Community-Engaged Learning

The Department offers community-engaged courses that allow students to take part in fieldwork that utilizes language skills and serves local Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities. Learn more about these courses below.

The Community Engagement Program was recently featured in the Daily Bruin. 

 

Community-Engaged Courses

Spanish M165XP/CCAS M167XP

Service learning course to give students the opportunity to use cultural and linguistic knowledge acquired in Spanish classes in real-world settings. Students are required to spend a minimum of 8 to 10 hours per week at an agreed-upon site in a Latino community.

Seminar 3 hours; fieldwork 10 hours. Enforced requisite: course 25 or 27. P/NP or letter grading.

Spanish M172XP/CCAS M170XP

In-depth study of various topics related to literacy, including different definitions of literacy, programs for adult preliterates, literacy and gender, approaches to literacy (whole language, phonics, Freire’s liberation pedagogy), history of writing systems, phoneme as basis for alphabetic writing, and national literacy campaigns. Required field project involving Spanish-speaking adults in adult literacy programs.

Seminar 4 hours; field project 4 to 6 hours. Recommended requisite: course 100A. P/NP or letter grading.

Spanish 195 Community Internships (4 units)

Internship in a supervised setting in a community agency or business. Students meet on a regular basis with the instructor and provide a journal of their experience. Final research paper required.

Tutorial 1 hour; fieldwork 10 hours. Requisite: course 25 or 27. Limited to juniors/seniors. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract with supervising faculty member required. P/NP or letter grading

Portuguese 195 Community Internships (4 units)

Community-engaged learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and critical reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Students use cultural and linguistic knowledge acquired in classes and research in real-world settings through 8-10 hours per week of volunteer work in an on- or off-campus organization or unit serving the Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking community.

Tutorial 2 hours; fieldwork 8 hours. Requisite: course 25 or 26 or 27. Limited to juniors/seniors. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract with supervising faculty member required. P/NP or letter grading.