SPN 202 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers I

1 course unit

Students who grow up hearing Spanish spoken at home come to the college language class with a set of skills and challenges that are different from those of students learning Spanish as a second language. Spanish for Heritage Speakers offers these students a focused setting in which they can capitalize on their already developed abilities in speaking and, especially, listening, while developing a richer and more precise vocabulary and strategies to navigate variations in register and regional and contextual usages. SPN 202 presupposes no prior formal study of Spanish and will focus especially on developing strong reading and writing skills, supported by a solid understanding of formal grammar. The cultures of Hispanic America and of Latinos in the United States will form the backbone of this course, with an eye at encouraging students to integrate their family traditions and lived experiences into their broader studies, activities, and goals. Class is conducted in Spanish.