Spanish | Penn Language Center

Spanish (español) is a Romance language named for its origins as the native tongue of a large proportion of the inhabitants of Spain. It is also named Castilian (castellano listen (help·info)) after the Spanish region of Castile where it originated. Spanish is the second most natively spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese.

In 1999 there were, according to Ethnologue, 358 million people speaking Spanish as a native language and a total of 417 million speakers worldwide. Currently these figures are between 400 and 500 million people respectively. Mexico contains the largest population of Spanish speakers. Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and is used as an official language by the European Union and Mercosur.

Spanish is a part of the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several dialects of spoken Latin in central-northern Iberia around the ninth century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile (present northern Spain) into central and southern Iberia during the later Middle Ages. Early in its history, the Spanish vocabulary was enriched by its contact with Basque and Arabic, and the language continues to adopt foreign words from a variety of other languages, as well as developing new words. Spanish was taken most notably to the Americas as well as to Africa and Asia-Pacific with the expansion of the Spanish Empire between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, where it became the most important language for government and trade.

Due to its increasing presence in the demographics and popular culture of the United States, particularly in the fast-growing states of the Sun Belt, Spanish is the most popular second language learned by native speakers of American English. The increasing political stability and economies of many larger Hispanophone nations, the language's immense geographic extent in Latin America and Europe for tourism, and the growing popularity of warmer, more affordable, and culturally vibrant retirement destinations found in the Hispanic world have contributed significantly to the growth of learning Spanish as a foreign language across the globe.

Spanish is the third most commonly used language on the Internet after English and Mandarin. It is also the third most studied language and third language in international communication, after English and French, in the world.

