Diploma of Spanish

2017 Deakin University Handbook

• Course overview
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure

Course overview

Whether you’re brushing up or starting from scratch with a whole new language, Deakin’s Diploma of Spanish is designed to sharpen your language skills and deepen your cultural understanding. It’s a great complement to your studies in any discipline, plus you’ll gain a global perspective and boost your employability.

Through the Diploma of Spanish, you’ll gain fluency in Spanish by developing an understanding of grammatical structures and lexical fields through a communicative approach, and by developing skills through guided activities that target listening, speaking, reading and writing competencies. The completion of six language-acquisition units ensures a high level of proficiency in the target language. In addition, through two thematic units, you’ll develop a nuanced understanding of the cultural, historical, sociolinguistic and political dimensions of the societies and cultures that make up the Spanish-speaking world.

With over 400 million Spanish speakers across more than twenty countries, the Diploma of Spanish places graduates at a competitive advantage for roles in business, diplomacy, education, journalism, foreign policy and international development. You’ll graduate with competency in Spanish (B1/B2 CEFRL) and ready for a range of local and international careers.

An optional in-country study program means you can also immerse yourself in international cultures, practicing the language with native speakers in its natural environment. The six-week intensive study program held in Lima (PUCP, Peru) gives you the chance to develop practical language skills and to immerse yourself in the culture and way of life of your host country. The Spanish in-country program includes guided visits to sites of interest, as well as a visit to the pre-Colombian Incan citadel of Machu Picchu.

In-Country Study

The In-Country Language Program is available to students completing a major sequence in Spanish via study abroad. The program offers students who have completed their first year of Spanish language study the opportunity to spend six weeks studying language and culture in its own environment.  Students build upon their knowledge of grammar based on what they have learned in ALS100 and ALS150, and develop further proficiency in Spanish at the high beginner/low intermediate level. This program contributes one credit point (1cp) towards the Spanish language major and one credit point (1cp) of Level 2 elective credit.  Upon successful completion of this program students will be awarded a preclusion for ALS200, and awarded one credit point of CPL as a Level 2 elective credit.

For more information about the In-Country Language program please refer to the Work Integrated Learning website or contact the WIL team: artsed-wil@deakin.edu.au.  

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Diploma of Language, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points from the specified list of units below.

Course structure

Spanish major sequence for students with no prior language study.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

The Spanish major sequence for students who have completed Spanish at level 12 or equivalent (non-background speakers) begins at second level and consists of the following units:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Course map