• The Open University

Intermediate Spanish: Literature, Cinema and the Visual Arts

Understand the significance of contemporary literature, cinema, and the visual arts in the Spanish-speaking worlds.

Female artist in paint covered studio
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Included in an ExpertTrack

    Course 2 of 3
  • Get full ExpertTrack access

    $39/monthFind out more

Immerse yourself in contemporary Spanish literature and film

On this course, you’ll develop your knowledge of literary, cinematic, and visual arts, especially those with political, social, and cultural significance in Spanish-speaking countries.

Delve into the contemporary literature of Spanish-speaking worlds

You’ll discover how to talk about the cultural relevance and rich variety of content created in Spanish-speaking countries, from novels and autobiographies, to diary-form narrative.

You’ll become familiar with the work of a variety of writers from Spain and Latin American countries, such as Mario Benedetti’s La Tregua, sampling their novels, poems, and plays.

You’ll learn language skills to help you express literary preferences and how to practise emotional speech to develop expressivity.

Explore the importance of cinema in Spain and Latin American countries

You’ll gain the skills to engage with films, share plots and synopses, and talk about them with others in Spanish.

Using your new skills, you’ll consider a film you’d like to see, research other options, and share your suggestions with other learners. You’ll also discover how to suggest going to the cinema.

You’ll be encouraged to write a short film synopsis or share the plot of a book or film in Spanish.

Uncover the meaning of art and artistic expression

You’ll identify what art and artistic expression means for people, and develop the skills to discuss your own art preferences.

You’ll discover how to describe some key monuments and paintings such as El Madrid de los Austrias in Spain and the Murals of Diego Riviera in Mexico, and express the feelings they evoke.

Whether visiting or relocating to a Spanish-speaking country, you’ll have the skills to use crucial vocabulary and structures to immerse yourself in the local culture.

What topics will you cover?

  • Contemporary literature: narrative
  • Movie synopses and film festivals
  • Visual arts: art versus digital art and graffiti
  • Architecture, murals, digital drawings and paintings
  • New grammar structures and vocabulary related to the topics discussed

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.

  • Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
  • Complete each course and pass assessments.
  • Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
  • Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
  • Make your career dreams a reality.

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Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Develop your ability to apply new written and spoken language skills in Spanish
  • Apply your understanding of areas of Spanish grammar
  • Develop your receptive and productive Spanish vocabulary
  • Explore contemporary leisure activities and cultural life in Spain and Latin American countries
  • Develop your ability to engage and discuss the range of cultural and leisure activities in Spain and Latin American countries

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for those who are at Level A2, working towards Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Learners should feel confident to use the language in most situations likely to arise while travelling in the worlds of Spanish.

The OU’s language ExpertTracks are designed to help you progress with each one you study. It’s suggested you work through them in order to effectively develop your language skills.

Learners would benefit from having completed Intermediate Spanish: People and Places before taking this ExpertTrack.

Who will you learn with?

A lecturer in the School of Languages & Applied Linguistics at The Open University with extensive experience in designing and applying online teaching materials. Esther is also a freelance translator.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

About this ExpertTrack

Explore popular culture and leisure activities in Spanish-speaking worlds, including literature, film, heritage, media, and sport.

Start learning today - free 7-day trial

After your free trial you can:

  • Pay $39 per month to keep learning online
  • Have complete control over your subscription; you can cancel any time
  • Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
  • Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
  • Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
  • Earn digital course certificates and a final award that you can share online, with potential employers, and your professional network
  • Keep access to the content of courses you complete even after your subscription ends

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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