Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the United States after English, and according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, 32.4 percent of the Californian population is Hispanic. Because speaking Spanish has become more of a necessity than an option for Californians, the Spanish Institute at College of the Canyons is offering a five-day intensive course that will teach basic conversational Spanish for professionals in the teaching, health, business or law enforcement fields.

 

Spanish can be heard everywhere in Los Angeles, resonating inside our classrooms, grocery stores and hospital waiting rooms, said Claudia Acosta, foreign languages department chair at College of the Canyons. The class is meant to teach students the basics of the language and instill confidence in them to strike up a conversation whenever they get the chance.

 

The course will provide students with an opportunity for intensive group conversation and discussions during the lunch hour. The learning begins July 31 and ends August 4, and all levels of fluency are welcome.

 

To put the learning into practice, preparation for the Ecuador and Galapagos studying abroad trip for January 2007 has begun. With the opportunity to earn up to 8 credits in Spanish and Biology, students will travel and study in Quito and the Galapagos, both names world heritage cities by UNESCO.

 

For more information about the five day intensive course, the 2007 trip and registration, visit the college¹s website at www.canyons.edu or call Claudia Acosta at

(661) 362-3530.