Course Descriptions
This page lists descriptions for some of our Literature & Special Topic courses available during the current and upcoming semesters. For a list of all available SPAN/PORT courses, please visit the Catalog linked below:
Fall 2025
Spanish
SPAN 302: The Spanish Inquisition
Crosslisted with HIST 325 / JWSH 315
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:15
View Course Description (.pdf)
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
A broad historical study of the Inquisition in Spain and the Americas from 1478 to its afterlife in today's popular culture and film. Topics include anti-Semitism, the use of torture, censorship, adultery, and sexuality.
Assessment will be based on quizzes, participation, mid-term and final exams and two papers. The course readings are in English and the course is taught in English. No prior knowledge of the topic is required.
Co-taught by Professors Luis Corteguera (History, lcortegu@ku.edu) and Patricia Manning (Spanish & Portuguese, pwmannin@ku.edu)
Instructor: Antônio R.M. Simões, Professor
Office: WES 2638
Phone: 785.864-0285
Department: Phone: 785-864-3851
E-mail: asimoes@ku.edu
Class Place: Wescoe 4019
Class ID number: 17535
Class Time: MW 3:30PM – 4:45PM
Department’s page: https://spanport.ku.edu/people/antonio-roberto-monteiro-simoes
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
View Course Description (.pdf)
Description:
SPAN 429 offers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary Spanish pronunciation (Phonetics and Phonology) through interactive lectures and student-centered activities. Students engage in critical readings to grasp the fundamental concepts of Spanish sound formation and phonological processes in authentic contexts, enhancing their listening and speaking skills. The course delves into regional characteristics of Spanish pronunciation, fostering discussions in Spanish and emphasizing regular attendance.
New components include:
- Podcast Production: Students create a Spanish pronunciation podcast series based on the course material, honing their research, scripting, and audio recording skills.
- Virtual Reality Speaking Labs: VR labs provide immersive Spanish-speaking environments for students to practice pronunciation interactively, receiving instant feedback. This component is still being developed.
- Pronunciation Clinics: Personalized feedback sessions and spectrogram analysis help students refine their pronunciation, focusing on individual improvement areas.
- Peer Teaching Workshops: Students lead mini-lessons on phonetic and phonological topics, promoting collaborative learning and reinforcing concepts through peer instruction.
Through these components, students not only deepen their understanding of Spanish pronunciation but also develop practical skills essential for effective communication—whether in Spanish or any other language. While discussions use mainstream Spanish pronunciation as a reference point, they also explore the major regional varieties (or 'dialects') of Spanish, promoting respect for linguistic diversity while acknowledging the pedagogical value of adopting a conventional standard.
Jewish Latin America: Literary Representations of 16th Century Sephardim in New Spain, Cuba, and Brazil
Fall 2025 | MWF 10:00AM - 10:50AM | Wescoe 4012
Instructor: Mira-Briana Haydu
Crosslisted as JWSH 300 / SPAN 447 / LAC 302
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
What does it mean to be a Cuban Jew, Mexican Jew, and Brazilian Jew today? How much of these identities are rooted in Sephardic immigration during the 16th century? Authors throughout Latin America are grappling with these questions and producing historically accurate literature in an attempt to better understand themselves and the communities that they are part of. This course will be focusing on contemporary literary productions from Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil in tandem with the histories they reproduce, revise, and recount. Doing so will allow us to explore how much of Cuban, Mexican, and Brazilian identities (national, ethnic, religious) are, in fact, still rooted in the countries’ early colonial past, and why it is so important to recover them.
This class may be used for elective credit in the Spanish major. It does not fulfill the major requirement of a 400-level literature course on Latin America, nor does it fulfill the Spanish minor requirement of a 400-level literature course. At the instructor’s discretion, students enrolling in SPAN 477 may be asked to complete written assignments in Spanish.
