Foreign language courses

An introduction to American cultural traits and social and religious customs for international students beginning their studies in the United States. Special focus will be given to local Midwestern culture and rural issues.(2 credits)

Extensive training and practice in speaking English and comprehending spoken English. Emphasis upon the development of listening comprehension strategies, idiomatic vocabulary, and skills in rephrasing, interrogation, and verification. Each student will be pretested in pronunciation, listening comprehension, speaking and vocabulary. Tutorials and materials appropriate to the student's present proficiency will be utilized, as well as large group presentations and activities.Prerequisite: This class is open only to ESL students with a concurrent enrollment in ESL101, or permission of instructor.(4 credits)

The Bible is the foundation for the Jewish and Christian traditions, and has powerfully influenced every dimension of Western Civilization. By studying the Bible, students gain access to the heart of the Judaic-Christian traditions and build a foundation for better understanding Western philosophy, literature, art, music, law and history. In this course, ESL students read selections from the English Bible as well as short excerpts from pieces of Western Literature that have been inspired by the Bible. The aim is both to improve English reading, writing, and speaking skills and also better appreciate the cultural importance of the Jewish and Christian scriptures. Time permitting, students may rehearse and perform in English a short one-act drama based upon a classic Bible story.Prerequisites: ESL101, 201, and 203, or permission of instructor.(4 credits)

The study and practice of formal and informal modes of written communication accepted in American academic work. Intensive work will be done to develop fluency in writing and reading, expand vocabulary, diagnose and remediate grammatical deficiencies and train students to identify and correct their own mistakes.Prerequisite: this class is open only to ESL students with a concurrent enrollment in ESL201 or ESL251, or permission of instructor.(4 credits)

A study at the intermediate level of English language literature, emphasis will be placed on the development of reading skills and reading strategies through an introduction to literature in the English language. Students will learn how to effectively read a literary text in English, including the development of vocabulary and grammar recognition.Prerequisites: ESL101, 201, and concurrent enrollment in ESL203, or permission of instructor.(4 credits)

This course is designed to meet the needs of international students who intend to study business at an American institution or whose primary reason in learning English is for conducting business. The course focuses on learning business concepts and terminology as well as improving communication skills.Prerequisites: ESL251 or 201, and concurrent enrollment in ESL203, or permission of instructor.(2 credits)

This course is designed to meet the needs of international students who intend to pursue undergraduate and/or graduate studies in the United States. The course focuses on preparing students for the demands of academic lecture comprehension, note- taking, and also on improving writing skills in evaluating and organizing material as well as predicting upcoming information. In addition, students will practice reading strategies to improve textbook comprehension.Prerequisites: ESL101, 201, and 203, or permission of instructor.(4 credits)

Continued training and practice in speaking English and comprehending spoken English. Emphasis upon the development of listening comprehension strategies, development of idiomatic vocabulary, skills in paraphrasing, initiating conversation, interrogation, note taking and verification, and the writing of short essays on comparative-cultural topics. Training and practice in college reading strategies toward the dual goal of increased speed and comprehension. Individual work on pronunciation problems.Prerequisite: This class is open only to ESL students with the prerequisite of ESL201 or permission of instructor.(4 credits)

Combined study of language and culture. Students will compare and contrastdominant US culture with major themes of Hispanic culture and gain insightin how culture infuses both life and language alike. Novice study of thelanguage in a communicative context. Emphasis upon integration of developinglanguage skills with cultural understanding and sensitivity in oralcommunication settings. Prerequisite: No previous study of Spanish, orplacement by the foreign language placement exam. (4 credits)

Combined study of language and culture. Building on their previouslyacquired learning of Spanish, students will compare and contrast dominant USculture with major themes of Hispanic culture and gain insight in howculture infuses both life and language alike. Novice study of the languagein a communicative context. Emphasis upon integration of developing languageskills with cultural understanding and sensitivity in oral communicationsettings. Prerequisite: SPA111, or placement by the foreign languageplacement exam. (4 credits) (NWCore option under Language and Culture)

(3 credits)(NWCore option under Language and Culture) Combined study of intermediate language and culture. Study of primary sources in print, audio and visual forms to develop appreciation for the ways culture in general and the language's culture in particular shape a variety of social contexts. Building on previously acquired ability in Spanish, continued study of language in a communicative context with considerable emphasis upon precision and expansion of linguistic skills. Prerequisite: SPA102, or placement by the foreign language placement exam.

