Are you interested in learning Spanish, or in improving your Spanish-language skills? Would you like to study the culture, literature, and even the business practices of the Hispanic sector of the global community? Does the prospect of studying in Mexico or Spain appear on your wish list? Do you thrive in small classes, in a challenging but family-like atmosphere? If your answer to these questions is affirmative, you may want to consider joining us at Hollins!
The Curriculum
Hollins offers a wide variety of courses in Spanish. In addition to classes on Hispanic literatures, we teach Business Spanish, Advanced Conversation and Composition, Advanced Grammar, Culture and Civilization of Spain and Latin America, Special Topics courses, and a Senior Seminar.
Students in beginning, intermediate, and conversation/composition classes meet once a week for an hour in small groups with our language assistant (LINK) for additional practice in conversational Spanish. The assistant also offers a language table once a week during lunch that is open to the Hollins community.
Internships
Internships have been very popular among Spanish students. A few examples include the Chamber of Commerce in San José, Costa Rica, the American Embassy in Mexico City, and the Institute of International Education in New York City. One year a student went to Bolivia to research how businesses operate in that country, and another year a student went to Honduras with a medical team to serve as a translator and to make a documentary of the experience. Students have worked as translators and interpreters for Refugee Services both during Short Term and the academic year. Other individuals have elected to spend Short Term in language institutes in Spanish-speaking countries for a month-long immersion course (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain). During the school year, several of our students have volunteered to teach Spanish to third graders in the Roanoke public schools and have also worked with first graders at a local elementary school.
Casa Hispánica and the Spanish Club
The Spanish House was established in 1993 in order to give students an opportunity to practice Spanish outside of the classroom setting and to learn more about the Hispanic world. Each resident is required to sign a pledge at the beginning of the academic year vowing to speak only Spanish while in common areas of the house.
Over the past three years, the Spanish House has been active in promoting things Hispanic in the Hollins community. The residents work closely with the members of Spanish Club to offer programs on various cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world.
Last year, the residents opened several Sunday night coffee houses to members of the community. Among other things, individuals from various Latin American countries gave informal talks about their native lands.
Admissions
Visitor Information
Contact Admissions
Hollins University • P.O. Box 9707 • Roanoke, VA 24020-1707 • (800) 456-9595 • www.hollins.edu