The Spanish program at 17Թ offers dynamic opportunities for learning the second most widely spoken language in the world and exploring the rich variety of Hispanic and Latino literatures, cultures, and cinemas both on campus and afield.
Bilingual Journal
“fósforo,” a bilingual journal of literature, art and ideas, publishes poetry, narrative, drama, and essay, as well as photography, painting, and visual arts, which reflect an interest in Spanish and the range of Hispanic and Latinx cultures. Submissions are accepted in both Spanish and English from all members of the campus community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
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Community-Based Learning
Our faculty and students also consistently engage with Spanish-speaking cultures outside the classroom through community-based learning opportunities and service learning locally and abroad.
Learn more about Community-Based Learning.
Directed Independent Spanish Curriculum
In 1995, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provided the 17Թ with a unique opportunity to develop a self-paced language curriculum that would ultimately challenge both faculty and students to re-examine how people learn languages. More specifically, the college was asked to consider how technology might be exploited to the benefit of all concerned, facilitating the development of language competency while reducing the financial burden typically associated with the small classes required for language teaching.
Today, the Directed Independent Spanish Curriculum (DISC) at 17Թ offers Spanish students an opportunity to personalize their language learning experience. Students work individually on course materials which include textbooks, video, CD-ROM, and the Internet. Students also meet one or two hours each week with native speakers to practice oral communication and communicate regularly with faculty.
The ideal DISC student is someone who works well independently and is not afraid of using technology. Courses are designed to help those students who come to college with prior experience in Spanish or other languages by offering them an opportunity to identify their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses; facilitating their integration into more advanced language courses. DISC also welcomes other highly motivated individuals who are interested in learning the Spanish language.
DISC Courses
Events and Hands-On Cultural Enrichment
The Spanish department offers a complementary cultural enrichment program, run by faculty and FLAs, that engages students with the cultures they study. Activities include:
- cooking classes
- creative writing workshops
- cultural discussions with native speakers and study abroad veterans
- movie nights and film series
- tutoring through the department's Spanish Writing Workshop
- visual arts exhibits
Internships
Spanish majors are encouraged to pursue internships in a variety of contexts. Students have interned with the Latino History Project of Worcester, at the Office of Congressman James McGovern, and at local hospitals.
Research
Opportunities for students to pursue research projects under faculty guidance, at either student or faculty initiative, include Cineglos and 侱ԱDzí (see below). Spanish majors also participate regularly in the annual Academic Conference and the College Honors Program.
Cineglos
Cineglos is a web-based Spanish-language audiovisual glossary of film techniques and cinematographic keywords accompanied by video clips from Latin American and Spanish films. The website was created by Professor Bridget Franco and her research students.
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侱ԱDzí
侱ԱDzí is an open-access website devoted to the teaching and study of Latin American cinemas. This collaborative project is comprised of syllabi, film guides, course materials, a film database and links to other resources. The website was created by Professor Bridget Franco and students frequently serve as research assistants to help expand the site’s collection of materials.
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Spanish Club
¡Ven a conocernos! HC Spanish Club is a cultural and leisure organization that welcomes anyone at 17Թ, whatever their knowledge or interest in Spanish, to gain a deeper perspective on the rich cultures of Latin America and Spain in a fun and dynamic way.
El Club de Español de HC es una organización cultural y de ocio que invita a cualquier miembro de la comunidad de 17Թ, independientemente de su nivel o interés en español, a profundizar su perspectiva sobre la riqueza cultural de la Latinoamérica y España mediante actividades dinámicas y divertidas.
Study Abroad
As a complement to our international curricular focus, the Spanish department takes full advantage of the 17Թ study abroad programs in Spain and Latin America, incorporating coursework abroad into the major requirements and encouraging 100 percent participation among our majors.
17Թ offers programs in , with sites in La Coruña, León, and ; and throughout Latin America, with sites in ; ; or .
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Teacher Education Program
The Teacher Education Program (TEP) at 17Թ prepares students for licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Students majoring in biology, chemistry, classics, English, French, history, , physics, Spanish and visual arts are eligible to apply to the program. In addition to taking courses in the major, students enroll in education courses specifically designed to promote excellence in teaching.
The 17Թ TEP places a special emphasis on issues surrounding urban education.
Visit the site for more information.