Date: 9 February
Time: 12:30
Place: HSB 4-21

Abstract

The study begins with a presentation of the current status of the Spanish language in the world and then locally in South Africa with special attention to tertiary level education. Presently in South Africa only the University of Cape Town, the University of Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria offer the academic modules of Spanish as a foreign language through contact sessions.

This study looks at different aspects related to the teaching of the language starting with a brief history of the implementation of the Spanish modules at each university. It then carries on with a description of the students' composition, their motivation to study the language and the difficulties they encounter in this new venture. Also included in the study are reflections on some key learning variables such as timetable structure, allocation of hours dedicated to the module, assessment procedures and study
material. Practical uses of Spanish in the future lives of the students are also looked at in the study.

The study concludes by highlighting the need to take into account technical criteria when selecting study material; the importance of including other stakeholders for future research studies; the need to join efforts across universities, and the need to offer a university degree or diploma in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, in order to consolidate the teaching of Spanish in South Africa.