Students normally take a mixture of language and civilization courses, along with a special seminar taught specifically for them and required of all freshmen. This four-week intensive course is given during the month of September. Based on their level as determined by a placement test, they take courses at their appropriate level, three hours per day, five days per week. Based on their performance during the September course, students are placed at appropriate levels and take courses in oral and written Spanish, three hours per day, five days per week from October to December. By completing the intermedio level with a grade of C or better, students get credit for SP127, thus satisfying Colby s foreign language requirement.
More advanced students get credit for more advanced language courses.
A seminar, meeting two hours per week from September to December, is required of all freshmen. Depending on the variations in the level of Spanish within the group, the seminar will be taught in one section or two. The seminar topic will be Spain Today and will include current affairs as well as a study of the structure of Spanish society. It will include two substantial written assignments. Students who place in the inicial level will take 2 hours of language lab and conversation per day instead of courses in history, literature, or art history.