Combined study of intermediate language and culture. Study of primary sources in print, audio and visual forms to develop appreciation for the ways culture in general and the language's culture in particular shape a variety of social contexts. Building on previously acquired ability in Spanish, continued study of language in a communicative context with considerable emphasis upon precision and expansion of linguistic skills.Prerequisite: SPA201, or placement by the foreign language placement exam.(3 credits)

Study of the methods and approaches most commonly used in K-12 foreign language teaching. Discussion of recent research and methodology in child and adolescent foreign language acquisition. This course requires a 30-hour practicum and is required of each candidate seeking an endorsement in this content area. Prerequisite: SPA202 or equivalent proficiency. (4 credits) Notes: Does not count toward the Spanish major or minor. Students must earn a "C" or better in the special methods course in order to fulfill program requirements for secondary licensure.

The main goal of this course is to improve oral communication, which includes speaking as well as listening, comprehension. Since successful communication also involves cultural awareness of the Spanish speaker's feelings, thoughts and attitudes, part of this course involves studying sources of these important underlying constructs.Prerequisite: SPA202 or equivalent proficiency.(1 credit)

(3 credits)(Writing intensive) Advanced development of writing skills anda review of difficult grammar concepts. Students will be expected towrite in a variety of contexts. Emphasis will be on the writing process.The majority of the assignments will be completed in steps includingmultiple drafts. Additionally, students will be expected to reviewgrammar and complete some grammar exercises.Note: Taught in Spanish.Prerequisite: SPA 202 or equivalent proficiency.

Advanced development of reading skills and strategies and an introduction to Hispanic literature and literary topics. Students will learn how to effectively read a literary text in Spanish. Attention will be paid to strategies for understanding context through vocabulary and grammar recognition. Additionally students will be introduced to the literary genres and cultural contexts of the texts they study as well as pertinent critical commentary.Prerequisite: SPA202 or equivalent proficiency.(3 credits)

An in-depth study of Spanish phonetics. Topics include techniques and rules of Spanish articulation, analysis of the sounds of vowels and consonants in Spanish and their differences from English pronunciation, syllabication, rhythm, stress, pitch and intonation. Prerequisites: SPA202 and one 3-credit 300-level course. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

A wide-ranging study of the current situation of Hispanics in the United States. After an historical overview, a thematic approach will be taken to better understand the role of Hispanics in the United States and their growing influence. Possible topics include demographics, voting tendencies, purchasing power, Hispanic media, religion, labor laws, immigration, Spanglish and bilingualism, among others. Using interviews and research, the course will conclude with a study of our Hispanic neighbors here in northwest Iowa.Prerequisites: SPA202 and one 3-credit 300-level course.(3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

An introduction to the related fields of translation and interpreting.Students will be introduced to the different theories and techniques oftranslation and interpreting, the differences between the two fields andwithin each field, ethical and moral considerations for translators andinterpreters, the role of translating and the translator as well asinterpreting and the interpreter, and the modes of interpreting includingconsecutive, simultaneous and sight-translation. Students will apply thetheoretical principals by working primarily from their B language to their Alanguage for both translation and interpreting. Prerequisites: SPA202 and two 3-credit 300 level Spanish courses, or bypermission of instructor. (3 credits)

An in-depth study of interpreting at the introductory level between Spanishand English, with both theoretical background knowledge and applied practiceincluded. Specific topic areas covered involve legal, medical and religiousinterpreting. Prerequisites: SPA331. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

An intermediate level course taken after completion of Interpreting I,students will continue to strengthen their skills in sight-translation andshort and long consecutive interpreting while beginning in-depth study ofsimultaneous interpreting. Students will reinforce their interpretingtechniques by applying consecutive interpreting strategies to simultaneousinterpreting. Course material will broaden from legal, medical and religiousinterpreting to include other areas such as science and politics, and willinclude continued discussion of moral, ethical and Christian considerationsfor interpreters. Although primarily from Language B to A, students willalso begin to interpret from their A language into their B language more andmore. Prerequisites: SPA331 & 332. (3 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course taken after completion of Interpreting II, studentswill consolidate their skills in sight-translation and short and longconsecutive interpreting while primarily focusing on simultaneousinterpreting. Students will deepen and reinforce their simultaneousinterpreting abilities with the addition of new strategies, skills buildingexercises and practice techniques. Course material will include a broadrange of materials from the legal, medical, religious, scientific, politicaland other fields and will increasingly be from real-world situations.Continued discussion of moral, ethical and Christian considerations forinterpreters. Students will interpret both from their B language into theirA language as well as A to B. Prerequisites: SPA 331, 332 & 333. (3 credits; alternate years, consult department)

