengthy journey that goes beyond the scope of this course, the goal here is to offer an initial linguistic and cultural exploration that sparks an interest in continued study of the Arabic language and Arab world. (Taught in English; half credit Extended Studies course)

Why does language use vary across speakers? Our choice of words, pronunciation, grammatical constructions, style of speech, and language varieties are connected to different aspects of society. Specifically, how we speak can be informed by cultural norms, interactional contexts, social variables, and the people with whom we are speaking. This course explores how language is used in a social context, and how we use language to construct social meaning. One of the central objectives of this course is to urge students to think critically about various sociolinguistic phenomena and how individual and group linguistic behavior can perpetuate and contest societal power structures. Through this course, students will examine descriptive and prescriptive views on language, linguistic variation, the social factors that condition this variation, and how our linguistic behavior relates to the identities which we construct, contest, and/or have imposed on us. Finally, students will also understand the broader implications of sociolinguistic variation, such as how language ideologies may impact deliberate efforts to influence societal language use through language policy and planning.  (Taught in English; half credit Extended Studies course)