Reading Gabriel García Márquez’s Cien años de soledad from Discovering Ice in the Tropics to Apocalyptic Universality
Fall 2025 | MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM | Wescoe 4075
Instructor: Prof. Santiago Rozo Sánchez
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
In this course we will read one of the paradigmatic examples of the literary masterpiece in the 20th century. A novel that garnered universal acclaim from all segments of the public –from, the People, to the academy, to Oprah– and stages how an idea, a subject, a world becomes universal. Besides rigorously reading the entire masterpiece in Spanish – and several pieces of groundbreaking literary criticism and theory [yes, this will be a reading intensive course] – we will explore García Márquez’s work as a model that builds a total worldly reality from the global south. A model where so called ‘magical realism’ is not magical, but instead a Colombian model of realism that anchors the universality of the Colombian, the Latin American, and the Global Southern subject, contesting the othered position where it has been traditionally placed by the West.
Fall 2025
Spanish 540: Colloquium on Hispanic Studies
TTh, 11:00 AM–12:15 PM, Wescoe 2600
Course ID # 20346
Prof. I. J. Rivera
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
View Course Description (.pdf)
"El Cid in Art and Legend in Spanish Culture from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth-First Century"
This course will focus on the Poema de mio Cid and its afterlife in Iberian culture. The poem narrates the adventure of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as "El Cid," a powerful warrior-knight whose exploits become the centerpiece of countless legends, historical writings, and, in recent times, cinematic adventures. This course will explore the various depictions and representation of "El Cid," from the earliest manifestations in history and epic poetry to more recent versions in movies, comic books, popular novels, and art objects.
Readings and other course resources will help students to explore the cultural negotiation of legend, history, and the construction of national identity through the figure of Rodrigo. The class work will give students opportunities to learn about Spain’s cultural heritage and the influences that shape the evolution of this cultural figure. The required work will include analytical essays, oral presentation, and a final research project.
Reading list:
- Poema de mio Cid
- Mocedades de Rodrigo
- Berend, El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary
- Castro, Las mocedades del Cid
- Pozo, El Cid: Leyenda (filme 2003)
- Mann, El Cid (filme 1961)
- Navarro Durán, El Cid contado a los niños
- Pérez-Reverte, Sidi
Prerequisite: SPAN 424 and six hours of 400-level Spanish literature courses
For more information about the course, contact Prof. Rivera at ijrivera@ku.edu
Graduate Courses:
Spanish Civil War & Memory
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
University of Kansas
Fall 2025
Tuesdays 4:00-7:00 pm, Wescoe 2600
Professor Margot Versteeg
Office: 2616 Wescoe Hall
Office hours: by appointment
Email: Versteeg@ku.edu
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
View Course Description (.pdf)
DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CURSO:
La Guerra civil española (1936-39) fue sin duda el episodio más dramático y transcendental en la historia de España en el siglo XX. Tuvo un inmenso impacto nacional pero también repercusiones internacionales. Para los españoles, este evento traumático determinó su experiencia de la modernidad. Para numerosos hombres y mujeres de fuera de España fue un momento importante en la lucha contra el fascismo.
Después de la sangrente contienda, la Guerra civil ha inspirado gran número de artefactos culturales (narrativa, poesía, teatro, carteles, tebeos, fotografía, películas, documentales, canciones, etc.).
En este curso indagamos cómo estos diferentes productos culturales creados en el curso de los años representan los eventos violentos y traumáticos, y cómo los autores, pero también historiadores, cineastas y fotógrafos, durante la guerra, la posguerra y después, ajustaron cuentas con la guerra, la dictadura de Franco y la Transición.
Literary and Critical Theory in Spanish and Portuguese Studies
Fall 2025 | Wednesdays 4:30–7:00 pm | Wescoe 2600
Instructor: Prof. Luciano Tosta
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
This graduate-level course offers an in-depth exploration of key literary and critical theories as they intersect with the study of Spanish and Portuguese languages literatures. Paying attention to theoreticians from the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds, students will engage with foundational and contemporary theoretical frameworks, including structuralism, poststructuralism, deconstruction, postcolonial studies, gender and critical race theories, and decolonial thought, to analyze texts from the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and Luso-Africa. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how these theories inform the interpretation of literary works and cultural artifacts within their historical, social, and political contexts.
