Studying Spanish at Hull University
! News !
Department celebrates 25 year partnership with Oviedo,
Spain
The Department celebrated a 25-year partnership with the
University of Oviedo last week with a visit from visiting lecturer
Agustin Coletes Blanco. For the full story, click
here.
Spanish is one of the most dynamic languages in the world. It is
the first language of over 300 million speakers in more than 20
countries, and one of the working languages in most international
organisations. There is a long and important heritage linked to the
language, and the vibrant contemporary popular culture of the
Hispanic world is an increasingly significant part of Western
culture.
Single Honours Hispanic Studies
You will study one core language module worth 20 credits per
semester and one year long culture module also worth 20 credits. In
the first year there are separate language modules for those with
and those without A level or equivalent. Thereafter, all
students follow the same core language course. Language learning
includes Spanish for business in second year, and general
translation in final year.
Culture modules are taught through a combination of lectures and
seminars. The first
year culture module focuses, in semester 1, on
social change in modern Spain from the Civil War (1936-1939),
through the years of Franco’s dictatorship until the contemporary,
democratic period. Lectures will focus on the intersections of
society and culture, art and ideology. Semester 2 focuses on Latin
America. The semester is purposely interdisciplinary in addressing
questions which are often rooted in the colonial past of the
continent. The module examines social and discursive changes in its
tumultuous history and aims to provide students with a critical
understanding of issues such as ‘human rights’, ‘truth and
reconciliation’, ‘cultural identity’, ‘neo-colonial order’,
‘structure of dependency’ and ‘globalization’.
Additionally, you will be studying Patterns
of Language and a module dealing with Managing
Language Learning at University. You may also be able to choose
an interdisciplinary module such as another year-long culture
module.
The second
year culture module examines some key literary texts
from twentieth-century Spain and Latin America. Each text will be
situated in its socio-cultural context and your attention will be
drawn to the key themes and issues, such as religion, gendered
identity, authority and subversion, suggested by, or pertinent to,
each work, whilst always considering the concept of a distinct
Hispanic identity (or identities) and the possibility of seeing
‘through Hispanic eyes’.
There are two final year culture
modules to choose from. One of the culture modules,
Image and
Identity, focuses on and critically assesses some of the
work of a selection of seminal artists and film-makers. The works
will be set in their socio-cultural contexts This module aims to
develop students’ ability to critically analyse works of art and
film using some specialised terminology and knowledge of differing
media. The module will also develop students’ writing and
presentation skills.
The other cultural module, Society and
Culture in the Hispanic World, explores the work of some
of the key writers of 20th century Spanish American
literature; its focus being key aspects concerning their narrative
fiction such as the fantastic and magic realism.
Finally you will choose a free
elective module from a catalogue of wide-ranging modules from a
new language to sport to cinema or almost anything which interests
you!
Joint Honours Spanish and...
Joint Spanish Students take half their studies in Spanish
and half in their other subject. In order to gain 120 credits per
year you will be combining 60 credits in Spanish + 60 credits in
your other subject. Similarly to single honours students you
will follow a core language module in Spanish per semester and a
year long culture module or a free elective.
Spanish with ...
If you enrol in an Spanish with business/ marketing/ management
or translation studies degree you take 60 credits of Italian
, 40 credits of your ‘with ‘ subject and 20 credits of a free
elective per year.
This pattern is repeated in years 1, 2, and 4 , while the
third year is spent abroad.
As a single honours student or a student on a ‘with’
combination, you will be expected to spend the academic year in
Spain or a Spanish speaking country. Joint honours students with
another language need to spend time in both countries, either one
semester in each, or the year in one and the summers preceding and
following the year abroad in the other country.