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Spanish

Study Spanish

In my degree I got to spend 6 months in Mexico. When I returned I undertook an internship at the ABC.

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Why study Spanish?

  • Spanish is a major international language that is spoken world-wide by around 400 million people across 4 continents.
  • Spanish is set to overtake English and become the SECOND most widely-spoken language in the world (after Mandarin).
  • Besides the 21 countries where Spanish is the official language, it is spoken by about 30% of the population of the US - and increasing!
  • Spanish is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the Pacific Rim region.
  • Spanish is the language of one of the world's fastest growing economic regions - Latin America - and is in INCREASING demand for business.
  • Spanish is the official language of TWO of Australia's APEC partners (Chile and Mexico), and is spoken by about 20% of people in a third (Philippines).
  • Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (UN).
  • Spanish is an official language of the European Union (EU).
  • Spanish is in demand in Australia - it is the 6th largest community language here and is required (amongst others) by QANTAS and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
  • Being able to speak Spanish will enhance your employment prospects.

Learning a language is the most effective way to learn about a country, its people and their way of living and their culture. Spanish Studies at the University of Wollongong is closely linked with the study of the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking countries’ cultures. Students have the opportunity to experience them first-hand through either a period of study abroad in Spain or in a Latin-American country, or by working as an English-language assistant in a Spanish school.

An ability to speak Spanish along with English and any other international language is an asset on the international job market. This is why our program is flexible and places a great importance on the development of graduate qualities vital for future employment opportunities.

Students can tailor their studies to meet their needs and interests by studying Spanish as a major or as a minor program. Students can also combine Spanish studies with that of another language, or a number of other disciplines across the university. This enables students to maintain a balance of choice across their degree programme.

You can begin your study of the Spanish Language from scratch or from the intermediate level. All students are expected to become proficient in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) by the end of their studies.

You can study Spanish concurrently with your bachelor's degree by enrolling in the Diploma in Languages. If you already have a degree you can also enrol in this award.

Research Areas

Research areas of the staff in Spanish Studies include the following:

  • Medieval & Golden Age Spanish Literature
  • Spanish-language narrative (short story & novel)
  • Travel Narratives
  • Second language acquisition
  • Computer assisted Language Learning
  • Bilingualism
  • Phonetics and Phonology
  • Dialectology

Useful Links

Some Spanish and Latin American Newspapers:

Computer-aided Language Learning Resources:

Other Useful Links: