Spanish I: The Spanish-Speaking World - History, Culture and Society

The course aims to develop students’ knowledge of the culture and the social conditions of the Spanish-speaking world as well as their ability to relate this knowledge to historical and sociocultural contexts.
On completion of the course, students shall, in Spanish, be able to:

• explain the social conditions of the Spanish-speaking world from an intercultural perspective
• describe certain key events in the history of the Spanish-speaking world
• explain and discuss current sociopolitical conditions and cultural phenomena in Spanish-speaking countries
• place cultural expressions from the Spanish-speaking world in a larger historical and cultural context
• reflect on ethnicity and gender in the Spanish-speaking world.

The course comprises a broad overview of Spanish and Spanish-American history and society. Non-fiction texts, newspaper articles, and various audiovisual material are treated from a historical, sociopolitical, and cultural perspective. The course also includes discussions on cultural and social differences between Spanish-speaking countries based on the concept of intercultural competence. Issues of ethnicity and gender form part of the course content.

Oral and written assignments, and active participation in forum discussions and seminars.

Lectures and obligatory seminars. The language of instruction is Spanish.

The Swedish grades U–VG.