This course is an introduction to the theory, methods, techniques andproblems involved in basic translation. The first half of the semester willfocus mostly on translating from Spanish to English. The second half of thecourse will involve general material from specific areas of life: popularculture, music, social sciences, education, business, medicine, the legalprofession, etc., with translation exercises from both Spanish to Englishand English to Spanish. Prerequisites: SPA331. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

An intermediate level course taken after completion of Translation I,students will continue to strengthen their skills in translation by becomingmore adept at applying the theory, methods and techniques first introducedin earlier courses. Course material will come from a broad array of legal,medical, religious, scientific and political sources, as well as materialsstemming from community needs. Although primarily from Language B to A,students will also increasingly translate from their A language into their Blanguage more and more. Prerequisites: SPA 331 & 336. (3 credits; alternateyears, consult department)

An advanced level course taken after completion of Translation II, studentswill consolidate their skills in translation. Students will learn how toimprove earlier translations (either from their own translation or fromothers) as they target their translations for specific audiences. Coursematerial will come from a broad array of legal, medical, religious,scientific and political sources, as well as materials stemming fromcommunity needs. Course material will be longer in nature and morechallenging than that of Translation II. Students will translate both fromtheir Language B into their Language A as well as A to B. Prerequisites: SPA331, 336 & 337.(3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

Designed for advanced Spanish students, this practicum gives students the opportunity to practice their Spanish on a daily basis in a Spanish speaking environment. Emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication, both speaking and listening. Placement opportunities include, but are not limited to, living in the Northwestern College Spanish house or with a Spanish speaking Hispanic family.Prerequisite: SPA202. Enrollment through permission of modern foreign languages department.(2 credits)

Designed for advanced translation and interpreting students, this practicumgives students the opportunity to practice their professional skills in areal world environment. Note: Graded on a pass/no pass basis. Prerequisites: SPA334, 338 & permission of the MFL department. (2 credits, consult department)

A study of peninsular Spanish literature from El Cid to the present. Emphasis upon major literary movements and their representative masterpieces. Prerequisite: SPA314 or permission of instructor. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

A study of Spanish Latin-American literature from the colonial period to the present. Emphasis upon major literary movements and their representative masterpieces. Prerequisite: SPA314 or permission of instructor. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course introducing the students to the complex field oflegal interpreting. The first of four courses, students will become familiarwith the three interpreting modes - sight-translation, consecutiveinterpreting and simultaneous interpreting - and will then focus onsight-translation; in addition, students will also learn the methods,techniques and problems involved in written legal translation. Students willwork from English into Spanish and Spanish into English. All sourcematerials will be legal/court related in nature.Prerequisite: Acceptance into the T&I program as demonstrated by ahigh level of fluency in both English and Spanish.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course building on the skills developed in theintroductory course for the complex field of legal interpreting. The secondof four courses, students will focus on consecutive interpreting, involvingextensive note-taking and memory skills; in addition, students will alsolearn the intricacies of ethics for legal interpreters. Students will workfrom English into Spanish and Spanish into English. All source materialswill be legal/court related in nature.Prerequisite: SPA 361.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course building on the skills developed in the first twocourses for the complex field of legal interpreting. The third of fourcourses, students will focus on the highly complicated skill of simultaneousinterpreting, involving input and output at the same time; in addition,students will also learn about the different technologies and remoteinterpreting platforms that professional court interpreters use. Studentswill work from English into Spanish and Spanish into English. All sourcematerials will be legal/court related in nature.Prerequisite: SPA 362.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course building on the skills developed in the previouscourses for the complex field of legal interpreting. The fourth of fourcourses, students will consolidate their skills of sight-translation,consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting as they prepare forcertification exams; in addition, students will also learn about theintricacies and challenges of working as a professional, certified courtinterpreter. Students will work from English into Spanish and Spanish intoEnglish. All source materials will be legal/court related in nature.Prerequisite: SPA 363.(3 credits; alternate years, consult department)

A study of topics in Spanish language and culture not fully covered in otherSpanish courses in response to student or faculty interests.Note: May be taken more than once, provided a different topic is studied.(2-4 credits)

