Modern Latin America

Code

MLAC1098

School

Modern Languages and Cultures

Level

1

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

Through a combination of lectures, guided reading and research you'll explore the main patterns of Latin American political, economic and social history, between independence in the 1820s and the end of the twentieth century.

We'll focus on specific concepts, terminology, events and people, so as to develop an understanding of different perspectives and interpretations of the history in question. We'll also encourage you to appreciate the interaction between the ‘political history’ of major events and protagonists in official positions of power, and the ‘social history' of populations who both contributed to, and were affected by, political change.

You will learn to develop a critical approach to the study of history through a variety of materials; gain an ability to distinguish between the particular and the general and to develop the tools for comparative analysis.

Target Students

Only available for Year 1 students taking degrees involving Spanish and/or Portuguese taught by SPLAS. Available for Liberal Arts students.

Classes

• Four 1-hour seminars each week for 12 weeks
• Four 1-hour seminars each week for 11 weeks
• One 1-hour-30-minute lecture each week for 12 weeks
• One 1-hour-30-minute lecture each week for 11 weeks

1 x 1.5 hour lecture per week plus 4 x 1 hour seminars per semester. The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook and in module handbooks.

Assessment

• Coursework 1: 1 x optional essay, 1000 words, (Autumn semester)
• 100% Exam 1 (1-hour)

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge and understanding 

Students will: 

(A2) acquire an in-depth awareness of the cultural, historical and political contexts appropriate to the Hispanic/Lusophone culture(s) addressed; 

(A3) develop an appreciation of the relationship between their own cultural, historical and social backgrounds and those of those aspects of the Hispanic/Lusophone worlds to which they are exposed; 

(A4) handle with assurance a range of critical and analytical stratagems and tools in their approach to these areas.

2. Intellectual Skills 

Students are given the tools with which to:

(B1) engage in informed discussion of historical material, archive texts and/or other cultural/sociological documentation from Hispanic/Lusophone cultures; 

(B2) demonstrate a critical awareness of the historical and socio-political contexts of Hispanic/Lusophone cultures; 

(B4) deploy effectively a range of critical stratagems and approaches in their analytical work.

3. Professional/practical skills

The training offered in this module allows students to: 

(C3) undertake relevant research and construct a reasoned argument on a topic/issue in English either orally or in writing.

4. Transferable/key skills 

Students are provided with the training to be able to demonstrate:

(D3) the ability to construct and defend a coherent and well-researched argument in English; 

(D4) appropriate preparation skills in relation to written documents, oral presentation, illustrations and handouts and the delivery of oral presentations; 

(D5) sufficient cross-cultural understanding to be able to negotiate effectively between cultures, particularly Hispanic/Lusophone cultures and their own culture of origin; 

(D6) general research skills; 

(D7) time-management, prioritising and general organisational skills.

Conveners

• Professor Parvathi Kumaraswami
• Dr Jane-Marie Collins