MLO 2: Language and Linguistic Knowledge
Description:
The student develops an understanding of the structure of the Spanish language and is able to use an appropriate level of formality according to the situation, whether in writing or in speech.
The student completes between two and six courses (depending on his or her choice of emphasis, as either language and linguistics knowledge or literary and cultural knowledge) related to the Spanish language and linguistics. These courses deal with: the sound system of Spanish, the history of Spanish, advanced grammar, Spanish-English translation, a general introduction to Spanish linguistics, Spanish for professional application (medical, legal, etc. spheres), composition and conversation.
The student completes between two and six courses (depending on his or her choice of emphasis, as either language and linguistics knowledge or literary and cultural knowledge) related to the Spanish language and linguistics. These courses deal with: the sound system of Spanish, the history of Spanish, advanced grammar, Spanish-English translation, a general introduction to Spanish linguistics, Spanish for professional application (medical, legal, etc. spheres), composition and conversation.
How I fulfilled it:
The linguistic and grammatical portion of this educational path has been exceedingly fulfilling and inspiring, despite my having concentrated in other areas of the Spanish language. The two courses that stood out were SPAN 302: History/Phonetic Structure of the Spanish Language, and SPAN 303: Advanced Spanish Grammar. Both classes were instructed by Dr. Carlos Arrizabalaga, who inspired me greatly throughout my stay at CSUMB. In SPAN 302, we developed a greater understanding of pronunciation and intonation along with the capability to write phonetic transcriptions. As someone who strives to become a teacher, the capability to convey the exact spoken form of a word is immensely important to me, and I hope to study more linguistics soon. It was also helpful to get a bit of history on the origin of Spanish, specifically the fact that our modern conceptualization of the language is derived from the castilian dialect, one of the variety of languages originally spoken in the different regions of Spain. SPAN 303 brought the students a greater understanding of the structure of the language, aspects that in my opinion need updating and refreshing, even as the speaker transcends into the highest level of skill. It cemented a general framework of the verb tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns, uses of ser and estar, and gave us the opportunity to write compositions and receive feedback on our usage of grammar. Overall i found these classes very helpful in regards to the more scientific aspects of communication, and I hope to pursue the art of phonetic transcription in my future endeavors.
SPAN 302: History/Phonetic Structure of the Spanish Language Course Description:
Surveys the development of modern Castillian and Latin American Spanish, its evolution as a Romance language, the Roman period, Visigoth and Arab influences, Native American contributions, and its modern language diversity. Describes the phonology and morphology of modern Spanish. Recommended for students interested in teaching Spanish.
SPAN 303: Advanced Spanish Grammar Course Description:
Reviews all phases of communication skills with practice in understanding, speaking, and writing grammatically correct Spanish. Teaches specific components of Spanish grammar: the Spanish verbal system, the subjunctive, ser versus estar, and other problematic aspects of grammar. For students planning to teach Spanish.