CM 327 - Language, Culture and Communication: the Spanish Perspective

This course has been designed to provide students with key elements to understand Spain today, the different ways Spaniards live and how their identity is defined. Students are able to explore the relationship between culture, communication and language in a multilingual and multicultural society. We study different language functions and learn to use communication as a tool for greater cultural understanding in a foreign country. The course also analyses the concept of culture and cultural identity and it discusses perceptions of time, society, food, sports, family, religion and values in Spain. Spanish news reports will be compared to reports from Spanish and European media groups to compare different perspectives on Spanish current affairs. Some basic communication theory is presented and websites and sites of cultural interest are visited. All this adventure is seen also through new digital media and “mediums” as podcasts, videos, social media, the new global media that is transforming our world.