Spanish Studies
Studying Spanish and developing an intercultural competence are essential skills in today’s globalized world. Together they allow us to engage in complex experiences and build relationships with people from diverse cultures, while at the same time exploring new perspectives, beliefs, and values. In addition, the mission of our university emphasizes the importance of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, including their unique background and identity. So, by acquiring such cultural competence, and language skills, students can become better informed members of their communities, as well as of a far wider world. By learning another language, each of us welcomes new perspectives in an effort to understand and communicate with others, interestingly different from ourselves. The link within this process to questions of social justice are clear: language acquisition allows us to meet others on their own terms.
Virtual Dual Immersion & Collaborative Online International Learning
Spanish Studies at USF participates in the Virtual Dual Immersion program (VDI) within the Association of Jesuit Universities in Latin America (AUSJAL) and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) between 10 Latin American Jesuit universities and 12 American Jesuit colleges. In the VDI program, students participate in synchronous language exchanges made by video call, half in English and half in Spanish. Students practice the language they are studying with a native speaker and at the same time share their knowledge to help their counterparts to do the same. VDI has been used effectively for the development of conversation skills of non-native speakers and is increasingly being used in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and through virtual webinars. The AUSJAL/AJCU Virtual Dual Immersion (VDI) Program, supported by AUSJAL, maximizes the strengths of the Jesuit educational mission and its network to establish sustainable partnerships across borders, languages, and cultural divides by improving cross-cultural awareness, increasing communication skills, and building international solidarity.
Useful Resources
Conversation Tables:
If you would like to practice your conversational skills in a friendly, very informal setting, join us by attending our weekly conversation tables. The dates, time and location are announced at the beginning of each semester. Our tables are open to all students, faculty, staff, community members, regardless of their proficiency level, and offer an excellent opportunity to listen to and speak Spanish.
Modified First Year Spanish Sequence:
The Modified First Year Spanish sequence is specifically designed for students with learning disabilities and/or with demonstrable long-standing difficulties learning a foreign language. This sequence includes the same overall scope and objectives as the other introductory courses but has a reduced number of linguistic functions and employs a differentiated instructional approach. If you think you may be a candidate to take these courses, please contact Professor Karyn Schell for more information and the requirements: kschell@isfca.edu
Events
Latin Horror Film Festival
Every fall, USF hosts a two-night event featuring gothic monsters from the Caribbean to the Andes, marking a resurgence of horror cinema after years of censorship and silence under dictatorship. This event showcases a selection of short and feature films by young, independent filmmakers who challenge mainstream industry norms. Students and the public have the unique chance to view and discuss these emerging horror cinemas, which offer fresh perspectives and critical insights into the region's social dynamics.
La Mateada
"El Mate"(pronounced “MAH-teh”) is a traditional South American beverage with deep cultural significance, particularly in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. At USF's Mateadas, every spring we gather to learn its cultural significance since Mate is more than just a beverage; it is a social ritual that embodies friendship and community. Sharing mates is a way of bonding and showing respect.