Five Reasons You Should Study Spanish
Written by Katie Kortepeter
Even though I’m a French major, I’ve started sitting at the Spanish table in the cafeteria every Friday. Because of the overlaps between French and Spanish, I can join in the conversation (albeit brokenly), and it’s a blast getting to know the Spanish majors better. Spanish is not only a beautiful Romance language, but it’s also spoken by a huge portion both of the U.S. and the rest of the world. Here are some of the best reasons to study Español at Hillsdale.
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Spanish-speaking community is tight-knit and hospitable. No language can exist on its own; it always goes hand-in-hand with a larger culture, and the culture and language influence each other. According to senior Spanish major Adam Kern, “No matter where you go in the Spanish-speaking world, you will find a way of life that is focused around community.” When he studied abroad in Seville, Spain, Adam encountered the Spanish people’s warm hospitality and family-centeredness firsthand. By learning Spanish, you’ll be able to more fully enjoy a vibrant culture characterized by tight-knit community.
Spanish classes at Hillsdale are varied and in-depth. Hillsdale’s Spanish department offers unique classes that can’t be found in other disciplines. Want to “get” all the jokes in Don Quixote? Read it in the original Spanish! Hillsdale offers an entire class on Cervantes’ masterwork, as well as other in-depth literature classes and a course on Latin American civilization and culture. There’s never a dull moment in the Spanish department.
Spanish is strategic. Can you count to ten in Spanish? Know the song “Feliz Navidad”? Chances are, you’ve already got some Spanish under your belt, and there’s a reason Spanish feels more familiar than other languages. Not only is there a lot of overlap between Spanish and English, but Hispanics are the United States’ largest minority, making up seventeen percent of the total population. Spanish is also the second most widely spoken language in the world. No matter where you end up, Spanish could very well be your key to everything from making great friendships to succeeding in the business world.
Studying abroad in the Hispanic world is fantástico. Hillsdale College partners with the Center for Cross-Cultural Study to give students the best study abroad experiences possible. Hillsdale students can go to Seville, Spain, or Córdoba, Argentina, to be immersed in the Spanish language and culture. While studying abroad, you can be part of a host family, take classes in education, art history, or even Spanish dance, and do an overseas internship as part of Hillsdale’s International Studies in Business and Foreign Language program. There’s nothing quite like chatting with your host mom as you help her cook dinner or standing on giant wooden mushrooms at the Metropol Parasol.
Hillsdale’s Spanish faculty is challenging but encouraging. The Spanish professors at Hillsdale are both knowledgeable and kind. The department’s chairwoman, Professor Sandra Puvogel, says, “Our Spanish professors represent an excellent mix of native and non-native speakers. All courses are taught in Spanish from 101 on up, by professors who are both demanding and encouraging.” Though the program is challenging, they are happy to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re chatting in office hours, asking tough questions in class, or connecting over fish tacos at the Spanish lunch table on Fridays, your professors will always be available to share their expertise and love for the Spanish language and culture.
Hailing from Indianapolis, Katie Kortepeter, ’17, is an English and French major. She frequently swing dances, speed reads Tolstoy, and practices her Chinese as a bubble tea waitress.