An advanced level course introducing the students to the complex field ofmedical interpreting. The first of four courses, students will becomefamiliar with the three interpreting modes - sight-translation, consecutiveinterpreting and simultaneous interpreting - and will then focus onsight-translation; in addition, students will also learn the methods,techniques and problems involved in written medical translation. Studentswill work from English into Spanish and Spanish into English. All sourcematerials will be medical in nature.Prerequisite: Acceptance into the T&I program as demonstrated by ahigh level of fluency in both English and Spanish.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course building on the skills developed in theintroductory course for the complex field of medical interpreting. Thesecond of four courses, students will focus on consecutive interpreting,involving extensive note-taking and memory skills; in addition, studentswill also learn the intricacies of ethics for medical interpreters. Studentswill work from English into Spanish and Spanish into English. All sourcematerials will be medical in nature.Prerequisite: SPA 371.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course building on the skills developed in the first twocourses for the complex field of medical interpreting. The third of fourcourses, students will focus on the highly complicated skill of simultaneousinterpreting (involving input and output at the same time) and continuetheir practice of consecutive interpreting; in addition, students will alsolearn about the different technologies and remote interpreting platformsthat professional medical interpreters use. Students will work from Englishinto Spanish and Spanish into English. All source materials will be medicalin nature.Prerequisite: SPA 372.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course building on the skills developed in the previouscourses for the complex field of medical interpreting. The fourth of fourcourses, students will consolidate their skills of sight-translation,consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting as they prepare forcertification exams; in addition, students will also learn about theintricacies and challenges of working as a professional, certified medicalinterpreter. Students will work from English into Spanish and Spanish intoEnglish. All source materials will be medical in nature.Prerequisite: SPA 373.(3 credits; alternate years, consult department)

An advanced level course, in which students will consolidate their skills intranslation. Students will learn how to improve on earlier translations(either from their own translations or from others) as they target theirtranslations for specific audiences. Course material will come from a broadarray of religious, scientific, political and sociocultural sources, as wellas materials stemming from community needs. Students will translate fromEnglish into Spanish.Prerequisites: Successful completion of either SPA361 & SPA362, LegalInterpreting I & II, or SPA371 & SPA372, Medical Interpreting I & II, orpermission by instructor.(3 credits; alternate years, consult department)

Lack of cross-cultural competence and sensitivity is a prominent cause ofmuch frustration and anger between visitors to a country and the individualsliving in that country. In preparation for their semester study abroad, inthis course students will learn common cross-cultural skills and becomeaware of the joys and challenges they will face in those months. They willalso spend time learning about the country in which they will be studying sothey are well-versed in the basic historical, political, economic, socialand cultural issues that country has dealt with and is dealing with. Prerequisite: Acceptance into a study abroad program approved byNorthwestern College for Spanish majors. (1 credit)

Semester study abroad trips have two interweaving tracks: the externalexperience, where we encounter the new world in which we are living, and theinternal experience, where we visit new places with ourselves. Writing ajournal affords the student the opportunity to wrap these two journeystogether and end up with a vibrant account of his/her experience - akeepsake that helps him/her remember and learn from the semester studyabroad. Thus, a travel journal is the ultimate souvenir. To complete therequirements for this course, students will write a journal during theirsemester study abroad experience as well as write a final essay reflectingon both the semester abroad and their entire foreign-language collegiateexperience. Prerequisite: Acceptance into a study abroad program approved byNorthwestern College for Spanish majors. (1 credit)

(2 credits may apply toward the major or minor)

Designed primarily for students who plan to teach English as a second language but who are not part of the TESL endorsement, this practicum places TESL minor students in an ESL teaching setting, primarily with recent immigrants in Sioux County. Students teach ESL to immigrants, either on a one-to-one basis or with small groups. Prerequisite: 201 proficiency in a foreign language, TSL307 or permission of instructor. (2 credits)

The course is a survey of key issues in socio-and applied linguistic inquiry on case studies of topics such as the nature of language, bilingualism and bilingual education as well as language planning and language policy. (4 credits, alternate years, consult department)

This course will examine the similarities and differences between the acquisition of first and second languages. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)

Study of the unique problems and opportunities in teaching English to classes made up of individuals from heterogeneous language backgrounds. Discussion of recent research, methodology and grammar concepts unique to ESL. Prerequisite: one year of a foreign language or permission of instructor. (3 credits, alternate years, consult department)