Representing Spanish Speakers

Catalog description

The goal of Representing Spanish Speakers, formerly Spanish for Lawyers, is to give students the opportunity to enhance existing Spanish communication skills through Spanish only in-class simulations with a focus on cultural humility and trauma-informed interviewing skills within the legal sphere. The course will introduce Spanish legal terminology in areas including but not limited to immigration, criminal law, employment law, housing law, and family law. With an emphasis on speaking and listening comprehension through in-class partner activities and dialogue, the class will teach students how to interact with clients who possess limited English proficiency. Students will also be given reading and listening homework assignments to help better their command of the Spanish language. Class instruction will take place principally in the Spanish language. The course is designed to be beneficial for students with varying levels of Spanish language ability, up to and including students who are native speakers of Spanish. The level of difficulty of the course presupposes that students have an intermediate level of Spanish, which includes an understanding of the essentials of Spanish grammar and ability to engage in intermediate conversation. Elements used in grading are attendance and class participation. Please note, this class will expose students to emotionally complex and sensitive scenarios.