Spanish Language Immersion Program (SPAN)

 

A Word About the Program

Fluidos en Espanol
Fluent in Spanish
The Spanish Language Immersion Program

Bienvenidos a Fluidos en Espanol, welcome to the Spanish language immersion program at the Northern New Mexico Community College in El Rito, N.M. Committed to the attainment of proficient levels of comprehension, spoken fluency, reading and writing by a varied and discerning public, the college has designed a rich, pleasurable and effective program of Spanish language acquisition and cultural appreciation that is without equal. To this end, it has drawn together masterful teachers and inspired teaching methods and materials. Going a step further for the student, it embeds them in an unforgettable experience of northern New Mexico’s ancient Indo-Hispano culture and its magnificent landscape.

As the processes of globalization, international travel and mass migrations of peoples across borders continue, more and more people from every imaginable profession and walk of life are finding it advantageous and even necessary to know Spanish and to know it well and with immeasurable self-assurance.

The Fluidos en Espanol program has been tailored to meet the needs of a variety of people, their interests, professions, and levels of proficiency. Throughout every month of the year there are a series of week-long intensive language learning sessions for beginning, intermediate, and native speakers as well as for educators. Beginning Sunday evenings at 3:00 p.m., and running until the following Saturday at 3:00 p.m., the sessions take place in the peaceful and bucolic college campus amid great trees and buildings of historic importance. In the evenings, students are invited to attend public lectures, musical programs, films and short visits to artists’ studios. Lodging and meals are provided at an affordable price for those coming from out of town. Every month also, weekend refresher courses are offered for alumni of the language program. The tuition for the week long course is a modest $116.50 per person and $55.50 for the refresher courses. Instructional materials are provided at an additional cost of $20.00.

Classes are intensely interactive and as a result, are limited in size with never more than a dozen students. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early in order to reserve their spot.

Beginning Spanish classes or Espanol para Principiantes focuses on learning the sounds of the language, correct pronunciation, cognates and other vocabulary useful to every day life, the use of the definite and indefinite articles, personal pronouns, ser and estar, and regular verbs in the present, past and imperfect tenses. A special emphasis is placed on conversation with some grasp of reading and writing.

Intermediate Spanish or Espanol Intermediario builds on students’ past knowledge and experience by introducing small gems of Spanish and Latin American literature in the forms of poetry and short stories. It also seeks to dramatically increase individuals’ vocabularies and mastery of the parts of speech and facility in verb usage in all tenses. Conversation around compelling subjects of common interest is a mainstay.

Spanish for regional native speakers or Espanol para Hispanohablantes de la Region builds dramatically on the preexisting knowledge of the language imparted in the home and community. Students will be taught how the vernacular Spanish of the region is both the same but different from standard Spanish or Castellano. An emphasis will be placed on correct grammatical usage of the language, and on an exponential increase of vocabulary. Participants will be exposed to the highlights of Spanish and Latin American literature.

Spanish for teachers or Espanol para Maestros is designed to prepare teachers to pass the four skills Spanish examination that stresses comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Discussions in Spanish will center on the special needs and challenges faced by Spanish-speaking children and the kinds of strategies that are most effective for increasing their levels of learning.
Other courses with yet other needs in mind are in the process of being developed by the college. We hope however, that these offerings suit your particular needs and wants.

For further information please contact El Rito Campus at 505-581-4100 or 505-581-4120.


Comments by students include:

“Excellent program, outstanding instructor. This was definitely a 10 + experience.” Richard Jarvis, the University of Oregon Chancellor, and Beginning Spanish student, summer 2004.

“The instructor and instructional methods were extremely inspiring, and I am strongly motivated to continue these studies.” Intermediate Spanish student, fall 2004

“My experience in this course far exceeded my expectations.” Intermediate Spanish student fall 2004