Course details

Summary

In the world today, Spanish speakers are as numerous as native speakers of English. The largest concentrations are in Spain, Central and Latin America, and the USA. In travel, culture, trade, cyberspace and sport, the Spanish language is a major player.

The Hispanic world is unified by its main official language, but it also represents a rich, complex and heterogeneous space with significant ethnic, cultural, linguistic, political and religious practices. Studying Spanish will give you an insight into this mix of old and new traditions which form the tapestry of Hispanic culture. It will also put you in a position to understand and participate in the economic and political transformations that connect even the remotest places in Latin America with our increasingly global environment.

Students enjoy the challenging and informal atmosphere of the classes, and staff members work closely with students to help them achieve high levels of language proficiency and in-depth knowledge of Hispanic culture.

Recommended preparation

Spanish language courses cater for total beginners as well as those with some prior knowledge of the language. SPAN101 Beginners' Spanish A is for total beginners, while SPAN201 Intermediate Spanish Language A is the normal entry point for those with Year 13 Spanish.

Placement tests are also available for those who have acquired proficiency by other means. Contact the Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies for information regarding this.

Courses

100-level courses

100-level courses are beginners' courses in Spanish.

200-level and beyond

Those with previous knowledge of the language may be able to enter at 200-level. See 'Recommended preparation' above for details.

The Spanish programme at UC focuses primarily on language acquisition based on the communicative approach. Cultural studies are also integrated into the curriculum, so that students can deepen their understanding of Hispanic cultures.

Career opportunities

Spanish graduates find employment in a wide range of careers including teaching, translation, research, journalism, diplomacy and international law. Government and international organisations as well as research institutions welcome such language skills.

Spanish will also benefit students majoring in a science who wish to work or do further studies in Spain, the USA or Latin America.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Certificate in Arts. Applicants must have completed New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA; or Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or any other equivalent overseas qualification.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.