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Spanish Minor
As a Spanish minor, you’ll develop and hone your Spanish communication skills. Speaking. Listening. Reading. Writing. Studying Hispanic literature. And most important—learning how God can work in all of it to help you share His love on a local and global scale.
This program will offer you opportunities to practice your conversational skills both on campus and abroad. And, as a Spanish minor, you’ll be required to spend time in a study abroad program such as Spain or Costa Rica. That kind of firsthand, direct experience will open your eyes and your mind to the opportunities you can pursue with a Spanish minor.
On top of it all, you’ll see the ways God has created diversity in language and culture and how you can glorify Him through your understanding of Spanish language.
Program Overview
When you minor in Spanish at Dordt, you’ll dive into studying both the language and culture of Spanish-speaking people. You’ll cultivate your Spanish communication skills as you study grammar and composition, expanding your linguistic skills. And you’ll connect with Spanish culture on a deeper level, understanding the nuances and unique aspects of the language and the people.
Our faculty members have advanced training and many years of experience living in cultures outside of North America. A focus on interactive, communicative language development prepares you to use Spanish every day, not simply study it. And our strong Christian background ensures you’ll grow in your faith and in your foreign language skills.
What You'll Learn
Classes in the Spanish minor will prepare you for a career that puts your knowledge of a foreign language to good use. You’ll take classes such as Intermediate Spanish, Literary and Cultural Readings, and Hispanic Culture and Civilizations. You’ll have unique and dynamic internships to pursue. You’ll have numerous off-campus and on-campus ways to practice your language. And when you graduate, you’ll be ready to make an impact in the workforce right away.
What You Can Do With A Spanish Minor
When it comes to a Spanish minor, you can pursue a career directly in the foreign language workforce after graduating. Or you can combine your foreign language major with another major to strengthen a career in whatever field you pursue. Some career options for Spanish minor graduates include:
Spanish Interpreter
Spanish Interpreters translate information from Spanish to another language or vice versa.
Spanish Translator
A Spanish Translator helps to interpret written language into Spanish or vice versa.
Spanish Teacher
A Spanish Teacher teaches students about aspects of the Spanish language, history, and culture.
Career Preparation
Dordt University's 2023 Career Outcome Rate was 99.4%! “This data point tells us that Dordt graduates are prepared for the careers of their choosing,” said Amy Westra, director of Career Development. “A Dordt education provides students with industry-relevant courses and connections that make a difference.”
To earn a Spanish minor, students will complete a variety of Spanish language, linguistics, and culture courses. Students will also be required to earn three credits in study-abroad courses.
- Intermediate Spanish I: An intermediate course that continues the study of the language in a communicative context with considerable emphasis upon precision and expansion of linguistic skills. Some attention given to the nature of language. Emphasis on the development of cultural understanding and sensitivity, with a study of the people’s values and beliefs as expressed in their economic, political, and religious systems. Comparison of this culture with our culture in the light of the cultural mandate.
- Intermediate Spanish II: This is a second intermediate Spanish course that provides students with continued opportunities to strengthen their language skills, to develop their cultural competency, and to reinforce their knowledge and use of grammatical structures. Its focus is on communicating in meaningful contexts to further develop and consolidate students’ speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. This course will be conducted in Spanish.
- Literary and Cultural Readings: Designed to strengthen speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in Spanish through a variety of readings, to develop the ability to value diverse communities and an appreciation for Hispanic cultures and literature. This course will be conducted in Spanish.
- Introduction to Linguistics: An introduction to the basic principles of linguistics, including phonetics (the sounds of language), morphology (the words of language), syntax (the sentence patterns of language), and sociolinguistics (how language functions in society). Data from different dialects of English and a variety of other languages will be used. Special attention will be given to a biblical view on language.
- Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition I: This course includes an in-depth study and practice of Spanish grammar and a rigorous component in writing. Emphasis is given to more complex grammatical structures that tend to present difficulties for learners of Spanish as a foreign or second language. The course will be conducted in Spanish.
- Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition II: Continues an in-depth study and practice of Spanish grammar and a rigorous component in writing. The course will be conducted in Spanish.
- Applied Linguistics and Spanish Phonology: An in-depth study of specific areas of linguistics, such as neurolinguistics (brain and language), psycholinguistics (language acquisition), computational linguistics (computer processing and language), and language change (how language has changed and still changes). One third of the course is geared at the special interests of the students. Spanish students will study the phonology (the study of sound patterns) of Spanish and learn how to teach Spanish pronunciation.
- Spanish Phonology: Students will study the phonology (the study of sound patterns) of Spanish and learn how to teach Spanish pronunciation. This one-credit lab is meant for students who are also registered for Linguistics 301 because they want to graduate with both a ESL and a Spanish education endorsement.
- Hispanic Cultures and Civilizations: Designed to give insight into Hispanic cultures and civilizations, and a more global understanding of the issues and challenges that the Spanish-speaking world has faced and is facing. Listening and speaking abilities will be enhanced through classroom activities. The course will be conducted in Spanish.
- Puerto Rico: Language, Culture, and Society: Explore the historical roots and influences shaping Puerto Rico while improving your Spanish skills or learning some Spanish for the first time. Emphasis is placed on understanding the challenges and potential of Puerto Rico today. Students will engage in contact with locals through service projects, travel to different historical sights, and explore Puerto Rico’s abundant natural beauty. Daily excursions will supplement onsite instruction and exploration.
- Conversation: Designed to give the student practice in listening and speaking. The content of the courses will be altered each year. The class will meet two times each week.
Ready to take the next step?
Faculty
With experience in a variety of fields, our faculty members are equipped and ready to help you succeed.
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