Source: Wikipedia

Course Schedule

	Title	Instructors	Location	Time	Description	Syllabus URL	Term
SPAN 0105-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary I	Monserrat Bores Martinez		MWR 3:30 PM-5:00 PM	This course is a first-semester elementary Medical Spanish Language course and the first in the Spanish for Medical Professions sequence. It is designed for students with no prior coursework in Spanish. This course teaches beginning students the fundamentals of practical Spanish with an emphasis on medical situations and basic medical terminology. In this course, particular attention will be given to developing speaking and listening skills, as well as cultural awareness. It incorporates activities, vocabulary, and readings of particular interest to healthcare practitioners, while adhering to the goals and scope of Spanish 0100, the first-semester Spanish language course. Students who have already taken Spanish 0100 will not receive credit for Spanish 0105. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000 and 3000 level, may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0105). Prerequisite: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2025A
SPAN 0205-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary II	Patricia Vargas		MWR 3:30 PM-5:00 PM	The continuation of Spanish 0105, Spanish 0205 is a second-semester Elementary Medical Spanish 0105 course. Note: offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0100 or 0105 or a score of 380-440 on the SAT II or 285-383 on the online placement examination.		2025A
SPAN 0305-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate I	Berta Rodriguez		TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is a first-semester intermediate-level language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and the acquisition of medical terminology. Students will be expected to participate in classroom activities such as role-plays based on everyday situations that they may encounter at work settings such as doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms in order to develop meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language. Students will also review and acquire other essential tools of communication in the target language applicable both within and outside the medical field. Major course goals include: the acquisition of intermediate-level vocabulary, the controlled use of the past tense, and the development of writing skills at a paragraph level with transitions. Students who have already taken Spanish 0300 will not receive credit for Spanish 0305. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0305). Note: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2025A
SPAN 0405-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate II	Lorena Gama		TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	Spanish 0405, the continuation of Spanish 0305, is an intermediate-level integrated skills language course. It emphasizes the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Students will be expected to participate actively in classroom activities such as communicative activities, role-playing based on typical doctor/patient interactions as well as other medical situations. Students will also review and learn other essential tools of communication applicable both inside and outside the medical field. Students who have already taken Spanish 0400 will not receive credit for Spanish 0405. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0405). This course satisfies the language requirement in Spanish. Note: Course is offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0300 or 0305 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.		2025A
SPAN 0105-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary I	Jesus Rivera Guzman	WILL 317	MW 7:15 PM-9:14 PM	This course is a first-semester elementary Medical Spanish Language course and the first in the Spanish for Medical Professions sequence. It is designed for students with no prior coursework in Spanish. This course teaches beginning students the fundamentals of practical Spanish with an emphasis on medical situations and basic medical terminology. In this course, particular attention will be given to developing speaking and listening skills, as well as cultural awareness. It incorporates activities, vocabulary, and readings of particular interest to healthcare practitioners, while adhering to the goals and scope of Spanish 0100, the first-semester Spanish language course. Students who have already taken Spanish 0100 will not receive credit for Spanish 0105. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000 and 3000 level, may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0105). Prerequisite: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2024C
SPAN 0205-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary II	Monserrat Bores Martinez	WILL 317	MW 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	The continuation of Spanish 0105, Spanish 0205 is a second-semester Elementary Medical Spanish 0105 course. Note: offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0100 or 0105 or a score of 380-440 on the SAT II or 285-383 on the online placement examination.		2024C
SPAN 0305-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate I	Berta Rodriguez	WILL 315	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is a first-semester intermediate-level language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and the acquisition of medical terminology. Students will be expected to participate in classroom activities such as role-plays based on everyday situations that they may encounter at work settings such as doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms in order to develop meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language. Students will also review and acquire other essential tools of communication in the target language applicable both within and outside the medical field. Major course goals include: the acquisition of intermediate-level vocabulary, the controlled use of the past tense, and the development of writing skills at a paragraph level with transitions. Students who have already taken Spanish 0300 will not receive credit for Spanish 0305. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0305). Note: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2024C
SPAN 0405-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate II	Humberto Morales Cruz	WILL 315	TR 7:00 PM-8:29 PM	Spanish 0405, the continuation of Spanish 0305, is an intermediate-level integrated skills language course. It emphasizes the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Students will be expected to participate actively in classroom activities such as communicative activities, role-playing based on typical doctor/patient interactions as well as other medical situations. Students will also review and learn other essential tools of communication applicable both inside and outside the medical field. Students who have already taken Spanish 0400 will not receive credit for Spanish 0405. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0405). This course satisfies the language requirement in Spanish. Note: Course is offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0300 or 0305 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.		2024C
SPAN 0105-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary I	Monserrat Bores Martinez	WILL 5	MW 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	This course is a first-semester elementary Medical Spanish Language course and the first in the Spanish for Medical Professions sequence. It is designed for students with no prior coursework in Spanish. This course teaches beginning students the fundamentals of practical Spanish with an emphasis on medical situations and basic medical terminology. In this course, particular attention will be given to developing speaking and listening skills, as well as cultural awareness. It incorporates activities, vocabulary, and readings of particular interest to healthcare practitioners, while adhering to the goals and scope of Spanish 0100, the first-semester Spanish language course. Students who have already taken Spanish 0100 will not receive credit for Spanish 0105. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000 and 3000 level, may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0105). Prerequisite: Offered through the Penn Language Center.	https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202410&c=SPAN0105680	2024A
SPAN 0205-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary II	Patricia Vargas	WILL 203	MW 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	The continuation of Spanish 0105, Spanish 0205 is a second-semester Elementary Medical Spanish 0105 course. Note: offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0100 or 0105 or a score of 380-440 on the SAT II or 285-383 on the online placement examination.	https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202410&c=SPAN0205680	2024A
