LSPA 301 Oral Communication-Spanish

Overview of Course

Conducted entirely in Spanish, this conversation course has two principal aims: to improve students' fluency and comprehension in Spanish, and to foster student-led discussions of cultural topics—including history, politics, globalization, economics, art, traditions, food, fashion, and social issues—from around the world.
Class materials include films, documentaries, news, music, interviews, and online and printed resources. In-class discussions and presentations offer ongoing opportunities to practice conversational Spanish in a dynamic, low-anxiety environment. This course is designed for intermediate-level non-native speakers and focuses on Hispanic cultures, current events, and our ports of call, with limited attention to writing skills through a voyage-long journal.
To fully integrate the Semester at Sea experience, class time after each port visit is dedicated to discussing students' on-land experiences. You will document your experiences through photos and video clips, which you will then contextualize verbally for the class—moving beyond simple description toward rich cultural analysis and reflection. Your voyage becomes your curriculum.
Topics evolve as you travel, remaining responsive to current events and your port experiences. Whether discussing environmental justice, cultural identity, social movements, or global traditions, the conversations are as dynamic as the voyage itself. By the end of the semester, students will demonstrate measurably improved oral communication skills, advancing from Intermediate-Low to Intermediate-Mid, or from Intermediate-Mid to Intermediate-High on the ACTFL proficiency scale.
Your voice matters. Your experiences matter. Let's talk about them—in Spanish.
¡Zarpa tu español! (Set your Spanish sailing!)