Spanish & Latin American Studies

The Andes Mountains

Spanish/Latin American faculty offer a variety of courses focusing on the Spanish language and Latin American area studies from a variety of disciplines. Although most of the courses in the program are taught in Spanish, area studies courses can include those taught in English in other teaching units such as the School of International Service, History, Anthropology and Sociology. The program takes advantage of the University's Washington location through a Spanish-language internship (Proyecto Amistad), as well as field trips, guest lecturers and the wide range of research opportunities in the area. A Certificate in Spanish Translation can be incorporated in our majors, or be taken separately.

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WCL Internship Program

Internship in Spanish Interpreting & Translation with Washington College of Law

In Spring 2020, the Department of World Languages and Cultures partnered with the Washington College of Law to pilot a new internship in Spanish translation and interpreting for American University students completing their translation certificates in Spanish. Professor Isaac, Director of the Translation Certificate Program in Spanish, collaborated with law faculty and staff to create this exciting opportunity for students. In Spring 2024, Keyri Reyes-Rodríguez, Justice and Law Major and Spanish Minor with a Spanish Translation Certificate, interned at the Washington College of Law, where she assisted attorneys and clients in legal interpreting and translation at several of the ten in-house clinics supported by WCL. Learn more about Keyri's experience.

Describe the kinds of tasks you performed during the internship.

During the internship, my primary responsibilities involved translating legal documents, which included government communications, motions, and petitions related to ongoing cases. I also worked on documents necessary for case preparation, ranging from newspaper articles, client statements, birth certificates, and custody authorizations to the different forms used in the various clinics. Also, I provided interpreting services during client and attorney meetings, acting as a mediator to guarantee clear communication between the two.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced?

One of the most significant challenges I faced was interpreting—it was my first time interpreting formally. I felt anxious about possibly not being familiar with the terminology used during the meeting or forgetting a term while interpreting. Some of the documents for translation were more difficult than others. For those, I had to do more research on the legal terms used and their translation. Additionally, some of the formatting was tough to replicate, which made it challenging to keep the same format while translating. This was especially difficult because legal documents were different from what I had translated before, which required me to adapt and learn about the translation of these documents.

Another challenge arose from the nature of the information I was translating. These were real cases involving real people, some grappling with difficult situations. As a translator, there were moments when I needed to take breaks because it became overwhelming to deal with such sensitive materials. Similarly, interpreting also took an emotional toll; nonetheless, I had to maintain neutrality during these meetings, as my role was facilitating the conversation.

What was most rewarding about the experience?

The most rewarding aspect of this experience is knowing that I've been able to help students and clients in advancing their cases. It's incredibly satisfying to know that my translations and interpretations positively impact someone's life. The learning component has also been gratifying, especially applying what I've learned in the classroom to actual circumstances, which has been extremely valuable. Additionally, working at the clinic has increased my confidence in my ability to interpret in the future by providing me with experience in legal translation and interpretation.

Did the experience foster your interest in translation/interpreting professionally?

This internship experience fostered my interest in exploring the field of legal translation and interpretation. Initially, I was hesitant to translate or interpret legal meetings due to the high accuracy required in translating legal documents and interpretation. However, after gaining some experience and practicing in the clinic, I have become more confident in my abilities and now feel capable of pursuing this field.

What surprised you about the experience?

One thing that surprised me was the difficulty of legal translation and interpreting. As an interpreter, you need to meet with the student attorneys in advance to get an idea of the topic of the meeting, what will be discussed, and some specialized terminology that might be used. This way, you can prepare beforehand by researching the terms and their meanings. It is challenging as it requires excellent memory, quick thinking, and the ability to switch between both languages seamlessly. When it comes to translation, many factors need to be considered, especially if there are cultural differences from one language to the other that can affect the translation. Differences in formatting or the meanings of specific terms can occur, making the task more challenging. Even though I am a native Spanish speaker, I still had to do some research on Spanish terminologies that differed from my variation of Spanish.

Before starting the internship, I was very nervous and wondered whether I could complete the task. I remember feeling intimidated by the idea of working in a professional environment and worried about making mistakes. However, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and take on the challenge. Over time, I realized that I was enjoying the experience. I liked the feeling of working on something meaningful and challenging and was excited to see the progress I was making. Looking back on my internship, it was a valuable and rewarding experience. It helped me gain confidence in my abilities and taught me much about the professional world. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to applying what I learned in the future.

Keyri Reyes-Rodríguez

Class of 2024

Silhouettes of graduates jumping and throwing caps

Our warmest congratulations to all of our graduates!
Thank you for bringing your contagious enthusiasm and tireless curiosity to our classes. On behalf of the Spanish Department we wish you all the best in your future careers!

Reparad bien en que lo superior no sería la escuela, sino la sabiduría que en ella se alcanzase, Juan de Mairena
 


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Jack Child Outstanding Capstone Project

Interview with Ilah Saltzman, recipient of the annual Jack Child Prize for Outstanding Capstone Project in Spanish (2022).

During my time at American University, I majored in Spanish Studies with a minor in Art History.

For my capstone project, I examined the topics of audience reception, ethics and exploitation in Latin American documentary film. While recognizing the beneficial, educational qualities of many documentaries in this genre, I hoped to expose some of the discourse surrounding the violating, dehumanizing representation that the genre also reinforces. I studied a variety of Latin American documentaries, comparing them with the work of some impactful theorists, seeking to identify certain trends in misrepresentation. Through this research, it became clear how poverty can become easily aestheticized in mass media, how irresponsible documentary filmmaking reduces nations to ugly stereotypes, and how marginalized Latin American bodies may become commodifiable objects within the system of global capitalism. By targeting the ways documentary filmmaking can be voyeuristic and exploitative, I sought to create a framework for more productive, respectful documentary production.

My capstone project was inspired by a variety of Latin American language, culture, film, literature and history courses at American University, along with some classes I took through a language immersion program at Middlebury College. These experiences helped me understand both the historical and contemporary effects of colonialism in Latin America and allowed me to explore the subject through so many meaningful lenses. In Professor Brenda Werth’s capstone course, where we dissected a wide array of influential Latin American documentaries, I had the opportunity to learn how so many topics I studied within my major could be expressed through art. Colonization, slavery, the formation of global capitalism, Indigenous identities, exploited nations, the rich cultures and histories of Latin America, are all represented through documentary film. Focusing on discourse within Latin American documentaries was a way I felt I could target some contemporary effects of colonialism while still showcasing the strengths of the nations I was discussing.

I am currently living in Sevilla, Spain! I work in a bilingual primary school outside of the city, where I teach English as a second language.

Your writing will flow so much better if you genuinely care about what you research. There are infinite routes to take with the capstone whether it be linguistics, visual art, literature, film, or themes of immigration, colonialism, globalization, etc., so choose a concept that feels exciting to learn more about. The paper definitely takes up a good amount of time and energy, so making sure you’re invested in the topic is really helpful! I would also encourage you to pace yourself and get an early start with your writing, break it up a bit so your workload doesn’t become overwhelming at the end of the semester.

Ilah Saltzman

Course Spotlight

Manuscript by Bartolomé_de_las_CasasSpanish 210 Latin America: History, Art, Culture

Latin America's history through literary texts, films and documentaries, and other artistic representations. Analysis of how the Latin, African, and indigenous cultural heritages have combined to produce a unique culture. SPAN-210 is a Cultural Inquiry course in the Habits of Mind part of AU CORE, offered FALL 2024, taught in Spanish and English!