As two Spanish majors nearing the completion of our degrees, we have a couple things to say about the major that might be helpful for younger undergrads to hear. We’ll break up our advice into a couple categories but overall try and keep things brief.

Course recommendations
Gen-eds
As a language major, it is really edifying to learn about Linguistics more generally, and we found Linguistics 201 (intro linguistics) and Ling 205 (language and advertising) to be fascinating and applicable to other areas of study. Ling 101 we would recommend against taking; it covers the same ground as 201 but is less rigorous and not as engaging. (More work, less reward.) Psych 101 teaches you a couple things about how language is processed in the brain, and also the internal processes of memory and consolidation; similarly, Neuro 330 discusses language and the different areas of the brain. We recommend taking history classes that connect to the history of the conquest of the Americas and how the Spanish language actually came to be spoken on this continent, as well as classes that focus on the historical relationship between the U.S. and Latin America.

Major requirements
We recommend Spanish 470 (Hispanic linguistics overview) because it teaches you about certain underlying rules of Spanish that you have certainly dealt with but maybe never consciously considered – and also want to say that Spanish 311 (advanced grammar) can be a pain but is really worth paying attention in. That class is very technical and can feel boring but I genuinely use stuff I learned in that class alll the time and I consider the things it taught me an important step in my passage from an intermediate learner to a fluent speaker. Spanish 350 (Spanish translation) with professor Galasso is also challenging but ultimately rewarding, and teaches you a lot through the translation process. Spanish 382, “Spanish in the US,” we don’t recommend; we felt like the things you learn in this course are things that you are likely to pick up from your other courses anyway, assuming you’re a Spanish major.

Programs and certificates
We wholeheartedly recommend studying abroad (we know, it is required) and urge undergrads to consider going somewhere off the beaten path — you’re allowed to study at any university, not just the ones with pre-designed programs, so keep that in mind if there’s a destination or an institution you really have your heart set on. There’s advantages and disadvantages to building your own program and to studying with a program/institution like IFSA, API, etc. but go somewhere you’re passionate about.

Neither of us have much experience with certificates; one of us got a certification in Latin American studies as part of a study abroad program. UMass offers ways to earn certs such as TESOL certification so if that’s something you think you may be interested in, take a class as early as you can to get it out of the way. Your future self will thank you for taking the initiative and it’s one more thing to put on your résumé.

Five College resources
Five College courses can be a way to satisfy major requirements if, for example, there aren’t any interesting classes with open slots at UMass. The bus will take you to any of the colleges (Amherst probably being the most easily accessible).

Additionally, if you are someone who is super into the academic or literary side of the major and wants a course that will challenge you — and peers who are as engaged as you are — Five College classes could be the move for you. A friend of mine who goes to MHC strongly recommends the courses offered by Amherst’s Spanish department, and I am taking one next semester that I have really high hopes for. Consider our sister colleges if you’re a Spanish major looking for a challenge.

Campus activities
The Sobremesa is a great way to practice with peers and TAs as a Spanish novice. There are also lots of Spanish/Latin movies being shown and as a major you probably get emails about them all the time. Those are worth going to, as are the open house events hosted by the Spanish department. Free pizza and you get to learn about the various opportunities and events for people like you!

Latinos Unidos (LU) and the Latin American Cultural Center (LACC) host events too — they had a Dominó night a couple weeks ago that was a blast.

The trick with these is showing up! There are always lots of events being posted online and around campus, but it can be hard to motivate yourself to attend. Get on mailing lists and follow these orgs on social media. Latinos Unidos, Contagio Latino, Students of Caribbean Ancestry, LACC, Salsa con tacos, the UMass Spanish and Portuguese departments, all of these are local orgs (most of them UMA affiliated but not all) that are absolutely worth following on Instagram, which is a great way to keep yourself in the loop. Mostly though, you’ll just have to make yourself go to events and screenings and open houses, but it’s worth it, it really is.

Other recommendations
Finally we have some other tips and tricks, most of all, to practice your Spanish even more than you already are. Stop speaking English in class and get comfortable with trying to express yourself only in Spanish without switching back. Read and write in Spanish as much as you can. And practice teaching: see if there’s any opportunities for teaching or tutoring, or someone who needs a partner to practice with. All these things will help you hone your own skills.

At the end of the day, you have to forge your own path, and it’s a lot harder to learn from other people’s mistakes than it is to learn from your own. Luckily, the Spanish department is set up in order to help you succeed, so utilize their services and remember they’re all paid professionals whose job is to assist you. There is no right way to be a Spanish or Portuguese major, so enjoy all of it.

Un abrazo
–Oscar Burke and Joe Mamet