Through close readings, critical discussions, and research projects, students will develop the analytical tools necessary to interrogate issues such as identity, power, coloniality, and resistance in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cultures. The course is designed to foster interdisciplinary approaches while encouraging students to apply theoretical perspectives to their own scholarly work. Readings will include texts by theorists such as Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Gayatri Spivak, Homi Bhabha, Sylvia Wynter, and Aníbal Quijano, as well as theoretical works by Silviano Santiago, Ángel Rama, Antonio Cândido, Boaventura de Sousa Santos, Néstor García Canclini, and José Carlos Mainer. Works by creative writers such as José Maria Arguedas, Jorge Icaza, Maria Firmina dos Reis, Jorge Amado, Elena Fortún, Lídia Jorge, António Lobo Antunes, and Paulina Chiziane will be analyzed. Students are expected to write weekly response papers, a midterm and final paper, and to give an oral presentation on one theoretical text and another on a fictional work.
TAUGHT IN ENGLISH.
Instructor: Luciano Tosta, PhD
Wednesdays, 4:30 to 7:00pm, Wescoe 2600
SPAN 801: Teaching Spanish in Institutions of Higher Learning
Fall 2025 | Mondays 4:30pm – 7:00pm | Wescoe 2600
Instructor: Prof. Amy Rossomondo
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
Required of all teaching assistants who teach beginning Spanish at the University of Kansas for the first time. Instruction in classroom procedures for first year Spanish, demonstration of teaching techniques, and survey of current methodology.
Course overview from syllabus:
We require incoming Spanish instructors to take SPAN 801 so that they will understand how we teach here at KU, and why we teach this way.
The first part of the course is intended as a general overview of communicative, task-based language instruction and an introduction to processing instruction and how it can be applied the Spanish courses that you are teaching. This overview will consist of exploring proven teaching methods and practices, as well as the theory and research that inform them. We will also dedicate portions of our class meetings to discussing and preparing for the course that you are teaching and other topics that are immediately applicable to your experience as an instructor in our program for the first time.
In the second part of the course we will turn our attention toward foreign language instruction beyond the introductory level. We will explore content-based instruction in a variety of manifestations, curricular design and measurement, critical pedagogies, the role of Open Educational Resources (OER) and technology in foreign language (FL) instruction, online instruction, as well as the relationship between language and culture and form and meaning from a pedagogical perspective.
The final part of the course will be dedicated to applying this learning to the realization of an in-depth pedagogical project.
SPAN 801 is also an opportunity for you to work closely with your fellow instructors and with me.
The approach, assignments and projects for the seminar are designed to foster collaboration and reflection, both hallmarks of effective teaching and scholarship. We utilize the tools available in Canvas to facilitate this collaboration so that you gain hands-on experience with the available technology at KU; after this experience you should feel comfortable employing these tools in your own classes.
Performance Studies in Spain and the Americas
Seminar | Fall 2025 | Thursdays 5:00 - 7:30 pm | Wescoe 2600
Professors: Day & Margot Versteeg (Coordinator)
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
SPAN 940 is an intensive seminar on Latin American, Latinx, and Spanish theater and performance. A series of KU professors from Spanish and Portuguese and other departments will allow students to research and write on a variety of topics. The seminar will include several guest lectures. This course is designed by professors Day and Versteeg. Professor Versteeg is the coordinator and professor of record for the course.
Students will read a variety of primary sources and critical and theoretical texts as assigned by the different instructors. Readings will be complemented by numerous short videos of plays, performances, and interviews with a variety of people in the field of performance studies. The course includes one live performance (as available).
Assessment
Students will write a number of short response papers. An original term paper of a topic related to the course and your research interests, will be developed and peer-edited. We will focus on the process of writing and therefore will “workshop” several components (thesis, introductory paragraph, bibliography, penultimate draft) of your final essay.
Portuguese
PORT 104: Elementary Brazilian Portuguese I
Instructor: Ana Laura Marques
Fall 2025: MTuWThF 09:00 - 09:50 AM, WES 1015
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
Unlock the world of Brazilian Portuguese! Are you ready to dive into Brazilian culture and language? Join our Portuguese Language Course and start your journey today!
