Spanish and Latin American Studies

Spanish Beginner Intensive  

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a elementary level, orally and in writing, with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2+).

Spanish Advanced 

This unit aims to consolidate an initial preparation for a prolonged professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and introduces the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to engage in authentic and spontaneous interaction with native speakers (CEF level B2).

An Introduction to the Social and Political History of Iberia & Latin America 

This module examines the historical trajectory of Spain, its emergence as a state in the Iberian Peninsula, its imperial expansion overseas into Latin America, the eventual independence of the colonies and their development and consolidation into the various modern-day states we know today. The module will explore the social, political and cultural characteristics of these states and its peoples and highlight the importance of understanding their complex history in the formation of their identities and their cultural and political values.

Understanding Spanish and Latin American Culture 

Why has the gypsy culture of Andalucía been so crucial to ideas about Spanish identity and how and why has this changed? How did gender politics and the role of women change after the Franco dictatorship in Spain? How and why was modernity experienced as a crisis in Latin America? How does class struggle shape Latin America? What does Revolution really mean in the context of Latin America? These are just some of the questions that will be explored in this module. This course examines the literature and culture of modern Spain and modern Spanish-speaking Latin America. In each semester, three cultural products from one of these two areas are studied, and may include poetry, theatre, narrative fiction, film, painting or music. We will build up a picture of the cultural history of Spain and Latin America, as well as looking at key themes to emerge from selected literary, dramatic and/or cinematic or artistic outputs. By focussing on different genres in each semester, students will be able to explore different types of cultural product and to develop analytical skills gradually by moving from shorter pieces to a larger body of writing. Students taking post-A Level or equivalent will study primary texts in their original Spanish version. Beginners will study primary texts in English translation. This module is strongly recommended as a foundational core course for further study in Spanish and Latin American Studies.

Spanish Higher Advanced 1

Assuming a one-year post-A-level study of the language or equivalent, this module aims to provide a full linguistic and cultural preparation for learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to expand the range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level B2+/C1-).

Spanish Higher Advanced 2 

Assuming successful completion of the Higher Advanced 1 unit or equivalent, this module aims to consolidate the full linguistic and cultural preparation of learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to consolidate the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level C1).

Spanish Intermediate Intensive 

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

Dictatorship, Revolution and Resistance  

Students will examine the continuities and transformations in the political development of Latin America by looking at a series of case studies. They will analyse and account for the rise of diverse forms of political organisation and explore their social and cultural ramifications. In so doing, they will gain an enhanced understanding of the complexities of Latin American politics and resistance and revolutionary movements.

Island Spaces

This module is an exploration of Island Spaces and their representation in various contexts. It will consider the ways in which spaces dialogue with reality or, in some cases, transform themselves in the imaginary. The case studies led by each of the tutors will consider space in the analysis of, for example, islands and/ or cities, and analyse texts (in the broadest sense, including fiction, images and films) from the Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese-speaking worlds. Topics considered may include contested space (tourism, migration, insiders and outsiders), space/place (literary constructions of place) and ideal/utopian spaces. The spaces studied may include islands such as the Balearics, the Canary Islands, and the Azores or Cape Verde, which may be compared to spaces in cities such as Madrid and Lisbon.

Reality and Fantasy in Spain and Latin America

This module is a journey through reality and fantasy in Spain and Latin America. The Spanish component begins in realist Madrid, travels through New York, which is filtered through a Surrealist perspective, before ending with ghosts and fantastic creatures at a remote orphanage and an abandoned mill in Del Toro's films of post-Civil War Spain. The Latin American component focuses on the Southern Cone and its links to the wider world, dealing with human psychology and the perception of reality, fantasy and the unconscious and primitive instinct, dream and social rebellion.

Spanish Proficient 1

Assuming a solid, two year post-A-level study of the language and, ideally, a prolonged stay in a country where the language is spoken, this unit aims to provide the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to develop strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture (CEF level C1+/C2-).

Spanish Proficient 2

Assuming successful completion of the Proficient 1 unit or equivalent, this unit aims to perfect the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to consolidate the strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture (CEF level C2).

Spanish Intermediate Intensive 

This unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1+).

Questioning Spain

Students will examine specific moments or periods in Spanish cultural history from the late nineteenth century to the present day in which a questioning of the status quo is foregrounded. They will examine a range of key texts, primary and secondary sources, and explore the issues raised. In so doing, they will acquire sophisticated techniques in interpreting the discourse of cultural expression on such subjects as the nature of social and gender roles, and Spanish (and other) identities. Students will examine specific moments or periods in Spanish cultural history in which a questioning of the status quo is foregrounded. The ambiguity of the title implies analysis of those who question the prevailing situation and the nature of that interrogation. Students will conduct an analysis and focus on the examination of key texts which exhibit a questioning of social attitudes as expressed in historical writings and cultural products. Students will acquire sophisticated techniques in interpreting the discourse of cultural expression on such subjects as the nature of social and gender roles, and Spanish (and other) identities using appropriate primary and secondary sources. They will develop the ability to present oral and written accounts of relevant issues, setting out arguments coherently, demonstrating powers of intellectual analysis, using the English language with clarity and citing source materials appropriately.

Popular Music in the Hispanic World

The course comprises weekly 1.5 hour lectures and practical sessions in which students record digital media outputs. This module looks at significant musical movements in the Hispanic world from the late 1800s to the present. Lectures will focus on the relationship between socio-cultural phenomena and their representations in musical movements. The course culminates in students recording a podcast on the topic of their choice OR the recording of a piece of music to be performed at an end or year concert.

Barcelona: Culture of the City

A novel, play and a number of films (as a minimum) are studied as different modes for 'representing- the city and as starting points for a discussion of contemporary cultural and theoretical approaches to the city. We analyse the particular protagonism of the city of Barcelona within the life experiences portrayed in the primary texts, and establish the particular differential character of Barcelona within modern Spain, as well as in the wider context of cities at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Issues such as urban regeneration and immigration in particular allow both a local focus, and discussion which is much more universally applicable.