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Spanish Education

Bachelor of Science

Preparing you to speak Spanish proficiently from day one

Overview

At the end of time, people of every language will worship around the throne of God. Studying Spanish at BJU, you’ll learn how language shapes how people think, and how you can use this knowledge to more effectively communicate as an educator.

You’ll study the Spanish heritage and worldview through courses in history and literature, plus you’ll receive a solid foundation in the linguistic structures of the language. More importantly, you’ll explore the Word of God in Spanish so you’ll be able to edify Spanish-speaking believers and share the Gospel with the world.

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Program

BJU’s Spanish education program focuses on giving you a strong proficiency in the language. As you gain fluency, you’ll develop your knowledge and communication skills in writing, speaking, history and literature. Because culture and literature are extremely important to many Spanish speakers, courses in these areas help you understand their world and connect with them on a deeper level.

Your courses and opportunities outside of class will prepare you to maintain an advanced proficiency in speaking under pressure. You’ll also take several methods-focused classes that will stimulate your creativity in teaching and equip you with diverse instructional methods and knowledge of current educational technology.

You’ll gain real-life experience in the classroom, culminating in a semester of directed teaching during your senior year. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a teacher in a local public school, as well as a BJU professor, who will give you feedback every week.

BJU’s Spanish education program is approved by the South Carolina Department of Education, leading to initial South Carolina state licensure (licensed to teach Spanish for grades K-12 in a public school setting).

Licensure Disclosure

BJU Core

The ability to connect with people from all walks of life—as Jesus did with farmers, soldiers and business professionals—is one of the many skills you’ll strengthen through the BJU Core.

Courses in Bible will help you articulate what you believe and help you confidently share why you believe God’s Word. And through subjects such as history, economics and science, you’ll be better equipped to weave biblical truth into your daily conversations and interactions with others.

In addition, you’ll learn that language finds its home in history—that’s why the BJU Core complements the Spanish program so well. Your studies in other academic areas, such as history, psychology and the arts will give you a better understanding of all people. And coupled with your Spanish courses, your liberal arts courses will help you understand the worldview and values of native Spanish speakers.

Electives

Spanish education is a very involved program, and much of your class schedule is already predetermined. It’s essentially the Spanish program, with electives in education taking up the remainder of your schedule. If you still wish to take additional Bible or liberal arts courses, you may want to explore the option of taking courses via BJUOnline over the summer.

Success

  • Photo of Noel Ring
  • Photo of Bethany Enjaian
  • Photo of Debbie Nogueira
Photo of Noel Ring

Noel Ring, ’12

Bob Jones Academy

As a member of an English-speaking church in town, I had a burden to expand my church’s influence through Spanish. The Lord has allowed me to start a beginner’s Spanish program in which I have been teaching a dozen home school students once a week for the past nine months. Lord willing, one day each of my students will be able to use Spanish as a tool to spread the Gospel to the lost.

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Your Future

Jobs

Teaching Spanish continues to grow in its needs for professionals to fill its roles—BJU receives many more requests for foreign language teachers than there are graduates to fill the positions.

  • Teacher
  • Missionary
  • Interpreter or translator
  • Manufacturer's representative
  • International worker (airlines, banking, industry, business, journalism)
  • Government worker (State Department, Foreign Service, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture)
  • Social worker

Graduate Schools

Our Spanish education graduates have been accepted into graduate schools including:

  • Saint Louis University, Madrid Campus
  • University of Oklahoma
  • Universidad de Alicante
  • Indiana University

Graduate Experience

Our graduates have gone into a number of careers and have held jobs such as:

  • Middle school math and Spanish teacher at The Abbie School, Tucson, Ariz.
  • Teacher, Whitehall Elementary School, Anderson, S.C.
  • Dorm counselor at Puerto Rico Baptist College
  • Spanish teacher
    • Hillcrest High School, Simpsonville, S.C.
    • Greer Middle College Charter High School, Greer, S.C.
    • Riverside High School, Greer, S.C.
    • Greenville Classical Academy, Simpsonville, S.C.
  • Foreign language teacher at Bob Jones Academy (Middle School), Greenville, S.C.
  • English teacher for language institute in Barcelona, Spain
  • Teacher, Northwood Middle School, Greenville, S.C.

Career Support

BJU offers students a variety of ways to network with employers and organizations. A multitude of job opportunities are posted each year on Career Central, our online job board. In addition, over 60 businesses and 150 Christian schools/mission boards/Christian organizations come on campus to recruit students through on-campus interviews and job/ministry fairs.

Career Services also helps both students and alumni through career advising, resume preparation, job search assistance, recruitment conferences and more.

photo of Spanish class

Learning Experience

Student teacher in class

Practical experience, especially in a language, is essential. That is why BJU’s Spanish faculty encourage your involvement with native speakers, both at BJU and abroad. These opportunities will help you better understand spoken Spanish and in turn help you better communicate with others.

Clinical Practice

Your teaching preparation moves gently from classroom observations to after-school tutoring to practicum two mornings a week. Meanwhile, your methods classes will give you plenty of practice in lesson planning. By the time you begin your clinical practice your senior year, you will be well prepared with numerous lesson plans under your belt and at least 100 hours of classroom experience. Clinical practice, the capstone experience of your teaching preparation, gives you the opportunity to work with a mentor teacher in a local public school and receive timely feedback in weekly meetings with a BJU professor. This semester of clinical practice, along with completion of required classes, passing scores on the Praxis II exam and a favorable recommendation, leads to South Carolina state teacher licensure for grades K-12.

Study Abroad Program

During your time at BJU, you’ll have the opportunity to travel to Spain in the summer. During the four weeks in Spain, you’ll take two on-location immersion courses—you’ll spend mornings in class and your afternoons visiting historical sites and using your skills in the Spanish language. View details.

University Language Association

The University Language Association is a student-run organization that brings in Spanish speakers from various countries and occupations to give you opportunities to see the connections between Spanish and future careers. You’ll also learn about needs in Christian ministries around the world so you can give of yourself through prayer and other means for the glory of God.

Local Opportunities

There are a growing number of Spanish speakers in Greenville, S.C., providing numerous avenues of service. Your opportunities range from serving in a Spanish-speaking church to working at non-profit organizations that assist Spanish speakers. Spanish faculty members can help you get connected so you can grow in your proficiency of the language.

Spanish Churches

Greenville County is home to more than 36,000 Hispanics—that’s more than 8% of the total population. Many Spanish-speaking churches have been established in the Greenville area, and many English-speaking churches have started Spanish-speaking ministries. You’ll have many opportunities to use your Spanish-speaking skills for the Lord in ministries around the Upstate.

Faculty

Amos Kasperek
Program Coordinator
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Contact Me

View Faculty

Your Spanish faculty are both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject. All have traveled extensively to Spanish-speaking countries, so they teach from their firsthand experience of cultures and dialects.

In addition, they have presented academic papers at international conferences such as the Association for Classical Hispanic Theater and the South Central Modern Language Association. And above all else, they have a passion for God’s work around the globe and equip you in serving God wherever He leads you.

Courses & Objectives

Sample Course Outline

Program Objectives

Each student will:

  • Communicate in Spanish at the Advanced level in the interpersonal mode.
  • Communicate in Spanish at the Advanced level in the presentational mode.
  • Understand Spanish at the Advanced level in the interpretive mode.
  • Evaluate Hispanic cultures from a biblical worldview.
  • Create and implement standards-based unit plans that are engaging and effective.

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