{"id":5130,"date":"2020-07-21T09:30:45","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T13:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/149.4.100.129\/academics\/phl\/?page_id=5130"},"modified":"2026-01-26T16:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T21:38:14","slug":"hispanic-languages-and-literatures","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/","title":{"rendered":"Hispanic Languages and Literatures"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”margin-bottom:0px;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.1″ header_6_font=”Ubuntu|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#ffffff” header_6_font_size=”35px” background_color=”#e71939″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”off|20px|20px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Welcome to the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures<\/h6>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.17.1″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/phl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/82\/2021\/01\/Untitled-16.jpg” alt=”Stylistic photo of building rooftops with a backdrop of written text.” title_text=”Stylistic photo of building rooftops with a backdrop of written text.” _builder_version=”4.16″ border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Office Information” use_icon=”on” admin_label=”Chair Info” _builder_version=”4.23″ header_font=”Open Sans|600|||on|||#e71939|” header_text_color=”#e71939″ body_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||true|true” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_color_all=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Chair: Barbara Simerka<\/b>
Phone: 718-997-5660
Fax: 718-997-5669
Email: qc.hll@qc.cuny.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Queens Hall, Room 100
65-30 Kissena Blvd
Flushing, New York 11367<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Undergraduate Advisor” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Undergraduate Advisor:
<\/em>mariana.zinni@qc.cuny.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Graduate Advisor” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Graduate Advisor:
juan.caamano@qc.cuny.edu\u200b<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” custom_padding=”|20px|20px|20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”Open Sans||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The program of instruction in the department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures seeks, through the achievement of an accurate reading knowledge, adequate aural comprehension, and conversational proficiency, to prepare students to understand and appreciate the language, literature, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Upon completion of the basic courses, students are expected to have a thorough, practical command of Spanish, including an ability to understand more fully the culture or cultures which that language reflects.<\/p>\n

The beginner courses offered by the Center for Portuguese Studies<\/b> aim to provide students who are learning Portuguese for the first time with the necessary tools to communicate in daily life situations. By the end of a beginner course, students will have learned how to introduce themselves, how to describe people and objects using regular and irregular verbs, articles, and adverbs. Students will also have learned how to write basic texts such as e-mails to friends or relatives. The purpose of our intermediate and advanced courses is to help students to improve their writing and speaking skills in a way that they will be able to express themselves using more complex grammatical structures. Broadly speaking, the commitment of our instructors is to prepare students, regardless of their level, to communicate in a foreign language that can be decisive in their professional lives.<\/p>\n

Department Mission<\/h2>\n

The Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures aims at an advanced-level of communicative proficiency for all of its students and to inspire them to originate ideas and values from the writings and creations of the Hispanic world. Queens College is located in one of the nation\u2019s most culturally diverse counties, and the Department seeks to leverage its favorable location to increase the opportunity for using Spanish in authentic settings, and for understanding current events and their impact on the assimilation of Spanish into mainstream American culture. The curriculum is designed for language development, but also to provide the building blocks of culture, history and literature for the basic\/primary learner of Spanish at all levels. Elective courses consist of both linguistic and literary studies of a more advanced and specialized nature. In all courses, correlation with other departments of the college is encouraged whenever students\u2019 use of their language training can be effective for their field of concentration. In bridging the American and Hispanic worlds, the Department takes seriously the opportunity to promote the use of language as a shared social space for democratic thought and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”20px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” border_width_left=”1px” border_width_top_tablet=”1px” border_width_top_phone=”” border_width_top_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_left_tablet=”0px” border_width_left_phone=”” border_width_left_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Language Placement” use_icon=”on” admin_label=”Questionnaires” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ header_font=”Open Sans|600|||on||||” body_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||true|true” border_color_all=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

If you are interested in taking a SPANISH or PORTUGUESE language course, please complete<\/strong> either the Spanish<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Portuguese<\/a> Language Placement Questionnaire so you can be placed in the right course. A faculty member will contact you within 48 business hours.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” admin_label=”Tutoring Schedule” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ header_font=”Open Sans|600|||on||||” body_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||true|true” border_color_all=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Spanish Tutoring Schedule<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/admissions\/apply-to-queens-college\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Apply Now to Undergraduate Admissions” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/welcome.qc.cuny.edu\/apply\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Apply Now to Graduate Admissions” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#e71939″ open_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” closed_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” icon_color=”#e71939″ admin_label=”Accordion” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#e71939″ toggle_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” closed_toggle_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16px” border_color_all=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why Study Spanish?” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”on”]<\/p>\n

