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SPAN20420

Academic Year 2026/2027

Rebels, Migrants & Exiles (SPAN20420)

Subject:
Spanish
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Rodrigo López Martínez
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Since the conquest of the Americas began in 1492, the movement of people, resources, and ideas between Europe and Latin America has never ceased to influence the histories of both regions. This module explores how cinema and literature can illuminate stories of transatlantic exchange that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives of the Western world. The topics covered will include the worldwide popularity of artistic forms such as tango, the transatlantic scope of revolutionary movements, the exile of activists and intellectuals caused by political violence, and the international flow of capital and workers that defines our era of globalization. Through fictional and biographical stories of transatlantic travel, students will develop a new understanding of the interconnected histories of peoples and cultures on both sides of the Atlantic.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Understand how transatlantic travel and exchange have influenced the development of European and Latin American cultures.
2. Identify the connections between major events in world history and the socio-political challenges that have shaped Latin America since the colonial era.
3. Analyze depictions of transatlantic travel in literary and visual texts.
4. Compare and argue about perceptions of cultural contact across different social contexts.
5. Formulate interpretations of transatlantic cultural history through analytical and creative writing tasks.

Indicative Module Content:

The module covers a selection of books and films set in both the past and present of Latin America. Original and translated/subtitled versions of each will be provided.
Books:
El general en su laberinto (Gabriel García Márquez, 1989)
Una sola muerte numerosa (Nora Strejilevich, 1997)
Films:
También la lluvia (Icíar Bollaín, 2010)
La otra conquista (Salvador Carrasco, 1998)
Raíces de mi corazón (Gloria Rolando, 2001)
Tango Bar (John Reinhardt, 1935)
Carla’s Song (Ken Loach, 1996)

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Not addressed

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Advanced Beginner

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Not addressed

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Not addressed

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Not addressed

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 1

Reduce inequality within and among countries 1

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

34
Autonomous Student Learning

52
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module consists of weekly interactive classes that combine brief lectures with small-group activities. Group discussions will encourage students to connect historical knowledge of Europe and Latin America with the analysis of specific passages from literary and visual texts. In this way, through consistent practice and feedback, students will be supported in developing the critical skills needed to complete both in-class and independent assessment tasks. The assessment methods will include individual tasks in literary and visual analysis, as well as a final group project involving creative writing.
Lecture slides and instructions to prepare for in-class activities will be available on Brightspace.
Consultation hours with the module coordinator will be offered both face-to-face and online.

Please note that the use of generative AI is not permitted for the completion of assessments in this module. This corresponds to "No AI" on the AI Assessment Scale.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Literary analysis. Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Visual analysis Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Group Work Assignment: Final group project Week 5, Week 10, Week 14 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
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