The Department of Spanish Language

The Department of Spanish Language at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies is unique and special comparing with similar departments at other Russian Universities, as it is the only department whose alumni are high-profile hispanists who combine fundamental scientific approach and knowledge received at the first Russian University in linguistics and multifunctional competences in linguistic and didactic technologies – Spanish language and culture teaching practice, teaching practice of Russian-Spanish and Spanish-Russian translation for the humanities, science and technologies. 

Unlike other Russian Universities’ graduates, Spanish language department alumni get priorities for working as:

• a highly-skilled Spanish linguistics specialist;
• a highly-skilled Spanish language University teacher (any area of studies);
• a highly-skilled Spanish-Russian and Russian-Spanish translator/interpreter.

According to the information stated above, Spanish language department students are trained in the following areas:

• Spanish language and culture teaching practice for the humanities and science;
• teaching practice and didactics of Russian-Spanish and Spanish-Russian translation for the humanities, science;
• linguistic, informational and technical support for teaching and translating/interpreting in any educational programme (any scientific area).

Unlike other Russian Universities and according to the law of a special status of MSU and SPSU, the Department of Spanish Language provides its own educational standards, which allows to develop unique courses, as well as use a wide range of up-to-date language courses and books issued in other countries, constantly adding the best of the items to the library.

Also, the Department of Spanish Language is the only department where detailed studying of Spanish language peculiarities and linguistic ethnical consciousness in Spain and Latin America are provided, thanks to specialized courses and seminars, apart from language studying, at a student’s choice during 8 semesters.

An indispensable component of educational process is the analysis of Spanish language functioning in different social spheres on different continents. All training programmes developed at the department include a social and cultural component, which allows studying both the language and native speakers’ mentality. Nowadays, it is the main prerequisite for highly-skilled specialists in linguistics and didactics. Spanish-speaking world issues and cross-cultural communication problems are fully included in the programme.

The Department of Spanish Language provides training for highly-skilled hispanists in:

• teaching at universities and colleges (both philology and non-linguisitc faculties);
• translation/interpretation (also simultaneous interpretation);
• cross-cultural communication;
• area studies (Spain and Latin America).

The Department of Spanish Language offers for the students of years III-V constantly renewing specialized courses and seminars in a wide range of linguistic, literature and cultural topics.

The department combines the best traditions of classical education models and the newest tendencies in Russian and other countries’ education practice.

The department’s staff consists of highly experienced teachers, who are unique specialists in their area, including one professor, five assistant professors, five PhDs, four senior lecturers, twenty-three in general. Speaking practice course is given by philology faculties’ graduates of Spanish Universities (native speakers).

For pupils of 8-10th forms, planning to enter the faculty, the Department of Spanish Language provides an opportunity to study the Spanish language at faculty’s preparatory courses, designed in accordance with the faculty’s methods and using all the required materials, to make it possible for perspective students to continue studying the language as they enter the faculty later.

There is the Young Hispanists School for pupils of 8-11th forms. Within the recent project 

‘MSU for schools’, Moscow schools are given an opportunity to order a lection for their pupils on one of the topics of Young Hispanists School.

Topic 1. Spain: a country of joy and the sun. Spain’s development history. Spain’s folklore traditions.

Topic 2. Adventures of Russians in Spain and the Spanish in Russia. History of Russia and Spain’s cooperation.

Topic 3. Spanish lifestyle: surly elegance. Architecture, design and fashion geniuses.

Topic 4. “I think we’ve met..” Spanish history faces.

Topic 5. Latin America: obvious and incredible things. The remote continent’s secrets.

Topic 6. ‘Tango in the streets of… Paris’ and ‘Why did Columbus discover America?’ Latin America’s contribution to the world’s culture.

Topic 7. Education history of in Spain and Latin America. The first Universities of Spain and Latin America.

Topic 8. How was the image of Spanish history created and who did it? Known and unknown facts concerning outstanding people in the history of Spain and Latin America.

Head of the department – doctor of philology, professor Marina Mikhailovna Rayevskaya.

Telephone: 8 (495) 734 02 40

email: [email protected]