Spanish — languages

Spanish is the most spoken language of the Americas, with over 130 million speakers in North America alone, and growing numbers in Canada. It is the second language worldwide after Mandarin in terms of the number of native speakers, and it is the official language in 21 countries on three continents: Europe, Africa and Latin America.
The Spanish language developed from Latin. Therefore, it belongs to the Romance branch of the Indo-European family of languages, along with Catalan, French, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian.
To learn Spanish is to discover different rhythms and melodies, which the language has acquired through centuries in contact with other languages and peoples across the world (Celts, Arabs, Basques, Quechuas, Aymaras, Nahuatls, Mayans, Bantus, Yorubas, and others).
Spanish opens the door to a rich range of cultural expression in literature, film, art, and architecture. Recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature include Vicente Aleixandre (Spain), Miguel Angel Asturias (Guatemala), Gabriela Mistral (Chile), Pablo Neruda (Chile) and Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia). The Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the atrium of the Canada Trust Building in downtown Toronto.

Visit the Department of Spanish and Portuguese website for more information.
Consult the A&S calendar for specific course offerings. The department offers minor, major and specialist programs in Spanish, as well as a variety of joint specialist programs.

Spanish courses may be taken during the summer at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. Visit the U of T Summer Abroad website for more information.
In addition, the International Student Exchange Program at U of T offers programs in Argentina Chile Mexico and Spain. Visit the ISXO website website for more information and the list of participating universities.

What kind of Spanish will I learn at UofT?
Our instructors come from different regional origins, and our curriculum is inclusive, so you will hear different accents and be exposed to a variety of texts. Our basic courses emphasize the common structure of the language and no particular accent or dialectal usage is preferred over another. As you progress, you will become exposed to the richness of Spanish across the world.
I have some knowledge of the language. How do I know which course to enroll?
True beginners start in SPA100, but those with some experience may place higher through a language placement test. Students who have completed Grade 12 Spanish in Ontario are required to enroll in SPA 220Y. For details about the placement test, please consult the departmental website.
Spanish is my home language, but I need help with writing and grammar. Which course should I take?
There is a course for the special needs of speakers of Spanish as a home language, SPA 319, which serves as preparation for Spanish courses in literature, culture or linguistics.
When should I apply to study in a Spanish-speaking country?
The department recommends the intermediate level (SPA220Y) as the prerequisite for a student to be prepared to immerse her/himself in a Spanish-speaking country.