Spanish is the official language, not only of Spain, but also of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and most of South America. Spanish, with approximately 320 million speakers, is the fourth most spoken language on the planet and the United States is now officially the fifth largest Spanish-speaking country in the world! Spanish is spoken as a first or second language by approximately 10% of the total population of the United States (over 30 million people)! The ability to read and speak Spanish allows you to communicate in one of the major languages of international business and finance and with the NAFTA agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, Spanish has become even that much more essential in the world of international commerce. It also gives you access to original works, studies, reports and other written materials, as well as television and radio channels which broadcast in Spanish. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Some areas of the U.S. are bilingual: southern Florida; parts of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Chicago and New York. Aside from the Hispanic countries and Spain, Spanish is spoken in the Philippines and in parts of Africa. Spanish is also one of the five official languages of the United Nations.<\/p>\n

Spanish also helps to better understand English. Both languages are influenced largely by the Latin, so there are several similarities. There are several words borrowed from Spanish, such as macho<\/em>, rodeo<\/em>, mosquito<\/em>, and patio<\/em>. Spanish is the official language in 21 countries, and in Canada, it is the first language of over 180,000 people. Of these almost 10% live in British Columbia. It is a language not only of scholarship and travel but also of commerce and international affairs. Career opportunities exist in business administration, commerce, banking, public relations, translation services, publishing, journalism, the tourist industry, hotel management, as well as in secondary and post- secondary teaching. Outside the department, students can complement their Spanish studies with a number of fields, such as history, political science, business, geography or anthropology. Since Spanish is spoken in so many countries around the world, highly qualified bilingual graduates are in demand by the international business community, the Foreign Service and by international agencies such as the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the United Nations. \u00a0<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Why Study Portuguese?” _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n

Due to the fact that\u00a0Portuguese is the native language of a considerable percentage of the Southern Hemisphere\u2019s population, and considering that we are living in a globalized world that requires multidisciplinary and multilingual skills, learning Portuguese may open doors to new and emergent markets outside the United States.\u00a0 Portuguese is widely spoken in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.\u00a0 Portuguese is also one of the working languages of some international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the European Union, Mercosul or the Organization of Ibero-American States.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the existence of a large community of Portuguese and Brazilian immigrants in the United States is another reason to learn Portuguese. In states like New Jersey, New\u00a0York, Massachusetts or even California, the Portuguese and Brazilian communities play such a crucial role in boosting\u00a0local economies that\u00a0several small and medium\u00a0businesses located\u00a0there have been\u00a0thriving over the decades, despite\u00a0using\u00a0Portuguese\u00a0as\u00a0their main (and sometimes only)\u00a0language.<\/p>\n

Last but not least, learning Portuguese, the language used by the poet Lu\u00eds de Cam\u00f5es to describe the heroic deeds of the 15th-century Discoverers, constitutes a chance for students to come into contact with an\u00a0incredibly rich and heterogeneous culture that found its greatest expression in literature. Portuguese and Brazilian writers, such as Fernando Pessoa, Jos\u00e9 Saramago, Machado de Assis or Clarice Lispector, gave life to\u00a0fascinating literary works appreciated by people all over the world, and the same could be said about other\u00a0figures who did not write but revolutionized arts as painting, sculpture or architecture.\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Requirements to Be a Tutor” open=”off” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Students with advanced fluency, who have also passed SPAN 221 or SPAN 224 with a grade of B or higher, may apply to become tutors to\u00a0students in elementary and intermediate Spanish language courses under faculty supervision. Interested students should contact Prof. Priscilla Chen or in person at Queens Hall 100 or by phone at 718-997-5660. If accepted in the Tutoring Program, prospective tutors will tutor 4 hours per week according to their schedule. They will be enrolled in SPAN 020 or SPAN 021 and will earn 2 credits. These are regular Queens College paid credits.\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n

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Welcome to the Department of Hispanic Languages and LiteraturesChair: Barbara SimerkaPhone: 718-997-5660Fax: 718-997-5669Email: qc.hll@qc.cuny.edu Queens Hall, Room 10065-30 Kissena BlvdFlushing, New York 11367Undergraduate Advisor:mariana.zinni@qc.cuny.eduGraduate Advisor:juan.caamano@qc.cuny.edu\u200bThe program of instruction in the department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures seeks, through the achievement of an accurate reading knowledge, adequate aural comprehension, and conversational proficiency, to prepare students to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"page_category":[],"wf_page_folders":[217],"class_list":["post-5130","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5130\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"page_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page_category?post=5130"},{"taxonomy":"wf_page_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/academics\/hll\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_page_folders?post=5130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}