School:
College of Liberal Arts
Department:
Language and Literature
Student Type:
Undergraduate
Program:
Spanish
Faculty:
Rafael Iglesias, Ph.D.
Joaquin Montero, Ph.D.
Beth Vinkler, Ph.D.
Objectives:
The faculty of the Spanish program firmly believes that, for the person who possesses the knowledge of another language and a sensitivity toward other cultures, the world will have fewer boundaries. The development of this knowledge and sensitivity toward other cultures, the world will have fewer boundaries. The development of this knowledge and sensitivity will stimulate students’ self growth and broaden their perspective, thus enabling them to become responsible citizens and leaders in the world community.
We currently offer a major and a strong minor in Spanish. In addition, students can combine the Spanish major with other majors such as international business and economics, education, pre-law, pre-med, and social work.
The faculty subscribes to the proficiency guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and uses them as a basis for instruction.
Courses in Spanish are designed to enable students to achieve the following goals:
1. Initiate and progressively develop communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and culture;
2. Help students recognize the close relationship between language and culture, enabling them to become culturally sensitive to non-English speaking peoples and societies; and
3. Broaden career opportunities and marketability in an increasingly interdependent world.
The program for majors in Spanish is designed to:
1. Enable students to develop at least intermediate-high level proficiency in all four skills, as stated in the guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). At this level students will be able to:
a. Create with the language;
b. Handle successfully most uncomplicated communicative tasks and social situations;
c. Initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation with a number of strategies appropriate to a range of circumstances and topics, although errors will still be evident;
d. Ask and answer questions;
e. Demonstrate emerging evidence of connected discourse, particularly for simple narration and/or description; and
f. Be generally understood even by interlocutors not accustomed to dealing with intermediate-high level speakers;
2. Immerse students in Hispanic culture through study abroad; and
3. Familiarize students with Spanish and Latin American culture, literature, art, and current political issues and their international ramifications.
The program for minors in Spanish is designed to:
1. Enable students to develop at least Intermediate-Mid level proficiency in all four skills, as stated in the ACTFL guidelines. At this level students will be able to:
a. Create with the language;
b. Handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated, basic and communicative tasks and social situations;
c. Talk simply about self and family members;
d. Ask and answer questions and participate in simple conversations on topics beyond the most immediate needs, such as personal history and leisure time activities; and
e. Be generally understood by sympathetic interlocutors, although misunderstandings may still arise; and
2. Expose students to the culture, values and lifestyle of a society other than their own.
Requirements - Major:
A Spanish major must complete at least 36 hours from among Spanish courses numbered 201 or above, all with a grade of "C" or better. The 36 hours must include 201(3), 202(3), 211(3), 212(3), C220(3), C221(3), 230(3), 231(3), 305(3), either C307(3) or C310(3), 311(3) and 312(3). Students are also required to participate in a study abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country. Majors must demonstrate Intermediate-High level proficiency, according to the ACTFL guidelines. Spanish proficiency will be measured in an oral interview with a member of the faculty. It is recommended that this interview be arranged as early as the junior year, but it must take place before the second semester of the senior year. The interview may be repeated until the required level of proficiency is demonstrated.
Requirements - Minor:
A minor in Spanish consists of at least 21 hours of Spanish courses at or above the 200-level completed with a "C" or better. Students must complete 201(3), 202(3), 211(3) and 212(3), plus nine more hours, at least three of which are at the 300-level. Minors must demonstrate intermediate-mid level oral proficiency, according to the ACTFL guidelines. Oral proficiency will be measured in an oral proficiency interview with a member of the foreign languages faculty. It is recommended that this interview be arranged as early as the junior year, but must take place before the second semester of the senior year. The interview may be repeated until the required level of proficiency is demonstrated.
Requirements - Teaching Certification:
Students desiring to be certified to teach Spanish at the secondary level (grades 6-12) are to declare themselves as Spanish majors and education minors. Advisement is a joint responsibility of the Spanish and education programs. Students must complete requirements for the major, requirements for the Secondary Education program and for the Teacher Education Program (see Education).
Other Information:
Language Placement:
Students who have studied Spanish in high school will take a placement exam.
Language placement exams will also be administered for students who have acquired a level of proficiency in Spanish in a non-classroom setting (e.g. native speakers, home use of Spanish or study abroad), and for those students who have a lapse of a year or more in their language studies.
Upon earning a grade of "C" or better in a language course at Benedictine University at or above the 102-level, students may apply for a maximum of six hours of proficiency credit in that language. The specific course(s) for which students receive credit will be determined by the Benedictine University course(s) taken.
All candidates for the B.A. degree majoring in English language and literature, history, philosophy, music, writing and publishing and international business are required to demonstrate competency in a second language by successful completion of at least one language course at or above the 202-level. These students will be placed in language courses and awarded proficiency credit in languages in accordance with the procedures outlined above.
Study Abroad and Internships:
All majors and minors in languages are strongly encouraged to spend at least a summer, and preferably a semester, abroad in a country whose language the student has been studying. Students in teacher education may study abroad. This experience is vital in that it gives the student the opportunity to observe, firsthand, the culture he or she has been investigating at Benedictine. It also provides real-life intensive language exposure and practice that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom.
Benedictine students have access to a variety of internship and university study programs through Benedictine University and other accredited institutions. The languages faculty, in cooperation with the International Center director, will assist each student in selecting the program best suited to his or her needs and interests.
Language Honor Societies:
Benedictine University has chapters of two international language honor societies on campus. They are the Delta Nu chapter of Phi Sigma Iota, an honor society for students of all languages, and the Nu Kappa chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish honor society. Initiation is held for these honor societies each spring. Students who have at least 18 semester hours of college credit in any one language, and who are in the top 35 percent of their class should contact the Chair of the Department of Languages and Literature for more information about these honor societies.
Departmental Distinction:
Students majoring in English Language and Literature or Spanish in the Department of Languages and Literature who meet the following criteria may apply for Departmental Distinction: 1) GPA in the major of 3.5 or higher, 2) Overall GPA of 3.25 or higher, 3) Successful completion of a senior thesis, 4) Oral presentation of a paper at either a regional undergraduate conference or a colloquium sponsored by the department, 5) Active participation in department activities (e.g. Help organize and attend presentations by invited speakers, off-campus events, and Open Mic sessions, write for and/or work on Different Voices or Quantum Pulp, help organize and run initiation ceremonies for honor societies, etc.), and 6) At least 25 hours of community service related to the field (e.g. Tutoring in the ARC, community literacy volunteer, work at an area social service agency serving the Hispanic community, etc.).
Students interested in working towards Departmental Distinction should speak with their advisor and contact the Chair of the Department of Languages and Literature as early as possible in their academic career. Students must apply for Departmental Distinction during the semester BEFORE the semester in which they plan to graduate (October or February).
Major Sheet:
http://www.ben.edu/major_sheets/span.pdf (will open in a new window)
The information contained on this page is from the 2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog and is valid until August 1, 2007.
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