Dr. Alexandra Perkins

Teaching

Teaching is an opportunity to challenge, reconfigure, and affirm students’ understanding of the world. In an increasingly interconnected society, learners bring a myriad of interests, backgrounds, and abilities into the classroom. The classroom is a microcosm, and it is my responsibility as a professor to expand students’ engagement to events going on in the world. In order to facilitate this connection, I implement a communicative, student-centered approach. This method is supported by the five C’s of foreign language education—Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities—outlined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Currrent Teaching

Fall 2019

Advanced Composition, 2 Sections

En este curso, los estudiantes mejorarán las habilidades de la comunicación escrita y oral. A la vez, los estudiantes participarán en la lectura y discusión de textos literarios españoles y latinoamericanos. Para complementar el mejoramiento de la comunicación escrita, los estudiantes también estudiarán los elementos técnicos de la gramática, las sutilezas del vocabulario, así como varios aspectos literarios y culturales del mundo hispanoparlante. El objetivo final es desarrollar las herramientas necesarias para escribir correctamente según las pautas de la gramática estandarizada.

Teaching History

Spring 2019

Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature II, 1 Section

Esta clase se enfoca en el desarrollo de la literatura latinoamericana desde los finales del siglo XIX hasta hoy. Discutiremos los contextos históricos, movimientos literarios, y los autores que forman e informan el canon literario de América Latina. La clase parte de la comprensión de la literatura como algo necesariamente ligado con la historia, la sociedad, y los movimientos sociales, políticos, y artísticos. Las actividades realizadas a lo largo del curso contribuirán con el desarrollo de las capacidades críticas y analíticas de los estudiantes frente a una variedad de textos complejos.
Spring 2019

Advanced Grammar and Composition, 4 Sections

This course is designed to refine expository and argumentative writing in Spanish. Throughout the course we will explore these stylistics through a multi-draft, process-based approach. This approach will help to guide students through the process of writing and revision. Concurrent to the process-based approach to writing, students will analyze in-depth specific grammatical and lexical structures necessary for sophisticated writing in Spanish. The course will also focus upon a variety of genres of writing through readings, in-class writing activities, and homework. Working with these genres will expand students’ stylistics in writing while exposing students to a variety of cultures and perspectives.
Fall 2018

Advanced Grammar and Composition, 1 Section

This course is designed to refine expository and argumentative writing in Spanish. Throughout the course we will explore these stylistics through a multi-draft, process-based approach. This approach will help to guide students through the process of writing and revision. Concurrent to the process-based approach to writing, students will analyze in-depth specific grammatical and lexical structures necessary for sophisticated writing in Spanish. The course will also focus upon a variety of genres of writing through readings, in-class writing activities, and homework. Working with these genres will expand students’ stylistics in writing while exposing students to a variety of cultures and perspectives.
Fall 2018

Conversation, 3 Sections

This class focuses on improving oral production in Spanish. Students will practice various modes of speech, including informal conversation, debates, formal presentations, and role-playing. We will use a variety of Spanish-language texts, including film, articles, websites, short stories, television shows, songs and other genres of visual culture to inspire conversation in the classroom. These cultural texts will enrich students’ vocabulary and conversational breadth, while exposing students to the cultural richness of the Spanish-speaking world.
Fall 2018

Spanish Proficiency for Graduate Students

This course presents an introduction to Spanish grammar and vocabulary, with emphasis on developing basic reading and translation skills. Through comparative approach to grammar and vocabulary, students will learn how to read and translate Spanish texts into English utilizing cognates, grammar structures, and their own knowledge of English.
Spring 2018

Advanced Grammar and Composition, 5 Sections

This course is designed to refine expository and argumentative writing in Spanish. Throughout the course we will explore these stylistics through a multi-draft, process-based approach. This approach will help to guide students through the process of writing and revision. Concurrent to the process-based approach to writing, students will analyze in-depth specific grammatical and lexical structures necessary for sophisticated writing in Spanish. The course will also focus upon a variety of genres of writing through readings, in-class writing activities, and homework. Working with these genres will expand students’ stylistics in writing while exposing students to a variety of cultures and perspectives.
Fall 2017