SPAN 0305-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate I	Berta Rodriguez	WILL 305	MW 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is a first-semester intermediate-level language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and the acquisition of medical terminology. Students will be expected to participate in classroom activities such as role-plays based on everyday situations that they may encounter at work settings such as doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms in order to develop meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language. Students will also review and acquire other essential tools of communication in the target language applicable both within and outside the medical field. Major course goals include: the acquisition of intermediate-level vocabulary, the controlled use of the past tense, and the development of writing skills at a paragraph level with transitions. Students who have already taken Spanish 0300 will not receive credit for Spanish 0305. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0305). Note: Offered through the Penn Language Center.	https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202410&c=SPAN0305680	2024A
SPAN 0405-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate II	Berta Rodriguez	WILL 201	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	Spanish 0405, the continuation of Spanish 0305, is an intermediate-level integrated skills language course. It emphasizes the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Students will be expected to participate actively in classroom activities such as communicative activities, role-playing based on typical doctor/patient interactions as well as other medical situations. Students will also review and learn other essential tools of communication applicable both inside and outside the medical field. Students who have already taken Spanish 0400 will not receive credit for Spanish 0405. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0405). This course satisfies the language requirement in Spanish. Note: Course is offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0300 or 0305 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.	https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202410&c=SPAN0405680	2024A
SPAN 0105-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary I	Patricia Vargas	WILL 304	MW 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	This course is a first-semester elementary Medical Spanish Language course and the first in the Spanish for Medical Professions sequence. It is designed for students with no prior coursework in Spanish. This course teaches beginning students the fundamentals of practical Spanish with an emphasis on medical situations and basic medical terminology. In this course, particular attention will be given to developing speaking and listening skills, as well as cultural awareness. It incorporates activities, vocabulary, and readings of particular interest to healthcare practitioners, while adhering to the goals and scope of Spanish 0100, the first-semester Spanish language course. Students who have already taken Spanish 0100 will not receive credit for Spanish 0105. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000 and 3000 level, may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0105). Prerequisite: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2023C
SPAN 0205-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary II	Monserrat Bores Martinez	WILL 302	MW 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	The continuation of Spanish 0105, Spanish 0205 is a second-semester Elementary Medical Spanish 0105 course. Note: offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0100 or 0105 or a score of 380-440 on the SAT II or 285-383 on the online placement examination.		2023C
SPAN 0305-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate I	Berta Rodriguez	WILL 218	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is a first-semester intermediate-level language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and the acquisition of medical terminology. Students will be expected to participate in classroom activities such as role-plays based on everyday situations that they may encounter at work settings such as doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms in order to develop meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language. Students will also review and acquire other essential tools of communication in the target language applicable both within and outside the medical field. Major course goals include: the acquisition of intermediate-level vocabulary, the controlled use of the past tense, and the development of writing skills at a paragraph level with transitions. Students who have already taken Spanish 0300 will not receive credit for Spanish 0305. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0305). Note: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2023C
SPAN 0405-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate II	Sean M Saxon	WILL 216	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	Spanish 0405, the continuation of Spanish 0305, is an intermediate-level integrated skills language course. It emphasizes the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Students will be expected to participate actively in classroom activities such as communicative activities, role-playing based on typical doctor/patient interactions as well as other medical situations. Students will also review and learn other essential tools of communication applicable both inside and outside the medical field. Students who have already taken Spanish 0400 will not receive credit for Spanish 0405. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0405). This course satisfies the language requirement in Spanish. Note: Course is offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0300 or 0305 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.		2023C
SPAN 0105-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary I			CANCELED	This course is a first-semester elementary Medical Spanish Language course and the first in the Spanish for Medical Professions sequence. It is designed for students with no prior coursework in Spanish. This course teaches beginning students the fundamentals of practical Spanish with an emphasis on medical situations and basic medical terminology. In this course, particular attention will be given to developing speaking and listening skills, as well as cultural awareness. It incorporates activities, vocabulary, and readings of particular interest to healthcare practitioners, while adhering to the goals and scope of Spanish 0100, the first-semester Spanish language course. Students who have already taken Spanish 0100 will not receive credit for Spanish 0105. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000 and 3000 level, may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0105). Prerequisite: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2023A
SPAN 0205-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary II	Patricia Ines Vargas	WILL 27	MW 5:15 PM-7:14 PM	The continuation of Spanish 0105, Spanish 0205 is a second-semester Elementary Medical Spanish 0105 course. Note: offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0100 or 0105 or a score of 380-440 on the SAT II or 285-383 on the online placement examination.		2023A
SPAN 0305-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate I	Berta Rodriguez	WILL 6	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	This course is a first-semester intermediate-level language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and the acquisition of medical terminology. Students will be expected to participate in classroom activities such as role-plays based on everyday situations that they may encounter at work settings such as doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms in order to develop meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language. Students will also review and acquire other essential tools of communication in the target language applicable both within and outside the medical field. Major course goals include: the acquisition of intermediate-level vocabulary, the controlled use of the past tense, and the development of writing skills at a paragraph level with transitions. Students who have already taken Spanish 0300 will not receive credit for Spanish 0305. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic-level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0305). Note: Offered through the Penn Language Center.		2023A
SPAN 0405-680	Spanish for the Medical Professions: Intermediate II	Sean M Saxon	WILL 318	TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM	Spanish 0405, the continuation of Spanish 0305, is an intermediate-level integrated skills language course. It emphasizes the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Students will be expected to participate actively in classroom activities such as communicative activities, role-playing based on typical doctor/patient interactions as well as other medical situations. Students will also review and learn other essential tools of communication applicable both inside and outside the medical field. Students who have already taken Spanish 0400 will not receive credit for Spanish 0405. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level. Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement (AP, SAT II, etc.) or have taken courses at the 1000-3000 level may not take basic level language courses in the same language. They will not receive credit for this course (Spanish 0405). This course satisfies the language requirement in Spanish. Note: Course is offered through the Penn Language Center. Pre-requisite: successful completion of Spanish 0300 or 0305 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.		2023A