74776 - Spanish Language (8 Cfu) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students have good actives and passives skills in Spanish language; students are able to read, take notes, follow a discussion in Spanish and in particular to use the politic and media technical language of the Spanish cultures.

Course contents

Language Proficiency

N.B. Language certifications are managed by the University Language Center (CLA).

-Language Certification
The CLA administers curricular language proficiency tests for all University of Bologna students:
https://centri.unibo.it/cla/en/language-certification

Students with SLD (Specific Learning Disorders) or temporary/permanent disabilities:
It is strongly recommended to immediately contact:

1. The University office:
   Services for Students with Disabilities and SLD [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en]

2. The course instructor

Accommodation requests must be submitted at least 15 days before the exam date by email to:
-Instructor: s.betti@unibo.it
-CC: disabilita@unibo.it (for disabilities)
-CC: odsa@unibo.it  (for SLD)

N.B.
Spanish Tutoring: Students must complete the language selection change in their study plan on time to participate in the course and take exams.

CORSO MONOGRAFICO (Specialized Thematic Course): "Identities in Motion: Latin Communities in the US Between Borders and Transformations"

An interdisciplinary exploration of Latin communities in contemporary United States. This monographic course (2nd semester 2026 - see Prof. Betti's notices) will critically analyze challenges, opportunities, and paradoxes of a highly heterogeneous reality that continuously redefines its identity between historical roots and new perspectives.

Through text analysis, film clips, documentaries, and firsthand accounts, we will examine the social, political, and linguistic dynamics characterizing the Latino experience in the US.

The course structure includes:

• Preliminary tutoring (1st and 2nd semester)

• 30 contact hours with the instructor

• Acquisition of basic linguistic and cultural competencies

See also:
https://corsi.unibo.it/laurea/ScienzePoliticheSocialiInternazionali/il-corso-di-lingua-spagnola-8-cfu

Tutoring

Starting September 2025 (attendance highly recommended) develops basic Spanish language skills through:

• Practical training in all four language skills

• Target level: A2 CEFR
  ("Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to immediate relevance. Can communicate in simple routine tasks requiring simple/direct information exchange about familiar matters.")

Optional (but strongly advised) three-tier structure:

1. Beginner/False Beginners

   • Start: 16 September

   • Duration: 30 hours

   • Requirements: None - open to all students

2. Intermediate

   • Start: Late October
     (Merges with September beginner groups)

   • Duration: 20 hours

3. Advanced

   • Start: 2nd semester
     (Merges with 1st-semester groups)

   • Duration: 30 hours

N.B.
For Spanish tutoring (not for beginners):

• A placement test (optional but useful) will be held online (date TBA)

• Prerequisite: Timely language selection change in study plan

• Test results suggest appropriate course level (non-binding)

 

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory readings

 

Monographic Course - Prof. Betti
The materials presented in class will be uploaded to VIRTUALE, the university's teaching material management platform.

N.B. Students are strongly advised to download them during or at the end of the course.

Non-attending students will follow the same program (including slides, which must be downloaded during the course!!!).

N.B. Spanish Language Exams (attending and non-attending students):

Required readings for the monographic course:

1. Betti, Silvia (2019). "Este es un país donde hablamos inglés, no español". La presencia del español en los Estados Unidos de Trump. Available on VIRTUALE

2. Betti, Silvia y Renata Enghels (eds.) (2020). El inglés y el español en contacto en los Estados Unidos. Also available online (NOT on Virtuale): http://www.aracneeditrice.it/aracneweb/index.php/pubblicazione.html?item=9788825525151
   (N.B. The chapters by López and Enghels et al. are NOT required!)

3. Ramos, Jorge (2018). Stranger: El desafio de un inmigrante latino en la era de Trump. Available in the library or at: https://www.amazon.it/Stranger-desaf%C3%ADo-inmigrante-Challenge-Immigrant/dp/0525563776 [https://www.amazon.it/Stranger-desaf%25C3%25ADo-inmigrante-Challenge-Immigrant/dp/0525563776]

4. Stavans, Ilan (2017). "Trump, la muralla y el español". Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/es/2017/01/26/trump-la-muralla-y-el-espanol/

5. The graphic novel: Bianchini e Ballati: Migrantes. Clandestino verso il sogno americano (Bfs Edizioni, 2015).

6. Rada, Javier (2024). "El español, la gran "bichota" global". Available on VIRTUALE

7. Betti, Silvia (2020). "Querido Míster Trump..." La lengua española en los Estados Unidos de hoy en día. Available at: https://confluenze.unibo.it/article/view/11372

N.B. Additions and/or modifications will be announced during the course.
*The program may be subject to changes, which will be communicated in due time.

Suggested Readings (non-mandatory):

 N.B.

Any additions and / or modifications will be made during the course

Recommended reading:

-Badillo Matos, Ángel (2018). "Torres y muros frente al multiculturalismo: hispanos y español en la presidencia de Donald Trump", disponible en: http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/75135fc7-259a-406d-a0ce-39fa06f2763d/ARI11-2018-BadilloMatos-Torres-muros-multiculturalismo-hispanos-espanol-Trump.pdf

-Badillo Matos, Ángel y Hernández Rosana (2019). “El español se cuida solo”: desafíos para una geopolítica lingüística del español ante el horizonte multilateral”, Real Instituto Elcano, Madrid, Documento de trabajo, DT 2/2019, disponible en: http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_es/contenidoWCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_es/zonas_es/lengua+y+cultura/dt2-2019-badillo-hernandez-espanol-cuida-solo-politicalinguistica-multilateral

-Betti, Silvia (2011). “Yo quería cruzar la línea...” . Migrazione, frontiera e identità. I latinos negli Stati Uniti", Confluenze (Università di Bologna), 3, n° 1, pp. 107 - 125.

