Courses in Hispanic studies are suitable for students wishing to specialise in the discipline, and for those requiring a broad education in the humanities. Language study is a compulsory part of all courses and is designed to enable students to develop a high level of communicative competence (including specialised registers and translation skills). Optional subjects, covering Spain and Latin America, are introduced from the second year, and aim to develop a critical awareness of fundamental areas of Hispanic studies: literature, film, cultural theory, civilisation and linguistics. All courses develop writing and research skills appropriate to advanced independent study.
The definition of the teaching and learning objectives of the Spanish section recognises the plurality of these objectives, given varying student profiles. The section provides for students with different learning experience in Spanish, ranging from secondary school experience, study or travel in Spain or Latin America to no learning experience at all. Thus there are two first-year entry levels: beginners and intermediate. The definition of the objectives also recognises varying course configurations: the section offers first-year sequences, the minor, the major and honours.
Objectives vary according to the duration of study in the discipline, but any course (eg beginner or first-year only) is both discrete, with its own set of objectives, and a component of a longer course (ie a minor, a major and honours) with correspondingly more extensive objectives. None of the section's discrete offerings has as its only justification the fact that it belongs to a longer course.
The above has important implications for language-teaching methodology and the definition and coordination of the units of increasing complexity offered by the section.
In general, language teaching objectives include:
Integral to language acquisition, making it significant in terms of the general aims of the university, is the acquisition of `cultural competence'. This is understood as:
SPN1010 (Introductory Spanish IA) and SPN1020 (Introductory Spanish IB) are beginners subjects for those with little or no knowledge of the language. SPN1070 (Spanish language IA) and SPN1080 (Spanish language IB) are for students with at least a pass in Spanish at HSC/VCE or equivalent knowledge of the language.
A minor sequence in Spanish may be completed in one of two ways: (a) by taking at first-year level SPN1010 and SPN1020 (Introductory Spanish IA and IB) and at second-year level, SPN2010 and SPN2020 (Intermediate Spanish IA and IB) together with one of SPN2130 (Spanish culture and civilisation), SPN2150 (Latin American culture and civilisation), SPN2190 (Individual option), SPN2290 (Spanish linguistics in trading and communication), or (b) by taking at first-year level SPN1070 and SPN1080 (Spanish language IA and IB) and at second-year level SPN2070 and SPN2080 (Spanish language IIA and IIB) together with one of SPN2130, SPN2150, SPN2190 or SPN2290.
A major sequence in Spanish is completed by taking a minor sequence followed, as appropriate, either by SPN3010 and SPN3020 (Advanced Spanish IA and IB) or by SPN3070 and SPN3080 (Spanish language IIIA and IIIB) together with sixteen points of third-year work.
Students are strongly encouraged to take additional subjects in Spanish at either second or third-year level. Some subjects may not be offered if there are insufficient enrolments.
Coordinator: J Paredes
Students are admitted to honours at fourth-year level if they achieve credit grades to the value of twenty-four points at second and third-year levels, of which sixteen points must be at third-year level.
Combined honours may be taken in Spanish and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments/centres.
Students who wish to apply for mid-year entry should consult with the head of section.
All intending honours students are strongly advised to take more than the minimum number of subjects required for admission to honours. It is in their own interest to do so, since this will increase their linguistic proficiency and broaden their knowledge of Hispanic culture.
The due date for the submission of final coursework and the dissertation is the last day of the final semester of the honours program (Friday 5 June in first semester 1998 and Friday 30 October in second semester 1998). Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.
For postgraduate courses offered by the section please refer to the Arts graduate handbook 1998.
First-year students wishing to take, in second semester, an additional subject providing broader background to their Spanish studies are directed to EUR1020 (Contemporary Europe II). This subject does not normally form part of a first-year sequence in Spanish.
Students are strongly encouraged to choose additional subjects which relate their studies in Spanish to the wider context of European culture and society. They should read carefully the entries under European studies, comparative literature, cultural studies and critical theory.
SPN1010 and SPN1020 or SPN1070 and SPN1080 or equivalent experience in Spanish.
All intending honours students are strongly advised to take more than the minimum number of subjects required for admission to honours. All students are encouraged to choose additional subjects which relate their studies in Spanish to the wider context of European culture and society. They should read carefully the entries for European studies, comparative literature, cultural studies and critical theory.
SPN2010 and SPN2020 or SPN2070 and SPN2080 and at least one other second-year level subject in Spanish.
The fourth-year honours course consists of either