Spanish Program

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Do you want to learn Spanish and explore its fascinating culture? Do you want to boost your career opportunities with valuable language skills? Do you want to join a fun and supportive community of learners and professors? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Spanish Program at Cypress College is for you!

The Spanish Program at Cypress College offers a variety of courses and activities to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. You can study topics such as culture, history, customs, and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries.

All of our courses are transfer-level credit courses (UC/CSU, AA, GE) and are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an international standard for assessing language proficiency. Our faculty members are all native speakers of Spanish, have master’s and doctorate degrees in Spanish, and have extensive experience in teaching Spanish as a second and/or heritage language. We also provide free textbooks, free tutoring, online resources, and a Spanish Club.

Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate, or a heritage language learner, the Spanish Program at Cypress College can help you reach your full potential in Spanish. Enroll today and discover the benefits of learning Spanish at Cypress College! This curriculum is designed to provide an opportunity for the Spanish major to achieve an Associate in Arts Degree in Spanish for Transfer (AA-T in Spanish) which completes the first and second year requirements for transfer to a four-year public California institution, elementary, and/or intermediate level certificates of achievement.

Cypress College Spanish Program offers these courses:

SPAN 101 (Elementary Spanish I) has no prerequisites
SPAN 102 (Elementary Spanish II) requires a grade of C or better in SPAN 101
SPAN 200 (Conversational Spanish) requires a grade of C or better in SPAN 102
SPAN 201 (Spanish for Spanish Speakers I)
SPAN 202 (Spanish for Spanish Speakers II) requires a grade of C or better in SPAN 201
SPAN 203 (Intermediate Spanish III) requires a grade of C or better in SPAN 102
SPAN 204 (Intermediate Spanish IV) requires a grade of C or better in SPAN 203
SPAN 298 Spanish Seminar
SPAN 299 Spanish Independent Study

Cypress College Spanish Program offers Spanish classes in a variety of formats:

In-person classes for all courses
Zoom classes
Hybrid classes (a combination of in-person and online instruction)

Degrees and Certificates:

Spanish Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T) = 20-23 units in the major in addition to other graduation requirements (2 years)
Foreign Language: Elementary Level Certificate of Achievement = 13 units (1 year)
Foreign Language: Intermediate Level Certificate of Achievement = 17 – 19 units (2 years)

Transfer Information:

All courses in this program meet transfer and degree requirements for CSU and UC. To earn a certificate, complete the required courses as listed with a minimum grade of C or better.

For further transfer information, please email:

Therese Mosqueda-Ponce, tmponce@cypresscollege.edu
Mymy Lam, mlam@cypresscollege.edu
Daniel Pelletier: dpelletier@cypresscollege.edu

Textbooks:

All of the course materials will be available online for free or will be given in the classroom. This is a great way to save money on your education, and it also allows you to access the latest and most up-to-date information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Spanish Student Club?

Yes, we have a Spanish Club. Professor Samanta de Frutos Garcia and Karen Le Cornet are the advisors. The club organizes monthly events in the fall and spring semesters. At the beginning of each semester, the club recruits officers and plans the activities.

I took Spanish in high school. Can I skip SPAN 101 or 102, and start taking higher level?

To skip SPAN 101 or 102, you need to send an email to Professor Karen Le Cornet or Samanta de Frutos Garcia to request a waiver. They will interview you and assess your Spanish proficiency. If you are proficient enough, you will be granted a waiver.

I want to take a Spanish course for fun. I will not transfer to a 4-year university. Is there a non-grading option?

Yes, there is an audit option. Auditing a class means that you will not receive any credit for the class, but you will be able to attend lectures and participate in activities. To audit a class, you need to send an email to Karen Le Cornet, Samanta de Frutos Garcia or the counselor to request permission.

I am interested in taking Spanish because I want to work in a Spanish-speaking country. What kind of job can I get?

The type of job you can get in a Spanish-speaking country depends on your major, skills, and experience. It is important to learn as much Spanish as you can.

Here is the list of certificates and associate degrees for your major that would enable you to get a job in a Spanish-speaking country:

Also, an effective way to find a job in a Spanish-speaking country is to network with people who are already living there. You can also search online job boards or reach out to Spanish companies directly. For instance, the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain promotes diverse educational outreach programs in the United States. The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) offers recipients the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Spain while sharing the language and culture of the United States with students in Spain, as well as a tremendous opportunity for professional and personal growth.

What are some career opportunities for people who know Spanish?

To get a good job in the job market, it would be great if you have Spanish skills. Your career opportunities will be widened in many industries, such as:

Trading companies: Spanish trading companies operate in a wide range of industries, including import/export, logistics, and finance. If you have strong Spanish skills, you could work as a business development manager, market researcher, or financial analyst for a Spanish trading company.
Consulting firms: Consulting firms are another great option for people with Spanish skills. Consulting firms often work with Spanish-speaking companies on a variety of projects, such as market research, strategy development, and IT consulting. If you have strong Spanish skills and an MBA, you could work as a management consultant for a consulting firm.
Technology companies: If you have strong Spanish skills and a background in technology, you could work for a technology company. You could work as a software engineer, product manager, or marketing manager.
Finance: Banks and investment firms are always looking for bilingual employees.
Law: Law firms are increasingly hiring bilingual lawyers to help them with international transactions.
Media: Media companies are always looking for bilingual journalists and editors.
Medical: You could work as a translator, interpreter, or medical assistant in a hospital or clinic.
Hospitality: You could work as a tour guide, hotel receptionist, or restaurant server in a hotel or restaurant.
Tourism: You could work as a travel agent, airplane attendant, tour guide, or event planner for tourists.
Technology: You could work as a software engineer, product manager, or technical writer for a tech company.
Business: You could work as an accountant, marketing manager, or business consultant.
Education: You could teach Spanish to English speakers or teach English to Spanish speakers.

How can I get help with my Spanish studies?

We have an amazing tutor named Alexandra Vargas (avargas@cypresscollege.edu) who is here to support you throughout the semester. I encourage you to see her for extra help with learning grammar, reviewing writing assignments, studying for exams or just conversation practice. Please see her early and often –appointments and walk-ins are welcome.

Her schedule is:

Monday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (In person & Zoom)
Tuesday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. (In person & Zoom)
Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Zoom)

Cypress College has free tutoring through the Learning Resource Center (LRC Website). You can schedule a one-on-one tutoring appointment by emailing LLRC@cypresscollege.edu.