Latin American Business EnvironmentLaajuus (5 cr)

Learning objectives

The course objective is to understand the special characteristics of Latin America and Spain: differences in geography, history, and social and economic life.

The course is divided to two parts:
1) Latin America's and Spain’s history, society and current affairs
2) Spanish Newspaper Texts: distinctive features and style of Spanish newspapers and preparations of reviews and summaries relating to these.

During the course the student seeks information through various media regarding the relations between Spain and Latin America.

Contents

The contents of the course are:
•history, society, economy and current situation of Latin America and Spain
•free Trade Agreements with Latin America: NAFTA, Mercosur, etc.
•the specific characteristics of the Hispanic press: style, features and journalistic criticism.

Lähtötaso ja sidonnaisuudet muihin opintojaksoihin

Competence level: B2
Spanish Business Communication 1 and 2 or equivalent studies.

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

The options that are appropriate for the course:
Contact lessons Individual, pair and team assignments
Independent studies
The assessment of one’s own learning 1 h

Alternative ways to complete the course: one alternative available to students is that they complete all of the coursework and take the final exam, without attending the actual contact hours.

Assessment criteria - grade 1

The student understands economic news of his/her field and is able to name their main points. His/her
use of the vocabulary concerning enterprises and economic situations is limited. He/she is able to apply during the course acquired skills in practice only adequately. He/she is able to use sources of information to support his/her work and shows some cultural knowledge when using sources. He/she is able to share his/her professional knowledge and skills with others in a limited manner.

Assessment criteria - grade 3

The student understands economic news in his/her field and is able to summarize its main contents logically. He/she knows vocabulary concerning enterprises and economic situations well. He/she is able to apply during the course acquired skills in practice well. He/she is able to use sources of information independently to support his/her work and shows cultural knowledge when using sources. He/she adapts to cultural content fairly well and is able to share his/her professional knowledge and skills with others.

Assessment criteria - grade 5

The student understands challenging economic news in his/her field and is able to summarize its main contents successfully. He/she is able to apply during the course acquired skills in practice on a high level. He/she is able to use sources of information in a versatile and critical way to support his/her work and shows excellent cultural knowledge when using sources. He/she adapts cultural to content well and is able to share his/her professional knowledge and skills with others.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Passed courses are assessed on a scale of 1 to 5. The assessment criteria are presented for grades 1 - 3 - 5.

Learning materials

Vásquez, Germán & Marínez Díaz, Nelson 2009. Historia de América Latina. SGEL, Madrid.
Masoliver, Joaquín & Vidales, Carlos 2009. América Latina. Samfundslitteratur. Gylling.
Ángeles Albert, Maria & Ardanaz, Francisco 2009. Hispanoamérica, ayer y hoy: historia y arte, demografía, economía, instituciones, tradiciones. SGEL. Madrid.
Newspapers in Spanish on line: El País, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Cambio16, El Clarín,  El Mercurio.