What You'll Learn:
- Master essential vocabulary and grammar
- Develop your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills
- Experience dynamic classes entirely in Portuguese!
Why You Should Join:
- Active participation makes learning fun and rewarding
- Emphasis on conversation to get you speaking confidently
- Meet new friends and immerse yourself in the Brazilian way of life!
Don't miss out - it's time to speak, learn and connect in Portuguese. Vamos lá!
PORT 177: First Year Seminar: "The Amazon: Environmental Issues Through Literature and Film"
Professor Luciano Tosta
Fall 2025: TuTh 12:30 - 01:45 PM FR 113
PORT 212: Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese I
Instructor: Ana Laura Marques
Fall 2025: MWF 10:00 - 10:50 AM FR 214
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
Take your Portuguese skills to the next level! Ready to level up your Brazilian Portuguese? This course is designed for those looking to deepen their knowledge and perfect their skills in reading, writing, and conversation.
What You'll Get:
- Refine your grammar and vocabulary for real-world use
- Improve your ability to discuss personal, academic, and cultural topics in Portuguese
- Practice speaking with confidence and precision, supported by notes & prep
Learning Outcomes:
- Interact in Portuguese, exchanging ideas on a variety of topics
- Discuss class content and personal research with great accuracy and fluency
- Gain a richer understanding of Lusophony and its global culture
Ready to talk, write, and engage in Portuguese? Join us today!
PORT 611: Accelerated Brazilian Portuguese for Spanish Speakers I
Instructor: Ana Laura Marques
Fall 2025: MW 03:30 - 04:45 PM, WES 4011
View on Schedule of Classes for Fall 2025
Bridge the gap between Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese!
Calling all Spanish speakers! Are you curious about the fascinating differences between Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish? This course is designed to help you master the distinctions and gain a deeper understanding of both languages.
What You'll Explore:
- Dive into phonology and morphology differences between Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese
- Learn to tackle common linguistic challenges faced by Spanish speakers
- Examine how language and culture intersect in Brazil
Why It's Worth It:
- Explore cultural aspects of Brazil and see how language shapes identity and society
- Open the door to research opportunities in Portuguese-language studies, linguistics, sociolinguistics, and Brazilian cultural studies
- Classes are taught in Portuguese - perfect for deepening your fluency and comprehension
Expand your academic journey and deepen your connection to Brazil's language and culture. Ready to take the next step?
Spring 2025
SPAN 325: Spanish for Heritage Learners
Professor Araceli Masterson-Algar, aracelimasterson@ku.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2.30-3:45pm, 102 Bailey Hall
Crosslisted with AMS325/LAC 302
¿Creciste escuchando español en casa?
¿Hablas español con tu familia? ¿Es el español tu lengua materna?
If you responded yes to any of the above questions, this course is designed for you!
SPAN 325/AMS 325/LAC 302 is a culturally rooted Spanish course centered in students whose personal or cultural ties to the language do not necessarily include extensive formal academic study. SPAN 325/AMS 325 fulfills the same requirement as SPAN 324 and also counts towards the Chicanx and Latinx Studies and Latin American Studies minors.
SPAN 442: Natural Wonder: Constructing Knowledge of the Natural World through the Literatures and Cultures of Latin America
Professor Sean Gullickson
Spring 2025
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
Humanity and the natural world are inextricably connected. No technological, cultural or civic achievement will ever fully separate us from nature – or nature from us. This connection is at its strongest in Latin America. From the Atacama Desert to the Amazon Rainforest, the beaches of the Caribbean to the Tierra del Fuego, this course will center the role that nature has played and continues to play in the literatures, cultures and societies of South and Central America. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we will explore such topics as indigenous perspectives and forms of knowledge, land rights and related disputes, corporate and governmental “greenwashing,” fast fashion and waste, and “cli-fi,” science fiction with a focus on climate. Students will be encouraged to make productive connections with their other areas of study and more deeply explore their own relationship(s) with the natural world throughout the semester.