Survey of Spanish Literature 19th-21st Century, 2 Sections

This class focuses on the development of Spanish Literature from the 19th century to today. We discuss historical contexts, literary movements, and the authors that form and inform the Spanish literary canon. The class develops from the idea that literature is necessarily tied to historical, political, social, and artistic movements. The activities completed in this class will contribute to the development of students’ critical and analytical capacities by engaging with a variety of literary texts.
Fall 2017

Spanish American Civilization, 2 Sections

This course covers Latin American History from pre-Columbian times to today. A key objective of this course is connecting historical events to contemporary society and culture in Latin America.
Fall 2017

Intensive Review Introduction to Spanish, 1 section

This is an introductory course to the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Equivalent to the two- course SP 101/102 sequence, SP 103 is designed to develop: (i) basic communicative skills in Spanish as a second language; and (ii) general knowledge about culture in the Spanish-speaking world.
Spring 2017

Advanced Grammar and Composition, 5 Sections

This course is designed to refine expository and argumentative writing in Spanish. Throughout the course we will explore these stylistics through a multi-draft, process-based approach. This approach will help to guide students through the process of writing and revision. Concurrent to the process-based approach to writing, students will analyze in-depth specific grammatical and lexical structures necessary for sophisticated writing in Spanish. The course will also focus upon a variety of genres of writing through readings, in-class writing activities, and homework. Working with these genres will expand students’ stylistics in writing while exposing students to a variety of cultures and perspectives.
Fall 2016

Spanish Civilization and Culture, 2 Sections

The University of Alabama. This course covers Latin American History from pre-Columbian times to today. A key objective of this course is connecting historical events to contemporary society and culture in Latin America.
Fall 2016

Spanish Conversation, 1 Section

This class utilizes film and songs as starting points for conversation in Spanish. Students practice various forms of verbal expression, including informal conversations with partners, formal presentations of the films, and creative expression with their final project. For the final project, students will re-write one of the scenes from the films and create a mini-film to show to the class.
Fall 2016

Intensive Review Introduction to Spanish, 2 Sections

This is an introductory course to the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Equivalent to the two- course SP 101/102 sequence, SP 103 is designed to develop: (i) basic communicative skills in Spanish as a second language; and (ii) general knowledge about culture in the Spanish-speaking world.
Spring 2016

Intermediate Spanish I, SPAN 2010, 2 Sections

This course is a continuation of Spanish 1020 and emphasizes conversation, vocabulary building, grammatical concepts, and culture through continued practice of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. As this is a Spanish course, we will use Spanish 100% of the time in the classroom.
Spring 2016

Latino/a Literature and Culture, SPAN 4613

Southern Utah University. This course focuses on Latina/o American cultural production in relation to the thematic of identity. Identity has a deeply political and social edge, and is mobilized to critique governmental policies, challenge understandings of who we are, and create sites of resistance. This course engages literature, film, television series, songs, performance art, visual art, activist interventions, and virtual technologies that illuminate the transformative power of artistic production in political, social, and cultural realms.
Fall 2015

Spanish American Literature 20th-21st Century, SPAN 4312

Southern Utah University. This course provides an overview of exemplary texts from Spanish American Literature. Students will examine major periods, trends, and authors from the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will approach texts through the lens of “otherness” (“otredad”). “Otherness” includes a variety of factors such as race, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, globalization, cultural hybridity, and others.
Fall 2015

Intermediate Spanish I, SPAN 2010, 2 Sections

Southern Utah University. This course is a continuation of Spanish 1020 and will emphasize conversation, vocabulary building, grammatical concepts, and culture through continued practice of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. As this is a Spanish course, we will use Spanish 100% of the time in the classroom.
Fall 2015

Beginning Spanish I, SPAN 1010

Southern Utah University. This is a beginning course designed for students with little or no Spanish experience. The course will emphasize basic conversation, vocabulary building, grammatical concepts, and culture. As this is a Spanish course, we will use Spanish 100% of the time in the classroom
Spring 2015

Advanced Grammar and Composition, SPAN 3210

Southern Utah University. This course is designed to refine expository and argumentative writing in Spanish. Throughout the course we will explore these stylistics through a multi-draft, process-based approach. This approach will help to guide students through the process of writing and revision. Concurrent to the process-based approach to writing, students will analyze in-depth specific grammatical and lexical structures necessary for sophisticated writing in Spanish.
Spring 2015

