Spanish and Latin American studies

The Spanish and Latin American studies program is designed for students wishing to specialise in the Spanish language and Spanish and Latin American cultures, societies, literature, film and linguistics, and also for those requiring a broad education in the humanities. Language study is a compulsory part of Spanish and Latin American studies and is designed to enable you to develop a high level of communicative competence, including specialised registers and translation skills.

The study of Spanish and Latin American history and culture is conducted from first-year. Optional units, covering Spain, Catalonia and Latin America, are introduced from the second-year, and aim to develop a critical awareness of fundamental areas of Spanish and Latin American studies including linguistics, literature, cultural theory and film. All programs develop writing and research skills appropriate to advanced independent study.

Spanish language study caters for students from introductory to advanced levels. To ensure that students are placed in the most appropriate level according to their individual profile and the best outcome they can expect to achieve, all students, except beginners, are required to undertake placement testing prior to the start of their first semester of language study.

Right of school to determine entry level and approve accelerated enrolment

The Spanish and Latin American studies program convenor retains the right to determine the proper proficiency level for any particular student. Students are not permitted to accelerate their enrolment without first consulting the program convenor.

Students with advanced language proficiency

Students wishing to undertake a Spanish and Latin American studies major who have completed VCE first language or second language advanced, or who have attended school where Spanish was the language of instruction, should consult the Spanish and Latin American studies program for advice.

Overseas study

Students can replace language units with equivalent language study overseas. For a list of units, please refer to the Spanish and Latin American studies Study Abroad webpage.

The Spanish and Latin American studies program has exchange agreements with three universities in Chile, Mexico and Spain (Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, and Tec de Monterrey, Mexico). Students should contact the program study overseas coordinators as early as possible for further details on the units they may take overseas. Students must obtain written approval from the Spanish and Latin American studies program before enrolling. Grants for study overseas are available through Monash Abroad, to which applications should be addressed.

Availability

Spanish and Latin American studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts and 0202 Bachelor of Letters at Clayton as a minor, major or extended major, A2001 Bachelor of Global Studies at Clayton as a major and A0501 Diploma of Languages at Clayton as a major.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will:

• Be able to communicate orally and through written texts about complex topics, using grammatical structures commensurate with the appropriate Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level for their stream (B2 for introductory stream; B2+ for intermediate stream; C1 for Advanced stream)
• have a detailed and developed understanding of a range of aspects of Spanish and Latin American culture, history and society, being able to critically assess related concepts and theoretical frameworks
• show awareness of sociolinguistic and sociocultural aspects of communication and an ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross-culturally and in cross-language contexts.