SPAN 443: Fictionalizing the Spanish Empire in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
Professor Patricia Manning
Spring 2025
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
SPAN 443 will analyze the cultural dynamics in the US and Spain in the 20th and 21st centuries that motivate particular representations of the Spanish empire.
At present, the Spanish right fondly looks back on Spain’s imperial age as an idyllic era. Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s El capitán Alatriste series, along with Pérez-Reverte’s media presence, has helped cultivate this nostalgic-and erroneous-celebration of Spain’s empire as a golden age of masculinity and “Spanish values.” (We will study the meaning of the latter phrase).
Along with the first novel in Pérez-Reverte’s YA series, we will read a number of texts that contradict this worldview. We will begin with selections from the autobiography of seventeenth-century Spanish soldier Antonio de Erauso, who was born Catalina de Erauso and fled life as a nun to join the army, a novella by best-selling seventeenth-century writer María de Zayas and selections from Herminia Luque’s 2015 historical novel Amar tanta belleza about Zayas and other seventeenth-century female writers.
Decades before Pérez-Reverte and Luque fictionalized the Spanish empire in their historical novels, writers in the US also reflected on Spain’s empire and focused on its Black writers and artists. During the Harlem Renaissance, Arturo Alfonso Shomburg brought attention to Juan Latino, a Black Latin teacher and author in sixteenth-century Spain. We’ll read a translated selection of Latino’s poetry. Decades later, Elizabeth Borton de Treviño’s 1965 YA novel Yo, Juan de Pareja, which we’ll read in her son’s 1994 Spanish translation, fictionalized the life of Juan de Pareja, an enslaved painter who worked with Diego de Velázquez.
We’ll also consider how Ilan Stavans’ Spanish 2018 comic book Don Quixote of La Mancha treats the moments in Cervantes’ novel that relate to Spain’s empire.
Evaluation will be based on participation, a presentation (likely in pairs), short writing assignments, an in-class exam and a final research project.
Course texts will be available as reserves in Watson Library if students prefer not to purchase them.
Spanish 453: Twentieth Century Spanish Studies
Poets and Singer-songwriters
Professor Jonathan Mayhew
Spring 2025
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
This course is devoted to musical versions of the work of poetry of canonical figures such San Juan de la Cruz, Luis de Góngora, Rosalía de Castro, Antonio Machado, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Pablo Neruda, Federico García Lorca, and Miguel Hernández. This phenomenon is especially important in flamenco music, but occurs in other genres as well, from classical to pop.
Composers and performers to be studied include Manuel de Falla, Federico García Lorca, Luigi Nono, Germaine Montero, Leonard Cohen, Joan Manuel Serrat, Paco Ibáñez, Amancio Prada, Camarón de la Isla, Enrique and Estrella Morente, Carmen Linares, and Miguel Poveda.
This is a significant topic for three main reasons. (1) In quantitative terms, there is a lot of material to be studied. (2) The poets whose work have been set to music are among the most celebrated figures of twentieth century literature. (3) From a comparative perspective, the work of peninsular musicians can be linked to the Chanson Française [French Song], the Nueva Canción Latinoamericana, and similar movements bridging the gap between canonical literature and popular culture. Since this phenomenon has not received much academic attention to date, the possibilities for original research are promising.
SPAN 461. Getting Sick: Health, Infrastructure, and Literary representations in the Spanish Speaking World
Professor Ninel Valderrama Negrón
Spring 2025
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
This interdisciplinary course will examine the relationships between health and infrastructure as depicted in novels, short stories, poems, and visual culture set in the Global Hispanophone city. You will examine how literature reflects societal concerns about health and infrastructure, with an emphasis on the portrayal of public health crises, urban settings, and problems across the nineteenth century. You will investigate the historical and contemporary implications of these themes, analyzing works on topics such as healthcare accessibility, the consequences of urbanization, and the representation of marginalized populations. Readings will be mostly from Spanish literary sources but will also include academic papers and book chapters. In this 8-week seminar, students will do research, propose, and develop a digital portfolio that will be used as the primary assessment for the seminar.
Course conducted in Spanish and may be repeated for credit as the topic varies. Prerequisite: SPAN 340 or consent of instructor. A grade of "C" or better in SPAN 340 is strongly recommended for students enrolling in this course.