Narrativas del Boom y Post-Boom Latinoamericano, Independent Study

Southern Utah University. This course presents an in-depth analysis of key texts from the Latin American Boom and Post-Boom. Students will analyze the development of this literary genre from the 20th century, the characteristics of the genre, and its significance within Latin America and globally.
Spring 2015

Beginning Spanish I, SPAN 1010, 2 Sections

Southern Utah University. This is a beginning course designed for students with little or no Spanish experience. The course will emphasize basic conversation, vocabulary building, grammatical concepts, and culture. As this is a Spanish course, we will use Spanish 100% of the time in the classroom
Fall 2014

Spanish American Literature 15th-19th Century, SPAN 4310

Southern Utah University. This course provides an overview of exemplary texts from Spanish American Literature. Students will examine major periods, trends, and authors from the conquest to the late nineteenth century. Students will approach texts spanning from the 15th to 19th century through discussions of current day issues, such as ecological literature, globalization, cultural hybridity, inequality, the role of arts in political arenas, and others.
Fall 2014

Beginning Spanish II, SPAN 1020, 2 Sections

Southern Utah University. This course is a continuation of Spanish 1010 and will emphasize conversation, vocabulary building, grammatical concepts, and culture through continued practice of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In order to practice these major skills, we will work with authentic materials from the cultures of study. We will use Spanish 100% of the time in the classroom.
Summer 2014

Intermediate Spanish I, SPA 211

University of Miami. Spanish 211 is the third semester of the Spanish Basic Language Program at the University of Miami. The program runs over three semesters and divides into Spanish 101, 102, and 211. Spanish 211 covers chapters 11 to 15 of DOS MUNDOS.
Spring 2013

Bodies in text: The writing of the self from Autobiography to Facebook

University of Miami. Co-taught with Dr. Elena Grau-Lleveria. Este curso explora las varias maneras en que el “yo” ha sido escrito en formas textuales, desde los géneros tradicionales de la autobiografía y testimonio, hacia los géneros más contemporáneos que incluyen Facebook, Twitter, y las bitácoras.
Fall 2012

Intermediate Spanish I, SPA 211

University of Miami. Spanish 211 is the third semester of the Spanish Basic Language Program at the University of Miami. The program runs over three semesters and divides into Spanish 101, 102, and 211. Spanish 211 covers chapters 11 to 15 of DOS MUNDOS.
Fall 2010

Elementary Spanish I, SPA 101

University of Miami. Spanish 101 is the first semester of the Spanish Basic Language Program at the University of Miami. The program runs over three semesters and divides into Spanish 101, 102, and 211. Spanish 101 meets three hours per week and is worth three credits. Spanish 101 covers chapters 1 through 5 of DOS MUNDOS.
Spring 2009

Accelerated Introductory Spanish I, SP 103, 2 Sections

The University of Alabama. Spanish 103 is an accelerated course that covers the first two courses of the Spanish Basic Language Program.
Spring 2009

Intermediate Spanish I, SP 201, 2 Sections

The University of Alabama. Spanish 201 is the third semester of the Spanish Basic Language Program.
Fall 2008

Accelerated Introductory Spanish I, SP 103

The University of Alabama. Spanish 103 is an accelerated course that covers the first two courses of the Spanish Basic Language Program.
Fall 2008

Introductory Spanish II, SP 102

The University of Alabama. Spanish 102 is the second semester of the Spanish Basic Language Program.
Sping 2008

Introductory Spanish I, SP 101, 2 Sections

The University of Alabama. Spanish 101 is the first semester of the Spanish Basic Language Program

Teaching Evaluations

“Profesora Perkins cares about her students and that they apply and learn the material and it wasn’t an easy class. You grew and learned by working hard and that is awesome in a Spanish class. The push to be better is what we need! I now love Hispanic Literature because of this class.” —Student in Spanish American Literature 15th-19th Century, Fall 2014

“A welcome change from the run of the mill class, Professor Perkins is a wonderful teacher who actually cares about teaching and the fact is obvious. The course was well structured and we stayed on top of the syllabus. If professor Perkins is not the best teacher I’ve had in college, she is in the top two. I cannot say enough good about this class.” — Student in Beginning Spanish I, Spring 2015

"You are the best Spanish professor here at SUU. I’ve had all of the professors, you surpass all. You are good at making adjustments for individual students and their level of learning and very enthusiastic and passionate about what and how you teach! Thanks for being awesome!” " — Student in Advanced Grammar and Composition, Spring 2015