Language and Culture in Mexico:::

Language and Culture in Mexico

CEMANAHUAC SYLLABUS

Language and Culture in Mexico, the following course is offered annually, beginning in January, to individuals through Cemanahuac. It is also available to groups upon request. Suggested number of 3 to 5 credit hours.

Contact - For additional information about this program, please contact Charles P Goff at chaspgoff@yahoo.com.

The Program:

• Immersion Spanish (total 8 to 10 credits depending on level) and either Community Engagement In Mexico (including service-learning assignment, total 3, 4, or 5 credits) or Mesoamerican History (3 credits).
• Students willing to take on an extraordinarily heavy workload may petition to take both Community Engagement in Mexico (for 3 credits only) and Mesoamerican History (3 credits) in addition to the two Spanish courses (5 credits each).
• Residential living with Spanish-speaking host family.

Language and Culture in Mexico will integrate Spanish immersion and academics using a teaching method that emphasizes dialogue and experiential learning. Students will be expected to bring the life experiences they are having in Mexico into the language classroom as well as their other coursework in Mesoamerican History and, if they meet the one-year Spanish language prerequisite, the service-learning course, Community Engagement in Mexico.

Objectives of the Program:

• Increase Spanish fluency in all students.
• Provide an opportunity for students to live with host families both to experience Spanish immersion and everyday Mexican life.
• Help students develop an appreciation of Mexico’s past and present.
• Provide new perspective for students to view the USA in relation to Mexico.

Fulfillment of Program Objectives:

• All students will attend Cemanáhuac’s language immersion program and complete two semester Spanish courses during the Cuernavaca semester.
• All students will either complete Mesoamerican History or, for those students who have one year of college Spanish or it’s equivalent, the service-learning course, Community Engagement in Mexico.  Students may petition to take both Community Engagement in Mexico (for 3 credits) and Mesoamerican History.
• Students will live with Mexican host families.  Cemanáhuac has considerable experience with placement and a wide range of Mexican families from which to choose.
• Students will have the opportunity to take tours to Xochicalco, Cuicuilco & Teotihuacán, Cuernavaca, the Anthropology Museum, Buena Vista, and Historic Mexico City

The Course – Community Engagement in Mexico

Credits:  3,4, or 5  (See course description.)

Prerequisite: At least one year of college-level Spanish or the equivalent.

Course Instructor:            Charlie Goff

chaspgoff@yahoo.com

Office Hours:            Mondays 2-4pm, Thursdays 2-4pm.

Schedule of Classes: 3.5 hours/week Mondays 4-7:30

Service-learning schedule.  Participants will work out a service-learning schedule with their NGO supervisor.  Students taking the course for 3 credits will do a minimum of 8 hours/week, 4 credits a minimum of 10 hours/week, 5 credits a minimum of 12 hours/week.

Other activities: Tour to the Central Market, Walmart, Sam’s Club,  the local dump, a high school, Pequenos Hermanos, the Social Security Hospital, Chapultepec Park, and a barranca.  Tour to Buenavista, Visit in the homes of several affluent citizens.

Course materials:

Hellman, Judith Adler (1999).  Mexican Lives,  New York: New Press.

Assorted readings in course packet available upon arrival at Cemanáhuac.

Daily readings (in English) from local newspapers, political cartoons.  (Will be available in lobby of Cemanáhuac.)