Learning a new language is hard. Like, really hard. That said, by studying Spanish at King’s, I’ve been able to fully engage with the richness of the Spanish language. From the cultural hub of central London to an array of partnered universities, there’s something for every Spanish student at King’s. Here are my top five reasons why you should study Spanish at King’s.
1) London
Madrid isn’t the only place in the world where you can learn Spanish! Though often forgotten, the Latin American diaspora is the 8th largest ethnic community in London. I was thrilled to discover a profusion of Latinx business, culture and (most importantly,) food! There’s always the opportunity to practice your Spanish as you buy an empanada on the way to campus. At the heart of London is a wealth of Spanish and Latin American culture. Make the most of it!
2) The culture
Latinx culture is some of the most diverse and vibrant in the world. From Spain to Chile, there’s no shortage of music, art and cinema. Whether you have a soft spot for flamenco music; have seen Guillermo Del Toro’s entire filmography; or are enchanted by Picasso’s bold use of line and colour: there’s something for everyone. Being at King’s, I’ve had the honour of being just a short walk away from both The National Gallery and The Tate Modern – two of the most famous galleries in the world, and home to the likes of Picasso, Miró, Dalí and Velázquez. If you’re into indie cinema, I’d also recommend SPLAS’ free film screenings which feature poignant works from across the Hispanic world. They also occasionally hold interviews with canonical writers and academics, which is an amazing opportunity to be able to access as an undergraduate student.
3) Every teacher is a native speaker
Every single one of my language classes has been led by a native speaker. It’s the best way to engage with the variety within the Spanish language, so you can distinguish between regional accents and dialects. Before starting at King’s, I could barely tell the difference between an Argentinian and an Ecuadorean accent, but through the diversity of the department staff, such subtleties now seem obvious. Not to mention the pride with which members of the SPLAS department discuss their culture, which encourages you to engage with it on a more personal level. They also happen to be some of the sweetest staff members at the University, but we’re not comparing courses, so you didn’t hear that from me…
4) Employability
Believe it or not, Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world. Although only in my second year, I’ve grown my network to an impressive size just from having the ability to speak Spanish. Being able to form long-lasting international connections is an extremely employable skill. There’s ample opportunity to explore your options as a language student through the King’s Careers service, which regularly hosts informative sessions about potential career pathways such as writing, media and journalism. As well as this, you’ll also have the year abroad, and having the experience of studying or working en el extranjero at such a young age will undoubtedly be attractive to employers when applying for internships and grad roles.
5) Travelling!
As an avid traveller (before the horrors of COVID-19), Spanish has definitely expanded my holiday options. The Spanish speaking population spans across the globe, as you’ll discover at King’s. I’m so excited to spend my third year in a Spanish-speaking country as part of my degree, something which us second-years are in the process of organising now. It should also be noted that King’s has an impressive number of partner universities in Latin America specifically, where it’s common for universities to only have a few partner universities in Spain, and one or two in the whole Hispanic American subcontinent. But at King’s, with partnered universities and internship opportunities across Spain and Latin America, there’s no limit to where you can go!
Read More:
To go to Haleema’s post on what a day in the life of a SPLAS student looks like, click here
To explore the Modern Languages course page, and to find related courses, click here
To find out more about study abroad options whilst studying Modern Languages at King’s, click here
To sign up to a virtual open day or event at King’s College London, click here
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