Skip Navigation | ANU Home | Search ANU | Search ARTS | Contact ARTS

Spanish Program

 

Spanish is a major international language with more than 400 million speakers. It is the third most spoken language in the world (after Mandarin Chinese and English) and the national language of 22 countries (Spain and most of Central and South America, as well as Equatorial Guinea in Africa). It is also a major second language in the United States, and a great number of people all over the world learn it as a foreign language.

Spanish is a language rich in literature, significant in international affairs and trade and, in the Australian context, a vibrant community language with more than 100,000 speakers.

 

WHY STUDY SPANISH AT ANU?

 

Spanish shares with English a common Indo-European origin. 60% of the words in English are of Latin origin, and most of the so-called “difficult” or cultivated words in English can be recognized by Spanish-speakers because they are common words in Spanish. This shared linguistic heritage means that the learning of one language complements the learning of the other.

Studying Spanish at ANU will develop proficiency in students’ communication skills so they can function linguistically in a natural, spontaneous and efficient way in a Spanish-speaking environment. It will give students the opportunity to become familiar with the main social, political, economic and cultural issues of Latin American and Spanish societies. Material relating to these aspects, drawn from radio and TV recordings, music and newspaper articles is worked into the language teaching program.

Proximity to Spanish and Latin American diplomatic missions and opportunities for exchange programs enhance the value of studying Spanish at ANU.

A major in Spanish is a natural complement to studies in International Relations, International Business, Sociology, Political Science, History, Development Studies, Anthropology or Contemporary Europe.

Graduates in Spanish go on to fulfilling careers in a wide range of employment areas, including working in international agencies, education, publishing houses, government departments, journalism, tourism, and a wide range of enterprises that deal with the Spanish-speaking world.