Spanish
Spanish
The Spanish courses at Ventura College prepare students with communication skills and provide an understanding of the Spanish-speaking cultures. These courses also provide the instruction necessary to develop proficiency skills in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. The beginning-level courses introduce basic grammar, vocabulary, communicative functions, and culture. The intermediate-level courses continue development of proficiency skills through discussion of films, periodicals, and literary works to increase vocabulary, cultural awareness, and knowledge of linguistic variations. The intermediate courses provide a track for heritage language speakers of Spanish.
The acquisition of another language increases the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diverse cultures and facilitates a culturally sensitive exchange of ideas and transactions to effectively communicate with people of different values and social attitudes. Spanish is the second language most valued by employers in many U.S. geographical regions. Spanish-English bilingualism is an essential and often required skill in a growing variety of careers, including education, medical, business, law, law enforcement, journalism, and translation and interpreting.
Upon completing Ventura College’s Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree, students will possess the foundational knowledge to communicate with the global Spanish-speaking community. In addition, they will be prepared for the further expansion of these skills at upper division university levels.
This course is part of a sequence designed to provide introductory experiences in Spanish, including pronunciation, aural comprehension, oral and written communication, word usage and vocabulary, reading of prose, and elementary principles of grammar. Special emphasis will be given to development of oral and aural skills through the use of communicative activities. Cultural material will be presented to develop interest, understanding, and appreciation for the lifestyle of the Hispanic people. This course is equivalent to two years of high school Spanish.
This course is designed to provide the student with further skill development in Spanish, including pronunciation, aural comprehension, oral and written communication, word usage and vocabulary, reading of prose and elementary principles of grammar. The language laboratory will be used in order to continue the development of oral and aural skills in the language. More advanced cultural material is presented to further develop the interest, knowledge and appreciation for the peoples of the Spanish-speaking world.
This course will include a complete review of Spanish grammar and syntax, training in oral and written expression with reading and discussion of selected pieces from literature and other sources.
This course is the first in the intermediate sequence for native speakers of Spanish. It is designed to introduce formal Spanish language skills in pronunciation, comprehension, written communication, word usage and vocabulary. Grammatical concepts are introduced and practiced. Special emphasis is given to the development of literacy skills (reading and writing) by reading and discussing introductory level Spanish prose and poetry through basic critical and creative writing activities. The language laboratory is used to expand the students’ formal comprehension and productions skills in Spanish language. Cultural materials and activities are provided to develop an understanding and appreciation for the linguistic and cultural variations of the Spanish speakers. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.
This course includes further study of grammatical principles with special emphasis on building communicative skills in Spanish. Reading and discussion of essays, periodicals, short stories, drama, and poetry are used to increase vocabulary, fluency, and cultural understanding.
This course is the second in the intermediate sequence for native speakers of Spanish. The development of advanced formal Spanish language skills and structures is provided. Special attention is given to the refinement and integration of the essential principles of grammar and usage through reading, discussion, and analysis of Spanish prose, drama, essays, and poetry. Integration of the essential principles of grammar and usage is provided through required critical and creative written activities. Comparative linguistic and cultural materials are provided in order to further develop understanding and knowledge of the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.
This course provides practice in beginning-level Spanish conversation emphasizing fluency and pronunciation. Special emphasis is given to the development of oral and aural skills through the use of communication activities including oral practice of dialogue, vocabulary, and basic grammar to communicate in Spanish at a basic level. The course will be conducted entirely in Spanish.
A continuation of beginning-level Spanish conversation designed to further improve listening and speaking proficiencies through the use of pronunciation, listening, and conversational activities. The course will be conducted entirely in Spanish.
Introduction to Spanish/English medical interpreting. Designed to teach students to interpret in a medical context using consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation. Includes interpreting in a medical setting, pronunciation of Spanish and English names and medical terms, Spanish and English medical terminology, bi-cultural medical communication and regional dialects, scenarios that an interpreter encounters while on the job. Addresses patient/provider communication, cultural interference, interpreter code of ethics and the role of the interpreter in the healthcare setting and industry.
Introduction to specialized vocabulary and basic grammatical concepts needed by health profession personnel and their application in practical settings. Includes an intro to medical terminology in Spanish that includes body structure, body systems, prefixes, suffixes, word roots, false cognates and most common pitfalls due to English interference and linguistic transfer.