Language through Film (SPA4223.01)

Jonathan Pitcher

Students with burgeoning linguistic skills will learn the language through an immersion in Latin American and Spanish film in the second half of this full-year introduction to the Spanish-speaking world. While there will be some discussion of more common tactics such as stylistic nuances, script-writing, acting, dubbing, and directors’ biographies, it is expected that we will continue to develop sufficient linguistic ability to focus on cinematographic and social movements, thus treating the films as ideologemes, representations of political import. The paraphernalia associated with mastering a foreign language – explicit grammar sessions, vocabulary, oral and aural practice, text – will be on offer, but it will generally be student-driven, servicing the content, corroborating the hope that in confronting our own preconceived notions of the Spanish-speaking world we will simultaneously debunk those regarding how a language is taught. Students will therefore learn to speak, listen, read and write in increasingly meaningful scenarios. Conducted in Spanish.

Prerequisites: Spanish 1 at Bennington, or permission of the instructor.
Credits: 4
M 8:00am - 9:50am; W 8:00am - 9:50am; Th 8:00am - 9:50am
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency:
This course is categorized as 4000, All courses, Four Credit, Jonathan Pitcher, Monday and/or Thursday Afternoons, Spanish, Wednesday Afternoons, and tagged , , .