Conexiones- Spain

Academics

Conexiones-Spain requires students to enroll in 12 credit hours: six (6) credit hours in UHON, with three (3) in 301 and three (3) in 401; and six (6) credit hours in SPAN, with three (3) in either 201, 301, or 429 at the Universidad de Extremadura and three (3) in 301 from UNM.

UHON 301: Conexiones students will complete the pre-requisite reading assignments prior to the field session. Ethnographic methods have always been central to the Conexiones approach, and all coursework emphasizes an experiential approach, whether it is through interviews that the students carry out with their host families and others in our study sites, or the tours on site that they prepare for their fellow students. The focus in the Spain program is the historical connection between the region of Spain of our field site (Extremadura) and the Southwestern United States. In particular, the students study the changing occupation of the space in our field site and the adaptation of these spaces to modern times. The small university city of Cáceres serves as a mini-lab where different cultures, languages, and religions have been present. 



A cornerstone of the Conexiones program is the Cuaderno, a culture-study workbook consisting of experiential assignments created by adapting ethnographic methods for undergraduates learning a second language and culture and is adapted to different Spanish-speaking countries. The Cuaderno provides the curriculum for culture study. Students use and practice their language skills to complete their Cuaderno study assignments and the Spanish faculty uses the Cuaderno as a source of content and discourse in their language classes. 



In addition to the Cuaderno assignments, students will also have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge by engaging in field research across Spain by conducting oral history projects. This field research will provide Conexiones students the opportunity to engage directly with Spanish citizens to enhance their Spanish language skills, research methodologies, and cross-cultural communication, among others



UHON 401/403: This course is part of a summer study abroad program taught in Cáceres, Spain. Students will live and study in Cáceres for the first four weeks of this course and complete the second four weeks online. Conexiones Spain explores the history of colonialism in Spain’s history. During this course we visit various cities in the Extremadura region of Spain, discuss the various social groups that occupied the region, and examine the social and political constructions of race, gender, language, and religion, specifically. We then move to discuss Spanish settler colonialism of the Americas so as to examine the historical relationship between oppressors and resisters and the development of contemporary society, particularly in New Mexico. We will investigate Spanish and Indigenous perspectives, in particular, to analyze the effects of settler colonialism in New Mexico. This will ask us to reflect on changes in and to Cáceres and Extremadura as well as New Mexico. This course requires students to interrogate their social position as a University of New Mexico student studying in Spain to critically reflect on their identity and social position.



This summer the course will be offered as a 401, but the course has been proposed to the UNM curriculum committee as a 403. It is our hope that with this new course number, we can also apply for UNM GDI credit, making this the first possible GDI course for the Honors College.



SPAN 201, 301, or 439: The language instruction for the 2019 program in Spain will be carried out by faculty from the Instituto de Español como Lengua Extranjera of the Instituto de Lenguas Modernas, Universidad de Extremadura, in Cáceres, Spain. Credits will be transferred to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at UNM. Spanish instruction will be coordinated by Dr. Anna Nogar of the UNM Department of Spanish and Portuguese, who will oversee placement into appropriate courses and monitor & evaluate progress. 



SPAN 301: Dr. Anna Nogar will teach the SPAN 301 Spanish Conversation course. Students will register for this class at UNM. The Spanish conversation classes will be taught by Dr. Nogar. Additionally, students deepen their language and cultural studies in home stays with local families.