David Wacks, associate professor of Spanish at the University of Oregon will lead his popular intensive advanced Spanish program in Oviedo again in August of 2015.
For an excellent introduction to Asturias and its people be sure to read Professor Wack’s blog post: Some Thoughts on Asturias Mythology (offered as a lecture at the University of Oregon Osher Center for Lifelong Learning on Dec. 10, 2014).
The program is especially suited for Spanish majors who would like to have an intensive immersion experience while making significant progress toward the completion of their degree requirements. Students will enroll in two 4-credit courses (equivalent to UO SPAN 333 and SPAN 407). Both courses are taught by Professor Wacks and will include class discussions and activities, guest speakers, ethnographic assignments, and numerous excursions both within Oviedo and beyond.
The first course, Asturian Cultural Studies, is a panoramic course of the history, culture, folklore, and art of Asturias. You will read primary historical and ethnographic documents as well as secondary studies about the mythology, history, and art of the Asturian region. Readings, excursions, and written assignments will be tightly integrated.
In the second course, Introduction to Asturian Narrative, you will read two iconic novels set in Oviedo and in the Asturian countryside, with special attention to the socio-historical context of the novels and the formal analysis of narrative texts.