Latin-American Culture and Current Affairs

Knowing the sayings and proverbs are an effective way to deepen your knowledge of the culture and daily life in Spanish-speaking countries. Proverbs are an important part of the culture and language of a people. They carry wisdom, customs, and history and can help understand many of the cultural aspects of a society. Additionally, learning proverbs and expressions can enrich vocabulary and provide the ability to know and use an appropriate phrase in every communication situation. In this course, we will explore some of the best proverbs in Spanish, and use them in the classroom in a meaningful and participative way, so that they can continue using them in daily life, thereby continuing to enrich their knowledge of this fascinating language.

In this course, we will discover alongside its early explorers some of the most prominent archaeological sites in Mexico. Since colonial times, certain scholars have been interested in pre-Columbian ruins. European and American explorers arrived with sketchbooks and cameras in the 19th century, revealing to the Western world the exotic ruins of Mesoamerican jungles. In the early 20th century, Mexican archaeologists and anthropologists began a methodical process of rescuing an extensive heritage, often in difficult-to-access locations. We will explore some sites along with the characters who explored them, including José Antonio Alzate, Antonio Berlansconi, John Stephens, Frederick Catherwood, Teobert Maler, Désiré Charnay, Alfred Maudslay, Manuel Gamio, and Alfonso Caso.

The purpose of this course is to explore the diversity offered by drawing and graphics based on practice, regardless of whether the workshop attendees have had previous experience with the technique or not. Different exponents of this wonderful technique will be known, such as José Guadalupe Posada, Leopoldo Méndez, Julio Ruelas, Adolfo Mexiac, among other great masters of Mexican graphics. During this workshop, non-toxic, direct techniques will be developed, such as drypoint, linocut, woodcut, which can even be combined with other plastic techniques that, combined with artistic vision, will allow the Spanish-speaking student to learn spanish vocabulary related to the artistic world. Within the graphics, they will be able to experiment with various materials that are not so common in the making of a print, such as tetra pack containers, styrofoam, CDs, among others, and they will play a bit with the inks at the time of printing, to carry out interesting works that the student can make part of their artwork. At the end, it is intended to hold a group exhibition in which the works produced, the printing plates, and the process carried out for their realization will be exhibited. Don't miss this unique opportunity to enjoy this distinctive art!

In this course, we will briefly review the history of Catalonia prior to the 19th century, to focus on the period from 1830 to 1930, during which the current Catalan identity was forged. During this time, Catalonia reclaimed an idealized past and, thanks to the industrial revolution, became the economic powerhouse of Spain and a gateway to the rest of Europe. We will explore the revival of the Catalan language as a symbol of identity (the Renaixença), the emergence of autonomous politics, social conflicts, and the booming economic growth reflected in the modernist architecture so closely associated with Catalonia. Course modules will cover topics such as geographical and historical backgrounds, the fall of the city walls, the Renaixença, the industrial revolution, the fallout from the 1898 crisis, and figures like Gaudí, among others.

This workshop offers Spanish students a space to develop, discuss, and contrast critical opinions in Spanish on different current topics. Participants will receive, before each class, material (a newspaper article, a radio or television news) that will serve as a premise to explore, analyze, and debate current social and cultural realities belonging to different Spanish-speaking countries. Each class will be preceded by a resource section to develop opinions and argue ideas (vocabulary and expressions, syntactic structures, connectors, oral and written examples of critical opinion) and some activities for controlled practice. The presenter will act as a moderator, inviting students to apply the resources seen, to argue their own opinion, show agreement and disagreement, qualify their own or others' opinions, infer ideas from factual information and connect them with similar news (presentation of additional material) or broader phenomena. Among the topics to be addressed are the dispute between Colombia and Spain over the remains of the San José galleon, the difficult construction of peace in Colombia, the migratory crisis between Venezuela and Colombia, the letter sent by López Obrador to Spain demanding an apology for the crimes of the conquest era, or the failure of the constitutional reform project in Chile.

This course is an exciting journey through the rich festive traditions of Mexico. From the colorful celebrations of "Día de Muertos" to the religious celebration of "La Virgen de Guadalupe", and the "Celebración de los XV años" or the festivals of "La Guelaguetza" in Oaxaca, these are some of the vibrant festivities we will explore, which are part of the cultural diversity and joy that define some of Mexico's main celebrations. Throughout the course, we will learn about the history, significance, and practices associated with each celebration. We will discover the colorful decorations, lively music, delicious food, and exciting activities that make these festivities unique in the world. Whether you're interested in culture, history, or simply want to immerse yourself in the joy of Mexican celebrations, this course will take you on an unforgettable journey filled with tradition and folklore. We hope you'll join us to explore and celebrate Mexico's vibrant traditions together!