• Demonstrate knowledge of the political systems and the states in the Spanish-speaking countries • Demonstrate knowledge of identities and cultures in the Spanish-speaking countries and what has formed them • Demonstrate knowledge of economic developments in the Spanish-speaking countries • Demonstrate knowledge of key developments in the societies of the Spanish-speaking countries.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic grammar and sentence structure in the foreign language • Demonstrate knowledge of vocabulary of political, historical, socio-cultural and economic issues • Demonstrate ability to understand texts in the foreign language on the topics of the course • Demonstrate ability to extract relevant information from texts in the foreign language on the topics of the course.

The first semester of Area Studies in Spanish is built on two dimensions: Content and Language

The content dimension of Spanish 1 provides a basic historical, geographical, political and cultural introduction to Spain and Spanish America, covering their identities, political cultures, economies and institutions as well as their international relations.

The topics, concepts and perspectives raised during the course help develop the student's cultural sensitivity and understanding of viewpoints, narratives and institutions that are specific to the language area.

The language dimension aims at improving the students’ basic language skills (grammar and vocabulary), pronunciation and fluency; as well as their reading and oral comprehension of the foreign language. Emphasis is also put on learning and using phrases needed to make presentations and to participate actively in discussions.

Integration

The course lays the foundation of the second semester area studies course in Spanish 2 - that focuses on markets, institutions and the interplay between globalization and local/specific contexts in the Spanish speaking countries.

It integrates with the course on Cultural Analysis for Business and it seeks to apply the concepts from this course to actual problems and cases from the Spanish-speaking countries. 

Students are expected to apply the theories and methods from Cultural Analysis for Business to analyse and explain developments and behaviours in business-contexts in the Spanish-speaking countries. They are trained in being aware of culturally based differences in behaviour and to reflect on the reasons for these differences and the consequences for intercultural communication and collaboration.

To be announced on Canvas