World Languages and Literatures

World Languages and Literatures

Galina Bakhtiarova, Chair
bakhtiarg@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 215D, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8734
(203) 837-8032 (fax)

Beth Koschel, Department Secretary
koschele@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 120B, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9166
(203) 837-8032 (fax)

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Overview

The Department of World Languages and Literature creates a strong foundation for learning a variety of languages, both in our courses and through study abroad opportunities.

Major programs in the bachelor of arts degree in Spanish, and education programs in elementary or secondary education with a concentration in Spanish, offer students a curriculum that is balanced between the study of language, cultures, and literary traditions from Spain and Latin America, as well as a greater awareness of the vital connections between global and local Hispanic communities.

In advanced courses for majors and minors, our curriculum retains the strengths of traditional linguistic analysis, and adds a cutting-edge cultural studies focus to the study of literature and civilizations. Students at all levels develop language proficiency, in addition to critical thinking and problem solving skills, oral communication, and writing abilities, which are all key competencies for a variety of professional careers.

Mission

The Department of World Languages & Literature opens doors to the 21st century global economy with the continued growing demand for language skills for business, government, community groups, and international organizations.

In our language programs, students are encouraged to be critical thinking citizens and leaders of our increasingly interdependent world community. Our students learn to view the world from diverse perspectives, and to cross borders through effective communication based on an appreciation of cultural diversity.

Through the study of language, culture, translation, and great works, students gain access to professional opportunities: travel, promotions, and an edge in our increasingly competitive employment market. Language and culture proficiency gives students the power to think quickly from diverse viewpoints to make proposals, solve problems, and interact with diverse local and international populations, students, or clients. Even when bilingualism is not the deciding factor for initial employment, evidence confirms that language skills can enhance mobility and aid in admission to graduate study and job promotion.

Degree Programs in World Languages

Bachelor of Arts
Spanish

Bachelor of Science
Secondary Education: Spanish

Minor Programs
Spanish
Spanish Translation

Foreign Language Requirements

All students enrolled in B.A. programs and secondary education majors must fulfill the foreign language requirement in one of the following ways:

1. By completing through the third year of one foreign language in high school with an overall “C” average.

2. By studying a total of three years of two foreign languages in high school with an overall “B” average.

3. By successfully completing a foreign language proficiency examination, or by providing the necessary documentation outlined in the language waiver policy in this catalog.

4. By successfully completing a language immersion experience of one semester abroad. Consult the Department of World Languages and Literature or Western’s International Center.

5. By successfully completing the specified language courses at WCSU. Students may fulfill the foreign language requirement by successfully completing an Introductory II second-semester course in languages offered in the Department of World Languages and Literature, or any one semester of a language course at the intermediate level or above that is taught in the target language, not in English.

Bachelor of Arts in Spanish (B.A.)

Requirements:

Students must complete all general education requirements, the courses and credits listed below and additional free electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours, including exercise science.

Choose one from below:
SPA 203: Conversation and Composition: Film
SPA 204: Conversation and Composition: Essay

Choose one fom below:
SPA 207: Introduction to Analysis: Fiction
SPA 208: Introduction to Analysis: Poetry

Choose three from below:
SPA 221: Cultures of Spain
SPA 222: Cultures of Spanish America
SPA 224: Trans-Atlantic Hispanic Cultures
SPA 225: Hispanic Cultures: Connecticut

Choose six 300-level literature courses from below:
SPA 320: The Poetry of Spain and Latin America
SPA 330: Representative Authors: Spain
SPA 331: Representative Authors: Spanish America
SPA 336: Theater in Spain and Latin America
SPA 337: Modern Spanish Novel
SPA 360: Readings on The Arts in Spain and Latin America
SPA 361: Gender & Sexuality in Spanish America
SPA 365: Revolution, Testimony, and Memory in Spanish America
SPA 367: Colonial Spanish America
SPA 370: US Latina/Latino Literature
SPA 371: Spanish-Caribbean Identities
SPA 375: The Picaresque in Spanish Literature

One linguistics course:
SPA 400 Linguistics

Choose an elective: Any Spanish course from the 200-, 300- or 400-level

Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education–Spanish (B.S.)

Requirements: See the Department of Education and Educational Psychology within the School of Professional Studies.

 Learning Outcomes

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN WORLD LANGUAGES & LITERATURE
The Department of World Languages & Literatures at Western Connecticut State University adheres to national standards for foreign language learning determined by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) for language proficiency and cultural competency through the 5 C’s: Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections, and Communities.

The ACTFL proficiency scale from 2012 established guidelines for language proficiency at the following levels:

• Novice (Low, Mid, High)
• Intermediate (Low, Mid, High)
• Advanced (Low, Mid, High)
• Superior
• Distinguished

INTRODUCTORY LEVEL – FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Students who complete the second semester of an introductory language sequence at WCSU achieve a minimum level of Novice Mid as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale in the following courses or their equivalents: French 164, German 164, Italian 164, Portuguese 164, and Spanish 164. Students who complete the second semester of an introductory language sequence achieve a minimum level of Novice Low as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale in oral and writing proficiency in the following courses or their equivalents: Arabic 102 and Chinese 164. Assessment at this level is conducted by faculty teaching the course in a final exam or project at the end of the semester.

MINOR IN SPANISH

Students who complete a minor in Spanish achieve a minimum level of Intermediate Mid as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale in a total of 18 credits at the Intermediate Level (Spanish 196) or above. Spanish majors and minors are assessed annually for oral and writing proficiency as part of an internal program assessment through a final exam or project during at least one 200-level and one 300-level Spanish course on cultural and/or literary topics.

MAJOR IN SPANISH
(B.A. SPANISH, B.S. SPANISH-SECONDARY ED.)

Students who complete a major in Spanish (B.A. Spanish, B.S. in Spanish-Secondary Ed.) achieve a minimum level of Advanced Low as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale. Spanish majors and minors are assessed annually for oral and writing proficiency as part of an internal program assessment through a final exam or project during at least one 200-level and one 300-level Spanish course on cultural and/or literary topics.

B.S. SPANISH – SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATION

Students admitted to the professional semester for the B.S. in Spanish-Secondary Education achieve a minimum level of Advanced Low as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale. In addition to assessment of cultural competency of students in final exams and projects in culture and literature courses, candidates for teacher certification demonstrate oral proficiency and writing proficiency through the following external assessments:

• OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) Language Testing International
• WPT (Writing Proficiency Interview) Language Testing International

Minor in Spanish 18 SH

Eighteen semester hours of Spanish courses above Spanish 164. Courses in Spanish for Professions (i.e. SPA 170) shall not be accepted for credit for this minor.

Minor in Spanish Translation 18 SH

The Spanish Translation minor (18 SH) is open to all students with at least a minimum of intermediate Spanish proficiency through completion of SPA 197: Intermediate Spanish Language & Culture.

Required courses (12 SH)
SPA 212 Spanish for Business & Law
SPA 213 Spanish for Health and the Community
SPA 214 Introduction to Spanish Translation
SPA 311 Spanish Translation Theory & Practice
And choose 2 courses (6 SH) from the following:
SPA 330 Representative Authors: Spain
SPA 331 Representative Authors: Spanish America
SPA 337 Modern Spanish Novel
SPA 360 Readings on the Arts in Spain & Latin America
SPA 361 Gender & Sexuality in Spanish America
SPA 365 Revolution, testimony and Memory in Spanish America
SPA 370 US Latina/Latino Literature
SPA 371 Caribbean Identities