Curriculum Academic Program Both Mexican Studies and Summer Spanish offer language instruction at the second, third and fourth year
levels as well as courses in Mexican Civilization and Spanish American Literature. Additional courses offered in Mexican Studies are: Mexican Art History, Mexican Literature, Literary Translation, US-Mexico Relations, and Cross Cultural Studies.
Second Year Spanish An innovative program combining traditional classroom instruction with the resources of in-country
immersion. Listening, speaking and communicative exercises based on Mexico-specific texts. Third Year Spanish Two courses, Composition and Language in Context, develop advanced language competence in the
essential areas of composition and oral skills. Analysis of major Mexican cultural and historical influences and of cultural products-art, literature, film, music, etc.- provides the focus for both classes. Conversation management, vocabulary building and listening comprehension. Grammar is linked to accuracy of written
expression. Fourth Year Spanish Two separate courses, each focusing on an essential skill: Composition provides the opportunity to write
extensively under the guidance of a teacher who makes suggestions for increasing accuracy and
sophistication of written expression. Oral Skills increases listening and speaking proficiency. Assignments
involving interaction with Mexican people, as well as various cultural media such as radio, television, movies and possibly theater. Mexican Civilization An overview of Mexico from the time of Mesoamerican civilizations to the present. Attention to current
relations between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as to significant social and economic determinants in
MexicoÍs future. (Required of lower division students in Mexican Studies programs, open only to upper
division in Summer Spanish)
Survey of Spanish American Literature Two courses: 1) Early (Pre-columbian) literature through the Baroque;
2) Basic currents and genres in Spanish American literature from the 1820s to modern times.
Critical readings of selected texts. (Both courses open only to upper division students)
Additional Mexican Studies Courses: (Offered in the Fall & Spring Semester Programs only and open to upper division students unless otherwise noted)
Advanced Grammar Review Exploration of and practice with complex grammatical structures in Spanish. Scope includes morphological
and syntactical structures. Survey of Mexican Literature Texts by modern Mexican writers: novel, short story, poetry and theater. Focus on the aesthetic qualities of the works and their relation to Mexican society. Techniques for improving studentsÍ reading abilities provided.
Cross Cultural Seminar A framework for examining Mexican culture, complementing activities of the second, third and fourth year
language classes. Weekend cultural excursions, with writing assignments for each, and a profile of the
Mexican Family today as a program-long project give this course an extramural dimension. (Required of
lower division students, optional for upper division students) Mexican Art History A visual panorama of 30 centuries of Mexican civilization from pre Columbian times to present, providing
an additional perspective on Mexican culture.
Field trips and "hands-on" projects. Introduction to Literary Translation Introduction to the theory and practice of Literary Translation in a bi-national class. Students will be paired
with Mexican University licenciatura students to collaborate on individual projects. Open to fourth year
students who have taken at least one third year literature class.
U.S. - Mexico Relations An in-depth look at U.S. - Mexican history that has led to the current relationship. Topics include the
economic interdependence of the two countries and immigration questions. Students will also analyze
cultural similarities and differences. Mexican Schools Field Experience Offers an experiential introduction to MexicoÕs education system to students considering a career in teaching in US schools, providing students an understanding of differences between private and public as well as rural and urban teaching environments in Mexico, through observation and hands-on classroom experience.
EFL Teaching Practicum Supervised observation and teaching practice in the area of English as a Foreign Language. An overview of the Mexican education system; observation in private and public elementary schools as well as an indigenous bilingual (Otomí-Spanish) school. Contact IUSI for pre requisites and eligibility requirements.
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