The Study of Spanish
Why Study Spanish at Texas Wesleyan?
At Texas Wesleyan we offer small classes and personal attention to all our students. Additionally, Wesleyan boasts a diverse student body that is comprised of approximately 13% Hispanic men and women on our historic campus alone. This diversity offers beginning Spanish students a wonderful opportunity to acquisition and mingle with heritage speakers of the language. Students who major in Spanish and are already fluent or practically fluent in the language can take an assessment exam and received credit for up to nine out of the required 36 hours for major (24 for a minor).
A major in Spanish at Texas Wesleyan allows students to develop fluency in written and spoken Spanish and gain an understanding of the literature and culture of the Hispanic world. Elementary and intermediate courses sharpen student's skills and prepare them for advanced study of the language and of major Spanish-language literary works.
The President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies has warned that monolingualism has weaken Americans' ability to operate effectively in today's international economy and has put them at a disadvantage in the worldwide marketplace. For professional--if not for personal and cultural--reasons, learning an additional language is important.
Mastering the Spanish language can be of special importance in today's global economy. Por que? Because Spanish is spoken by approximately 400 million people in 21 countries, including the U.S. and most of our neighboring countries in Latin America. In fact, the Hispanic population in the United States alone has grown by 60% in just one decade. The 39 million Hispanics currently living in the U.S. make up almost 15% of the population. Clearly, having the ability to communicate with 155of the population in either English or Spanish increases a person's opportunities for professional, personal, and cultural growth.
Students are encouraged to enhance their knowledge of Hispanic language and culture by studying in a Spanish-speaking country through our International Programs Office. For more information, please contact Betsy Johnson at 817-531-4965 or ejohnson@txwes.edu. Skills gained from the major set the stage for a host of opportunities after graduation, including graduate work in the language and its literature, teaching the language, translating or interpreting, and working with Spanish-speaking public in a variety of roles and professions.
Graduates may also enter the fields of international business, state or federal government, social services and a number of paraprofessional occupations in the areas of medicine and law.
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