Spanish 3

In this two-semester course, Spanish 3 reintroduces students to Spanish across a broad range of authentic contexts, building fluency and cultural awareness through thematic units that connect language to real life. The course opens with familiar situations — daily routines, describing friends and family, childhood memories and activities, and early hopes and aspirations — before expanding into more complex topics in the arts, higher education, and society.

Students discuss and describe visual art such as paintings and sculptures, and literary works including novels and novellas, forming and expressing their own opinions and reactions. They also explore the university experience, including the application process, aspirations in higher education, and the transition of leaving home. From there, the course moves into broader social themes: the dynamics of multiethnic and developing societies, environmental and social issues, and using technology to learn about unfamiliar countries.

The first half of the course concludes with an exploration of media literacy, including current events, print and online advertising, the structure of newspapers and magazines, and careers available in the media industry. In the second half, students return to Spanish through the lens of multiculturalism and identity — examining bilingualism, cultural influences on traditions, customs, food, and social experiences, and legends and folklore from diverse cultures.

Students engage with artistic expression through genres of music, poetry, drama, and short stories, and explore proverbs from various cultures. Geography and climate come into focus as students examine how physical features shape weather patterns and how those conditions in turn influence clothing, food, and livelihoods. The course also takes a deeper look at specific countries and regions, covering the history of Venezuela, the South American independence movement, religions practiced in Argentina, cultural icons, sports, national symbols, and idiomatic expressions. The course concludes with a study of Costa Rica’s wildlife and natural and agricultural resources, and instruction in writing formal and informal letters in Spanish.