Modern Languages
Faculty/Staff
Adventist Colleges Abroad Coordinator: Elizabeth Bowser
Adjunct: Ruth DePaiva, Roberto Valencia, Junyu Zhang
Aims of the Program
Southwestern Adventist University strongly encourages students to study a foreign language. Indeed, foreign language courses are a degree component of all B.A. programs at the University. Southwestern currently offers courses in Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, education in the United States should focus on languages that will give Americans an economic competitive edge. The top five languages recommended by the include Chinese and Portuguese.
The Spanish language has also gained importance and influence during the past two decades. More than 400 million people in twenty-five countries speak Spanish, and it has become the second most prevalent language in the United States.
A second language opens doors to both personal and professional development, and can give recent graduates an advantage when seeking employment in both national and international organizations and corporations.
Program
- Minor in Spanish
Minor in Spanish
A minor consists of 18 hours, exclusive of the elementary course or its equivalent, 12 hours of which must be upper division and includes 3 hours of literary analysis. Most often requires at least one year abroad.
Adventist Colleges Abroad
The Modern Language Department offers to both the student majoring in languages and the general University student body the privilege of studying abroad without losing credit or lengthening the course of study. Southwestern is a member of a consortium known as Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA), and through this consortium the student is able to study a language in the actual homeland of that particular language. The colleges that are affiliated with ACA are Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina (academic year only); Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen, Austria; Brazil Adventist University (UNASP), Brazil; Campus Adventiste du Saleve, France; Friedensau Adventist University, Germany (academic year only); Instituto Avventista Villa Aurora, Italy; Escuela Superior de Espanol (ESDES), Spain; Athens Study Center, Greece (Greek and Hebrew, summer program only); Saniku Gakuin College, Japan (Chinese, summer program); Universidad de Montemorelos, Mexico (summer program only); Asia-Pacific International University, Thailand (summer program); Ukrainian Institute of Arts & Sciences, Ukraine (summer program). The ACA Bulletin, which is available at the Records Office, contains a listing of courses offered on each campus.
Chinese Courses
CHIN 111 - Elementary Chinese I (4 hours)
Focuses on cultivating student daily conversation abilities in the following situations: greetings, family, dates and time, hobbies, and visiting friends. Course builds students solid Chinese pronunciation system and introduces Chinese written system in terms of the number and order of character stroking and radicals. (Fall)
CHIN 112 - Elementary Chinese (4 hours)
Prerequisite: Completion of CHIN 111 with a grade of C- or better, or approval of the instructor.
Continues to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills on the novice high level. (Spring)
Portuguese Courses
PORT 111 - Elementary Portuguese I (4 hours)
This course is designed to teach the Portuguese language in a fast, interesting and efficient way. Attention will be given to the structure of the Portuguese Language. This course does not assume prior knowledge of either Portuguese grammar or of grammatical terms. (Fall)
PORT 112 - Elementary Portuguese II (4 hours)
This course continues the elementary study of Portuguese begun inPORT 111. Admission to this course requires satisfactory completion of PORT111. (Spring)
PORT 211 - Intermediate Portuguese I (3 hours)
This course builds on PORT 111 and 112, Elementary Portuguese I and II. It provides an opportunity for students to improve their speaking abilities, gain greater fluency in the language, and acquaint them with terms and concepts that will help improve their comprehension of Portuguese. Satisfactory completion of PORT 111 and 112 is required for entry into this course. (Fall)
PORT 212 - Intermediate Portuguese II (3 hours)
This course completes the intermediate study of Portuguese. Satisfactory completion of PORT 211 is required for admission to this course. (Spring)
Spanish Courses
SPAN 111 - Elementary Spanish I (4 hours)
SPAN 112 - Elementary Spanish II (4 hours)
The sound and sentence patterns of Spanish are learned through drills, dialogues, readings and models, both live and recorded. Includes 1 lab hour. (Fall-SPAN 111, Spring-SPAN 112)
SPAN 211 - Intermediate Spanish I (3 hours)
SPAN 212 - Intermediate Spanish II (3 hours)
Prerequisite: SPAN 112 or demonstrated proficiency
A thorough review of Spanish grammar through oral and written composition as well as cultural and literary readings. Attention is given to the history, customs, and traditions of the Spanish-speaking people. 3 Lec 1 Lab. (SPAN 211 Fall, SPAN 212 Spring)
SPAN 291 - Selected Topics (1-3 hours)
Prerequisite: Approval by department chair.
Designed for the student who wishes to do independent study or research. Content and method of study must be arranged prior to registration. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.
SPAN 311 - Spanish Composition and Conversation (3 hours)
Prerequisite: SPAN 212 or demonstrated proficiency
The development of confidence in accepted oral and written expression, based on topics of current interest and cultural significance. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 315 - Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
Prerequisite: SPAN 311 or demonstrated proficiency
A presentation of some of the dominant themes, personalities, and creative achievements in Hispanic history, civilization and culture. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 317 - Spanish American Civilization (3 hours)
Prerequisite: SPAN 311 or demonstrated proficiency
A presentation of some of the dominant themes, personalities, and creative achievements in Latin-American history, civilization, and culture. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 411 - Masterpieces of Spanish-American Literature I (3 hours)
Prerequisite: Three years of college Spanish, including SPAN 311, or permission of the instructor
A presentation of the history of Spanish-American literature from the discovery of America to Romanticism. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 412 - Masterpieces of Spanish-American Literature II (3 hours)
Prerequisite: Three years of college Spanish, including SPAN 311, or permission of instructor
A presentation of the history of Spanish-American literature from Modernism to contemporary literature. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 413 - Masterpieces of Spanish Literature I (3 hours)
Prerequisite: Three years of college Spanish, including SPAN 311, or permission of the instructor
A survey of peninsular Spanish literature with selections from the Middle Ages to the Spanish Golden Age. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 414 - Masterpieces of Spanish Literature II (3 hours)
Prerequisite: Three years of college Spanish, including SPAN 311, or permission of the instructor
A survey of peninsular Spanish literature with selections from the Romanticism to contemporary literature. (Offered periodically)
SPAN 491 - Selected Topics (1-3 hours)
Prerequisite: Approval of department chair
Designed for the student who wishes to do independent study or research. Content and method of study must be arranged prior to registration. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits. (Offered periodically)