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Kansas
SPAN 570 – Studies in Hispanic Linguistics: Social & Dialectal Variation
CROSS-LISTED WITH LAC 501
Instructor: Antônio R.M. Simões, Professor
asimoes-AT-ku.edu (replace -AT- with @)
Phones: 785-864-0285, 785-864-3851
CLASS TIME: MW 12:30AM - 1:45PM
Place: Wescoe Building 4025
Office Hours: MW 2:00 – 3:30PM, or by appt
Line number: 48042
Textbook REQUIRED:
Gramática española: Variación social, Kim Potowski and Naomi Shin, Routledge, 2018 Paperback
Course description:Welcome to SPAN 570! Exploring Spanish grammar and usage in varied social contexts using with the help from AI technologies such as virtual, mixed and augmented realities!
This course is designed for both undergraduate and graduate students, aiming into probe the nuances of Spanish grammar in social and regional variation. We'll explore how Spanish grammar varies based on regions, social and cultural groups, socio-political contexts, and communication situations. Understanding this variation is essential for grasping concepts like prestigious and stigmatized forms of Spanish, viewed through both historical and contemporary lenses. Some of the features and what to expect from the course:
User-friendly access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT through Meta Pro headsets, featuring 360-degree videos and simulations from platforms like YouTube VR, Google Arts & Culture, National Geographic VR, and RoundMe—all readily accessible online.
Interactive presentations: Regular Powerpoint presentations with audio will help you enhance your spoken and written Spanish and develop self-repair skills for better language proficiency and confidence in public speaking.
Unique Learning: SPAN 570 covers aspects of Spanish not typically addressed in other courses. For instance, we'll explore the use of 'vos' instead of 'tú,' an equally common form in the Spanish language. We'll examine its historical development and the reasons it's sometimes overlooked in traditional language courses.
Understanding Diversity:
Discover why certain varieties of Spanish, like those spoken in parts of the Caribbean, are stigmatized. Examine how social class influences language use and how Spanish speakers adjust their speech according to social and geographical contexts. We’ll also explore attitudes toward linguistic practices in indigenous communities and other contexts, focusing on both stigmatized and prestigious forms of Spanish in bilingual and multilingual settings.
SPAN 785: Latin American Cinema from the Politics of Third Cinema to the Enjoyment of the Neoliberal Multiplex
Professor Santiago Rozo-Sánchez
Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
This course offers an introduction to Spanish-language fiction films from Latin America. It will trace a historical arc starting with the emergence of ‘new cinemas’ in the 1950-60s and culminating in the establishment of national cinematic industries by the 2020s. We will explore key concepts in national cinema, such as genre, the interplay between film and politics, how cinema shapes national and gender identities, modernization, and aspects of technique and cinematic language. The focus will primarily be on films from the two dominant industries in the Spanish-speaking world, Mexico and Argentina, while also highlighting notable works from other nations like, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Paraguay, Peru, Salvador, & Uruguay. Each week, we will analyze two or three films centered on a specific period or theme, featuring prominent directors such as, Luis Buñuel, Glauber Rocha, Tatiana Huezo, Patricio Guzmán, and Lucrecia Martel. The films will be paired with 2-3 academic articles.
SPAN 802 – How languages are learned
Professor Antônio R.M. Simões
Spring 2025
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
SPAN 802 is a dynamic graduate course designed to explore the intersection of theory and practice in language acquisition. This course offers students the opportunity to reflect on how languages are learned and how this knowledge can inform innovative teaching practices in today’s multilingual, multicultural classrooms.
“How Languages Are Learned” examines key theoretical frameworks of language learning/acquisition, with an emphasis on their application in real-world educational settings.
The course goes beyond traditional approaches by incorporating the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Humanities (DH) to create engaging, technologyenhanced learning environments.
