74776 - Spanish Language (8 Cfu) (M-Z)

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

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 M-Z

A course presentation will be held on 14 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.

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

MONOGRAPHIC COURSE

The course will begin in the 2nd semester (2027) 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 2027.

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

Tutorial Programme - Spanish Language M-Z

A course presentation will be held on 14 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: 15 September
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: 15 September
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)

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