-Betti, Silvia (2008). El Spanglish ¿Medio eficaz de comunicación? Bologna: Pitagora.

-Davis, Mike (2001). I Latinos alla conquista degli Usa. Milano: Feltrinelli. ISBN 88-07-10315-X.

-Informe Instituto Cervantes (2019). EL ESPAÑOL: UNA LENGUA VIVA, disponible en: www.cervantes.es ›espanol_lengua_viva_2019[https://www.cervantes.es/imagenes/File/espanol_lengua_viva_2019.pdf]

-Lacorte, Manel y Jesús Suárez García (2014). "La enseñanza del español en los Estados Unidos: panorama actual y perspectivas de futuro", Journal of Spanish Language Teaching, 1:2, pp. 129-136. disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1080/23247797.2014.970358

-Ramos Ávalos, Jorge (2003). Atravesando fronteras. In: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BG22YYU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3

-Ramos Ávalos, Jorge (2005 o 2012). La Ola Latina: Como los Hispanos Estan Transformando la Politica en los Estados Unidos. In [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BG22X00/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i10] Sep 11, 2012by Jorge Ramos [https://www.amazon.com/Jorge-Ramos/e/B001IU4T0S?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_tkin_p1_i10]

-Ramos Ávalos, Jorge (2006). La otra cara de América. In https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061130435/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i11

-Ramos Ávalos, Jorge (2006). Morir en el intento. In https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BG22ZBW/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4

* Tutor lessons:

MANDATORY READINGS:
Gramática de uso del español Teoría y práctica. - Nivel A1-B2 - Luis Aragonés, Ramón Palencia (volumen rojo) *

Compulsory texts and other materials (reading, audio, video materials…) - aimed at following the lessons and taking the written exam - will be indicated on the tutor web page at the beginning of the course.

* The following linguistic-grammatical content of the grammar textbook (theory and practice) will be assessed in the final examination: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 91, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 102, 103, 104, 105, 109, 110, 113, 114, 115.

Teaching methods

MONOGRAPHIC COURSE

The course will begin in the 2nd semester (2026) and will be structured with:

• Tutoring hours

• 30 contact hours with the course instructor, Prof. Silvia Betti

This course and program is intended for students attending in the second semester of 2026.

Monographic Course (Instructor: Prof. Silvia Betti):

• Lectures and cooperative learning

• Active student participation required through:
  • Discussions
  • Practical exercises (see tutoring courses below)

*Teaching languages: Spanish and Italian

SPANISH TUTORING

Highly recommended for acquiring basic language skills. The tutoring program aims to:

• Teach the characteristics of Spanish as a foreign language

• Practically develop all four language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking)

• Achieve CEFR Level A2 ("Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to immediate relevance")

• Provide necessary technical and cultural tools

• Promote conscious language learning

Levels and Schedule:

Beginners/False Beginners

• Start: 16 September

• Duration: 30 hours

• Access: No prerequisites - open to all students

Intermediate

• Start: Late October
  N.B.: Merges with September beginner groups

• Duration: 20 hours

Advanced

• Start: 2nd semester
  *N.B.: Merges with 1st-semester beginner/intermediate groups*

• Duration: 30 hours

PLACEMENT TEST (NON-BEGINNERS)

• Optional but recommended online placement test (date TBA)

• Requirement: Timely language selection change in study plan
  Failure to comply = test ineligibility

• Results suggest appropriate course level (non-binding)

Assessment methods

Examination Format for the Course:

Spanish Language Exams (for both attending and non-attending students):
The examination will consist of:

• A written test covering both grammar and course content (monographic component)

• Format: 42 multiple-choice questions (21 grammar + 21 course content)

• Administration: End of course (2nd semester)

Important Note for Non-Attending Students: The syllabus published on this page applies equally to both attending and non-attending students.

Teaching tools

Prof. Betti's Lectures:

• PowerPoint presentations (slides)

• Video and film screenings

• Audio materials

• Course materials available on VIRTUALE (which will be included in exam content)

• Other relevant resources

Tutoring Sessions:
Required texts and supplementary materials (print, audio, video, etc.) for both class participation and exam preparation will be specified by each tutor at the beginning of the course.

N.B. Any additions and/or modifications to course materials will be announced during the semester.

Useful online resources:

*Grammatica: https://langschool.eu/courses/intermediate-es/grammar.es.html

*Esercizi con soluzioni: http://www.todo-claro.com/c_index.php

*Dizionari on line:

*http://www.wordreference.com

*http://dle.rae.es/?id=DgIqVCc

 

 

Tutor:

Gramática de uso del español

Teoría y práctica.  - Nivel A1-B2 (volume rosso)

Luis Aragonés, Ramón Palencia

****

Grammatica spagnola (Zanichelli)

Con esercizi di auto verifica, cd audio per l'ascolto ed esercizi online - Seconda edizione

Lingua in pratica

2015

ISBN-13: 978-8808162465

 

Office hours

See the website of Betti Silvia [https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/s.betti/en]

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/s.betti

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Betti