In an increasingly globalized world, effective language teaching requires an understanding of how languages are learned/acquired in diverse, immersive environments. Through this course, students will explore tools such as virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), augmented reality (AR), and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, utilizing Meta Pro headsets, 360-degree videos, and simulations available on platforms like YouTube VR, Google Arts & Culture, National Geographic VR, and RoundMe. These tools, accessible on personal devices, will provide students with hands-on experience in the technologies shaping the future of language education.
PowerPoint-style presentations and collaborative projects will encourage students to develop creative strategies for assessing and improving language acquisition in a variety of contexts. The course fosters a spirit of innovation and peer collaboration, creating a supportive learning community.
Special guest lectures from experts in Digital Humanities and multicultural language teaching will enrich the course. Confirmed speakers include Professor John Ewan from KU and Professor Aline Germain- Rutherford from the University of Ottawa, in Canada], with a third guest speaker to be announced soon.
Whether you are interested in academic research, enhancing your teaching skills, or applying theoretical knowledge in practical settings, this course should equip you with the tools and insights needed to succeed in the evolving field of language education.
Main Bibliographical References
Required Textbook: How Languages are Learned (4th Edition) by Patsy M. Lightbown and Nina Spada, 2013.
Required Chapter: Sociocultural Theory and L2 Development, by James P. Lantolf, Matthew E. Poehner, and Steven L. Thorne in Theories in Second Language Acquisition: An Introduction (3rd edition), edited by Bill VanPatten and Jessica Williams, 2020, pp. 223-247.
Additional selected articles will be provided for supplementary readings and discussion.
Spanish 940: Seminar in Trans-Atlantic Literatures & Cultures:
TransAtlantic Celestina—From the Comedia de Calisto y Melibea (1499) to Los amores de Calisto, Melibea y la vieja Celestina (2013)
Prof. I. J. Rivera
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 -2:15 pm Wescoe 2600
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
Full Description Text:
“To carry things across the Atlantic always entails an element of danger, but also the possibility for alchemical transmutation,” -Tobias Boes
This seminar will focus on the transatlantic afterlife of Fernando de Rojas’s Comedia de Calisto y Melibea (Burgos: Fadrique de Basilea, 1499). The seminar will use González Echevarría’s Celestina´s Brood (1993) as a starting point to think critically about the ways in which Rojas´s Comedia emerges into the literary and cultural production of Latin American and Latinx communities. At the same time, we will explore the theoretical framework afforded by the lens of Transatlantic Studies as exemplified by the work of Tobias Boes and Robert Myers.
The course will follow a seminar format in which students will take an active role in structuring and planning essential aspects of the class. Each student will write one long analytical research paper on an original topic related to the course and will be responsible for oral reports on secondary materials and for directing one class session. The research paper should reflect the theoretical and research interests of the individual members of the seminar as they pertain to the Comedia and its reception within the transatlantic world.
The readings will include:
- Cancino, Los amores de Calisto, Melibea y la vieja Celestina [musical 2013]
- Escalona, Nacer contigo [televisión 2012]
- Fuentes, Aura [novela 1962]
- Mosquera, Manifiesto de Celestina [novela 1995]
- Muñiz-Huberman, Areúsa en los conciertos [novela 2002]
- Nin-Culmell, La Celestina [ópera 1976]
- Rivera, Cloud Tectonics [teatro 1995]
- Vera, La Celestina [cine 1996]
Familiarity with Rojas’s (Tragi)Comedia de Calisto y Melibea is a prerequisite for this seminar.
For more information, contact Prof. Rivera at ijrivera@ku.edu.
PORT 785: Special Topics in Brazilian Culture & Literature Studies
Afro-Latin American Cultures
Prof. Luciano Tosta
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 -2:15 pm Bailey 103 (Class #52557)
View on Schedule of Classes for Spring 2025
This is a survey course about the history of the Afro-descendant communities in Latin America with an emphasis on the cultural productions of these groups. We will analyze how Afro-descendants have represented themselves and been represented in literature, cinema, and music. We will also discuss how they have used art as a form of self- and political expression. Students will acquire a solid view of the history of race relations in countries such as Cuba, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, and understand the role that African identity has played in the formation of these national cultures.
Course crosslisted with PORT 347, AAAS 320, AAAS 723, GIST 501, & LAC 701