Spanish at North Park University

Why Spanish?

In the future, different languages and cultures will increasingly impact our lives. In the Americas, Spanish and the Latino culture will have the greatest impact. Big business has recognized the importance of the Hispanic consumer and has invested heavily in Latin America.

Today, Spanish rivals English as the language of choice in the Americas. More than 300 million people speak Spanish, making it one of the largest markets for businesses and one of the most useful languages in the world for travel. In the past, learning Spanish used to be a way to open doors, but soon it will be a necessity. Employers are seeking applicants who can speak Spanish in nearly every profession, and the chances that your neighbors will speak Spanish are greater than their speaking any other foreign language.

The objective of the Spanish department at North Park is:

• to develop communicative proficiency in the skills of reading, writing, and speaking Spanish
• to develop a general familiarity with the social and political experience of Spanish-speaking cultures
• to develop a more in-depth understanding of the literature and culture of Mexico, Spain, or the Caribbean

Students who major in languages at North Park are exposed to three components of the study of a language:

• Linguistics—by graduation students can expect to speak, write, and read full-length works in their language majors)
• Culture—students are grounded in the customs and ways of life of another culture
• Intellectual/aesthetic—students develop an appreciation of foreign literature through poetry, novels, and films

Research skills necessary for graduate work in languages are also developed.