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Instructor Class Description

Time Schedule:

Ana M. Fernandez Dobao
SPAN 407
Seattle Campus

Bilinguismo: Made in USA

Introduces students to the study of bilingualism, focusing on Spanish/English bilingualism in the United States. Explores bilingualism as both an individual and social phenomenon, and aims to raise students' awareness about its benefits as well as complexities. Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: either SPAN 301 or SPAN 314; either SPAN 323, LING 200, or LING 400. Offered: jointly with SPLING 407.

Class description

The course will be organized around the following 5 topics: 1. Introduction to bilingualism: concepts and definitions 2. Bilingualism in society: language, power, and identity 3. Psycholinguistic aspects of bilingualism: becoming and being bilingual 4. Linguistic features of the Spanish spoken in the US 5. Language policy and education: bilingual education in the US

Student learning goals

Will have become familiar with current issues in the study of bilingualism and will be able to define and explain concepts such as bilingualism, bilingual, language attrition, heritage language, diglossia, code switching, Spanglish, bilingual education, immersion program, transitional program, etc.

Will have reflected on the political, social, and cultural dimensions of bilingualism and, in particular, on the implications of the contact between Spanish and English in the US.

Will have developed a basic understanding of the language acquisition process and will have explored different ways of becoming and being bilingual.

Will have developed basic linguistic tools to analyze oral and written samples of US Spanish. They will be able to explain the use of code switching in conversation, the influence of English on the Spanish varieties spoken in the US, and the most prominent features of bilingual speech.

Will be familiar with the most basic sociolinguistic research methods and techniques, and will be able to conduct their own field research projects

Will have developed a deeper understanding of the benefits of bilingualism for the individual as well as the society, and will have enhanced their awareness of the linguistic and cultural diversity existing in our community.

General method of instruction

Recommended preparation

No previous background needed

Class assignments and grading

Last Update by Ana M. Fernandez Dobao
Date: 11/08/2013