Expand+SPAN10130 Hispanic Cultures & Societies

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module introduces students to the study of Spanish and Latin American society and culture through enquiry-based learning, a student-centred approach that focuses on the develo...

Hide-SPAN10130 Hispanic Cultures & Societies

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module introduces students to the study of Spanish and Latin American society and culture through enquiry-based learning, a student-centred approach that focuses on the development of independent critical thinking, research skills, and presentation skills (oral and written) in both individual and group work. It is intended as a foundation module for programme students of Spanish, but may also be of interest to students of other disciplines. No previous knowledge of Spanish language is required although such knowledge will allow students to use resources (written and audiovisual) in Spanish if they wish.

Students will be required to work on weekly group tasks relating to Spanish and Latin American society and culture, formulating creative responses to those tasks using a range of resources, including the guidance of the tutors.

Learning Outcomes:
The module’s focus on the development of both transferrable skills and subject-specific knowledge is strategically aligned to the core UCD Graduate Attributes: academic excellence, intellectual flexibility, cultural literacy, and global engagement.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

- locate and handle primary and secondary material required for the successful completion of a given task.

- summarise material effectively and synthesise arguments to make clear points.

- work in teams, share work fairly and meet the obligations set by the group.

- reflect on appropriate learning strategies and use such reflection to improve their own self-directed and autonomous learning skills.

- demonstrate familiarity with a range of social, political and cultural aspects of Spanish and Latin American societies from the twentieth century to today.

- recognize to what extent Spanish and Latin American societies are still responding to historical experiences.

- empathise with and appreciate a variety of viewpoints regarding the challenges these societies have faced over the past decades.

Indicative Module Content:
This is for information purposes only and is provisional and subject to change.

Indicative Lecture Schedule
Week 1: No class for first year students
Week 2: Introduction to the module and ‘las dos Españas’
Week 3: Spain Under Franco: ¡Una, Grande y Libre!
Week 4: 1977’s Ley de amnistía and Spain’s Memory Debates
Week 5 “Franco is Dead”: Popular Subcultures and the Transition to Democracy
Week 6 Reading Week (Submission of individual project 45%)
Week 7: Mexican Society and Culture
Week 8: Chicano Art and Activism
Week 9: Chilean Society and Culture
Week 10 Cuban Society and Culture
Week 11 Preparation of group projects
Week 12 No class (Submission of group project 40%)