This course focuses on Spanish language skills within a business context, while also exploring the cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. We learned business-related vocabulary, communication strategies, and gained an understanding of cultural norms, etiquette, and business practices in professional settings. This course prepared us for effective communication in global business environments by enhancing our language proficiency and cultural awareness.

Business Letter

Writing a formal business letter was one of the most valuable assignments in this course. It helped me develop a more structured and professional approach to communication, which is essential in the business world. Through the process, I gained practical skills in formal writing and persuasive language, both of which are key to building strong client relationships and creating future career opportunities. This assignment not only improved my writing, but also showed me how important clear and structured communication is in a professional setting.

Cover Letter

This cover letter assignment was an important step in learning how to communicate professionally and with purpose. It taught me how to present my qualifications in a way that connects directly with a job opportunity, while also expressing genuine interest for the position. This process helped me better understand the role of written communication in making a strong first impression and positioning myself confidently in the job market.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Creating my CV was a valuable experience that taught me how to present my academic background, skills, and experiences in a structured and professional format. I was able to enhance my knowledge of organizing information strategically to highlight my strengths and align them with potential career paths. This assignment helped me better understand how a well-crafted CV can make a strong impression and serve as a powerful tool in both academic and professional settings.

Pruebas/Quizzes

In each chapter of our assigned readings, we have to complete a few quizzes to test our understanding of the content. Each chapter focuses on different business topics, and we learn specific business vocabularies, important information about the global economy, and cultural differences in professional settings. Here’s a few excerpts of our quizzes:

Preguntas Culturales/Cultural Questions

This assignment is similar to the idea of quizzes but focuses specifically on cultural aspects within business environments in Latin America. The goal is to test our knowledge on various business structures, key economic history, influential organizations, and other relevant factors that shape the business landscape in the region. Each of these quizzes has strengthened my understanding of these topics. Here’s an example:

Georecognition

This assignment focused on strengthening our geography skills by having us identify Latin American countries on a map, convert their currencies, and explore other cultural aspects. It improved my understanding of the region’s geography and economy. Here’s an excerpt:

Discussion Video Presentations

Business Ethics: Controversial Situations

This assignment focuses on analyzing the ethical challenges faced by major textile companies, such as H&M, Nike, and Inditex, particularly regarding labor practices in developing countries. It encourages reflection on the balance between low-cost production and fair treatment of workers, which highlights issues like low wages, poor working conditions, and exploitation. Our exploration of the working conditions of Bangladesh factory workers gave us a deeper understanding of corporate responsibility and the impact of consumer choices on global supply chains.

The Hispanic population and Banks in the U.S.

This assignment explores the challenges faced by many Hispanic families in the U.S. regarding access to banking services and credit. It focuses on the difficulties immigrants encounter when trying to buy goods on credit, such as cars or furniture, without a U.S. credit history. The discussion also covers how this impacts future generations, the role of cultural and language barriers, and the potential actions the U.S. government could take to improve financial inclusion for Hispanic communities.

Country Investigation Project

This assignment involves researching the country of Peru and writing a persuasive report to convince a company to open a new branch there. The report highlight’s the country’s strengths and business advantages. The goal is to demonstrate why this country is the best choice for investment. From this project, I learned how to identify key factors that make a country attractive for business by researching and pulling information from various articles.