Latin American Cinema (C1)
Prior to enrolling:
- New students must have tested into C1-level in the Level Placement Test.
- Current students must complete the B2-level and pass the B2-Level Exit Exam.
- Roadmap Rate: $550 per course
- À la carte rate: $599 per course
SPANISH & LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA |
SPANISH & LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA |
Course Description
This is a 20-hour advanced-level course designed for students who want to deepen their linguistic proficiency while exploring the social, historical, and cultural realities of the Spanish-speaking world through film.
Through a carefully curated selection of critically acclaimed films from Spain and Latin America, students will analyze cinema as both a linguistic and cultural artifact. Films address complex themes such as identity, family, migration, political conflict, social inequality, memory, and morality, offering rich material for advanced discussion and critical reflection.
Special attention is given to dialectal variation, registers of speech, and culturally embedded expressions, as well as to the use of advanced grammatical structures in context. Grammar instruction is not the primary focus, so students are expected to have a strong command of Spanish tenses and structures, as the course emphasizes fluent, spontaneous expression, structured debate, and analytical writing based on authentic audiovisual texts.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
✔ Understand and analyze a wide range of full-length films in Spanish, recognizing implicit meaning and subtext
✔ Discuss complex social, historical, and cultural issues presented in Spanish and Latin American cinema
✔ Express opinions fluently and spontaneously using precise, advanced vocabulary
✔ Analyze characters, themes, and cinematic techniques using structured, well-supported arguments
✔ Recognize and interpret regional dialects, accents, and sociolinguistic variation across the Spanish-speaking world
✔ Write clear, well-organized analytical essays on films and cultural topics
✔ Use Spanish confidently for academic-style discussion, debate, and critical reflection
Through a carefully curated selection of critically acclaimed films from Spain and Latin America, students will analyze cinema as both a linguistic and cultural artifact. Films address complex themes such as identity, family, migration, political conflict, social inequality, memory, and morality, offering rich material for advanced discussion and critical reflection.
Special attention is given to dialectal variation, registers of speech, and culturally embedded expressions, as well as to the use of advanced grammatical structures in context. Grammar instruction is not the primary focus, so students are expected to have a strong command of Spanish tenses and structures, as the course emphasizes fluent, spontaneous expression, structured debate, and analytical writing based on authentic audiovisual texts.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
✔ Understand and analyze a wide range of full-length films in Spanish, recognizing implicit meaning and subtext
✔ Discuss complex social, historical, and cultural issues presented in Spanish and Latin American cinema
✔ Express opinions fluently and spontaneously using precise, advanced vocabulary
✔ Analyze characters, themes, and cinematic techniques using structured, well-supported arguments
✔ Recognize and interpret regional dialects, accents, and sociolinguistic variation across the Spanish-speaking world
✔ Write clear, well-organized analytical essays on films and cultural topics
✔ Use Spanish confidently for academic-style discussion, debate, and critical reflection
Weekly Topics:
📌 Week 1: EL HIJO DE LA NOVIA (ARGENTINA)
📌 Week 2: EL MINERO DEL DIABLO (BOLIVIA)
📌 Week 3: MACHUCA (CHILE)
📌 Week 4: MARÍA, LLENA ERES DE GRACIA (COLOMBIA)
📌 Week 5: GUANTANAMERA (CUBA)
📌 Week 6: VOCES INOCENTES (EL SALVADOR)
📌 Week 7: EL NORTE (ESTADOS UNIDOS / GUATEMALA / MÉXICO)
📌 Week 8: MAR ADENTRO (ESPAÑA)
📌 Week 9: COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE (MÉXICO)
📌 Week 10: TODOS SOMOS ESTRELLAS (PERÚ)
📌 Week 2: EL MINERO DEL DIABLO (BOLIVIA)
📌 Week 3: MACHUCA (CHILE)
📌 Week 4: MARÍA, LLENA ERES DE GRACIA (COLOMBIA)
📌 Week 5: GUANTANAMERA (CUBA)
📌 Week 6: VOCES INOCENTES (EL SALVADOR)
📌 Week 7: EL NORTE (ESTADOS UNIDOS / GUATEMALA / MÉXICO)
📌 Week 8: MAR ADENTRO (ESPAÑA)
📌 Week 9: COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE (MÉXICO)
📌 Week 10: TODOS SOMOS ESTRELLAS (PERÚ)
Included Materials
All materials are included in your enrollment fee:
- A digital course syllabus with all weekly topics, objectives, homework and solution guides.
- Interactive student materials for all 10 classes.
- A OneNote class notebook for notes, recordings, and collaborative activities.
What if I Miss a Class?
We understand that life gets busy! If you miss a class, you can easily catch up by:
- Reviewing your class materials and class notes
- Completing the assigned homework per the course syllabus
- Scheduling a private lesson with your instructor to makeup the session
Take Your Learning Further with the Annual Roadmap!
Don’t stop with just one course or wait until the last minute to sign up for your next! Plan ahead and unlock huge benefits by enrolling in our Annual Roadmap Program. By joining this optional program, you’ll gain:
✅ Enrollment into four consecutive semesters of courses
✅ Exclusive access to extra practice materials and guided learning plans
✅ A structured sequence of level exit exams to track and monitor your progress
✅ A structured learning path that ensures steady progress and prevents plateaus
✅ $105 in free monthly credits for 12 months, valid for private tutoring, club events, and makeup sessions
Stay on track, gain exclusive benefits, and reach fluency faster with the Annual Roadmap!
✅ Enrollment into four consecutive semesters of courses
✅ Exclusive access to extra practice materials and guided learning plans
✅ A structured sequence of level exit exams to track and monitor your progress
✅ A structured learning path that ensures steady progress and prevents plateaus
✅ $105 in free monthly credits for 12 months, valid for private tutoring, club events, and makeup sessions
Stay on track, gain exclusive benefits, and reach fluency faster with the Annual Roadmap!
Join Our Community
At Work-Life Spanish, learning goes far beyond the classroom. Join our vibrant community of learners and native speakers through:
- Conversation Clubs – guided weekly meetups to keep speaking between classes
- Immersion Trips – travel abroad with classmates and practice Spanish in real life
Terms & Enrollment Policies
By enrolling in this course, you agree to the terms of our enrollment policy:
- Adult courses with fewer than four students may be reduced in hours:
- 10 total hours for 1 student
- 15 total hours for 2–3 students
- 20 total hours for 4 or more students
- Students are eligible for a course credit valid for 365 days for the full amount they paid for the course.
This credit is available only to students who withdraw at least 7 days prior to the start of the class.
We are unable to provide cash refunds for student withdrawals. - Once a course has started, same-semester transfers can only be made if the student is in the wrong level.
Same-level transfers, course credits, or refunds will not be allowed once the course has begun.
Student Testimonial
- I took the "Ser and Estar" class and really enjoyed it. The instructor was super-engaging and very encouraging. He made class fun but also made sure we got down to business and covered the material well, and he was clear in answering questions of the students. I also like the class size- not too big, but enough people that we could learn from each other. I highly recommend Work-Life Spanish classes and expect to take another class in the near future.
- Colleen (WLS Website Review)
Get started!
Take our Placement Test to find your starting level and review the courses or private tutoring options.
|
|
|