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

MONOGRAPHIC COURSE:

"From Dream to Border: Latino Identities in Today's USA" (30 hours)

An interdisciplinary pathway to explore the complex reality of Latino communities in the contemporary United States. The monographic course (in the second semester of 2027, please refer to Professor Betti's announcements) will critically analyse the challenges, opportunities and paradoxes of an extremely heterogeneous reality that continuously redefines its own identity between historical roots and new perspectives.

Through the analysis of texts, video excerpts, films, documentaries and direct testimonies, we will explore the social, political and linguistic dynamics that characterise the Latino experience in the United States.

The course, structured in preliminary tutorial hours (1st and 2nd semester) and 30 hours with the instructor, will enable students to acquire basic linguistic and cultural competences (A2).

Language:

Syllabus Spanish Language 26/27 – 8 CFU

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Detailed list of the contents of the 'Lectorado' (tutor) to be assessed in the final examination:

Grammar:

1. Masculine and feminine of nouns and adjectives
2. Singular and plural of nouns and adjectives
3. Definite and indefinite articles
4. Demonstratives
5. Superlative
6. Interrogatives and exclamatives
7. Comparatives
8. Possessives
9. Indefinite quantifiers
10. Cardinal and ordinal numbers
11. Subject personal pronouns
12. Direct and indirect object personal pronouns
13. Reflexive pronouns
14. Present indicative regular
15. Present indicative irregular
16. Contrast ser / estar
17. Contrast hay / estar
18. Verbs gustar, encantar, apetecer, doler...
19. Uses of muy and mucho
20. Preterite indefinite regular
21. Preterite indefinite irregular
22. Participle
23. Present perfect indicative
24. Contrast present perfect / preterite indefinite
25. Imperfect preterite regular and irregular
26. Contrast imperfect preterite / preterite indefinite
27. Combination of past tenses
28. Time markers
29. Basic connectors
30. Future imperfect regular and irregular
31. Future periphrasis (ir a + infinitive)
32. Periphrasis with gerund (estar, seguir... + gerund)
33. Periphrasis with infinitive
34. Conditional simple regular and irregular
35. Contrast of information (también / tampoco)
36. Prepositions
37. Contrast por and para
38. Verbs with semantic difficulty (ir/venir, llevar/traer, quedar/quedarse...)
39. Verbs with preposition
40. Accentuation rules

Lexicon:

1. Everyday objects
2. Classroom objects
3. Clothing
4. My family
5. Professions
6. Do you like...?
7. At home
8. Household chores
9. Food and drinks
10. At the supermarket
11. Shops and public establishments
12. Free time
13. What hot weather!
14. The calendar
15. Health
16. Transport
17. Nationalities
18. Specialist lexicon in the political domain

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N.B. Language proficiency certifications are managed by the University Language Centre (CLA). Language proficiency: The CLA administers curricular language proficiency tests for all students enrolled at the University of Bologna: https://centri.unibo.it/cla/it/idoneita-linguistica

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*Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities are advised to contact the University's relevant office as soon as possible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) and the instructor. Any requests for accommodation must be submitted at least 15 days before the examination date by email to the instructor at s.betti@unibo.it, copying the appropriate office: disabilita@unibo.it (for disabilities) or dsa@unibo.it (for SLD).*

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N.B. Spanish Tutorial: It is essential to complete the language change in your study plan in good time in order to be able to attend the course and sit the examinations.

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. (Optional reading) 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

8. Betti, Silvia (2025). "Necropolítica y creación. Resistencias culturales en las fronteras del siglo XXI (del Mediterráneo a Aztlán)". Rivista Glosas , vol.10, n.9, 2025. Available at: https://glosas.anle.us/numeros/volumen-10/numero-9/

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

Teaching methods

THE MONOGRAPHIC COURSE WILL BEGIN IN THE 2ND SEMESTER (2027) and will be structured in tutorial hours and 30 hours with the course instructor, Professor Silvia Betti.

This course and syllabus are intended for students who will attend in the second semester of 2027.

Monographic course, 30 hours (instructor: Professor Silvia Betti): Lectures and cooperative learning. The classes will require active student participation through discussions, presentations and various practical exercises (see tutorial courses).

The languages of instruction will be Spanish and Italian.

Tutorial Programme - Spanish Language A-L

A course presentation will be held on 15 September at 3:00 PM, during which the distribution of groups and levels will be explained, as well as the working method and teaching materials. On that day, a placement test (to be taken on students' own electronic devices) will also be administered in order to divide students into two groups:

- 1 absolute beginners (Group A)
- 1 false beginners (Group B)

Students are strongly advised to take the placement test in person, but it is also possible to take it independently online; it will be made available on the VIRTUALE platform.

The ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS - A1 group (Group A) will have classes twice a week, while the FALSE BEGINNERS - A2 group (Group B) will have classes once a week for the entire academic year. The schedule for each group will be communicated on the day of the presentation.

Absolute Beginners - A1 (Group A)

Start date: 17 September (Group A-L)
Duration: 80 total hours / 2 classes per week
Access requirements: no prior knowledge required; all students wishing to attend may freely do so.

False Beginners - A2 (Group B)

Start date: 16 September (Group A-L)
Access requirements: a minimum score of 41 on the placement test available on VIRTUALE.
Duration: 40 total hours / 1 class per week

Attendance is highly recommended for the acquisition of basic language skills (but NOT compulsory). The course aims to convey to students the characteristics and peculiarities of Spanish as a foreign language, practically developing the four language skills up to the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, providing students with the necessary technical and cultural tools, and deepening linguistic competences in order to promote a more conscious learning of the Spanish language (A2 level of the CEFR: "Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need").

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Tutorial classes: The compulsory texts and other materials adopted (print, audio, video, etc.) for attending classes and for taking the examinations will be indicated again at the beginning of the course by the instructor(s).

COMPULSORY TEXT:

Castro, F., Díaz, P. Aprende Gramatica y vocabulario basico A1+A2. SGEL.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Supplementary teaching materials will be uploaded to the VIRTUALE platform.

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

 

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